At a time of deep grief, when you just lost a loved one, thinking about food may hardly occur in your mind. But yes, it should be part of your concerns. It is an aspect that you must pay attention to when staging a funeral service.
Funeral reception traditions
In the United Kingdom, a funeral service usually lasts an hour. There are some, however, that last for days while some without any ceremony at all. In addition, funeral services vary widely, depending on religious or cultural beliefs. But yes, food is part of it, no matter what type it may be.
In traditional British funerals, funeral reception or wake may be held right after the burial or at a pre-determined date. It depends on the deceased family’s decision to stage it on the same day or the first death anniversary. It is almost the same case with others that choose direct burial or cremation. With the other funeral types, the buffet spread may be present for the entire viewing or wake.
In any case, it is expected for a crowd to come over during a funeral service to pay their last respects to the dead. Food shall fill them up as they gather to reminisce their memories of the deceased while supporting each other. You may prepare the funeral reception through close coordination with the funeral director from the likes of www.carrollandcarrollfunerals.co.uk. They can tap a catering service to take over the food decisions and remove them from your concerns altogether. If you want to have a hand on what to prepare for your guests and keep their stomachs full despite the sad occasion, here are some things to remember:
Consider the venue for the funeral reception to determine the type of food to prepare. You might want to decide against complete meals if the elbow room in the place seems limited for guests to sit down with a plate of food and a set of utensils. Edibles that are easy to handle, such as finger food and sandwiches, are your best bets. A complete course may be acceptable, however, if the venue is big enough.
Funeral receptions usually last for hours, with mourners deciding how long they should stay and when to leave the venue. Thus, you will need food that can remain delicious even if they get cold.
It is also wise to factor in the cost when planning for the funeral food. Some comforting but economical dishes can go a long way. They will come presentable without hurting your pocket, especially if you expect many guests to come over.
Food is the highlight of any occasion. And in funerals, it is no different. Although people in mourning may not have much appetite to eat a lot, it is your responsibility to fill them up with hearty dishes. They should not go hungry for the entire time they would stay at the funeral, expressing their sympathies. You may delegate the task to other people, but ultimately, you have the final say.
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