I help people to create the most meaningful, personal and unique funeral that represents their loved one perfectly. Whether you are looking for a traditional service or something more unique, I can guide and support you throughout the process.
You can choose everything; the music choices, the readings, any visual tributes such as photos or videos, any religious elements if they are wanted and the eulogy. The tone and the feeling of the ceremony are all up to you. It can be peaceful and reflective or celebratory and vibrant. It is completely up to you to choose what feels right.
I always treat every family with kindness, respect and empathy. You will not be rushed and your ceremony will be written just for you, from start to finish.
I have broken down the ceremony into 6 stages as a starting point for planning a funeral:
Please use the contact form at the bottom of the page if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A Celebrant can take the place of a religious leader such as a priest or minister and they work with the family to write and design the content and the feel of the funeral. The Celebrant will then deliver the service.
Celebrants deliver funeral services in a wide range of locations, most commonly the crematorium or cemetery, but many people don't realise you can hold a funeral service in many other places that host events such as hotels, pubs or gardens. Your Funeral Director will advise you on burial and cremation options, but for the ceremony itself you have a wide range of options.
You can fully personalise the funeral. You can choose any genre of music, and include readings of your choice; song lyrics, poetry, hymns, prayers, excerpts from a favourite book, the choice is yours. You can wear whatever style or colour of clothes you wish, and also ask those attending to do the same if this feels right.
You can choose to include or exclude any religious elements if this is appropriate for you.
You can choose whether or not the curtains close around the coffin at the end of the ceremony.
I meet with my families at a convenient time so we have an uninterrupted 60-90 minutes together to begin to plan the ceremony. I will let you know what options are available for you, listen to your preferences and ask questions so I can understand what is important to you. We will speak at length about your loved one so I can craft a personal and meaningful funeral ceremony that truly honours and represents them.
I create a draft of the compete ceremony and will provide this to you for your approval and then I will make any amendments that are required. I also speak to any family members who are participating in the delivery of the ceremony, so they understand what they are doing and when.
I take great care so nothing is unplanned or left to chance. I take responsibility of the smooth running of the ceremony so you can be fully present and spend time with your family and friends to say goodbye to your loved one without any additional stress.
I work alongside Funeral Directors, Funeral Arrangers and the ceremony venue staff to ensure your ceremony is well planned, runs smoothly and is exactly as you wanted.
I understand that I meet with people at a very difficult and emotional time when the shock and grief can be overwhelming. We can slowly and gently plan the funeral and this often helps people to feel a little bit better. I will always be compassionate and empathetic and I will lead you through the process at your own pace.
Yes you can. We will plan the timing of the ceremony to include this.
This depends on the venue. Crematoria offer set slots of usually between 30-45 minutes, but longer services can sometimes be arranged. Please speak to your Funeral Director about this.
Unfortunately it is important to stay within the booked time sots as other ceremonies will be taking place afterwards. This is why I plan the timings of my services carefully, so we can include everything that is important to you without rushing you, or the ceremony feeling hurried. This means last-minute changes to the ceremony are not always possible, but I will always try to accommodate small changes if it is at all possible.
If you are holding your ceremony somewhere else such as at a private hire venue, then we can plan a longer ceremony.
If you would like a shorter ceremony, then this is also available.
Yes. I will always ask if children will be attending and tailor the service accordingly.
This will depend on the venue in which the ceremony is being held. Personally I love animals and will always welcome well behaved pets to my funerals if the venue allows.
Assistance dogs will always be permitted.
No, not if you do not want to.
Yes they can. We will work together to plan this in advance.
I can write and deliver the eulogy, deliver a eulogy written by family or friend, or I can prepare the eulogy so it can be delivered by a friend or family member. We can plan it whatever way you prefer.
I will be fully prepared to step in for you and deliver the reading or eulogy if you decide you do not want to, or feel too emotional. I will always be on hand to support you.
Yes absolutely, The ceremony should be meaningful and appropriate to you and your loved one who has died. I do not provide a "one size fits all" service and I can help you create the most meaningful and appropriate celebration of their life. I do not wear a uniform and we can discuss how you would like me to present myself on the day. The most important thing is that the ceremony feels authentic and honours the person who has died.
Yes and this is a wonderful way to celebrate a life. Facilities vary from venue to venue but I can find out about these and let you know once you have chosen the location for your service and know what kind of performance you would like to include.
Absolutely. I create tailored ceremonies and I always strive to represent the person who has died and their identity, community or beliefs perfectly. I am fully inclusive of all genders, sexualities, religions, cultures, ethnicities, disabilities and ages. However, if these characteristics were personal or private to the person who has died I will of course create a ceremony that respects those wishes.
Many venues will have a hearing loop available and provide wheelchair access.
This depends on the venue. Most crematoria have modern systems for playing the chosen music and often do not have the necessary equipment for playing tapes or CDs. However the music systems they use do contain a huge library of songs, hymns, instrumentals and musical performances across all genres.
If you are holding your service at a privately hired venue then I can speak to them about the facilities they have available.
If you can not play your own recordings during the ceremony you may be able to do this afterwards at the wake or celebratory gathering,
This can feel really complicated and difficult, but we can still write a ceremony to say goodbye in a way that feels appropriate and true. I always work with the utmost sensitivity and empathy.
I charge £295 for a funeral ceremony that lasts up to one hour, for families meetings and ceremonies conducted within 30 minutes drive of Purley CR8.
My standard fee includes:
I always arrive early at the venue to double check everything is ready and I will stay until after the guests have left the ceremony.
My fee for ceremonies longer than an hour and additional travel costs are available on request.
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