Celebrations of life
I feel passionately that when we lose a loved one, we should honour their life. Everyone deserves a send-off that befits their personality and the life they led. Let’s celebrate them.
I create an alternative to traditional funerals, which for whatever reason, might not feel like the right way to finally say goodbye to your loved one.
For me, saying goodbye in the right way plays a critical role in helping people navigate the grieving process. I don’t want to mask the sadness that comes with death. But during a ceremony I want to give families and friends the opportunity to feel uplifted, even joyful, and grateful for the moments they shared with the person who has died.
A ceremony to mark the end of a life is an ancient rite of passage. But you can explore a non-traditional take on a goodbye.
I focus on Celebrations of Life, as well as personality-packed funerals and meaningful memorials.
There are all sorts of reasons you might be looking for something a bit different. Perhaps you want a private funeral first, or your loved one has arranged a direct cremation, or the original funeral wasn’t what you wanted on reflection.
Humans have always gathered together when a loved one dies. That human connection is what can keep us held together and give us the strength to look ahead. I strongly believe that creating the space for a ceremony to say goodbye is the best option for those who are left behind and are grieving.
Knowing your options
Celebrations of life
Celebrations of life do just that: celebrate. These ceremonies are all about focusing on the fabric of someone’s life, to create a real sense of who they were, what they loved and how they made people feel.
The ways to express a person are endless and as a result, so are the opportunities to create the right celebration of life for your loved one. Generally, they’re more holistic, free-flowing and less time-bound than a funeral.
The right ceremony will be a mix specific to them. It might be important to choose the right venue, bring their stories to life in non-traditional ways, share words they lived by, listen to the right music, get different people actively participating in the ceremony or set the right theme and dress-code.
I will guide you through the process to help you create a true expression of your loved one’s life.
Funerals
Funerals can be absolutely beautiful, and they don’t have to feel ‘out the box’ or purely something to ‘get through’.
Did you know you don’t have to have a funeral in a crematorium or religious building? While you might choose to have your ceremony at a more traditional location, there are plenty of other options.
You could choose your favourite hotel, a rural barn venue or even at your home. If you want your loved one’s coffin present, the Funeral Director you work with can make these arrangements to support your choice.
In whatever venue you are planning your funeral, I am professionally trained to work with Funeral Directors to deliver a high level of professional service, and can bring all the personality your ceremony deserves.
Memorials
Memorials are all about sharing and preserving memories of your loved one to honour them.
If the joy and celebration typical to a Celebration of Life doesn’t feel like the right option for whatever reason, but you want a respectful, uplifting and meaningful alternative to a traditional funeral, a memorial could be the right fit.
Memorials could be anywhere, and perhaps best located in somewhere that easily sparks a memory of your loved one. That might be by the sea, in their favourite pub or looking out over their favourite view.
Getting to know your loved one is the main thing I will focus on as a celebrant when planning a ceremony.
Usually, we will have an initial meeting so I can understand broadly what you have in mind and you can make an informed decision about whether I will be the right fit as your celebrant.
Then, we will have a comprehensive meeting to really get to know your loved one and help guide you through designing a ceremony which reflects them. We’ll talk in depth about their life, who they were and what they meant to others. We’ll also discuss all the options for elements you’d like to include in the ceremony.
I’ll draft a comprehensive running order for the ceremony and liaise with any other suppliers you are working with to finalise any details and ensure the event is as seamless as possible.
I’ll also deliver a complete ceremony script for you to review. On the day, I will deliver the ceremony with professionalism and personality.