WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF WORKING WITH A CELEBRANT?
The whole process begins when either you contact me directly or I receive a call from the funeral director you have chosen to manage the whole process.
STEP ONE
I will discuss with you over the phone some basic information such as the name of the person who has died, the time and date you have chosen for the funeral, where you would like to hold the ceremony and how many you people you expect to attend.
If you are happy with our first conversation, I will plan a visit to meet with you at a mutually convenient time and place – plus any other friends or relatives who wish to be involved. For most people, this will be in the family home but if you prefer I could meet with you at the funeral directors or another location such as a local coffee shop or hotel.
Before we meet, if you agree, I will send you some helpful information to ensure that we can create and prepare a truly unique event that will be memorable for all those who attend. We only have one chance to ensure a final parting is the very best it can be.
STEP TWO
Our first meeting will be an important time to get to know each other.
I will need to get know you, your family, your relationship to the person who has died and you will need to get to know me and what I can offer you at this difficult time.
In addition to the basic details I might have got over the phone – date of funeral, location of ceremony and number of people you might expect to attend – I will need to work through the type of funeral ceremony you would like to create and begin the process of creating a eulogy.
At this stage it would also be good to work through who else might take part in the ceremony, the type of music or poetry you wish to include, or any readings.
I will be able to talk you through how the ceremony will run and who will be responsible for what. We can also talk through any 'Order of Service' you may wish to produce to be handed out on the day.
Our first meeting should take around an hour and a half and I should be able to leave with all the information to begin preparing the main eulogy.
STEP THREE
After the meeting, I will draft out an initial ceremony plan including timings, the names of those who will speak, collect together any poems or readings and write the basis of the main eulogy.
We may talk on the phone a little more to work through any further questions we may both have and then I'll give you a clear timing when I will send to you the completed written ceremony.
You will have plenty of time to read through the proposed order of events and make any amendments or give comments as to any changes you require. We may meet again or discuss the changes over the phone, via email or by post.
It will then be my job to liaise with any funeral director involved, the crematoria or cemetery staff and ensure all readings, poetry or music will be available and ready for the day of the funeral.
STEP FOUR
The day prior to the funeral I will confirm all the final details with you.
On the day, I'll arrive at the funeral location either in advance or with the funeral director.
It will be my responsibility, to run and manage the event in accordance with your agreed wishes.
After the funeral, I will provide you a full copy of the ceremony.
You can find an example of an 'Order of Service' and a 'Memorial Eulogy' on this page – just click on the images above to see the whole document.
