What would you expect after funeral scheduled for 1pm

[astranna]

I am in the process of helping to organise a funeral and was just beginning to wonder about refreshments afterwards.

Funeral will be tradaitional Church of England followed by burial. Its starting at 1 so would be over 2-2:15ish. We're then going on to local comunity hall for refreshments.

Obviously there will be tea and coffee and something else but should that be sandwiches/sausage roll/ crisps type buffet or concentrate more on cakes?

Sorry for your loss. Costco do excellent sandwich platters, and cakes.

It's a funeral, not an episode of masterchef. Tea and sandwiches will be all that's expected or desired.

Tea and coffee is the usual at funerals, nobody should expect wine.

Agree that you need a full 'afternoon' tea type buffet.

Lady sadly I have attended a lot of funerals and wine has always been offered, unless for religious reasons alcohol is not allowed on the premises.

I would provide savoury as well as sweet.

@MeinKraft it's much about the deceased's wishes and those of their family. My mother, now 87, has made it crystal clear she wants a champagne reception for hers - it's in her will.

Every funeral I've ever been to has had food provided afterwards at a venue where there has been a bar. It is quite usual to raise a toast to the person who died.

Every funeral I go to there has been a bar available and first drink provided
This thread has now made me worry when the time comes for my mum is how many to cater for
When we lost my dad we went the local and they did the food and there was plenty busy it was mostly eaten, can't remember how many I had to cater for though

When I organised my mum's service, we ordered afternoon tea boxes from a local caterer. They were amazing and meant we didn't have to fuss about clearing plates etc afterwards. Each box had some finger sandwiches, a scone, a little cake and was beautifully decorated with strawberries and kumquats. Not the cheapest option but everyone felt like it was a little treat on an otherwise incredibly sad day.

It also meant we didn't have to do a separate area of food for people with dietary requirements - we just ordered separate gluten free/vegan boxes. And also those who had long drives and couldn't stay were able to take a box for their journey home.

I've never been to a funeral that didn't have alcohol avaliable for those that wanted it.

I had a proper spread for both my DPs. My DFs food was gone because there were so many people but we wasted most of my DMs. We also had an open bar for my DF.

But in hindsight just some drinks and cake is fine. Most people don't want much.

I doubt it...for a 1pm start people will be arriving at the church around 12.30 so that they are there before the cortège. Or they should if they have any manners. Many will have had to travel. Even if pretty local, they'd have had to have a VERY early lunch to be on time.

Not that this should be the OPs issue of course! However she's asking the question, so in this case I'd be providing a traditional fayre of sandwiches, sausage rolls, pork pie, crisps etc (with a selection of cake).

The last funeral I went to, the family had arranged for a local bakery and cafe to cater. Plates of sandwiches, sausage rolls, pasties, quiches etc. Some cakes, but far more savoury stuff. It was just right - a lot of us had travelled and were hungry, other people could pick at bits if they just wanted to be polite.

Nobody is wanting to be wowed by funeral food. Basic and easy is better in my opinion.

Lunch, standard buffet is normal. For a 1pm funeral they will be arriving around 12.40 so most won't have eaten.

Northern funeral would be Buffet and some money behind the bar (if there is one in the hall you are using) so that everyone has their first drink paid for.

I remember buffets at funerals fondly, battenburg cake and scouse at my husband’s relatives funeral and Hafners pork pies at a fiends dads (local thing).

A bit of both but keep it simple. People may not feel up to eating before the funeral

Alcohol is optional, wine is common but if there's a bar people can buy their own

Yep I'd expect thus from achurch hall wake minimum

My mother left VERY detailed plans for her funeral from the music to the venue, she also planned the booklet and specified which photographs of her to use from her glamorous youth😂. It made the whole process so easy. There would have been a huge turnout because although she was 86 she had a huge social circle but sadly it fell the day before lockdown in 2020 so very few people came.

I've never been to a funeral where much alcohol was involved but they have mostly been CofE or Methodist.

1pm. Lunch or something resembling it.

I've never been to a funeral that didn't have alcohol avaliable for those that wanted it.

and I've been to dozens and dozens of funerals without alcohol.
Just goes to show - we are all different.

I've also been to some where tea and coffee was provided, and the bar was open if anyone wanted to buy themselves a drink.

If you have paid for a carvery, or had little boxes made up like a children's party, then how would you know how many people to cater for ?

With a light buffet, people take a look at the numbers of people there, and will usually politely just take a small amount if it seems there are a lot of people staying for the cup of tea., or have a bit more if not many come, but I can't see how this can work - particularly with the boxes.

Thanks for all the replies - based on the response here we went for a local caterer who provided sandwiches, sausage rolls, cakes etc which was all very good. We catered for 35 people and the funeral was well attended with 60-70 people so there wasnt anything left over which was good. Luckily several of the people attending the funeral were Womens Institute types and so were very used to mass catering and so took charge of the distribution of tea and coffee!