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You don’t have to be a ‘humanist’ to identify with celebrating a life.

Our ceremony will focus on the person; where they came from, what they did and the people and things that mattered most to them.

“Nothing could have gone better, given the circumstances.  The humanist ceremony was personal, touching, moving, reflective and with a touch of my mother’s humour.  Louise perfectly weaved together my mother’s life tale with unbelievable accuracy in limited time.  Louise’s efforts were very much appreciated.  The whole experience was like chatting to a family friend, who could then bring together a story from the bits and pieces we supplied!  Thank you.”  (Humanists UK Feedback 2020)

You can read my Blog on ‘What Makes A Good Funeral’ here: https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/funerals/blog/what-makes-a-good-funeral/

An opportunity to celebrate the diversity of life.

I can support and advise you with types and locations of all types of ceremonies.

“Something you taught us was that there are no rules for a funeral – you can do what you wish to make it so personal to the one that has died.” (Email – 2016)

Wherever its location or purpose, a humanist ceremony is an unique tribute told through the memories and stories of family and friends; a very personal way to remember.

Thank you for contributing to such a special event for Dad’s celebration on Friday.  Thank you for taking the time to speak with and listen to so many family and friends and to craft such a wonderful eulogy.  So many people have said that you really brought Dad to life.  Your kindness and consideration shone through from our first meeting and throughout our time of working together.  I and my family would like to thank you for creating such wonderful memories, which we will take with us forever.”  (Card 2021) 

As a Celebrant, I will work very closely with any other professionals that you may have involved, we are very much a team.

“Dear Louise, thank you so much for today you made a special occasion even better.  It has been a pleasure to work with you and hopefully I will do so in the future.” (Email from Funeral Director)

How I work – we’ll discuss how I can best support you.

We’ll meet and I’ll spend time listening to your stories, memories and the moments that matter.

I am very happy to seek contributions from the wider circle of family and friends.  I can offer advise on music, poems, readings and all manner of little touches to make the ceremony feel ‘right’.  I will advise and support those who may like to deliver a personal tribute.  We’ll agree all the practical details and how everything will unfold on the day.

“I wanted to thank you for the wonderful service, how you managed to nail [name]’s life events from us all jabbering on is quite frankly incredible.  Your efforts ensured that not only the service went as smoothly as possible, but you delivered a top class service. we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  I know [name] would have been so happy with the service and your delivery – thank you so much you were perfect.”  (Email 2023) 

I will draft a script for the ceremony and make sure that you have the chance to review it.  This makes sure that I have accurately represented everything  and most importantly for you, there are no surprises on the day.

“I’ve just read through your words and wanted to say how impressed I am by what you’ve written.  I will make a few changes and send them back to you – mainly adding in names and changing the odd word – but overall, it’s like you knew my mum yourself, and it brought back such happy memories of the good times we shared as a family.  Thank you for helping me to celebrate my mum’s life in a really meaningful way.”  (Email 2023)

“Thank you so much for your perfectly pitched ceremony, you seemed to pick up on all our thoughts and memories of Mum.”  (Email 2023)

On the day, I will deliver as much or as little of the ceremony as you wish.

“Louise, I also would like to offer my sincere thanks for your presentation today.  It’s not easy to sum up a person’s life, achievements and their imprint on the world so succinctly in the time allowed and the eloquence of your delivery was beyond anything I had expected.  I think you would have been impressed by number of people who went out of their to express such sentiments, not just from those in the audience but also from the many friends around the world who watch the streamed version.  Thank you for a job well done.”  (Email 2023) 

It is my role as Celebrant to deliver the ceremony we’ve agreed and to coordinate everything else; speakers, timings, music etc… Our ceremony will be an honest, respectful and very personal representation of an unique individual.

“I want to thank you again.  As I said on Wednesday, in all honesty I have invariably found celebrants at funerals somewhat of an intrusion – a third-party, drafted in and a little out of place.  Your contribution, however, was just spot on.  You seemed to have absorbed and really understood who Dad was, and so it was a pleasure to hear you speak so truly of him and quite the opposite of an intrusion.  You’re holding of the ceremony, the space, the process was appropriate, sensitive, just right – and more than that, so much something that Dad himself would have loved.  Thank you so much.”  (Email 2021)

“I was particularly grateful for your guidance and controlling of events on the day; I felt complete confidence that you would conduct the service as we wished and that all would be well, allowing us to get on with mourning and celebrating.”  (Email 2021)

I will be on hand throughout to deal with the unexpected. 

Before a ceremony, we’ll have discussed and agreed every little practical detail and it is my role to make sure that they all fall perfectly into place.  I have twelve years of experience to draw on in making sure that everything goes to plan.

“I just wanted to thank you again for Dad’s funeral and especially for calmly and professionally reorganising it ‘live’ to cope with the unprecedented travel disasters so many of us experienced.  That’s not easy, although I know Dad would definitely have seen the funny side of it all!”  (Email 2017)