Arranging catering for a funeral wake is not something most people have done before, and it often falls to someone who is already carrying a great deal. Whether you are managing it yourself or helping a family through a difficult time, this guide is intended to make the practical side a little clearer: what to serve, how to plan for numbers, what to ask the venue, and how to work with a caterer who understands the occasion.
Smiths Catering London has been catering in London since 1986. Our buffet catering menus are designed for corporate lunches, office meetings, conferences, funerals, christenings and private parties. We are a family-run business with our own kitchen on the edge of London in Kent, and we bring the same care and consistency to a quiet family gathering as we do to a large corporate event.
What Food Works Well at a Wake
Most wakes are best served by food that is easy to eat, unpretentious and generous without being fussy. Guests are often on their feet, conversation is the priority, and a formal sit-down arrangement rarely suits the mood.
Finger buffets are the most common choice, and for good reason. They allow guests to help themselves at their own pace, work well across all age groups and can be laid out beautifully without requiring any formal service. A well-prepared finger buffet covers sandwiches and wraps, savoury pastries, quiches, cocktail sausages and similar items that travel and present well.
Cold buffets offer a slightly more substantial spread and suit gatherings where guests are staying for a longer period. For wakes where something warmer is wanted, particularly in the colder months, a fork buffet is worth considering: hot dishes served from the buffet table with plates, giving guests a proper meal without requiring a seated format.
Sweet things matter at a wake. Traybakes, miniature cakes, scones and biscuits are always well received and give the table a sense of warmth and care.
One of our clients arranged a finger buffet for a funeral wake and told us afterwards: ‘The catering buffet was excellent.’ That is exactly the kind of quiet success we aim for on these occasions.
Planning for Numbers
Estimating numbers for a wake can be genuinely difficult. It is common for attendance to be uncertain until close to the day, and numbers can change after the service. Our advice is to plan for a reasonable upper estimate rather than a conservative one; running short is far more stressful than having a little left over.
For detailed guidance on quantities by format, our blog post How Much Food Per Person? covers this clearly. For specific questions about your event, please ask us about numbers directly.
Choosing and Briefing the Venue
Wakes are held in many different settings: the family home, a church hall, a pub function room or a hired space. Each comes with its own practical considerations.
Before confirming anything with a caterer, it is worth asking the venue a few straightforward questions. Is there a kitchen or preparation area available? What time can the caterer access the space, relative to the service? Is there adequate table space for a buffet layout? Are there any restrictions on outside catering?
Home wakes require the caterer to work within whatever space is available, so clear communication in advance helps considerably. Church halls vary widely in their facilities. Pub function rooms and hired spaces often have their own requirements around set-up and clearing.
Timing Around the Service
The catering needs to be ready for guests to arrive directly from the service, which means the caterer should ideally be set up and standing by before anyone reaches the venue. Discuss this timing carefully when you make your booking. A good caterer will ask about the order of the day and plan around it, not the other way around.
Dietary Requirements
Guests at a wake span a wide range of ages and dietary needs. It is sensible to include clearly labelled options that cover vegetarians, and to ask about common allergens as part of your booking conversation. Our blog on catering for every dietary requirement sets out the practical steps clearly, and the same principles apply here as they do across our event catering and private catering work.
What to Ask Your Caterer
When you make first contact, it helps to have a few things ready: the date, the venue, a rough sense of numbers, the time guests are expected to arrive, and any known dietary requirements. A straightforward caterer will take it from there.
If you are arranging this at short notice, do not hesitate to say so. We understand that wakes are often organised under time pressure, and we will do everything we can to help.
Arranging a Wake with Smiths Catering London
We have been catering in London since 1986, working with families, businesses, event organisers and venues of every kind. Our buffet menus are designed to work in a wide range of settings, and we approach every booking, including the quieter, more personal ones, with the same care and attention.
If you are organising a wake and would like to talk through what might work for your gathering, please get in touch. We are glad to help.
