Getting Started
Creating a memorial takes just a few minutes.
Three ways to start
You can click any “Create a Memorial” button on the site to begin — in the header (top right of any page), or near the top and bottom of the homepage.
The header button opens the form with Premium pre-selected. The homepage hero and bottom buttons open the form with Free pre-selected. You can switch between Free and Premium at the top of the form regardless of which button you clicked.
The creation flow
- Pick Free or Premium at the top of the form
- Fill in their information — name, pronouns, dates, story, and photos. Some labels adapt based on the pronouns you choose (for example, “Their Story” becomes “His Story” or “Her Story”).
- (Optional) Add Premium touches — tribute ribbon, music, theme, GoFundMe link
- Enter your email to receive your memorial link
- Choose your privacy setting. If you check “Keep this memorial private,” only people with the link will be able to view it.
- Click Create Memorial (Free) or Continue to Payment (Premium)
Free
Premium
Premium with Special Role
You'll receive an email with two links: the memorial link to share with family and friends, and a private edit link to update the memorial later. If you ever lose the email, you can request a new link anytime at youstayforever.com/resend-edit-link
After Premium payment
Once your payment is complete, you'll be taken directly to your live memorial page where a confirmation screen appears:
From here you can stay on the memorial page to see how it looks, or go directly to the Edit Page to make changes. Either way, your edit link has already been sent to your email.
Basic Info
Tell us about the person you're honoring. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).
The form adapts to the pronouns you select. For example, “Their Story” automatically becomes “His Story” or “Her Story” based on whether you choose He/Him, She/Her, or They/Them. This makes the memorial read naturally.
For details about each field — formatting requirements, what becomes part of the URL, etc. — hover over the ⓘ icon next to the field label in the form.
Photos
Photos are the visual heart of the memorial. At least one is required.
Free vs Premium
- Free memorials: up to 3 photos
- Premium memorials: up to 10 photos
Main portrait
The first photo you upload becomes the main portrait — the large image displayed prominently at the top of the memorial page. You'll see a “Main” label on this photo in the form.
This main portrait appears at the top of the memorial page:
Reorder anytime
Drag and drop to rearrange your photos at any time. The photo in the first position is always the main portrait, so reordering also lets you change which photo appears as the main image.
Slideshow
On the memorial page, photos display as thumbnails. Visitors can click any thumbnail to open a slideshow that displays all the photos in order.
File requirements
JPG, PNG, or WEBP. Up to 10MB each.
AI Memory Film Premium
The main portrait can be brought to life as a gentle 3D animation — a moving memorial film that makes the photo feel present and alive.
How it works
The 2D/3D toggle appears on every Premium memorial. Clicking 3D plays the AI-animated version of the main portrait.
Free memorials
Free memorials also show the 2D/3D toggle. Clicking 3D will prompt you to upgrade to Premium.
After creating a Premium memorial
The 3D film is not instant — our team manually creates each AI Memory Film using your main photo. Once ready, it will appear automatically when visitors click the 3D toggle. Until then, the memorial shows a “Coming soon” message.
Note
The AI Memory Film is created from the main photo at the time of creation. If you change the main photo later, the original 3D film is preserved — a new film will not be created automatically. Our team handles each film individually, with plans to automate this process in the future.
Tribute Ribbon Premium
A tribute ribbon is displayed on the memorial as a diagonal corner banner (or horizontal sash on mobile). It honors the person in one of two ways:
- Honor categories — for those who served (veteran, first responder, teacher, fallen hero), with a special pricing benefit
- Custom Tribute — write your own short tribute message in your choice of color
You can choose one option, or skip the ribbon entirely.
Choose carefully
Once a memorial is created, the tribute ribbon category cannot be changed. The text and color for custom tributes can still be updated through the edit page. If you need to change the category itself, email hello@youstayforever.com.
Fallen Hero — Free
Line of duty death — military, police officer, firefighter, or EMT/paramedic. Memorials with a Fallen Hero ribbon are always free, regardless of plan.
Veteran — $79 (20% off)
Anyone who served in the military. Choose the branch when creating the memorial.
First Responder — $79 (20% off)
Active or retired police officer, firefighter, or EMT/paramedic.
