When faced with planning a funeral, many people neglect to consider what will happen after the services have concluded. It’s common to have some kind of reception or dinner afterwards, where attendees can gather and share a meal together. At your funeral home near Santee, SC, they can help you figure out where to hold a post-funeral reception, as well as give you some suggestions on how to plan for food and drinks for everyone. 

The first thing you’ll need to consider is where you want to host the post-funeral reception. You have several options here. Some people choose to have a dinner at the home of a family member or friend. This is nice for smaller groups, but it can put added pressure on the person whose home will be used. Another option is to have it at the funeral home’s reception hall, or at that of a church. These are good options, because they are made to host larger groups of people. You can have it catered, or have it potluck-style. Finally, some people choose to rent out a reception hall at a restaurant, or simply make a reservation at a restaurant ahead of time. Depending on the place and the amount of people attending, this could be a viable option as well, although it will likely be a little more costly. 

The next thing to consider is the source of the food. One of the most inexpensive ways to do it is to hold a potluck-style meal. Different family members and friends can be assigned dishes to bring, resulting in enough food to feed everybody. That way, no one person is tasked with the daunting prospect of cooking for a large group. If you’re holding the reception at a funeral home, church, or someone’s home, this could be a good choice. On the other hand, you may want to have the event catered. You can either pick up the food or have it delivered, and serve it at your location of choice. This will be a pricier option, but it takes the work out of it for everyone involved. Finally, if you choose to have the reception at a restaurant, you can either have people order and pay for their own food, or you can foot the bill for the entire party. However you choose to do it, this option will be the lowest-effort choice, with the cooking, service, and cleanup left to the restaurant. 

You’ll need to consider your budget and the number of people attending when making plans for a post-funeral reception. You have plenty of options to choose from, so no matter what your circumstances are, you’ll be able to make arrangements that make sense for you. These gatherings can be a good way for everyone to wind down after a difficult and emotional day. It offers a chance to reminisce together, and catch up in a more informal setting. Your funeral home near Santee, SC, can help you to make arrangements for your loved one’s post-funeral reception.