How to Organize a Mother's Day Memorial Tribute Brunch

Mother's Day can be an especially difficult time for those who have lost their mothers. Part of the difficulty lies in feeling left out of the holiday, and being unable to express the love they still feel for a parent who is no longer there.

The good news is, if you are missing your mother on Mother's Day, there are probably other people who are missing her too. Organizing a Mother's Day memorial tribute brunch is a great way to participate in the holiday, celebrate your loved one and be there for each other during what could otherwise be a very sad day.

But how do you go about organizing a Mother's Day memorial tribute brunch? As with any occasion, organization is the key to planning a successful event. There are a few main points you will have to consider up front.

Location. One of the most important things to consider when planning an event is where to have it. There are plenty of factors that go into making this kind of decision. For one thing, is it a large or a small event? If you want a small, cozy affair, then consider having it at your home, or at the home of one of the other participants. If your mother was a public figure and you know half the city will want to come, then you can rent an appropriate venue if you like.

Guest list. Before you decide anything else, you should probably make out a guest list. This will help you determine and control the tone of the brunch, the cost, the most appropriate location and the menu. In fact, it may even be a good idea to begin sending out feelers to the others before you get too deep into the planning.

Menu. Guest list and location will determine what you serve. If you are having a small contingent of your mother's friends over for a light meal, and all your mother's friends are vegetarians, then that will of course guide you in what you will want to prepare for them. If you are planning a big shindig for the entire city, then whatever is most cost-effective, easiest and mainstream will be the best course of action.

Those three things will help you get the ball rolling but there are plenty of other considerations to make when putting together an event. For one thing, what other activities will take place during the event? You may be getting together with friends and siblings to talk over pleasant memories. In that case, you may invite everyone to bring a souvenir from their relationship with your mother to show and reminisce over.

If it is a large public event you will want to provide the crowd with speakers, and you will have to contact them ahead of time. You will want to decorate appropriately with photographs of your mother shaking hands with supporters or employees, winning awards or just generally doing what she did. Since it is a "memorial" brunch, you will want to provide things that will cause people to remember their experiences with your mother, and to share them.

That doesn't mean that you should skimp on the same when planning a smaller get-together. Decorate with photos of your mother. Put out flowers in the colors that she liked. Put out the sort of flowers that she liked. Play her favorite music, or music that featured in stories she told about one or more of your guests.

Whatever you plan, be sure it will be something to get everyone smiling. This should not be a somber event. It should be a way for everyone to get together and still feel that they are having fun with your mother, still enjoying her company, even if she is no longer with them in body. They may shed a few tears. But even if they are tears of sorrow, a well-planned Mother's Day Memorial Tribute Brunch can turn them into tears of joy as well.