Catering for a Funeral Reception or Wake

What Form Will the Reception Take?

How Many People Will be Attending?

First, think about the number of people attending. This may help you to decide what will be possible within the budget you have.

The main reason they are there is to pay their respects to a much-loved relative, friend or colleague, but some may have travelled some distance, so it is nice to offer some refreshments before they leave.

What is the Location?

Where the gathering is held may inform the type of refreshments you offer. If it is in a local pub or hotel, they will be able to provide refreshments. If it is at home or in a village hall you may want to get some help or order a delivery service.

Enlist the Help of Family and Friends

Family and friends are often only too pleased to help with the catering. This can take the pressure off you and also help to keep costs down. The extent and type of food and beverage is a matter of personal choice and can vary from simple sandwiches and cakes to more elaborate buffets.

Ordering In

There are hundreds of delivery services and companies that will deliver everything from sandwiches, fish and Chips, three course meals to canapes. This saves a great deal of time, stress and energy and there is something for most budgets.

Appointing a Caterer

It may be that planning and making food on top of everything else is too much to cope with, particularly if you are expecting a large number of mourners. Choosing a venue that can provide food is an option, or you could appoint a caterer or an event planner to assist you. Please visit Caterers Inspiration and Caterers & Planners Providers sections of whiteballoon.

How whiteballoon Can Help

Details of Providers, plus items and images from our Inspiration pages can be saved to a personalised Ideas Folder in our Planning Tools section. There is also an Attendees Form on which to record the names and details of those attending. This can help with keeping track of numbers.

All our Planning Tools are free to use. Just Register to securely save information to your folder.

They can be printed out and, if you wish, shared with family, friends, your celebrant or funeral director.