The Journal
3 min read
What to bring to your first planning conversation
People apologise to Natacha for not being organised. Nobody is organised in that week. You can come with nothing and still have a useful hour.
The first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. It happens in person or by phone, whichever is easier on the day.
Helpful if you have it
- The funeral home you are working with, if one is already chosen
- A rough date, or the range of dates you are considering
- A guest number, even a bad guess, since it drives most other decisions
- Whether you want a repast afterwards
- Anything the person who died said they wanted, however informally they said it
Do not worry about
A budget you have not worked out. A venue you have not seen. Photographs you have not found yet. Whether the family agrees. All of that is what the conversation is for, and disagreement in the room is normal enough that Natacha plans around it.
What happens after
You get a written quote for your family before any work starts. If you decide not to go ahead, that is the end of it and you owe nothing.