Teacher — $79 (20% off)
Active or retired teacher — preschool, K-12, college, or university.
Custom Tribute
Write your own tribute message in your choice of color. Up to 30 characters.
Background Music
Music plays softly when visitors view the memorial, setting a gentle, reflective tone.
Free memorials
Free memorials use a default track — a soft, peaceful piano piece chosen to fit any memorial.
Premium memorials
Premium gives you access to a curated selection of gentle, peaceful music. Preview each track before choosing:
- Sad Piano (default)
- Peaceful Piano
- Emotional Piano
- Soft Cinematic
- Cathedral Choir
- Peaceful Organ
- American Anthem
- Amazing Grace
Visitors can mute or unmute the music at any time using the audio controls on the memorial page.
Memorial Theme
A theme sets the visual mood of the memorial — colors, backgrounds, and overall atmosphere.
Free memorials
Free memorials use the Golden Warmth theme — soft cream tones with warm gold accents. A timeless, dignified look that fits any memorial.
Premium memorials
Premium lets you choose from four themes:
- Golden Warmth (default) — warm cream and gold, timeless
- Dark Elegance — deep charcoal with gold accents, formal
- Rose Dusk — soft rose and burgundy, gentle
- Forest Peace — muted greens, peaceful and natural
Choose the theme that best reflects the person you're honoring.
When you select a theme, the form preview updates instantly so you can see how the memorial will feel before saving. The examples shown earlier on this page (the Forest Peace memorial and the Rose Dusk memorial) demonstrate how each theme looks when fully applied.
Custom URL
Every memorial has its own web address that you can share with family and friends.
Free memorials
Free memorials use a random URL like:
youstayforever.com/memorial/a7b3c9d2-f1e4-4b8a-9c2d-e6f0a1b2c3d4It works, but it's hard to remember and share.
Premium memorials
Premium memorials get a clean, readable URL based on the name and birth year:
youstayforever.com/memorial/eleanor-rose-bennett-1942Much easier to share, remember, and include in printed materials like funeral programs or thank-you cards.
The URL is generated automatically from the name and date you entered — you don't need to type it.
GoFundMe Link Premium
If the family has set up a GoFundMe campaign — for funeral costs, charitable donations, or family support — you can link it directly from the memorial.
How it works
- Available on Premium memorials only
- Optional — leave blank if not applicable
- Visitors see a “Support the Family” button on the memorial page
- Clicking it opens the GoFundMe campaign in a new tab
Campaign status
GoFundMe campaigns linked to a memorial are active for 14 days from the date the memorial is created. During that time, visitors see a countdown next to the button — for example, “Closes in 2 days.” Once the 14 days have passed, the button shows “Ended” and the campaign is no longer active.
Active — countdown visible
After 14 days — Ended
What URL should I use?
Paste the full GoFundMe campaign URL, for example:
https://gofundme.com/f/eleanor-bennett-memorialConfirmation Emails
When you create a memorial, you'll receive a confirmation email with two buttons: Visit Memorial and Edit Memorial. Premium memorials also include a short summary of the Premium features.
Email for a Free Memorial
Email for a Premium Memorial
For the full list of Premium features, see the Pricing page.
What's included
- Free memorials include Visit Memorial and Edit Memorial buttons.
- Premium memorials include the same buttons, plus a summary of the Premium features.
Keep the edit link private
Never share your edit link. It gives full edit access to your memorial.
Editing Your Memorial
When you create your memorial, you'll receive an email with a secure link to edit it anytime. The edit page lets you update the living parts of the tribute: photos, main photo selection, story, music, theme, GoFundMe link, tribute ribbon text and color for custom tributes, and honor service or branch for special role categories.
Changes you make are reflected immediately on the live memorial page - no need to wait or republish.
Name, pronouns, dates of birth and passing, plan, custom URL, and tribute ribbon category are set when the memorial is first created to keep shared links stable. If you need to correct a mistake in those fields, email hello@youstayforever.com.
How to Change the Main Photo
The main photo is the large portrait that appears at the top of your memorial page. To change it, simply drag any photo from the Photos gallery onto the Main Photo area.
The MAIN tag will move to the new photo, and the Main Photo preview updates instantly.
Once you click Save Changes, the new main photo appears on the live memorial page right away.
