A wake is a gathering held before or after a funeral where friends and family come together to pay their respects to the deceased, offer condolences, and provide support to one another.
Remember that planning a wake involves both practical and emotional considerations. Utilizing this checklist can help ensure that you honor your loved one's memory in a meaningful and well-organized manner during this challenging time.
Next Steps:
- Casket Decision:
- Decide on an open vs. closed casket.
- If choosing an open casket, discuss with your funeral provider whether embalming is required.
- Designate a Host:
- Choose a trusted individual to lead the proceedings, reducing stress and ensuring a smooth gathering.
- Prepare Personal Elements:
- Gather photographs, videos, music, scripture, poems, or tributes to personalize the service.
- Decide whether music will be live or recorded.
- Eulogy Planning:
- Determine if a eulogy will be part of the wake.
- Identify who will deliver the eulogy; consider close friends or family members.
- The eulogist may be the same person who wrote the obituary.
- Schedule Date and Time:
- Decide on the date and duration of the wake, which can be a short service before the funeral or last several days.
- Create a Memorial Website
- These help preserve memories, help friends and family communicate service details, add photos & videos, etc.
- Keeper and Funeralocity offer free versions.
- Notify Attendees:
- Choose whether the wake will be private or public.
- Decide on the guest list and the best way to inform attendees of the details.
- Consider including wake information in the obituary but remember that the funeral and wake guest lists can differ.
- Security Measures:
- Ask someone to watch over the home during the wake, as homes can be vulnerable during such events.
- Enlist a neighbor, friend, or local police to keep an eye on the premises.
- Floral Arrangements:
- Plan for floral arrangements to personalize the service for your loved one, friends, and family.
- Choose meaningful flowers and decide on their placement.
- Food and Beverages:
- Organize catering for the wake or seek assistance from others in preparing and bringing snacks and drinks.
- Decide whether alcohol will be served and if there will be a toast.
- Some funeral homes and churches have a catering offering. If an outside company is necessary, start here.
NOTE:
- You can compare funeral homes and cremation companies with Funeralocity and Parting.com.
- For more information, Bereave has a blog with a more in depth look into planning a wake and what to expect when attending one.
A wake is a gathering held before or after a funeral where friends and family come together to pay their respects to the deceased, offer condolences, and provide support to one another.
Remember that planning a wake involves both practical and emotional considerations. Utilizing this checklist can help ensure that you honor your loved one's memory in a meaningful and well-organized manner during this challenging time.
Next Steps:
- Casket Decision:
- Decide on an open vs. closed casket.
- If choosing an open casket, discuss with your funeral provider whether embalming is required.
- Designate a Host:
- Choose a trusted individual to lead the proceedings, reducing stress and ensuring a smooth gathering.
- Prepare Personal Elements:
- Gather photographs, videos, music, scripture, poems, or tributes to personalize the service.
- Decide whether music will be live or recorded.
- Eulogy Planning:
- Determine if a eulogy will be part of the wake.
- Identify who will deliver the eulogy; consider close friends or family members.
- The eulogist may be the same person who wrote the obituary.
- Schedule Date and Time:
- Decide on the date and duration of the wake, which can be a short service before the funeral or last several days.
- Create a Memorial Website
- These help preserve memories, help friends and family communicate service details, add photos & videos, etc.
- Keeper and Funeralocity offer free versions.
- Notify Attendees:
- Choose whether the wake will be private or public.
- Decide on the guest list and the best way to inform attendees of the details.
- Consider including wake information in the obituary but remember that the funeral and wake guest lists can differ.
- Security Measures:
- Ask someone to watch over the home during the wake, as homes can be vulnerable during such events.
- Enlist a neighbor, friend, or local police to keep an eye on the premises.
- Floral Arrangements:
- Plan for floral arrangements to personalize the service for your loved one, friends, and family.
- Choose meaningful flowers and decide on their placement.
- Food and Beverages:
- Organize catering for the wake or seek assistance from others in preparing and bringing snacks and drinks.
- Decide whether alcohol will be served and if there will be a toast.
- Some funeral homes and churches have a catering offering. If an outside company is necessary, start here.
NOTE:
- You can compare funeral homes and cremation companies with Funeralocity and Parting.com.
- For more information, Bereave has a blog with a more in depth look into planning a wake and what to expect when attending one.
