Choosing the Right Funeral Venue

 

When it comes to funeral planning, both the stress and the organizational aspects can be draining, especially in the midst of grief. Or perhaps you haven’t lost a loved one, but rather wish to prepare for the future so that your family doesn’t have to. Whatever the case may be, the task can still be daunting especially when you start to consider the rising costs of funerals and burials. If you’re in the New York and New Jersey tri-state areas, you’ll be relieved to know thatMemorial Propertiesis available and at your service. We want to help families of all cultural and religious affiliations to plan touching and meaningful end-of-life services that serve to honor those who have passed away. As a transparent company, we pride ourselves in thoroughly explaining and breaking down bothfuneral and burial prices in the New York and Jersey areasas well as providing resources such as ourpre-planning programsandgroup programs. Read on to learn more about choosing the right venue for a funeral in New York or New Jersey. 

What Does it Mean to Have a Funeral?

To have a funeral means to have a specially planned ceremony dedicated to honoring the life of a loved one who has passed away. A funeral helps us to accept the new and painful reality that our loved one is gone and to help others process their grief. The service also helps us to remember the person through the sharing of memories given through speeches, storytelling, and the acknowledgment of the person’s contributions to society through the reading of the eulogy. 

Some services go a step further to include a tribute video, a slideshow of pictures throughout the years, and special songs or readings that the loved one perhaps cherished or was reflected by. Lastly, a funeral is a special occasion, though generally thought of as melancholy and unfortunate, for other loved ones to offer their support. It’s a time for friends and family members to gather around those who were closely affiliated with the person who passed away and to offer them comfort and encouragement during such a trying time.

What’s the Difference Between a Funeral Venue and a Cemetery?

A funeral venue is the setting where the funeral service or memorial takes place. It’s meant to be the central location where the friends and family of the deceased loved one can gather, share memories, and pay their respects to both the person who passed and the close loved ones they left behind. The venue can be any designated place such as a church, a funeral home, a community center, a theater, a public garden, or even a national park. Whatever the space, it’s usually only reserved for a few hours with the option to showcase the body for a viewing, if the family permits. 

A cemetery, on the other hand, is a burial ground where the deceased is laid to rest, whether that is through the burial of a coffin or through the scattering of the remains fromcremation. Graveside services may be an option which are usually done after the funeral or memorial and is another ceremony where loved ones can gather for a final goodbye at the final destination of the deceased. Here is another opportunity to say a few words, recite poems or verses, or place flowers at the grave site. 

What to Consider When Choosing a Funeral Venue

Choosing a venue for a funeral is not always a simple task for people who find themselves grappling with the decision. Not only is it a lot to consider from a financial perspective, but it’s also a very personal choice for the decision-maker as they consider their lost loved one and what they may have wanted. Many factors come into play when choosing a venue for a funeral or memorial service. Here are some considerations of this weighted decision.

How many people will attend

Knowing how many people are going to attend the service, whether family members, friends, classmates, or coworkers, can influence the direction you go when it comes to finalizing a venue. If you’re expecting a crowd, you don’t want a venue space that is too small and can rob you and your guests of comfort at a time when your stress and emotions are already high. You want a space that is large enough to accommodate your guests so that they can easily show their respect to their lost loved ones. If you are expecting a small number of people, then it’s possible it can benefit your financial expenses. To prevent any time from being wasted and to help narrow down some options, it’s best to estimate how many people are likely to attend prior to securing a venue. 

Location and easy access

When considering a venue for a funeral or memorial, you want to try to find something that’s in close proximity to the deceased’s family and friend circle. You might also want to consider how accessible the venue is in case any of the attendees is disabled. That way everyone who wants to show their respects will be able to easily access the building with no potential problems. If there will be guests traveling out of state, a venue that is close to any hotels, airports, or restaurants might also be sufficient.

Venue type

Typically when we think of funerals, we think of funeral homes and churches, and while these are great options for some people, others might want something a bit outside the box for the memorial they’re planning. Other options include community centers such as rec centers or community halls, outside venues such as public gardens or parks, or maybe a family member’s home, favorite stadium, or local theater downtown. There are lots of options so don’t feel like you’re limited to just a few.

