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Emma Dunleavy-Dale
reviews (5) - leave a review
Available for
Countries Covered
Areas Covered
I travel Nationally & Internationally
Specialisms
Ceremonies that are unique and bespoke; alternative and creative; incorporating traditional/modern rituals if you wish, with inclusivity at heart.
Affiliations
FPC, SAIF, The Good Funeral Guild, NRCPD, ASLI
Languages
English and British Sign Language
Hi, I'm Emma
Acknowledging significant life events in through ritual and ceremony is so important, guiding thoughts and feelings; hopes and wishes; now and for the future. Working together, we can create the perfect Ceremony.
Meeting folks, listening to stories, and weaving threads together to create meaning and magnitude, is always a pleasure. Hand crafting the words, sentiment and feeling best suited to your Ceremony provides a personal and meaningful approach.
With no rules, we can create a bespoke Ceremony unique to you. Incorporating personal beliefs, aspects of several faiths, or none; at a time, day and venue that completely suits you and with no constraints on timings or format.
A qualified BSL/English Interpreter, having been in and around the Deaf community since the 1990s; I am happy to work with you to ensure your Ceremony is ‘Deaf friendly’ and inclusive of deaf and hearing folks if required.
emmadunleavydale.co.uk emmadunleavydale@icloud.com
07905 781 071
Prices From
Available on request
Why choose Emma?
Here are some of the testimonials I have received:
-We had such lovely comments from friends and family about the service.
-Thank you for leading the ceremony. You did Dad proud. It meant a lot.
– We had so much fun with you from the moment we started planning our day. It was so refreshing how flexible and accepting you were and the ease with which you were able to flow with us and our craziness!
-Still gushing about how you were able to bring originality to the day and the guests were blown away with it all.
What do I offer?
Weddings
An Independent Celebrant cannot marry you legally, but a minimal fee will buy you an appointment at your local Registry Office ensuring the legalities are sealed, with the words required are declared and signed to, providing the legal rights associated with marriage/civil partnership.
Many couples will secure their legal appointment to register their marriage/civil partnership at some point prior to, or even after, their official Wedding Ceremony. If you think about it, this really is no different to the way in which we register the births and deaths of our loved ones, with Naming Days and Funeral Ceremonies at a separate time and on a separate day.
Do not hesitate to get in contact if you would like to discuss your big day with me in more detail. I would be only too happy to join you and get involved in your Ceremony’s planning!
This Ceremony is all about the two of you of course, and whether you choose to celebrate privately; with a small and intimate group of your nearest and dearest or have an all-out celebration/party of the year affair; this is the one opportunity to truly celebrate your being in love, coming together and committing to one another for the rest of your lives.
Whichever way you choose to celebrate; your special day needs to be created your way and with your own hopes and wishes at the fore.
There really is no limit, which is what makes celebrating independently as unique as the two of you, allowing you to be true to your authentic selves.
Your Wedding/Civil Partnership can include special readings/poems; songs/live music; religious/non-religious content; age old and/or modern rituals (ring warming, handfasting, unity candles, tree planting); traditional vows and promises; a flash mob; whatever you like.
Prices From
Prices on Request
Why choose Emma for your wedding?
Here are some of the testimonials I have received:
-Thank you for leading our wedding – we’re so glad we managed to have something so personalised and the guests have said they all really enjoyed the ceremony.
– We had so much fun from the moment we started planning our special day. It was so refreshing how flexible and accepting you were and the ease with which you were able to flow with us and our craziness!
– Still gushing about how you were able to bring originality to the day. The guests were blown away with it all.
Naming Ceremonies
Whatever the life changing event is you wish to celebrate by way of a Naming Day Ceremony, an Independent Celebrant is the perfect solution, and something I would be delighted to support you with.
The traditional new arrival of a baby into the family is one such reason, but there are others too. You may have adopted a baby or child. Or you might wish to celebrate expression of your identity/gender along with the name that suits you best.
Whatever your reason, a Ceremony allowing opportunity for family and friends to come together and officially welcome a ‘new’ arrival truly acknowledges the significance of the occasion.
A Naming Ceremony can of course take place at a venue or spot of your choosing and you can include family and friends as guide parents, god parents or guardians for the special day, affirming their promises to play a supporting role to you/your child depending on who the celebration is for.
Should you want to incorporate readings, songs, prayers, speeches, promises, rituals (tree planting, bubbles, hand/finger painting, candle lighting, sand ceremony etc.), all or none of the aforementioned; this really is the beauty of an independent celebration. With no set format to follow, we can omit or include whatever feels right for you and for this most special day.
It would be an absolute pleasure to join you and get involved in your Naming Day Ceremony’s planning! Do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss the day with me in more detail.
