After my father passed away suddenly, my mother, siblings and I all struggled with planning his funeral. We were already in a state of shock and sorrow, and then we were overwhelmed with the options and decisions we had to make in regards to the funeral. Luckily for us, we worked with an amazing funeral home and funeral director who helped guide us through the process. I know how hard it is to plan a funeral and how many decisions need to be made. This website was created in order to give families preparing to lay a loved one to rest a guide of sorts that will help them determine what decisions will need to be made and information about those decisions. I extend my sympathies to you if you are in this position and hope my website helps to make things a little bit easier for you.
Hosting a funeral luncheon offers a nice way for close friends and family members to gather after a funeral or memorial service. Planning the meal in advance will help to make the day go a bit more smoothly for you. Here are just a few suggestions to help make the luncheon a comforting and pleasant experience.
Ask The Funeral Director For Help
Funeral directors typically know about the best locations nearby to host a funeral luncheon, which is particularly helpful if you are not from the area where the services will be held. In some cases, the funeral director can also help you get a discount on the meal.
Create A Guest List
You may be able to come up with a rough count of how many people will be attending as you talk to friends and relatives in the days leading up to the funeral. Make a short guest list so you can count how many people you are expecting, and plan to have some extra seats available just in case there are additional people who are able to attend at the last minute.
Create A Kid-Friendly Corner
If there will be young children at the meal, work with the restaurant or banquet hall to prepare a kid's table. Let the event planner know about how many high chairs and booster seats to have ready, and ask about kid-friendly meal options. Chicken fingers, French fries and fruit salad are all good options for a child's menu. Be sure to include a small dessert at the end of the meal to help keep the little ones occupied while the adults chat. You may also want to bring coloring books and crayons so the children can color as they wait for their food.
Request A Private Room
If you will be having the luncheon at a restaurant, request to rent a private room for the meal. It will help to keep outside distractions at a minimum so you and your family can share memories or grieve together in quiet.
Discuss Drink Options In Advance
Some guests may choose to order drinks during the meal, so you may want to talk about drink package options with the restaurant ahead of time. If you are on a budget, you can request that all guests purchase their drinks from the bar so you aren't charged for them, or you may decide to pay for a drink package for the whole group. Planning this in advance will prevent any surprises when the bill comes to you.
Be sure to take a tour of the restaurant or banquet hall before you sign a contract so you can be sure you and your family will be comfortable at your luncheon. Once the luncheon is arranged, you and your guests can dine together and share the memories of your dearly departed.
For more help, speak with a business such as Bolton & Lunsford Funeral Homes.
Share27 July 2016
