Do you know what will happen to you if you were to suddenly pass away today? What would your family go through? How would they handle the news and get all of the arrangements made for your funeral? You can control the situation even after you pass away if you take the time to pre-plan your own funeral. More people are taking the initiative and making all of their own funeral arrangements years in advance. The purpose of my blog is to help those who want to plan their own funerals get through it quickly, easily and knowing that their investment is protected for the future.
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Three Tips For Hosting A Funeral Reception
Stacy Carpenter
In many areas of the country, it is customary for a funeral reception to immediately follow or proceed the funeral service. Usually, the reception involves fellowship with loved ones and some type of meal. Though it is not a mandatory funeral activity, many find a reception a comforting way to end an emotionally-draining day. Here are a few tips for hosting a funeral reception.
1. Hold the Reception in Close Proximity to the Funeral
If possible, hold the reception in a location that is in close proximity to the funeral or memorial service. You may have out-of-town guests at the funeral or attendees who simply aren't familiar with the area. Even guests who know the area may be rightfully distracted by their emotions; try to keep things simple.
When utilizing the services of a funeral home, ask the funeral home if it can recommend potential reception sites that suit your budget and spatial needs. The funeral home may have a general purpose room on the premises, or it may be able to recommend a nearby church or community center that you can use for the reception.
If the funeral home offers an escort to the reception site, take advantage of this service. This is a simple way to keep all of the attendees together and make sure no one gets lost.
2. Recruit or Hire Help
The last thing you want to do is try to prepare everything for the reception on your own. Instead, outsource as much of the work as possible. If you have friends and family members who offer to bring food, let them. You can serve their dishes at the reception. This is an easy way to see that mourners leave the reception with their bellies full.
You may prefer to avoid relying on friends and family members for assistance with the reception. If so, you can pick pick up food from a local restaurant. Many offer a deal on bulk purchases ideal for large gatherings.
Another option is to hire a caterer to cater the reception and help serve the attendees. One benefit of utilizing a caterer is that the caterer will also take care of cleanup.
3. Make Necessary Accommodations for Any Children Who Will Be in Attendance
If you know that children will be attending the reception, taking a few simple steps can help you make the event more kid-friendly. For example, you might want to ask the church or activity center if it has a room that the children can use to play. You may have parents with small babies attending the reception; see if there is a quiet locale that parents can use to quietly feed their babies or tackle diaper changes.
Make sure to see that the menu has a few child-friendly options. Don't feel as if you have to offer a large buffet. Instead, you can add a few plain options, such as chicken or cheese and crackers. Cut-up fruits and veggies are another simple choice great for kids.
Contact local funeral services to learn more.
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