Stepping Into My Third Year as a Funeral Celebrant
2026 marks my third full year as a funeral celebrant, a role that has become a meaningful part of my work. Before this, I had focused solely on weddings and spent several years building that side of my celebrant business in Bristol and the Cotswolds. Weddings were my world — joyful, hopeful, and full of anticipation — and for a long time, I felt completely at home there.
However, my journey into funeral celebrancy did not follow a straightforward path, and it was shaped deeply by personal loss.
When Personal Loss Delays a Professional Calling
Between completing my wedding and funeral celebrant certifications, my dearest dad died suddenly. Like so many people who experience loss, I was completely unprepared for the emotional impact it would have. At that time, I knew with certainty that I wasn’t ready to step into the world of funeral ceremonies. The grief was too close, too raw, and I needed time to process my own loss before I could support others through theirs.
Sometimes, the timing of our lives gently — or firmly — asks us to pause.
A Call that Changed Everything
If I rewind to 2024, I received a phone call that quietly changed the direction of my career. It was from the mother of one of my grooms, whose wedding I had previously conducted. Her own mother had sadly passed away, and the family had decided they wanted me to be their funeral celebrant.
In that moment, despite my hesitation, I knew it was time. Time to step into a role I had trained for but emotionally set aside. It felt daunting, but it also felt right.
Finding My Place in Funeral Celebrancy
I began this journey cautiously, but as we move into 2026, I can honestly say that this is a role I truly love. Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of establishing strong relationships with some incredible funeral directors and those who work within the industry — from pallbearers to crematorium staff. These relationships are built on trust, compassion and a shared commitment to caring for families during their most difficult moments.
Some of the brilliant funeral directors who have entrusted me to look after their families over the past few years include the wonderful team, Michael, Harry and Jess from F.W. Jones Funeral Directors, Darren from D.J. Bewley’s, Chris from Brooks Independent Funeral Directors, and Steve from Memorial Woodlands. I have had the honour of looking after so many families, each with their own stories, dynamics and emotions.
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Funeral Celebrancy
One of the most important aspects of being a funeral celebrant is emotional intelligence. You never quite know what you are going to walk into when you visit a family for the first time. Grief presents itself in many forms — sadness, shock, anger, silence, confusion — and no two families experience loss in the same way.
Emotional intelligence isn’t something that can always be taught. I believe it is inherent within an individual — the ability to listen deeply, to read the room, to know when to speak and when to simply sit with someone. It therefore takes a certain kind of individual to truly flourish as a funeral celebrant.
Holding Space During Grief
When someone passes away — whether the death is expected or sudden — it can be an incredibly sad, complicated and sometimes challenging time. I often reflect on my own experience of losing my dad. Alongside the shock and grief, there was numbness, and each day felt like walking through a thick fog.
I carry this awareness with me whenever I visit a family. My role is not to rush them, fix anything or impose structure too quickly, but to gently navigate, listen and guide. To help them honour their loved one in a way that feels right for them.
More Than A Ceremony
As funeral celebrants, our role is, of course, to create and deliver a beautiful, meaningful ceremony that truly represents the person who has died and the family they were part of. But it is also so much more than that.
It is about making the experience as kind, supportive and compassionate as possible for those left behind. Every decision, every word, and every pause matters.
Walking Alongside Families at Life’s Most Important Moments
Over the last few years, I have had the good fortune to walk alongside so many incredible families, many of whom have stayed in touch long after the service has taken place. That, to me, is one of the greatest privileges of being a celebrant.
We are invited into people’s lives at their most significant moments — weddings, farewells, and everything in between. To be trusted with those moments is something I never take for granted.
And what a privilege that truly is.
