Funeral Catering Gold Coast & Brisbane

Catering Options

Please Note

• Gluten Free Options Available for additional $4.95 per person (Menu May Vary)
• Other dietary requirements can be catered for on application.
• Minimum 40 people – All menu prices are GST inclusive
• Maximum 2.5 hours staff time available per event – additional charge of $110 per hour after 2.5 hours.
• 25% surcharge occurs Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays.
• Only Food supplied by caterers to be consumed on premises.

Drinks Options

Coffee

Tea

Bottled water

Beer

Great Northern Original

Great Northern Super Crisp

Great Northern Zero

Wine

Windy Peak Sauvignon Blanc Piccolo 187mL single serve small bottles

Windy Peak Shiraz Piccolo 187mL single serve small bottles

Soft drinks

Coke, Coke Zero, Lemonade, Solo

No BYO – Liquor License and House Rules must be complied with at all times.

Other Catering Options

We also recommend the following local businesses for catering packages:

• Beenleigh Artisan Distillery
• The Gem Hotel

What should I consider when making funeral catering plans?

We recognise that the nitty gritty details of a funeral are often the last thing you want to be thinking about after the loss of a loved one. To help you feel more prepared, here’s a list of factors you might like to consider when organising your funeral catering plans:

• What is your budget?
• How many people will be attending?
• Will kid-friendly foods be required?
• Will you be serving casual nibbles with drinks, a more formal meal, or something in between?
• What time will the reception be held? This may influence which dishes are most appropriate.
• How long will the service be? A longer service may result in hungrier guests.
• Are there any family traditions or customs you’d like to incorporate?

What foods are ideal for funeral services?

For a large number of people, buffet foods can often be less expensive and easier to prepare. If you’re preparing food yourself, it’s a good idea to choose meals that reheat well, as they can be frozen ahead of time. You might also like to consider including some of the deceased’s favourite dishes to personalise the reception.

How much will catering cost?

The overall cost of catering will depend on the caterer you hire. We recommend Sugarant Catering, which offers a range of menu options at varying prices to suit most budgets.

How long should I allow between the service and the wake?

This will depend on the distance between locations. If the service is being held at Eco Memorial Park and you choose to utilise our café for the wake, you can begin the wake immediately following the service.

How long should I allow for my wake?

Most wakes last about two to three hours, however you may like to specify a timeframe to guests beforehand to control the duration.

Can we keep leftover food?

The answer is no, sorry. We do not allow food to be taken home because once it leaves our place we can’t control how it is handled.

Will special dietary requirements be catered for?

This will depend on the catering company you hire, although many will be able to accommodate most dietary restrictions. Be sure to communicate requirements up front with your caterer to avoid problems on the day.

How much food should I order?

A professional caterer will be able to assist you in determining the correct amount of food, so you don’t end up with hungry bellies or large amounts of waste. Key factors that may influence your menu quantities include:

• The male-to-female ratio
• The time of day
• The duration of your service
• The adult-to-child ratio
• Alcohol-free wakes may require less food than those where alcohol is served

Is it traditional to serve food at end-of-life events?

It is traditional to serve food at a wake, however, the set-up of your event is entirely up to you. We recommend communicating to guests whether food will be served so they can plan accordingly.

Who is responsible for providing food?

Funeral catering is typically the responsibility of whoever is organising the event, however when it comes to making arrangements, your loved ones will usually be happy to help.

Options for catering

There are many ways to cater for an end-of-life event. Common options are:

• Hiring a professional catering service
• Preparing the food yourself
• Going out for a meal
• Arranging a potluck, where guests each bring a dish to share

You can also mix and match these options. For example, you might like to hire a caterer to prepare finger foods at the event itself, and then serve a larger meal at your home or chosen venue.

What are reasons not to cater a funeral service?

You may choose not to serve food for any number of purposes. Common reasons may include:

• The event doesn’t overlap with a traditional mealtime
• It’s not practical to cater for an excessively large number of guests
• End-of-life events in your culture do not traditionally involve a shared meal
• The person who passed did not want food to be served at their funeral

Guests are attending to offer their love and support at a difficult time in your life, not to be fed, so if the thought of providing refreshments is stressful, it may be best to remove catering from your plans or hand the reigns over to a professional catering service.

I only want a select number of guests to attend the wake following the funeral service… what should I do?

If there are parts of the event that are only for a select group, you should make this clear on invitations. This will avoid people bringing along additional guests or causing others to feel left out.

How can I personalise my catering plans?

Catering can be a beautiful opportunity to reflect the life of the deceased. Consider the following influences:

• Sharing their favourite meal
• Offering a traditional meal from their culture
• Making plans that reflect causes they were passionate about, such as donating food to a homeless shelter