Posts Tagged ‘Funeral advice’
Featured Celebrant Story: Changing our perception of funerals.
An interview with the wonderful Celebrant, Vanessa Buckley as she talks us through her journey and explores how funerals have changed over time… Over to you, Vanessa! Up until a few years ago mortality was my phobia – why? Because as a young child I was frightened by a funeral I attended; a man in a big tall hat and a stern face, lots of tears, curtains closing and then wailing noises. In later life I attended many funerals where the deceased wasn’t really referred to and if they were I could never relate to the description, as to me they certainly weren’t the person spoken about. Why? I often questioned why we still followed this ancient protocol and wondered…
Read MoreFunerals: Thinking ahead and planning for the inevitable
Dying Matters With Dying Matters awareness week in May 2019 posing the question, “Are we ready?” one Celebrant takes a look at why it is so important to think ahead and plan for the inevitable, your funeral. So many funeral celebrants have heard the following comments when having the first conversation with someone who is recently bereaved, ‘We never talked about funerals…’ ‘Burial or cremation? I don’t really know what she’d like’ ‘Religion? He never said whether he believed in anything’ ‘She liked lots of different music, but I have no idea what she would’ve liked at her celebration of life ceremony’ Does this sound like you? Perhaps it is time to open up the conversation about death, dying, funerals and…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Guide to Writing and Giving a Eulogy at a funeral for a loved one
Writing and Giving a eulogy at a funeral for a loved one is an incredible honour and a deeply personal task. A eulogy brings the person’s memory to life and helps create a legacy they will be remembered by. However, the process of writing and delivering a eulogy can feel daunting. How do you capture a lifetime in just a few minutes? What should you include to make it meaningful, and how do you manage emotions while delivering it? This guide answers these questions and more, offering step-by-step advice to help you write and deliver a heartfelt eulogy with confidence. What Is a Eulogy? A eulogy is a spoken tribute given during a funeral to honour and remember someone who…
Read MoreChoosing a Direct Cremation like trend setter David Bowie
The past 18 months have be challenging for every person in the funeral profession and mourners alike. The pandemic has pushed families to source alternative options for saying goodbye to their loved ones, moving away from traditional ones. Here’s where Celebrants come in. Celebrants are storytellers by trade and at The Celebrant Directory we have a wealth of advice and inspiration written by Celebrants creating ceremonies across the world. Directory member Helen Noble, Best National Celebrant for Funerals CDGA shares her insights into Direct Cremations and Memorials, first made popular by David Bowie. Since he passed, the demand for Direct Cremations have rocketed by 400% – a true trend setter in both life and death. What is a Direct Cremation?…
Read MoreCrafting a Thoughtful Eulogy: A Guide to Writing About Someone You Didn’t Know Well
Crafting a thoughtful eulogy for someone you didn’t know well presents a unique challenge that many face. Whether you’ve been asked to speak at a funeral as a family friend, colleague, or representative, creating a meaningful tribute with limited personal knowledge requires sensitivity, creativity, and careful research. Whether they lived a private life or you’ve had limited contact with their history, creating a heartfelt tribute can still be achieved. In this guide, we are joined by Rosalie Kuyvenhoven, an award-winning London-based Funeral and Wedding Celebrant from Rituals Today, who brings her expertise to help you navigate this sensitive task. Drawing on her insights and The Ultimate Guide to Writing and Giving a Eulogy at a Funeral for a Loved One,…
Read MoreFive unique ideas for an autumn funeral
Autumn is a time of rebirth and reconnection. For many of us, the falling leaves and the transformation of colours are a soothing and welcome entry into the colder months. However, when faced with an autumn funeral, we can quickly forget all about these beautiful, tranquil features. Nature is a wonderful source of inspiration for funeral services. In this blog, Celebrant Rosalie shares her top five ideas to personalise an autumn funeral. Personalising a funeral can be a cathartic way to say goodbye to a loved one in a unique and meaningful way. There are many things we can take advantage from within the changing seasons to add to this gentle sense of personalisation. The joy of autumn is that…
Read MoreFuneral Budgeting 101: Funeral Celebrant Planning for Beginners
Are you a celebrant in need of some funeral budgeting advice? This article covers it all… Making plans for a funeral is one of the most difficult tasks anyone will have to go through. That’s why, as a celebrant, you have an important job to make sure that all the finer details are taken care of, including helping with funeral budgeting. Funeral budgeting covers a wide range of different factors. For starters, you’ll be guiding people through their loved one’s Will to avoid potential inheritance disputes when paying for the funeral. You’ll also be required to help choose the flower arrangements, and more. Every little detail can make a huge difference to the funeral, so it’s vital to be prepared.…
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