A funeral planning checklist helps families move through the practical decisions needed in the days after a death, from contacting a funeral director to arranging the wake venue and tentage. This checklist focuses on the logistics side, drawing on what we see families need to coordinate most often.
Immediate Steps: First 24 Hours
- Contact a funeral director. They coordinate collection, documentation and guide the family through the overall process.
- Decide on wake location. Void deck, home, or funeral parlour, this decision affects tentage needs and town council coordination.
- Confirm wake duration. Typically 3-5 days depending on faith and family circumstances, this affects both funeral director and tentage arrangements.
- Book tentage if needed. For void deck or home wakes, this should happen as soon as the venue and duration are confirmed.
- Notify immediate family and close relatives. Especially anyone who may need to travel from overseas.
Wake Logistics Checklist
| Item | Who Typically Handles This |
|---|---|
| Tent, seating, lighting | Tentage company |
| Casket, altar setup | Funeral director |
| Town council notification | Funeral director (usually) or family |
| Catering for visitors | Family, or catering service |
| Condolence book, donation box | Family, tentage company can provide table |
| Signage to venue | Tentage company on request |
Questions to Ask When Booking Tentage
What’s the exact tent size and pax capacity, what’s included versus an add-on, and how quickly can setup happen are the three most useful questions to ask upfront. Confirming these early avoids surprises on setup day when the family has enough else to manage.
It’s also worth asking about wet weather preparedness if the wake falls during the Nov-Jan monsoon season or during a stretch of forecasted afternoon thunderstorms, since this is a genuine practical concern for outdoor wakes.
Timeline: What Happens When
Most families move from initial contact with a funeral director to a confirmed wake venue and tentage booking within a few hours, given how urgent this process is. Setup typically follows within 4-8 hours of the tentage booking being confirmed, allowing the wake to begin the same day in most cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a death should tentage be booked?
As soon as the wake venue and duration are confirmed with the funeral director, since most tentage companies offer same-day setup and earlier booking gives more flexibility on timing.
Does the funeral director arrange everything, including tentage?
This varies by package. Some include tentage; others expect the family to book separately. Confirm this directly with your funeral director early in the process.
What if we’re unsure about wake duration at first?
It’s fine to book based on the most likely duration and adjust later if needed. Extending or shortening a wake is usually possible with advance notice to the tentage company.
Who handles town council notification for a void deck wake?
Usually the funeral director, though it’s worth confirming this directly so nothing falls through the cracks between the family, funeral director and tentage company.
After the Wake: Checklist for the Following Days
- Confirm teardown timing with the tentage company. Most equipment is collected within a day of the wake ending.
- Return any borrowed items. Some funeral directors provide items separate from tentage equipment that need to be returned or accounted for.
- Settle final payment. Confirm the final invoice reflects the actual duration, including any extensions or adjustments made during the wake.
- Follow up on any outstanding administrative matters. Death certificate, estate matters and other documentation typically continue after the wake concludes, usually guided by the funeral director.
Common Gaps Families Encounter
The most frequent gap we see is families not confirming who’s responsible for what between the funeral director and tentage company, leading to last-minute questions on setup day. A single point of contact within the family, coordinating with both parties, tends to prevent this.
Another common issue is underestimating visitor numbers for the first evening of the wake, which is often the busiest. It’s better to book slightly larger seating capacity than to run short during peak visiting hours.
Planning Around Faith and Family Preferences
Different faiths and family traditions shape wake duration, seating layout and the space needed for ritual items. Mentioning this upfront to both the funeral director and tentage company saves time and avoids the layout needing adjustment after setup is already underway.
Some families also have specific preferences around auspicious dates for the funeral procession, which can affect the overall timeline and, in turn, how long the tentage stays booked. Raising this early gives everyone involved a clearer picture to plan around.
None of this needs to be perfectly planned in advance. Funeral directors and tentage companies experienced with Singapore’s range of practices are used to adjusting quickly, so the checklist above is a starting point, not a rigid script.
Next Step
If you’re working through funeral planning and need tentage confirmed quickly, call with the venue and expected duration ready. Our team handles this daily through our tentage rental services, or contact us directly for a same-day arrangement.
