A funeral celebrant is the main host of a funeral or a celebration of life, and it is their role to officiate the service.

Funeral celebrants can be religious or non-religious: it is one of the great things about them as you have the freedom to weave in anything you like to pay homage to your loved one. An independent funeral celebrant will strive to accommodate any wish, and this can include a prayer or hymn if it feels appropriate for the person that has died.

Essentially, they exist to create a cathartic celebration that perfectly encapsulates the memory of the person who has passed away.

Although the funeral celebrant’s primary role is to lead and officiate the ceremony, there are many ways they will support you throughout your time of grief.

Typically, a funeral celebrant will:

• Be a point of support and guidance from the very first meeting right through until the end of the service
• Spend time understanding the wishes of the family and make sure these are carried out sufficiently
• Keep you fully in the loop of how the service will run so that you never feel out of control
• Prepare the eulogy with guidance from the family so that it is a true reflection of their loved one
• Take charge of the timing of the service so that no moments are ever rushed
• Craft a ceremony that is personal and helps all friends and family to find some sort of closure for the person they have lost

Whether you want the funeral ceremony to be entirely void of any religion, or you want to bring in a spiritual or faith-based message, I will create a space for an open dialogue between us. This space is your inclusive, safe opportunity to share what is important to you.

The key difference between a humanist and a civil celebrant is the amount of religious content included in the service. A humanist will construct a ceremony that is non-religious and so they’re often unable to include prayers, hymns or anything which suggests there is life after death.

An independent funeral celebrant or civil celebrant is not affiliated with any religion, faith, or set of beliefs. This means anything YOU deem to be important can be included during the service. A celebrant will tailor the ceremony by responding to the needs and wishes of a bereaved family.

From wearing a particular colour, to an unusual music choice, to reciting The Lord’s Prayer. All of these choices are welcome because celebrants believe the only fitting tribute is one that best reflects a person’s individuality.

I charge £175 for a funeral or memorial. For children under 16, there is no charge. Have a look at the Funeral and Memorials page of my website to see what this includes and where there could be additional charges.

There are several ways of making funerals less costly. Contact me, and I can help you think through your options.

When you’re organising a funeral, do the things you want, in line with what you believe the wishes of the deceased would have been; don’t try to play to the crowd and keep everyone satisfied, trust your own gut instinct, and don’t be bound by what you’ve seen before.  The person you’ve lost was unique, and so should their funeral be.

This meeting is for you to get to know me and build a connection; after all, I am going to play an important role in an incredibly precious day… it’s crucial that you feel at ease with me.

I will give you an open floor to share your feelings and memories about your loved ones. Funeral planning is undeniably a difficult process, but I will do everything I can to help you evoke happy heartfelt stories; ones you may have even forgotten. During our conversation, I will gain a deep understanding and awareness of the type of person the deceased was. I will use this knowledge to carefully craft a service that does their life justice.

In addition, I will ask you to consider if you have in mind any particular music, prayers, poetry, or readings to accompany the tribute. Don’t worry if nothing springs to mind. I am always happy to make suggestions that may fit well within the service. Offering guidance is part of my role.

Although our meeting can be a difficult process, many families actually find some relief in being able to talk freely and share their memories and stories. The initial meeting usually takes around two hours. Should you need more or less time, that’s absolutely fine. We will work together at your own pace, stopping at any time you need to.

It is all about taking the time to remember the departed and work together to build a final farewell that celebrates the many different layers of their unique personality and life.

One of the biggest benefits of a celebrant-led funeral is its openness and inclusivity. It allows you to create a ceremony that is a true reflection of the deceased and actually takes the mourners on a journey away from their grief.

Many feel that typical funerals don’t offer any kind of emotional weight or psychological transformation, despite this being a huge part of the grieving process. This can even leave family and friends feeling even sadder when they leave the service.

However, I will try to bring a sense of light to the ceremony, reminding the mourners that the individual lived a beautiful, meaningful life.

It also gives you the flexibility to factor in different beliefs and wishes, without being tied to a specific structure. It also provides lots of options for less traditional, more alternative ceremonies that may better reflect the love, style and personality of the person you have lost.

When a loved one dies, it is always a very painful and distressing time. And, it is at this difficult time that family and close friends are often faced with dozens of decisions about the funeral.

