Visitations are an option that a lot of families choose to have before the funeral or memorial service. It allows them a chance to greet their friends and family and speak with them in a manner that might not be possible in a funeral service. If you are planning on attending the visitation and you have never been to one before, you may not be certain about what to expect. Here are some things that providers of cremation services in Santee, SC want you to remember about visitations. 

Unlike a funeral or memorial service, you do not have to get to the visitation when it starts. Visitations last a number of hours, allowing guests to come and go as their schedules allow. You do not have to worry about arriving when it starts or staying until the end, which makes it easier for many people to attend and offer their condolences. 

You want to consider what you wear to the visitation. Stick to respectful options, including nothing too casual or too revealing. Many times, people come directly from work and that is fine, since work clothes tend to be appropriate. You do not have to wear black for a visitation if you do not want to, but stick to options that are more somber in color. Avoid anything that calls attention away from the family of the deceased. 

When you greet the family, keep in mind that they will have many other people to speak with. Try not to take up more than five minutes when offering your condolences and sympathies. They will already be emotionally exhausted, so keeping your message relatively short can be exactly the right thing to do. 

This can be a good opportunity to bring a sympathy gift and give it to the family. Sometimes people do this during the funeral or memorial service, but it can be more intimate if you do so during a visitation. The gift does not have to be anything fancy. A card with a thoughtful message is a good choice, as is a bouquet of flowers. All you want to do is ensure the family realizes that you are thinking of them and that you sympathize with their grief. 

These are all important things to remember when attending a visitation. Visitations can be a great opportunity to speak with the family of the deceased and give them your condolences and it can allow you the chance to also give them a sympathy gift without having to rush. You also want to think about what you wear to the visitation so that you do not offend anyone. Stick to more conservative options but you do not have to wear black. If you want to learn more about visitations, you can reach out to a Santee, SC cremation service provider like us at Avinger Funeral Home. We can answer any questions you may have about visitations and many other funerary concerns. Give us a call right now or stop by our location today.