Earlier this year, a close friend of mine passed away. This sweet woman was incredibly unique. Besides adoring vintage clothing, she always had extremely short hair. After her death, her son wanted to plan a funeral service with her unique style in mind. So, he immediately started working with the helpful staff at a respected funeral home in our hometown. After relaying his desires to the professional employees at the funeral home, my friend’s son decided to omit a viewing on the night before the funeral. Instead, he had the funeral home staff bring his mother’s body to the church two hours before the funeral service. He also gave anyone who wanted to speak at the funeral service an opportunity. On this blog, I hope you will discover the wonderful ways the staff at a funeral home can help you plan a unique funeral for a loved one.
Hosting a funeral reception can be a way for friends and family to gather after the funeral services are complete, or it can be held in conjunction with a viewing before the funeral begins. The reception offers a way to honor your loved one while also sharing a meal with family and friends. If you are considering hosting a funeral reception, here are a few things to consider as you plan.
Select A Venue
There are many venues to choose from when planning a funeral reception. You can host the event at your home or at a local restaurant, or you may choose to hold it at the funeral home. Hosting the reception at the funeral home may be preferable to those who wish to schedule all of the day's events in quick succession, as the event can take place immediately after the funeral services without anyone having to travel. However, there are many other options to choose from. You can hold a reception at a park or other outdoor location your loved one held dear. Talk to your family about the different options to select the one that works best for you
Rent Party Equipment
If you are hosting the event anywhere other than a restaurant, you may need to rent party equipment. Tables, chairs, and linens may all be necessary, and a PA system can be helpful if your family wishes to give toasts or share memories of your loved one. In some cases, your funeral home director may be able to provide some of these items, including chairs. He or she may also be able to put you in touch with local vendors who can provide these rentals at modest rates.
Hire A Caterer
Trying to cook for dozens of people while you are grieving can be a challenge, and you may prefer not to cook at all. Hiring a caterer takes all of the work out of your hands. You won't have to request pot luck dishes from other grieving family members, and you can customize your menu to include some of your loved one's favorite dishes. Talk to the catering company about any funeral packages it offers, and ask which portions of the packages can be customized for your family.
Arrange For A Children's Area
The children in attendance at the funeral have already had a long day by the time the funeral reception rolls around, so be sure to take their needs into consideration as you plan this event. Consider having children's tables set up with board games, crayons, and coloring books. You may also want to have the catering company create a kid-friendly menu for the little ones.
If you aren't sure where to begin when planning a funeral reception, don't hesitate to ask your funeral home director for guidance. For more information, visit websites like http://www.hitzemanfuneral.com.
Share10 January 2018
