The pandemic changed the world in March of 2020, and that includes planning for wakes and memorials. Gone are a lot of the traditional aspects of planning funeral service, memorial, or wake after a cremation service in Lansing, MI. COVID-19 has drastically changed the catering industry in the United States and beyond, so what can you do?

There are tons of ways to keep guests safe when it’s time to eat, including individual serving ware rather than shared serving tools, temperature checks on all employees and outside caterers, mask requirements for employees and caterers, and individual plates rather than family style service.

You can still have a wonderful service to honor your lost loved one with catering ideas like these to keep people safe and fed. The bereaved and their guests still need to eat. Luckily, there are several catering trends that are safe for memorials in the time of COVID. Here are a couple of the best options. The first is food stations. Food stations have been around for a while, and they aren’t going anywhere. From appetizers and cocktails to ice cream bars, taco stations, and even mashed potato bars, food stations are delicious, easy, and safe.

Décor cakes are smaller cakes that are placed at each place setting to serve as both decoration and a tasty dessert. The small individual cakes are also better for social distancing. You can also opt for other small desserts like pies, macarons, or even donuts. These are just a few of the current COVID-friendly catering trends. While memorials, funerals, and wakes might not be like we pictured for the foreseeable future, they are still possible with safety measures and a little creativity.

Pre-poured, pre-plated, and even mini servings of station foods are ideal for minimizing guest and server contact, especially since they help keep lines moving and spread out the guests for better social distancing. There are also passed hors d’oeuvres and individual desserts. While grazing boards, like those with charcuterie spreads, fruits and desserts are classic, they’re not ideal for COVID safety. Luckily, passed hors d’oeuvres are back in style. They allow for masked servers to bring food directly to the bereaved to minimize people unnecessarily touching food. While large, shared desserts are lovely and always will be, more and more people are moving towards décor cakes.

It’s important to note that recent CDC findings suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 doesn’t grow or live on food or drinking liquids, so handling food or consuming food is generally safe when it comes to transmission.

Do you want more wake tips or information on Lansing, MI cremation services? Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care is here to help. We’re a cremation provider with the experience and compassion necessary to help you plan an honorable, respectful, and memorable memorial for your lost loved one. Stop by and visit us or give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you in your time of loss or of preplanning.