Lost Your Edit Link?
If you misplace the email with your edit link, no problem. You can click Lost your edit link? in the footer at the bottom of any page, or visit youstayforever.com/resend-edit-link directly. Enter the email you used when creating the memorial, and we'll send your secure edit link again.
It's the same edit link as before, so any links you've already shared with family will keep working.
How Visitors Can Show Love
Once you share your memorial link with family and friends, anyone who visits can honor your loved one in two simple ways — no account required.
Light a Candle
Visitors can light a virtual candle to express remembrance. The “Light a Candle” button sits below the main portrait on every memorial page.
Clicking it opens the Candles of Remembrance window, where visitors can optionally add their name and a short message. Lighting a candle takes just a few seconds and creates a gentle, glowing presence on the memorial page.
After a candle is lit, it appears as a glowing flame in the Candles of Remembrance window. When anyone hovers over a lit candle, the name and message of the person who lit it appear beside the flame — a quiet way to read what others have shared.
Leave a Tribute
For longer, more personal remembrances, visitors can leave a tribute — a written memory, story, or message that becomes part of the memorial forever. The Leave a Tribute section sits further down the memorial page.
Visitors can write as much as they'd like, format their message into paragraphs, and optionally add a meaningful photo. Once submitted, the tribute appears on the memorial page with the visitor's name, the time it was left, and a heart icon beneath the message. Anyone visiting the memorial can tap the heart to show they're moved by the tribute — each tap adds one to the heart count, so the family can see how many hearts the message has touched.
Anniversary Reminders Premium
For Premium memorials, we send gentle email reminders on the person's birthday and the anniversary of their passing, so you can pause, remember, and visit the memorial together.
When you create a Premium memorial, you're automatically subscribed using the email you provided.
Anyone who visits the memorial can also subscribe by entering their email in the “Get anniversary reminders” section near the bottom of the memorial page. Family members, close friends, anyone who wants to remember can sign up.
The reminder email
Where visitors subscribe
Every reminder email includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom - one click to stop reminders anytime.
FAQ
How long do memorials last?
Forever. Your memorial is preserved as long as You Stay Forever exists. We're committed to keeping these tributes alive across generations.
Can I edit my memorial after creating it?
Yes. The email you receive after creation includes a link to edit your memorial. You can update photos, story, music, theme, and GoFundMe link anytime. Name, pronouns, dates, plan, custom URL, and tribute ribbon category are set when the memorial is first created to keep shared links stable. If you need to correct a mistake in those fields, email hello@youstayforever.com.
What's the difference between Free and Premium?
| Feature | Free | Premium ($99) |
|---|---|---|
| Photos | 3 photos | 10 photos |
| AI Memory Film | — | Included |
| Background Music | 1 default track | 8 tracks |
| Memorial Themes | Golden Warmth (default) | 4 themes |
| Custom URL | Random URL | Name-based URL |
| Tribute Ribbon | — | Included |
| GoFundMe Link | — | Included |
| Anniversary Reminders | — | Included |
| Visitor Tribute Photos | Text tributes only | Photos + text |
| Social Share | Copy Link only | Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook |
Can I upgrade from Free to Premium later?
Yes. Use the edit link to upgrade anytime. The one-time fee is the same whether you choose Premium at creation or later.
Can I delete a memorial?
Yes. Contact us through the support link in the footer if you'd like to remove a memorial.
Who can see my memorial?
Anyone you share the link with can view it. Prefer privacy? Check Keep this memorial private when creating it, and it will stay accessible only by link.
Do you ever delete memorials?
No. As long as You Stay Forever exists, your memorial is preserved.
How do I contact support?
Use the Support link in the page footer, or email us directly.
What if I lost my edit link?
No problem - visit youstayforever.com/resend-edit-link and enter the email address you used when creating the memorial. We'll send your secure edit link again.
What if I lost the link to my memorial page?
The same page has you covered — visit youstayforever.com/resend-edit-link and we'll resend everything you need, including your memorial page link.
How do I get back to my memorial page after saving changes?
When you click “Save Changes” on the edit page, you'll be taken directly to your live memorial page. You can also find your memorial page link in the edit link email we sent you when you first created the memorial.