Celebrations of life · Stafford, Houston
Choosing a celebration of life venue in Houston
Most people arranging a repast have never done it before, are doing it in the same week as everything else, and have no idea what to ask. This is written to save you some of that.
Why the usual options are difficult
After a service, people need somewhere to sit down, eat something and talk about the person they came for.
A church hall is often too small, and sometimes has to be cleared for something else the same evening. A restaurant is rarely private, and a private room usually has a minimum spend and a table you must vacate. A home fills up before the first hour is out, and someone from the family ends up in the kitchen for the whole afternoon instead of being with people.
What to ask a venue
Will we be the only ones here?
A shared building means another party’s guests in the corridor. Ask directly. At The Hendrix only one event runs at a time.
How much notice do you need?
Most families come to us with a week or less. That is the ordinary shape of this rather than an imposition, and both rooms are usually available on the weekdays when services are held.
Can we use our own caterer?
Families often want one particular kitchen — the one that cooks the food the person actually liked. There is no approved list here and no markup on the bill.
Is there step-free access?
The people most likely to struggle with stairs are the people most likely to be there. The ground-floor room is step-free from the main entrance.
Is there somewhere private?
A room off the main floor where a few people can sit out of view for ten minutes. Ask whether it stays yours for the whole booking.
What are the total costs?
Ask for the cleaning fee, the security fee, the deposit and the hourly rate at the same time as the headline price, so there is nothing to discover afterwards.
Sizing the room
Guest numbers for a repast are harder to predict than for any other kind of event. People come who were not expected, and people who said they would come cannot face it on the day.
The Dome upstairs suits a family-only gathering of 80 guests or fewer, from $1,200, and is the same price on any day of the week. The Mansion on the ground floor seats 300 or holds 350 standing, from $2,500, and is the room families take when the whole congregation is coming or when the service itself is held here.
The additional costs, so you have all of them at once: a cleaning fee of $200 in the Dome or $350 in the Mansion, a refundable deposit of $350 or $500 returned after the event, and a $300 security fee where the gathering runs into the evening or alcohol is served.
If you would rather not visit
Not everyone wants to walk a venue that week, and there is no need to. We can describe either room over the phone and send photographs the same day. Call (281) 801-5211.
You can also see it without speaking to anyone. There is a virtual tour of both halls in the gallery, a walkthrough with the floor plan and capacities, and footage of the building and the car park from outside so you know exactly what to expect on arrival.
If you are a funeral director arranging on behalf of a family, there is a separate page covering provisional holds, the rate sheet and referral terms: for funeral directors.
Questions families ask
How much notice do you need for a repast?
Most families come to us with a week or less, and often much less. That is the ordinary shape of this rather than an imposition, and both rooms are usually available on the weekdays when services are held.
How much does a celebration of life venue cost in Houston?
The Dome at The Hendrix starts at $1,200 and is the same price on any day of the week. The Mansion starts at $2,500. Added to that are a cleaning fee of $200 or $350, a $300 security fee, and a refundable deposit of $350 or $500 returned after the event.
How many guests can you seat for a repast?
The Dome upstairs suits a family-only gathering of 80 guests or fewer. The Mansion on the ground floor seats 300 or holds 350 standing, and is the room families take when the whole congregation is coming.
Can we use our own caterer?
Yes. There is no approved list and no markup on the food bill. Families often want one particular kitchen, the one that cooks the food the person actually liked, and that is entirely fine.
Is the room step-free?
Yes, the ground-floor Mansion is step-free from the main entrance, with the prep kitchen and both suites on the same floor. The people most likely to struggle with stairs are the people most likely to be there.
Can we see the room without visiting?
Yes. We can describe either room over the phone and send photographs the same day. There is also a virtual tour of both halls in the gallery, a walkthrough with the floor plan, and footage of the building and car park from outside, so you can see everything without leaving home.