26/06/2024
A celebrant will help you shape a funeral service from the beginning
A funeral celebrant will organise face-to-face meetings where they can gently guide you to tell stories and share memories about the person who has died. They may also ask about the interests and beliefs of that person to build up a picture of the person in their mind.
Funeral celebrants have experience of emotional situations, so it’s okay if you cry or feel other strong emotions when talking to them. If you decide you want a celebrant it’s a good idea to get in touch with one early on so they don’t go over any work you’ve already done.
After the initial meeting you should expect several follow up meetings, calls or emails. The celebrant may suggest certain poems, songs or readings that they think reflect your loved one, or you can suggest ones yourself.
They can then present their ideas for the service they’re designing for your loved one.
A celebrant does as much or as little as you want them to
A celebrant can:
Help you decide what the person who’s died would’ve wanted
Suggest songs, hymns or poems
Plan the service
Write and read a eulogy
Lead the service
Manage the timings of the service
Just because you have a funeral celebrant doesn’t mean you or someone else attending the funeral can’t play a role in the service.
You can work with your celebrant to share the load, for example if you’d like them to do most of the speaking but a specific person to read a certain poem.
