A funeral reception is an event where close friends and family of the deceased gather together to pay their respects to their loved ones after a funeral or cremation services Richland, PA. Also known as a wake, this happens mostly after the funeral service and the guests are served food and beverages.
Compared to a traditional funeral, it is a non-formal event that focuses on providing some time and space for the guests to visit, talk, and remember their loved ones and the life they lived.
If you’re planning to host a funeral reception for a departed soul, then read the below to-do checklist to make sure everything goes as planned.
Step-By-Step Planning of a Funeral Reception
Be free to tailor each of the below points to your needs.
Step 1: Select a date and time
First things first, choose a suitable date for the event. Generally, the reception is held immediately following the funeral or memorial service. But it is not carved on stone. You can hold it anytime you want.
While selecting a date, consider the accessibility of everyone whom you have sent an invitation.
Step 2: Evaluate your budget
Arguably the most important step of arranging a funeral reception. All your subsequent decisions will be based on how much you’re or can willing to spend.
For instance, can feed a large group of people? Can you afford to rent an event hall or private room in a restaurant? How many dishes you’re planning to serve? And so on.
Stating the obvious, your budget will limit your options.
Step 3: Choose your location
Many families decide to host a reception in the same funeral home to avoid extra hassles. But there are no set rules as to the location. You can choose to have it anywhere, be it in a park, event hall, church, or even at your house.
What’s best is if you can arrange it at a location that was important to the deceased or their family, such as a favorite restaurant.
Step 4: Decide what to serve
The next thing to do is to choose a list of foo0
.d and beverages to offer to the guests. Not only do they deserve a meal, but sharing a meal is a traditional and very human way to connect with one another.
Depending on the time of day, you may choose to serve a full lunch course, sandwiches, or any cookies with coffee.
Aside from food, do arrange for additional services you wish to include at the event, like a musical show, video slideshow, any readings, and so on.
Step 5: Send out invitations
With everything planned out, make a list of all the people you wish to invite and send them invitations. You can send emails, group messages, or use social media posts. It’s always a better option to call important persons or the ones close to the lost loved one – as not everyone uses social media.
And that’s all. You have done so much to give a perfect tribute to the loved one. Now it’s time to relax and take care of yourself after cremation services Richland, PA.
