A little guidance

A celebrant is a person who is specifically trained and certified to lead ceremonies for special occasions. These could be weddings, funerals, naming days or any other occasion where a professional speaker is required. A successful celebrant is an artist, a good storyteller, an advisor, a facilitator, a resourceful person and a terrific listener, but is never the dominator.

For many families it's the feeling that “this funeral could only have been for them.”

A good celebrant will make sure that they have all the necessary information to really convey who the deceased person was and how much they were loved. They will spend significant time with the family to make sure that they understand what the family needs and wants from the ceremony.

Celebrant-led funerals are usually warmer, often less formal and can include humour, stories and everyday details that capture the person's character.

A celebrant can conduct ceremonies just about anywhere; at crematoria, cemeteries, funeral homes, natural burial grounds or anywhere that the family have permission to hold the funeral.

Where people have different beliefs or backgrounds, a celebrant can create a ceremony that everyone feels comfortable participating in.

The fee for a celebrant will be included in the final bill from the funeral director.

It is a good idea to think about whether you’d like any music, readings or photographs in the service. However, the most important thing to think about is all of your memories of your loved one. What stories can you tell the celebrant that would really capture their personality and what they meant to you and your family?

You could also consider whether anyone would like to write their own tribute, and if so, would they like to read it themselves or for the celebrant to do so.

This is personal choice and completely up to you. Be aware of the length of your service though, if the funeral is at a crematorium then there will be strict time slots which cannot overrun. Your celebrant will be able to advise on timings, and will make sure that you keep within your allotted time.

You do not need to have an Order of Service, but it is a lovely keepsake to commemorate both a wedding and a funeral, and is therefore highly recommended.

Funerals can legally be held anywhere, although most people choose to hold a funeral in a crematorium, church, natural burial site, or, as is becoming more popular, at the Funeral Home. You can also have the funeral service at a crematorium but then move on to a burial. Your funeral director will be able to advise you on your options.

In England a celebrant cannot legally marry a couple. The legal marriage formalities would need to be performed separately, usually at a registry office, if they want their marriage to be legally recognised. However, the cost for this is very low and it is really just a formality. The real fun happens at the ceremony, and the advantage to having a celebrant-led wedding is that you can hold the ceremony wherever you choose! The venue doesn’t need to be licensed.

A licence isn’t needed for a celebrant-led wedding which means that you can hold your wedding wherever you choose.

Please contact me to chat about what rituals are available for your ceremony.