During the past decade there has been a rise in celebrant-led funerals throughout the UK with families requesting more bespoke, personalised ceremonies for their loved one’s final send off.
A funeral celebrant works with the family of the deceased to create a unique tribute to their loved one, weaving in personal touches such as life stories, meaningful music and family traditions that allow a more cathartic experience for the grieving.
There are many reasons behind choosing a celebrant to lead celebration of funeral. Let’s dive into them below:
Time & Location:
Celebrants are not bound to traditional venues or time constraints so a celebration of life can take place anytime, anywhere. While ceremonies often do occur in crematoriums, they can also be held in other more meaningful locations such as favourite scenic spots, gardens, beaches or even clubs that the deceased was involved in prior during their lifetime.
Some memorial ceremonies such as ash scattering can take place months after the death. Using a civil celebrant can make that event feel even more special as you recount the wonderful memories you shared with your loved one as you scatter their ashes into the wind.
A True Celebration of Life
Although a funeral is a sad occasion, a celebrant helps to shift the focus to celebrating the deceased’s life, this can help the family members with closure. It also allows them to express their gratitude for the time they’ve spent with their loved one and gives them an opportunity to reflect on the fond memories they share instead of focussing on the loss.
Versatility
A celebrant- led service is guided by the wishes of both the deceased and their family members. The celebrant will craft a person centred bespoke ceremony that captures the essence and personality of the loved one instead of adhering to a sometimes more rigid and traditional format.
Using a celebrant allows you to incorporate more meaningful options such as the reading of poems or passages the deceased may have favoured, the display of items they may have loved or enjoyed or even that silly family ritual that everyone decides to partake in during the ceremony. With a civil celebrant you get a true representation of the person you are saying farewell to.
Support:
Celebrants can often guide families through the practicalities of arranging the service which is useful for family members who may feel overwhelmed at this trying time. They can help you develop the order of service so that the ceremony flows well and, on the day, they help to keep everything moving at the pace that has been discussed prior to the service.
They will often give you a copy of the final ceremony script, which can serve as a treasured memory of the event and of the person it honoured.
If you would like to discuss arranging a celebration of life for your loved one, please call Jeanette on 0778 986 6589