Prices From
Prices on Request
Why choose Emma for your naming ceremony?
Here are some of the testimonials I have received:
-Thank you again for writing a beautiful ceremony.
-After you left, people were saying what a thoughtful, inclusive and personal Ceremony it was, and we couldn’t agree more.
– Your beautifully written Ceremony delivered in British Sign Language was simply perfect.
– After the Ceremony, our guests said they’d hadn’t realised how tough it had been for us, and that it gave them permission to move forward with us.
Renewal of Vows
Whether it be a traditional Ceremony to mirror your original promises, or something with a modern twist; an Independent Celebrant is the perfect choice. An Independent Ceremony means you can renew your vows at a time and location of your choosing. Privately, or in the company of family and friends.
It may be that certain things did not go to plan on the original day, or that certain people in your lives could not be there. Having a Vow Renewal Ceremony could be the perfect opportunity to right these wrongs.
There may be new additions to the family who you would love to be part of this important and ongoing commitment you are making to each other, and who you could involve in the ceremony by way of ritual or reading; dancing or singing; playing the guitar; sawing you in half! Whatever works best for you both!
There are many reasons to celebrate and renew your commitment to love and support one another with a Vow Renewal Ceremony.
Through good times and bad; in sickness and health; a life changing experience, or purely commemorating your years together with more significance than a simple party. You can celebrate your everlasting love for each other in a way that suits best.
Above all, this Ceremony is your opportunity to authenticate the ongoing significance of your original vows to each other. Allowing you to celebrate the depth of your love over the years, as your relationship has developed and grown.
Do not hesitate to get in contact if you would like to discuss your big day ‘mark 2’ with me in more detail. I would be only too happy to join you and get involved in your Ceremony’s planning!
Prices From
Prices on Request
Why choose Emma for your renewal of vows?
Here are some of the testimonials I have received:
-The Ceremony exceeded all expectations… there was plenty of love, laughter, tears and emotion from all of the guests too!
-You made the day memorable and awesome!
-We weren’t sure what to expect and it turned out wonderfully!
Funerals
My training with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants (FPC) and interest in death as a part of the natural end to the cycle of life, means I am equipped to help you celebrate the life of the person you have lost.
My Membership with the FPC also gives me Associate Membership to the National Association of Funeral Directors and SAIF (Society of Allied Independent Funeral Directors). I am a member too of The Good Funeral Guide. All of which enables me to support you with a general understanding of what you can expect leading up to the funeral; and the Ceremony itself in particular.
An Independent Ceremony allows time and space where this may not traditionally be possible, to include readings, songs, music, blessings, speeches, prayers, rituals, decorating coffins/caskets/shrouds. Indeed, anything that feels right for those remembering the person loved, but now gone, and which should be included as such.
There is no right or wrong way to hold a Funeral Ceremony, simply a more traditional or less conventional way. Any of these possibilities are okay and fundamental in supporting the grieving process.
Whether at a more traditional venue, a crematorium; woodland burial; less traditional, pub, club or other; I can support in ensuring we find the right words to celebrate your loved one in the most fitting of ways, reflective of their character and personality.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch and discuss your loved one’s Ceremony in more detail as it is always a privilege to meet with and learn about the person you have lost, ensuring the perfect Ceremony celebrating life is crafted and led in their honour.
Prices From
Prices on Request
Why choose Emma for your funeral?
Here are some of the testimonials I have received:
– We had such lovely comments. Thank you for leading the ceremony. You did Dad proud. It meant a lot.
– The whole process has been excellent and made the most difficult period of mine and my family’s life seem effortless. From start to finish you have been a huge support to my Mum and together we built the most perfect service that went without a hitch on the day.
-Thank you for all you did to make her farewell so special. It was just what she deserved.
Reviews for Emma Dunleavy-Dale
Total Reviews: 5
Average Rating: 5
reviews (5)
Our Best Day Ever!
You are an absolute star, thank you so, so much for writing such a beautiful ceremony. We have both laughed and cried (me mostly, haha) and it was absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for really hearing us, and for delivering a ceremony that captured us perfectly!
My Brother’s Funeral
Hi Emma, I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for Tuesday and the words you said. I know it is your job (!) but we really feel you got the tone right and did my brother justice. So, thanks again.
My Daughter’s Funeral
This is to thank you so very much for all you did to make it the beautiful ceremony it was. You listened so well to all that we wanted at our first meeting, that we felt confident that our plans for an occasion, so VERY important to us, could be realised. And you held the reins wonderfully, attending to details, coping calmly with the unexpected and kindly putting everyone at ease. For all of which I’m both enormously grateful and thankful.