The Wake

Keagan Mcguire

Wake Planning Checklist: Honoring Your Loved 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 to Planning:

  1. Casket Decision:
    • Decide on an open vs. closed casket.
    • If choosing an open casket, discuss with your funeral provider whether embalming is required.
  2. Designate a Host:
    • Choose a trusted individual to lead the proceedings, reducing stress and ensuring a smooth gathering.
  3. Prepare Personal Elements:
    • Gather photographs, videos, music, scripture, poems, or tributes to personalize the service.
    • Decide whether music will be live or recorded.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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. 
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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:

Wake Planning Checklist: Honoring Your Loved 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 to Planning:

  1. Casket Decision:
    • Decide on an open vs. closed casket.
    • If choosing an open casket, discuss with your funeral provider whether embalming is required.
  2. Designate a Host:
    • Choose a trusted individual to lead the proceedings, reducing stress and ensuring a smooth gathering.
  3. Prepare Personal Elements:
    • Gather photographs, videos, music, scripture, poems, or tributes to personalize the service.
    • Decide whether music will be live or recorded.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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. 
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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:

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