Planning a Memorial Reception
Traditionally, people have a reception after a funeral or memorial service. It is a good way of greeting people who are dealing with grief after the loss of a loved one and it can provide a sense of community to those who are struggling. If this is something you would like to do after a memorial service, there are some ideas and suggestions that providers of cremation services in Albany, NY can offer so that you can have an easier time planning the reception.
One of the first things that you will need to know is how many people will attend the reception. It is not always easy to get an accurate count, so it can be helpful to send out RSVP notes. Many people these days send online ones that can be easily filled out and emailed back, allowing you to get an instant response. You can also do this by creating an event on a social media site to which people have to answer if they will be attending or not.
Once you have an estimate of how many people will attend the reception, you will want to consider where you want to have it. Many people choose the same funeral home or cremations provider, while others choose a religious institution. If that does not seem appropriate, you can rent out special locations or you can even have the reception in a park or somewhere your loved one enjoyed visiting.
You will want to have an idea of how much everything will cost so that you can put together a reasonable budget. Not every location will charge the same, so you will want to get quotes from different locations. You will also want to consider if you will have professionally catered food or if you will ask guest to bring dishes to share. This is important, since catering tends to be one of the most expensive aspects of a reception after a memorial or funeral service.
You will want to send invitations out as soon as possible so that people have enough time to respond. These days, many opt for online invitations, which are not only cheaper but are also much more convenient and easier to receive. You can send them out through email or through different social media sites, so do keep that in mind.
When planning a reception after a memorial service, knowing the kind of budget you have available to work with is important. This can narrow down the location options as well as whether you want to have professional catering or not. Take time to read up on the average rates for the services you want and speak with an Albany, NY cremation service provider that can help you. At McVeigh Funeral Home, Inc., we are dedicated to helping you through the entire process of planning a service for your loved one, including the reception. Learn more by visiting us at 208 N Allen St Albany, NY 12206 or by giving us a call right now at (518) 489-0188.
