You may well have questions about what a Funeral Celebrant can and cannot do, as well as certain questions about different types of ceremonies.
The FAQ below are designed to try to answer the most popular questions, but if you have anything you would like to ask please do get in touch, I am more than happy to answer them.
General FAQ
Funeral & Memorial FAQ
Whatever you want it to.
Celebrants are not bound or constricted in any way, so can include or exclude religion, spirituality and humanist beliefs all in one service, if that is what you want. Alternatively it can include none of these. Your service is your service. Our job is to pull together your stories, memories, hopes, dreams and wishes and create a customised ceremony created entirely for you.
Funerals, memorials, end of life planning own ceremonies.
For details on all other life Ceremonies you can visit Embrace Celebrancy
Based in the South-East of England, this is where I mainly work. This does not restrict me though. If I am right for you, I am more than happy to travel. I have attended ceremonies in Newcastle, Wales, Manchester, USA and Spain.
This depends on the ceremony we are working on together.
I tend to be quite hands on for a funeral or memorial as during this time it is likely you will need quite a bit of support and guidance.
If we have learnt anything recently, it is that video calls can work, and we all now know where the mute button is!
However, we need to know if we click and it is important that you think I am right for your ceremony. Feel free to meet for a virtual or in-person cuppa first.
To start off with, I will ask you a lot of questions. Sorry but it is needed to build a perfect ceremony. Your answers really dictate what I include in the ceremony. I pull your words together to tell the life story of your loved one and include relevant elements that reflect who the ceremony is about. It requires some chat, but isn’t all in one go.
What is your tradition? In short…you set the tone and I follow suit.
This goes for my attire too. Suit & Boot or Fancy Dress – happy either way.
If you would like religion included in your ceremony that is not a problem. Perhaps you would like a member of your family or friend to read a religious piece of prose as part of your ceremony?
You may have met me through your Funeral Director. In which case they tend to sort arrangements for you.
If you have already decided to use me and would like to tell your Funeral Director we are working together, simply give them my contact details and we will work together behind the scenes.
We will then arrange a series of meetings to ensure we have plenty of time to get things just right for you.
Your ceremony is written for you and you only. I do not copy and paste, so there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. Payment is usually via your Funeral Director, though occasionally direct.
In that case once you know what you want included in your ceremony I send an invoice with the balance is due 2 weeks post your ceremony date.
When you look through all of the pricing, and we pull in any elements that you would like in your ceremony, you will have a total cost.
On top of this there will be mileage (‘Mileage Allowance Payments’ ) of 45p per mile if over 30miles.
Ceremonies within a 60 mile radius do not require an overnight stay. Should travel be further afield, overnight accommodation for the night before may need to be added. We can’t have the celebrant running late 
The role of a civil celebrant with regards to funerals and memorials is to meet the family and friends of the person who has passed away, to gather information and details to create a truly unique ceremony for your loved one.
I also work with End of Life planning with clients direct to ensure their last party is how they planned it.
We will have to confirm funeral or memorial logistics first, but then we will go on to discuss your loved one.
I do have to ask a lot of questions about them but will be very gentle and patient, there is no rush.
I often find it helps if you are able to share a few photos of your love one with us before we meet to discuss the order of service and ceremony.
In a location that is comfortable to you, it is ideal that we meet with anyone who was particularly close to your loved one and is playing an active role in arranging the ceremony and reception.
Factor in a couple of hours for this meeting.
If you can have the details of significant events (birth, marriage, children, employment, keen interests) this will help guide our conversations.
Some recent photos always help to remember humorous stories or anecdotes that we can include in the ceremony.
Have a think on whether they had a favourite writer / poet / singer, and whether they had any beliefs or opinions on life and death.
By choosing a civil ceremony, you limit your restrictions, so I encourage you to be as creative and personal as possible. If you struggle with this, I can help you with ideas.
We can talk you through any elements that we think may fit.
Elements are parts of the ceremony that you choose to add in, often representing the beliefs of your loved one and to support the grieving of family and friends. For example, tree planting, lighting a candle etc. Our best elements are the ones we create with you in mind.
We can discuss suitable options with you once we start planning conversations.
Yes, there are no restrictions here. I encourage you to include family and friends if they are able to speak, and can advise of suggestions should you not have ideas to mind. Feel free to think outside the box, does their favourite song have lyrics that reflect them? Did they write anything themselves?
We are more limited with Funerals (burial grounds or crematoriums), but memorials can be held anywhere you like. I must insist that you have landowners permission though.
Your ceremony does not have to a licensed and could be your garden, a beach, a park, woodland, the place a deceased person loved. The choices are limitless. Also, your ceremony can be as long or short as you like.
I am able to offer script writing services as a standalone option should you wish to arrange your own funeral celebration.
Where can I get support from?
Please consider contacting some of these organisations for support.
For other ceremony ideas you would like to discuss, please get in touch for further information.
