Locations for a Funeral Reception or Wake

Why Hold a Funeral Reception or Wake?

The main purpose of a gathering after a funeral is to provide mourners with an opportunity to spend time together, share memories and support each other. When choosing the location for the funeral reception or wake, some of the things to consider are:

You may wish to host it at home, or there may be a special or meaningful place such as a favourite local pub or hotel. On whiteballoon, we have Wake Venues and Funeral Reception Inspiration pages, plus a Provider Directory linking you to possible venues.

Where to Hold a Funeral Reception or Wake

There are lots of options, depending on the number of people, your budget and how formal or informal you would like the gathering to be.

Here are some possible locations:

A Funeral Gathering at Home

Consider holding the wake at home, or at the home of a close family member or a friend. It can be lovely to be somewhere familiar that has meaning for you and for the person who has died. However, it can be stressful and time-consuming getting the house ready and preparing refreshments, so make sure you enlist the help of family and friends.

If you need extra space and you have an outdoor area, you could set up a tent or marquee in the garden.

Unusual or Alternative Wake Venues

There are lots of other places in which to hold a gathering after a funeral, some more unusual that others.

In a Local Pub or Hotel

Holding the gathering at a favourite pub or a local hotel takes some of the pressure off in terms of preparing and serving refreshments.

In a Restaurant or Cafe

If the person was a regular at a local eatery, it can be lovely to gather there. It may be a style of food they loved or a place that served their favourite beverage.

In a Village Hall or Community Centre

Village halls and community centres usually have plenty of space and parking and most have kitchens attached. Check whether they can supply glasses and other crockery if required.

At a Private Club or Local Sports Centre

If the person had a favourite hobby or sport, then this might be a good place to hold a reception. Most clubs and sports centres have catering facilities too.

Outdoors in the Open Air

Perhaps a gathering outdoors, in a special place such as a meadow, woodland clearing or on a beach. Being close to nature, perhaps somewhere that the person loved, can be a lovely way to feel close to them.

Think about accessibility and what you will do in case of bad weather. Find lots of ideas on our Wakes at Hospitality Venues and Alternative Wake and Funeral Venues Inspiration pages.

A Funeral Reception at Funeral Service Locations

Many people choose to hold a gathering at the place in which the person is buried or cremated. Most funeral locations have suitable reception rooms and catering facilities. This choice is a convenient and simple, since people won’t need to travel between locations and it can be reassuring for the bereaved to know that someone is there to take care of food and refreshments.

Find more ideas and information on Receptions at Funeral Locations Inspiration page and helpful links to venues in our Provider Directory.

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. Here, you will also find helpful Checklists for Planning a Funeral.

All our Planning Tools are free to use. Just Register to securely save information to your folder. These folders can be printed out and, if you wish, shared with family, friends, your celebrant or funeral director.