What is a Funeral Celebrant and Why Do I Need One?

When my grandmother began to decline in her 90s, I knew that I wanted to honor her with a beautiful and unique memorial service. Having served at churches on the worship team and throughout the Sacramento area as a guest, or fill-in, worship leader, it felt natural to select meaningful songs and hymns to share. My family leaned on me to put the service together including prayers, poems, obituary, and other elements of the memorial service. While the term, “Celebrant” is somewhat new to the United States, it is identical to serving as a funeral officiant. The question remains, what is a funeral celebrant and why do I need one?

Many of us called to serving families as a funeral celebrant or officiant step into this role within our families first. When guests at my grandmother’s memorial service commented, “this was the most beautiful funeral we’ve ever been to,” I took note, recognizing that not everyone is uniquely gifted to prepare a meaningful celebration of life or funeral.

What is a Funeral Celebrant?

It’s likely you haven’t stumbled across the term, “celebrant.” Similar to an officiant, a funeral celebrant is a professional who offers personalized and heartfelt services to help families honor their loved ones. A good funeral celebrant designs each service in a way that reflects the decedent’s unique lives and values.

Celebrants work closely with families to create custom funeral and memorial services, including writing obituaries, poems, and meaningful messages that capture the essence of the person being remembered. In addition to officiating and guiding the ceremony with grace and compassion, they may also perform sacred or secular music, adding a special touch to the service.

They often take on the task of creating video slideshows and designing beautiful printed programs, ensuring that every detail is thoughtfully planned. Beyond the ceremony itself, celebrants provide essential support through the grief and burial process, offering care and guidance during a difficult time.

Whether you require a graveside service, a memorial, or a celebration of life, a celebrant is there to help you create a meaningful tribute that honors your loved one’s memory with dignity and respect.

Why Do I Need a Funeral Celebrant or Officiant?

If you’ve ever lost anyone close to you, perhaps a close friend or a family member, you know that planning a memorial service while navigating your grief isn’t easy. Even in the best of circumstances when an elderly person is expected to pass, when they do pass, emotions flood and take over. It’s not typical to be able to think level-headedly, to meet with the event location, work on the photo slideshow, write and edit the obituary, service order, and program.

Bottom line: it’s impossible to grieve your loved one while functioning in ‘events planner’ mode.

For a reasonable investment starting at $600, a singing celebrant such as myself can work with the family to learn about the decedent’s life in order to write a memorable, custom memorial service that includes elements that the family desires in order to honor their loved one.

A Celebrant’s Goal is to Serve Your Family Well

In all the details, songs, prayers, readings, and transitions between elements in your loved one’s service, the celebrant’s goal is to serve your family well. It is an honor to step into a family’s greatest need during a time of grief and assist with coordinating the creative, informational, and sensitive elements of a funeral.

As a singing funeral celebrant, my goal is to build a service that honors the following:

• Spiritual, religious, or non-religious traditions
• Musical elements including special songs, instrumental prelude and postludes
• Unique moments such as a moment of silence, military honor, or other type of solemn remembrance
• Poetry reading, Psalm reading, or other special recitation of meaningful prayers or readings
• Special needs for memorial services on location (e.g., park, home, church, funeral home, or other special location)
• Special desires for a graveside or interment service where their loved one will reside

Overall, a funeral celebrant’s goal is to walk alongside the family during this difficult time to honor, respect, and meet the family’s needs. It is a privilege for the officiant to work with the grieving family and their sole desire is to help you find meaning and closure.

How Do I Get Started Working with a Celebrant?

Here are 7 easy steps to begin working with a celebrant:

1. Research and find a celebrant that you feel aligns with your beliefs, values, and style preferences.
2. Schedule a consultation with the celebrant to discuss your needs, ideas, and any questions you may have.
3. Work with the celebrant to create a ceremony that reflects your unique story and includes any special elements you want.
4. Review and approve the final ceremony script and make any necessary changes.
5. Collaborate with the celebrant to plan any rehearsals or other preparations for the ceremony.
6. On the day of the ceremony, communicate any last-minute changes or requests to the celebrant.
7. Enjoy the ceremony and make memories that will last a lifetime.

If you’re interested in learning more about how a funeral celebrant can assist your family in its time of need, please reach out to Lauren via email at lauren@laurenhunter.net or request a meeting using the calendar below: