Having a reception after a memorial or funeral service is something that is customary and that can help people deal with the loss of a loved one. People need to mingle and talk and offer each other support and reception can make this possible. It can be stressful to make these arrangements on top of the funeral or memorial arrangements, however, so it can make a difference to know a few things that you can do to make the process a bit simpler. Here are some tips that directors of funeral homes in Lowell, MA want you to remember.
The best thing that you can do when you start planning the reception is to ask people you trust to help you. You will be dealing with many other funerary arrangements and you do not want to get overwhelmed. Choose a few people that you trust and delegate tasks to them so that you can focus on other things.
It is important to know what kind of budget you have available before you start planning the reception. The budget will impact everything from the location that you choose to the kind of refreshments that you will have for the guests. Ask for quotes from the different companies you plan on considering and from the locations you are thinking about. This will allow you to get a sense of how much you can expect to pay.
You also want to consider the number of people that you want to attend the service. This will have an impact on many decisions, so it is important to think about it early in the process. You want to make sure that the location you choose can accommodate the guests, so having a clear idea of their number is crucial. If you are not planning on inviting everyone to the reception, you will want to send individual invitations so that no one gets offended.
The refreshments that you offer are another thing that you want to think about carefully. Catering can be expensive and not everyone can offer this option. If you are worried about this or if you are working with a limited budget, you will want to consider asking guests to donate platters of food. One of these things is the flowers that you want to decorate the space where the service will take place. This can be a great solution.
You will want to keep all of these things in mind as you decide on the best options for a reception. Take the time to put together a budget so that you can narrow options down and also speak with the people helping you with the funeral or memorial so that they can make their own suggestions. If you want to learn more about putting together a reception, you can reach out to a Lowell, MA funeral home. Let us help you make the arrangements you need after the death of a loved one. Stop by our location now or visit us today to speak with an expert about all of the services we can offer after a death.