Funerals - how many people come back for food?

skipfeeney

Hi,

I am trying to arrange catering for my mums funeral.

Its a church service, then we are going to the crematorium and after that I am organising a buffet at a local pub.

We are expecting 30ish people to come, only about 10 close family. how many people realistically would come for the buffet?

Thanks

Robin9

Did a wake for MIL recently - 40 in church. - mainly friends. All came to the wake.

Hers was Crem - Church - Church Hall

However when the Crem or Church is remote from the wake you'll loose potentially 50%



PS I steward many church services and run the church hall where we have the wakes.

For a large service say 150 - many of the family and friends from far away stay for the wake; locals don't stay

victor2

IME, about half those that attended the service. But in all the funerals I've attended in recent years, a lot more people turned up for the actual funeral than anticipated. If it has been announced in the local paper, it's surprising how many people (especially the elder ones) still read them - and start with the obituary pages!
Depends what your mum did and how well known she was. Impossible to even guesstimate how many will turn up, just ask the pub how flexible they can be if more turn up than anticipated.

spenderdave

Mums funeral (15 years ago) - church funeral, the church was very small so that was invited family/friends only, around 20. Churchyard burial, same number. Then an open remembrance service and refreshments in the village hall, guess around 50. you can never tell how many will come (and some in the village didn't hear heard she had died until afterwards, local gossip only goes so far).

I would agree that if the refreshments are remote from where the funeral is held around 50% will go to both.

Flugelhorn

I would go for 50% but if there are small numbers (less than 30 ish) it is harder to guess.

Malthusian

I would cater for at least 20. All 30 if the wake is a short walk from the service. Better too much food than too little. People can always take home any leftover sausage rolls in doggy bags.

Is the pub providing the buffet or are you bringing in food from outside?

stripeyfox

People don't turn up at funerals expecting a feast (in my experience). People might eat a few sandwiches if they're on offer but I doubt anyone is going to kick off if the spread isn't huge.

Gers

The last funeral I attended had a very large crowd, many of whom had travelled a fair way to show their last respects. The deceased was a very popular personality who was a really generous friend to everyone, he sparkled in life.

Almost all went back for the 'ham tea' as it was an opportunity for many to chat to old friends.

Think the moral is 'you just can't tell'!

Flugelhorn

If it is a pub then ask for a buffet for 20 - if there are more then people won't nibble so much . Get them to put out cups for tea and coffee for 20 and explain there may be more - pubs are very used to this and will just provide for more drinks. key thing is that want a minimum number to cater for, but will add more if extra people turn up

badger09

So many variables: time of year, time of day, age of deceased & likely age of attendees, distance from crematorium/church, distance from deceased's home etc etc etc

When catering after my late (80 year old) sister's funeral last year, the last thing I wanted was for people who had braved the icy March weather & travelled many miles to the crem and then to the seafront venue for the wake, to leave feeling hungry. It would have been disrespectful to my sister.

Leftover food was gratefully taken home. She would have enjoyed her 'send off':)

Skiddaw1

I'd agree with a rough ball-park figure of 50% of the mourners attending what my Mum always called the 'Bunfight' . On presumption it's an early afternoon funeral (and that your mother was elderly) I'd expect the majority of the attendees to welcome tea, finger sandwiches and a bit of cake.