Life ceremonies

Life is for celebrating.

We have so much freedom now to express our individuality and our uniqueness through the way we acknowledge the milestones of our lives. And there are myriad opportunities that we can, and should, celebrate.

You may be reaching a significant milestone or transition in your life and you want to acknowledge its importance with a ritual or ceremony. You want family and friends to gather to help share the achievement.

But sometimes the freedom of choice is overwhelming. The possibilities seem endless – how do you put together a ceremony that is as individual as you are, and make it meaningful to you?

That’s where I come in. I am a trained celebrant, and I can write – I can help you clarify exactly what it is you want to achieve, and give you guidance. Together, we can prepare a ceremony that is meaningful, relevant, and memorable for you, no matter what the occasion – a ceremony with a little bit of magic.

I offer you ceremonies, rituals, and life transitions.

• Renewal of vows – still in love after many years – let’s do this again
• Embracing one’s identity – ‘celebrate self’ ceremony
• Significant age – midlife/eldership, honouring decades 40, 50, 60, 70
• Gender celebrations – transition, transgender, the unique you
• Career changes – new direction, significant achievement/promotion, redundancy
• Family ceremonies and celebrations – birthday, adoption, anniversary, family reunion
• Divorce party – yes, it’s a thing
• House changes – house farewells and welcomes, house cleansing or blessing, house warming
• Overseas – travel farewells or welcome home
• Personal milestones

Let’s have a chat about exactly what works for you. After we have talked through the opportunities, you may decide not to proceed, and that’s okay too.

Life ceremonies written to fit your brief includes developing the ceremony format, writing the ceremony with readings, poetry, music etc of your choice, and delivering the ceremony.

Funerals and memorial services

No person is the same, so no funeral should be the same either. So where to start?

You have lost a loved one

You may be in a position where a loved one has passed away unexpectedly, and there is so much to think about. Let me help you, let me take that stress from you.

I will meet with your family, and you will tell me all about your loved one. You will share memories, talk about the person they were, their character, and what you loved about them. Did they have a favourite piece of music, or a favourite reading? I will listen, and I will write it all down.

Or it’s all about you

You may be at that time in your life that you want to plan your own funeral – let it be yours, and only yours. Writing your own funeral service can be cathartic, rewarding, and given that you are still alive, a tiny bit weird. Let’s have a chat, capture your life so that after you have gone your loved ones will truly see the real you, from your perspective – there’s not much better than that.

When we talk, I will actively encourage your contribution – what music do you like?; do you have a favourite reading tucked away for just this occasion?;  what are your life memories that paint that picture of the real you? Let’s write it down.

I will prepare and deliver to you a full ceremony, then when you’re gone, your family will have the information they need, to celebrate your life.

Logistics

There is the equally as important logistical stuff I will do to plan a funeral or memorial service for you or your loved one. I will work alongside your chosen funeral director and ensure the service is conducted in a professional and respectful manner. We can talk about all that too.

There are no rules; apart from your service has to be right for you, your family and those dearest to you.

Eulogies

For your loved one

The funeral is planned, but now you need to give the perfect tribute to your loved one, or close friend, with a speech or eulogy.

Writing a eulogy for a loved one can be difficult; you are so full of emotion you don’t know where to begin. Let me help you – it’s what I’m good at.

We will chat about your loved one; you can tell me the most important things about them, tell me a few stories, and the most important things that you want to say. I will find the right words and craft the perfect tribute for your review. It will be compassionate and, where appropriate, perhaps a little bit witty, but above all it will be sensitive to your loved one. We will work together to get the words right, and when completed you can practice with me – this will give you the confidence to deliver your eulogy.

And for you

You hold so much in your heart that you wish someone close to you would say after you have passed. So why not write it down – write your own eulogy. It’s okay, there are no rules, you can do that, now. You can give it to a member of your famly now, to keep for when the time comes.