Monthly Archives: June 2021

cremation service in Langhorne, PA

Tips for Choosing a Venue for a Memorial

Even though planning the service aspect of the memorial, writing a eulogy, and even deciding on the flowers are all very important, one of the most important aspects of planning a memorial after a cremation service in Langhorne, PA is choosing the right venue. Unfortunately, choosing a venue can be stressful.

Rather than get overwhelmed, use this list of things to think about when choosing an event center in which to host your lost loved one’s memorial.

Start with ambiance. The existing décor or ambiance in the space is key. Think about the architecture, décor, and interior style. Do you want a more intimate feel? Then look for a venue that is already more intimate and cozier. Do you want lots of greenery and plants? Look at event spaces with pre-existing greenery. The less the existing ambiance matches the feel you want for the memorial, the more work you will have to do once you begin planning. There’s also accessibility. You need to be sure that any venue you choose is accessible to everyone who wants to attend the memorial no matter their physical abilities. Are there wheelchair ramps? Handicap bathrooms? If there will be children at the memorial, you also need to think about access to children’s amenities. You need be aware of being welcoming to any and all capabilities.

Don’t forget about acoustics. You don’t want your memorial to be too loud to too quiet, so you need to think about acoustics when looking at venues. A low ceiling may make a space feel cozy, but it might also make sounds too loud during eulogies or speeches. The reverse can also be true if a ceiling is too high. Acoustics can almost always be fixed with sound systems, but those do get pricey. Being flexible on open dates is another great way to narrow down venues. Some venues book up years in advance, while others keep open dates on their calendars for more last-minute bookings. Be sure to check if a venue has your desired date open before you spend a lot of time researching it. You should also look into insurance. Depending on the venue, you might need insurance. Check with potential venues to see what their insurance policies are, and if they include event insurance in their packages.

Want more information? You can also check out local online reviews, consumer’s bureaus and other websites for more information to narrow down your options. If you take the time to do your research, you’ll find a great venue for your lost loved one’s memorial in no time.

cremation service in Langhorne, PA

Finding the right event space for your lost loved one can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. This is especially true if you enlist J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel, a Langhorne, PA cremation service provider, to help. We have years of experience in the industry and would be happy to make venue recommendations. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you.

funeral home in Langhorne, PA

Indoor Vs. Outdoor Funerals

One of the biggest choices that must be made when planning a memorial or a funeral at a funeral home in Langhorne, PA is choosing a venue for the service. There are a lot of venue options, each with great pros and cons.

Some are indoors, and some are outdoors. Which is better, indoors or outdoors? Both indoor and outdoor memorial and funeral venues options offer both pros and cons, positives and negatives. Keep reading for helpful information that can guide you in making the right decision in your time of loss.

Indoor venues and event centers are traditional and reliable for memorial and funerals. They offer great benefits such as intimate settings. Indoor event centers make great memorial or funeral venues as they make for more intimate settings. You’ll have all of your loved ones in one room, and everyone will have an opportunity to share in grief over the loss and celebration over a life well-lived. You can find indoor venues in a wide range of sizes so no service will feel too cramped in a small space or too spread out a large space.

Don’t forget about weather protection. Weather can be erratic. From smoldering hot to cold, rainy to sunny, you can never know what to expect when it comes to the great outdoors. Choosing an indoor venue for your lost loved one’s service means you don’t have to worry about the weather. You won’t have to obsess over checking the forecast, as you and your guests will automatically be comfortable no matter if its rain or shine outside. There’s also customization. You can make an indoor memorial or funeral venue almost anything you want. There are tons of ways to customize an indoor space with flowers, streamers, candles, fabric drapes and more. You can even make an indoor space feel like an outdoor space with the right amount of greenery.

But what about outdoor venues? Outdoor venues also offer great benefits. Many people feel closer to God or another higher power when they’re outside, which can be comforting in times of loss. Finally, you can save on greenery. The outdoors has plants and flowers already included, which can save you money on greenery and flowers for your lost loved one’s service. The scenery is also great. There is nothing quite like the great outdoors. From fountains and creeks to trees, bushes, and expansive night sky views, hosting a memorial or funeral outside is almost always beautiful and respectful of the deceased.

funeral home in Langhorne, PA

At the end of the day, choosing between and indoor and an outdoor venue is very personal. It’s all about what matters to you, your family, and your lost loved one. J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel is here to help if you want to learn more about venue options for your lost loved one’s funeral or memorial service. As a Langhorne, PA funeral home, we can offer helpful advice and guidance for your time of loss. Please pay us a visit or give us a call today.

cremation services in Washington Crossing, PA

How Do You Plan a Green Memorial?

