We’ve been helping our neighbors in Midland and Big Spring make their funeral prearrangements for decades. There are many reasons why people choose to preplan with us, and for most, it’s easy to see the benefits. If you still have questions yourself, you might want to read our recent blog post dispelling some of the common myths about preplanning.

For many others though, preplanning a reception following the service is a newer concept. In our role, we can easily see why this should be a consideration for every individual.

1.) It relieves pressure from your family.

This is going to be one of the most difficult seasons in the lives of your loved ones. As your funeral is planned, people from all over Texas – maybe even the country or the world – will descend upon this area to pay you honor and respect. And you know how your family is – they’re going to want to offer these visitors the West Texas hospitality we’re known for, even as they’re mourning. Instead of leaving it up to your loved ones to book a venue or make reservations at a restaurant for a large group, pre-plan a reception to take care of all these decisions for them. It will be a time for friends and family to gather together and find comfort in both a delicious meal and sharing memories with each other.

2.) It’s a way to tell your story.

At Nalley-Pickle & Welch, we are experts at creating a farewell that tells the story of a life. A funeral reception is one more facet of the process. Do you have a favorite food or beverage? We can serve it for you. During the gathering, we can bring in your favorite local band or play a video tribute with photos and messages that you put together ahead of time.

3.) One Last Message of Love

Imagine everyone sitting down at your funeral reception, which you planned down to the last detail. Everything is as you would have it to be – your son, daughter, or grandchild takes a seat, and they begin to notice all of these little touches – they’re playing that song you used to always sing together in the car on the way to school. They’re serving the same chocolate chip cookies you would bake together on a Saturday afternoon. By the time someone takes the podium to read that letter you wrote just for them, they will know you took these final moments to craft a lasting message of love to them.

At Nalley-Pickle & Welch, we’re the experts who can help make this happen for you. We’ll spend the time it takes with you to learn your story and help you plan a service, visitation, and reception that offers healing to your family and builds the foundation for your legacy for generations to come. We have two beautiful reception facilities – The Branch in Midland and the Welch Reception Center in Big Spring. Both are spacious, beautiful, and able to accommodate large gatherings or intimate get-togethers.

We invite you to reach out to our experienced team any time to schedule a time to meet with us or tour our facilities. There might be a lot of details to consider, but we can make it seamless and simple, walking you through each decision.

We invite you to comment below – what aspects would you be sure to include in your funeral reception?