How to Cater a Memorial Service

Catering a memorial service is not unlike catering for other events. Find a location to hold the wake, estimate your number of guests and decide on a type of food to serve before calling a catering service and outlining your needs. Read on to learn more about how to cater a memorial service.

Instructions

1. Find a place to hold the memorial service. Take the number of mourners into consideration. Pay rental fees, if necessary.

2. Decide on food to serve at the memorial service. Accommodate guests with special diets while making your decisions. You may choose to order simple and easy foods like sandwiches or you can choose exotic foods like Italian or Mexican. Inquire about last-minute and buffet options.

3. Estimate the number of guests that you expect. Catering services use the estimate to plan for the hors d'oeuvres, entrees and desserts you have chosen to serve.

4. Use a phone book to find local catering services that specialize in the type of food that you want to serve. Decide on a catering service, report the number of guests that you will be expecting and what type of food you would like catered. Listen to and consider any suggestions.

5. Finalize and place your order. Go over particulars like times, locations and costs. Pay for the service.

6. Get drinks. Some catering services will supply drinks; others will not. Decide on the types of drinks to serve, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Inquire about sale and return policies with stores so that you can return any unopened drinks to the store after purchasing them.

7. Gather all eating utensils. Cups, plates, bowls, napkins and plastic forks, spoons and knives will be needed for your party to eat. Buy the utensils in bulk to save money. Purchase packages of individual napkins to avoid losing napkin rolls.

8. Set up the location of the memorial service. Line enough tables and chairs to accommodate the mourners. Put all the eating utensils on tables and wait for the catering service and your guests to arrive.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep some extra food handy just in case you run out of catered food. Small snacks like sandwiches, chips, cookies and cakes can help fill unexpected guests.

• To save yourself the hassle of planning and ordering a catering service, consider organizing a potluck instead.