Everyone wants to do their part when it comes to the environment, and this includes hosting an eco-friendly funeral or memorial service for a lost loved one. Eco-friendly memorials and funerals have been on the rise, whether they’re at churches, halls or after cremation services in Washington Crossing, PA. These tips and tricks can offer guidance and inspiration if you want to plan an eco-friendly service for your lost loved one.

First, be mindful of paper. Funerals and memorials use a lot of paper. From invitations to programs, menus and even fans, a lot of this paper goes into the garbage after the service of over. Make sure the paper products you use are recycled after the event or save on paper items by choosing creative substitutes. Do a chalkboard sign as opposed to programs or send out invitations via email as opposed to on postcards. Also, be aware of what you’re burying with the deceased so you’re not releasing harmful or non-biodegradable materials into the environment.

You can also recycle and repurpose. Try using repurposed or recycled items for any decoration you may want for the service or wake. You can easily put together beautiful and meaningful decorations while being considerate of the materials and their sources. Try using clean materials like jute and cotton or make the flower arrangements from fabrics to cut back on flower use. You can also choose to use recycled or organic fabrics instead of synthetic ones.

What about lighting? If you’re having the service at night or in a dark venue, it can go through tons of energy. Try and use more eco-friendly LED lights to use less energy or invest in candles that you can re-sell or hold onto as keepsakes after the event. You can also host a daytime funeral or memorial and skip the lights altogether.

Don’t forget to shop seasonal. If the wake or memorial service will have food, make seasonal produce a priority when planning the menu. Seasonal produce is dramatically less harmful for the environment than out of season food and is also easier to get fresh and in bulk. This is because seasonal produce uses less preservatives and fertilizers and doesn’t require lots of refrigeration or greenhouse heating. Plus, in-season fruits and veggies are almost always more delicious and flavorful than other options. Also, shop local. There are a lot of emissions involved when it comes to transporting goods long distances. If you choose local supplies and vendors for the funeral or memorial, you can greatly reduce the event’s carbon footprint. Not to mention that supporting local vendors is great for the local economy and can also save you some money.

Finally, think about the guest lists. The more guests you have, the bigger the funeral’s carbon footprint will be. If being eco-friendly is important to you, try and cut down the guest list to smaller number. Plus, the smaller the guest list the more intimate and respectful of the deceased it will be.

cremation services in Washington Crossing, PA

Do you want to learn more about eco-friendly services or Washington Crossing, PA cremation services? J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel is here to help. Stop by and visit us or give us a call today.

funeral home in Washington Crossing, PA

How to Make a Funeral Budget

If you’re planning a lost loved one’s funeral service at a funeral home in Washington Crossing, PA, one of the first and most essential tasks you must complete is creating a budget. While its always important to have a budget for any kind of event, its especially true when planning a memorial or funeral service because you will most likely be distracted with grief after losing a loved one. Making a budget might seem daunting, it’s not that bad once you get going one step at a time.

The first step in creating a budget is to build an organizational tool that works for your needs. A spreadsheet is the most commonly used tool for planners to stay on top of budgetary needs. You should create a spreadsheet that has a line for everything you are going to spend money on for your lost loved one’s service. While you might not know every single thing right now, you can build the format and fill it out as you move along. Start your budget spreadsheet by creating a few different columns.

The first one is for items. What is the item you are budgeting for? Be as specific as possible, and don’t group different items together. For example, don’t make a line for food and drink. Instead, make one line for food and a different line for drink. The more detailed you are the easier it will be to make changes down the line if needed. You also need a column for the number of items needed. The quantity of an item is very important for a budget. There is a big difference in cost between 50 candles and 100 candles, or food for 75 people versus food for 200 people. This also goes the other way, as eliminating unnecessary numbers of items can give you more wiggle room in a budget that you can use for other things.

Don’t forget about the estimated cost and the description. The cost of different items might change from venue to venue, so having an estimated cost can give you a clearer idea of how your budget is doing before you make final decisions. Also, you need to describe the item you are budgeting for. Descriptions are absolutely necessary, especially if you plan on having other people help you plan the memorial or need to have an executor or other family member approve a budget.

You can also include information about whether the item is essential or not in the description. Finally, mark down final quotes as soon as you have them to make your budget accurate and up to date. Writing down the actual cost of items can help you plan for future events and give you a good idea as to how you are staying on your budget.

funeral home in Washington Crossing, PA

J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel is here to help if you want more memorial or funeral service planning tips or information on Washington Crossing, PA funeral homes. Please stop by and visit us or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you. After all, once you make a budget spreadsheet for your lost loved one’s service, the rest of the planning will feel a lot less stressful and painful.