Special services and accommodations

Venues for funerals or memorials can be expensive so you want to make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. Many venues for these types of events have different amenities and services attached to their price points so this is something to greatly consider for your search. When venue hunting, make sure you do your research on what different venues offer such as seating for your guests, a sound system complete with working microphones and speakers that fit the space, parking for your guests, enough bathrooms that are also easily accessible, and even catering services or an onsite kitchen/designated place to prepare food. 

Financial cost

When shopping for a venue, you want to choose something that will not only be able to meet all of your needs, but also be something that won’t break the bank. Some factors that could influence the cost may be the amount of amenities the venue offers, what town or city it’s located in, what type of venue it is such as a park or an upscale funeral home, and etc. So when searching for the right venue, it’s essential to write down a list of must-haves to meet your needs so that you can narrow down places that only make the most sense for your budget.

Considerations of the deceased

At the end of the day, planning a funeral or memorial service is all about best honoring the loved one who left their life and legacy behind. When making the decision to choose a venue, it makes sense to think about the character, beloved memories, or desires of the one who is no longer there. If the person who has passed away had strong religious beliefs, then perhaps their house of worship might be a great venue choice or one that they would’ve wanted.

 If for example, the person who has passed was not religious, but was passionate about astronomy and centered their life around it, then perhaps the local planetarium would be a good option. There are many other great choices to choose from such as restaurants, museums, libraries, country clubs, or even private homes that the deceased may have loved and should be remembered by. 

Opportunities for personalization

When finding a place to host your funeral or memorial service, it’s important that it can allow you the freedom to have what you want in that space or perhaps to decorate if you’re going for a certain theme. If, for example, you want to have food for your guests in the space, you’ll want the venue to be able to accommodate your wishes. Or, if you’d like a coffin to be set up for a viewing, it’s important to make sure that the venue will allow it. Some places such as restaurants or clubs may not allow a coffin on their grounds for various reasons so personalization is something to consider before booking a venue for a funeral or memorial service. 

Do New York and New Jersey have Unique Funeral Venues?

If you are located in either New York or New Jersey, then you’ll be excited to learn that these beautiful states have a lot of rich history and picturesque options for holding services that will honor your loved one’s legacy. You might consider for example the Old Bergen Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. This historic church building was built in 1660 and is considered to house the oldest congregation that still meets in the state. Morven Museum & Garden in Princeton, New Jersey is another historical estate that is situated on a beautiful five-acre property and was built in the 1750s by Richard Stockton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

If you are located in New York, you might consider visiting the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York City. It was built between the years of 1809 and 1815 and is a catholic church with both a gorgeous interior and exterior. St. Paul’s Chapel, which was built in 1766, is another great option to hold a beautiful service for your loved one with historic monuments and memorials for attendees to admire. If you’re looking for an outdoor option, then consider the New York Botanical Garden established in 1891 with the option to dine in the Garden Terrace Room after or before the service.

Who Pays for a Funeral Venue?

Aside from the case where someone is planning ahead for their funeral arrangements, usually if there is no savings for a service, the next of kin of the lost loved one, whether that be a spouse or a parent, or any other close family member, is usually responsible for covering the cost of funeral arrangements. But it’s important to note that no one is obligated from a legal standpoint unless it’s been published in writing as a part of a prior agreement. 

Can a Funeral Reception be Held at the Funeral Venue?

In most cases, a funeral reception can be held at the funeral venue, especially when it’s at a restaurant where private rooms may be available, a funeral home that can arrange catering services and setup/breakdown, places of worship that may have halls or other spaces, or community centers that can offer rooms to rent out.

Plan a Burial with Memorial Properties

While it’s not easy to plan a funeral and come up with the necessary finances to lay your loved one to rest, Memorial Properties are here to make the process easier on your and your family. We offer you access to our tencemetery and mausoleum locations in NJ, which are kept in pristine condition all year long. We believe that today’s wisdom is tomorrow’s peace of mind, and we want to help you properly prepare for the future by making decisions that keep your budget in mind. To learn more about burial costs in NJ and to get started with pre-planning your arrangements, please contact us by calling 732-820-0211 today.