Planning A Wake

[Greedyfly]

Hello all again

I am currently planning a wake, pretty sure we have found a venue and we will be providing food for the attendees.

Besides some nice music and a bar am I missing anything obvious? I have only ever planned a wedding before and that is a very different occasion.

Thanks

GF

[Leeds60]

We made a 'memory' board with photos of my aunt from being a very young girl through to being an old lady,ones with other people on as well.Gave everyone a topic of conversation and great catching up with 'do you remember when........'etc

[ummmm]

No...we've always just done that. Don't forget teas and coffee.

[Greedyfly]

Leeds that sounds like a nice idea, thanks

[EDDIE51]

Yes plenty of tea and coffee,many people do not think it correct to drink alcohol at such an occasion.

[Greedyfly]

Teas and coffees too - will have to do that

[PankySmooch]

What gives you that idea Eddie?

[ummmm]

I don't think people think it incorrect....just that alcohol and sad occasions don't go well with some people.

[ladyalex]

I have to say that most members of my family would find it very unusual not to be offered alcohol at a wake/post funeral meal, despite that fact that they rarely if ever drink.

[ummmm]

There's a bar. It's just giving people a choice.

[PankySmooch]

A free bar always goes down well at a wake

[Patsy33]

Cake and biscuits to go with tea n coffee! A rememberence book might be nice. I had one at my Mum's funeral a few years ago. Relatives and friends were pleased to write something fitting to the wonderful and funny lady she was.

[237SJ]

I agree with Leeds60 - some old photos are nice. When my Dad died, I took along some really old photos of him in our village which were passed around and were a talking point. That was in a small village where everyone knew everyone else though - that might not work if people are coming from far and wide.

[EDDIE51]

Went to a wake last week, of 50 or so people, less than 10 had an alcoholic drink from the bar. There was a buffet with glasses of wine offered which most people accepted but apart from that very few alcohol drinkers.
PankeySmooch I have been to other wakes where they drank the bar dry! and had to send out for extra booze, it all depends on the person who died. If he/ she was a big drinker and always in the pub then expect the wake to be the same,other wakes are almost teetotal!
Last week's wake was for my FIL, he was a Jehovah's Witness and never touched alcohol . Most people did not drink probably as a mark of respect even though there was a bar.

[Gavmacp]

I would hate to go to a wake that was orchestrated. I think coffee, tea and a buffet is sufficient with the option of a bar. You do tend to spend time with people you know. I would hate to be given a topic of conversation.

[ummmm]

At my granddads wake it was a free bar...all afternoon/evening. I assume it will be the same for my nans next week.

At my uncles a few months back, although quite a few drinkers there, loads of people couldn't drink because of the location.

[DTCwordfan]

Offer all and let it flow naturally...the memory board is a nice idea, thoughts, pics, artwork whatever.....

[EDDIE51]

A free bar can bring problems. I always remember at my other FIL's funeral there was money behind the bar. A couple came up and ordered 2 half's of lager. As soon as they realised they did not have to pay they started ordering double bandies each and soon got totally and embarrassingly *** , the climax was when the 'lady' threw up in a waste paper bin!

[ummmm]

That won't happen. It's my uncles pub, they wouldn't be served if they take the pee.

[PankySmooch]

Eddie you always get the vultures when there's a free bar, along with the people who always say "Oh well at least the sun's shining for them" and "At least they had a good innings"

[ummmm]

And the serial funeral goers that turn up to be fed and didn't even know the deceased. That seems to happen quite a lot.