Celebration of Life Food Plan

What to serve, how much, and who brings it.

Planning your own farewell? Write down the foods that meant something. The Sunday roast, the taco night, the pie nobody could copy. Your people will cook them.

Planning for someone you love? Start with their favorites, then use the quantity guide so you buy enough and not three times too much.

Food is the part people remember

After a funeral, the meal has a name. Some families call it a repast, some a reception, some just lunch. It is where the stories come out. It does not need to be fancy. It needs to be enough, and it should taste like the person.

Five ways families do it

1. Potluck. The oldest tradition and still the best for most families. Everyone brings one dish. The signup tab in the template keeps it organized.
2. The person's favorite place. Order trays from the restaurant they loved. One phone call, and the food already carries a memory.
3. A caterer. For larger gatherings or when the family should not be cooking. Ask the venue for a list.
4. A food truck. Casual, outdoors, and easy for a backyard or park celebration.
5. Dessert and coffee only. Perfect for an afternoon gathering. Pie, cookies, cake, good coffee. Nobody expects more.

How much to buy

Enter your headcount in the template and it does the math. The short version for a two to three hour gathering: if there is no meal, plan 10 to 12 bites per person. If there is a buffet, plan about 5 ounces of main protein and 4 ounces of each side per person, one and a half rolls, and one and a half desserts. Buy 50 percent more plates than guests, because everyone comes back for cake.

For a potluck, ask each household to bring a dish that serves 8 to 10. One dish for every 6 guests is enough, because people take a little of everything.

These are planning estimates. Round up.

Do not forget

• One vegetarian dish and one gluten-free dish. Label them.
• Ask the venue about outside food before you plan. Most funeral homes and churches allow it. Some halls require their caterer.
• Someone to set out food, someone to refill, and someone to pack up leftovers. Put names in the template.
• Containers for leftovers. Send food home with the people who need it most.

Preview the template

Related resources

• Beverage Plan
• Guest List
• Themes and Colors

Find help near you

Caterers who work celebrations of life know the pace of the day. Find Caterers