Should it be a burial or cremation? What should we do with the ashes? What are the legal requirements? Who should conduct the ceremony? 

All these questions are obviously important but, at a time when emotional stress is high, it’s easy to forget perhaps the most important question of all – what kind of funeral do you really want?

The truth is that every family is different, and not everyone wants the same type of funeral. Your choice may be influenced by religious and cultural traditions, or by cost and personal preferences, or the express wishes of the deceased.

And whilst the majority of people in the UK still choose a ‘traditional’ religious funeral service, an increasing number are finding that their personal preferences are better met by using a Celebrant. This provides the opportunity with my help and support to create the most appropriate and meaningful ceremony for this final act of love and respect.

Absolutely.  I can help you to construct a respectful and professional script that you can deliver yourselves.

Although funerals tend to be held in a crematorium or cemetery, there are other options available. Funeral and Memorial services can be held at Natural Burial Grounds, village or church halls, function rooms, at home, in a private garden, or at sea.

It is possible to have a ‘direct cremation’, that is a cremation without a ceremony. There are several companies that offer this service, or it can be arranged by your chosen funeral director. I can help you look for a local company and create a ceremony for the Scattering if this would be helpful. I can discuss this option with you if you are interested, or you can speak with a funeral director.

Yes is the simple answer.  You don’t have to have an official printed version of the order of service, but you will need to know what happens when.  I can advise you on how to structure the order of service and can manage the process, including the service itself, from start to finish, or support and guide you if you wish to conduct it yourself. I will also provide you with lots of examples of readings and poems that you may want to use.

I will offer help and advice on all the options available and in deciding how the selections should be arranged and presented.

Family members and friends may also be included in the ceremony as well as any music that is appropriate. I design and conduct ceremonies in such a way as to reflect the expressed wishes of the deceased and that of the family.

It’s your choice.  Many people will leave the bulk of the funeral to the Celebrant, simply because they would find it too upsetting to speak.  It may be that you want the Celebrant to deliver most of the Eulogy, but perhaps a family member or friend could split this up by delivering a poem or reading.

Every speech is written from scratch, so you can genuinely expect anything! The most valuable element of the ceremony is a carefully scripted tribute written about the character and life of the person by me with the help of family and friends.

This personal tribute is a celebration of the person’s life, recounting their experiences, attributes, and qualities. Every effort is made to capture the very essence of the deceased and their lasting spirit.

The tribute, which can be delivered by me, a family member, or a friend, forms a part of the whole ceremony that I create in partnership with the family.

Sometimes when people are grieving, they find it difficult to listen and remember what is said during the service. Shortly after the funeral, I will give you your own printed copy of the script, for you to keep and look at in your own time. I will also provide it digitally, along with any visual tributes you have asked me to produce so you can share it with everyone.

Yes, I most certainly do.  As a pet owner, you will know that they play an important part in our family lives, and so when our beloved animal sadly passes away it leaves a huge void.

For children, this could be the first time they experience loss and mourning, but a pet funeral or memorial can be a very therapeutic process for them.

As adults, the loss of a pet is a very significant event in our lives and is something that we prefer never to think about. While they are with us, we do our utmost to enhance their quality of life, and a proper funeral is a befitting next step for us to take on their behalf.

I can help you by creating a service that may include readings, poetry, and prayers and we can even include things like lighting a candle or planting a tree or installing a garden ornament.

I am more than happy to conduct the funeral ceremony at a crematorium and/or a blessing at your home, or alternative place, for the commemorative rituals.

Yes. Alongside funerals, I offer Memorial Services, Scattering of Ashes Ceremonies, and Tribute Writing. These gatherings can be an additional way to commemorate the life, a little further down the line. Please contact me if you are interested in any of these services.

I also do couples ceremonies and naming ceremonies.

How far are you willing to travel to assist with our ceremony?
I predominantly offer my services to the areas of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion. However, I am always willing to consider enquiries from further afield, although please note that a travel expense may be added.

I have successfully completed and passed the National Qualification – NOCN Level 3 Diploma in Funeral Celebrancy (RQF). This means that:

• I have achieved the highest possible qualification in Funeral Celebrancy in the UK.
• I have been rigorously assessed for my skill and suitability as a Funeral Celebrant.
• I am able to create and deliver an appropriate and unique funeral ceremony or memorial with sensitivity and empathy.