Choosing a funeral celebrant

One of the most important responsibilities as a funeral director, is ensuring that every single funeral service reflects the unique life and personality of the person that has died. A key part of that process is selecting the right funeral celebrant for the right family – one size does not fit all! 

Here is how we choose, from our carefully chosen pool of trusted funeral celebrants that we work with, the ideal partnership for each family we look after.

The role of a funeral celebrant

A funeral celebrant is a professional that leads and personalises a funeral ceremony. Their role is to craft a story that reflects the personality of the person that has died while offering comfort to a grieving family and friends. Unlike religious leaders, funeral celebrants are not bound by specific doctrines, making them a versatile option. A celebrant serves as both a guide and storyteller, ensuring the ceremony is a fitting tribute to the individual’s life.

Understanding the life of the person that has died

Our process begins with a conversation. We take the time to ask thoughtful questions about the person that has died, their life, values and beliefs. To help us build a complete picture of them, we’ll ask questions about specific elements you’d like to include such as music, readings or rituals, their spiritual or cultural preferences and about their personality. 

“It’s the greatest compliment when people tell me their loved one would have loved the ceremony, or ask if I knew them—because it means I’ve captured who they really were.” 

Kate Rostance

Getting to know your family’s needs

Every family is unique, and so is every funeral. Some families may prefer a structured, traditional ceremony, while others might want something that is more casual and personal. We will consider the tone you want for the service (solemn, celebratory or a mix), how much involvement as a family you want to have in shaping the ceremony and whether there are any cultural or personal requirements to consider. 

“To create the heartfelt ceremony that pays tribute to both the life and death of someone you love, I will listen as you share treasured memories, hopes and wishes, and together we can create the service that feels right for you.” 

Paula Byrom

Matching the right celebrant to you

We carefully match a funeral celebrant to you, based on how they align with the values and personality of the person that has died, that understands your family dynamics and preferences and who will understand the story of their life and re-tell it perfectly, weaving the details they uncover into a heartfelt and meaningful service. 

We work closely with a trusted network of celebrants, who bring a variety of styles and experiences. Over time, we’ve learned how the celebrants work and how they will fit each service. We don’t believe that the same celebrant will work for every family and this process is really important for us to get right.

Here are a small selection of the wonderful celebrants that we work with:

Paula Byrom

“As a Civil Funeral Celebrant, I'm ready to calmly walk beside families and friends as they begin a journey along an unfamiliar path. Losing people close to us can be one of the most challenging things we ever have to face, and preparing to honour someone's life and death can feel overwhelming.

To create the heartfelt ceremony that pays tribute to both the life and death of someone you love, I will listen as you share treasured memories, hopes and wishes, and together we can create the service that feels right for you.”

Kate Rostance

"Funerals mean different things to different families. For some, tradition provides comfort; for others, a unique, personal celebration feels right. Funeral directors do an incredible job of matching celebrants with families based on what they’re hoping to achieve. 

I create modern, uplifting, and compassionate ceremonies that honour a person’s life in a way that feels authentic to their family. My role is to listen, understand, and bring together everything that made someone who they were. It’s the greatest compliment when people tell me their loved one would have loved the ceremony, or ask if I knew them—because it means I’ve captured who they really were.”

John Spicer

"The whole process from first contact to the actual service, is carried out sympathetically with care, tact and awareness of the family's grief."