What to expect

What will you do if I book you?

I will come to see you in your home and talk over what you and your family want. Then I will take a day or so to draft a ceremony, including the script and any elements we agree should be included. I will send you the draft of the plan for you to comment on or change - when it is agreed between us I will produce the final version. On the day of the ceremony itself I will be there to guide proceedings, greet attenders speak the pre-agreed words and invite pre-agreed contributions from those present. Then I will close the ‘formal’ element of that gathering and give everyone an idea of what will happen next (ie leave/have a party/meet later on at another venue/ donate to a collection - anything else you have decided on)

Can’t I do the ceremony myself?

Of course you can, and don’t forget that the ceremony will be what you and your family choose anyway - but the actual event itself, whether it is a sad or a happy occasion, could be be quite emotional and stressful. My job is to take as much of that stress off your plate as possible and guide everyone through it. The ceremony will still belong to you, I will just be the person crafting to be the best it can be.

How much will it cost?

I will supply a price guide when we first meet, because there are so many elements that can be included in ceremonies so the overall price can vary. But as a general rule you can expect to pay a Celebrant approximately £220-250 for a funeral and approximately £250-300 for a vow renewal or naming ceremony. Weddings usually start at around £1100. I will ask for a non-refundable booking fee (15%) when we first agree to work together, then the remainder of the fee is paid at least one week before the date of the ceremony.

What if you can’t do it at the last minute?

There are other Celebrants in the area, also trained by UKSOC (uksoc.com) so, in the unlikely event that I can’t make it on the day, I will find someone to cover, who will be able to deliver the ceremony to the same high standard.

What happens afterwards?

I will supply a bound copy of the ceremony script, or other keepsakes produced as part of our planning process. The cost will depend on nature of keepsake and the number required.