Funerals and celebrations of life
A funeral should feel like the person it is for.
There is no right or wrong way to say goodbye. A funeral or celebration of life can be traditional, full of stories and laughter, or quiet and reflective - it should always be completely personal, and often, it will be a little bit of everything.
My role is to listen, to understand the person you are remembering, and to create a ceremony that feels honest, personal, and right for them - and for the people who loved them.
I am based in Neath Port Talbot and work with families across this county, Swansea, and the wider South Wales area.
How I’ll help you create the ceremony
You don’t need to know exactly what you want the ceremony to look like before we speak. That’s part of what I’m here for.
YOU TELL ME THEIR STORY
We’ll spend time together talking about the person who has died - the stories you remember, the things that made them who they were, the people and places that mattered to them, and anything you think should be reflected in their ceremony.
From there, I’ll create a completely personal ceremony, including a tribute that tells their story with warmth and honesty. I can also help you choose readings, poetry, music, and find ways to involve family and friends if that feels right.
I’LL WRITE
I’ll guide you through the whole process, so you’re not left wondering what should happen next or what you’re supposed to include. There are no rules about what a funeral has to look like - together, we’ll create a ceremony that feels right for the person you’re remembering.
WE’LL CREATE
Funeral or celebration of life?
A funeral usually takes place fairly soon after someone has died, and is often connected to the cremation or burial. It can be traditional or completely personal, religious or non-religious, and may take place at a crematorium, cemetery, natural burial ground, or another suitable setting
FUNERAL
A celebration of life is often more flexible in timing and setting. It may take place instead of a funeral, or separately at a later date, and can be held somewhere meaningful to the person who has died, or their family. It may feel less formal and can focus heavily on stories, memories, music, and the life they lived.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
There isn’t a right or wrong choice. The most important thing is that the ceremony feels appropriate for the person you’re remembering, and for the people closest to them.
What can the ceremony include?
There’s no fixed formula for a funeral or celebration of life. The ceremony can be shaped around the person you’re remembering, their beliefs, their personality, and what feels right for those closest to them.
A personal tribute can sit at the heart of the ceremony, sharing memories, important moments, relationships, and all the things that made them who they were.
THEIR STORY
You might choose favourite songs, meaningful pieces of music, poems, readings, extracts from a favourite book, or words that reflect their life, beliefs, or personality.
MOMENTS OF REFLECTION
The ceremony can include quiet moments, music, silence, prayer, or reflection - whatever feels most appropriate for the person, and the people gathered.
MUSIC & READINGS
You can also include small symbolic touches or rituals that have meaning for your family, such as lighting a candle, placing flowers, displaying photographs, or incorporating something connected to a hobby, place, or memory.
PERSONAL TOUCHES
If people would like to be involved, there can be space for them to share memories, read something, speak a few words or take part in another meaningful way.
FAMILY & FRIENDS
A celebrant-led ceremony can be completely non-religious, include religious or spiritual elements, or blend different traditions. It doesn’t have to fit into one particular box.
FAITH AND BELIEFS
You don’t need to decide all of this before we meet. I can talk you through the options and help you work out what feels right.
What’s included when you book me?
I’ll support you from our first conversation through to the ceremony itself, taking care of the words, structure, and details so you don’t have to work everything out alone.
Time together to talk about the person who has died, hear their story, gather memories and understand what feels important to include.
A family meeting
A completely personal ceremony
I’ll write the full ceremony from scratch, shaped around the person you’re remembering and the kind of farewell or celebration you want.
I’ll help you create a warm, honest tribute that reflects their life, personality, relationships, and the memories that matter most.
A personalised tribute
Help with readings, music, & contributions
I can help you choose suitable readings, poems and music, and work out how family and friends can be involved if they’d like to be.
Liaising with your funeral director
I’ll work with your funeral director, where appropriate, to make sure the ceremony fits smoothly with the practical arrangements on the day.
I’ll conduct the ceremony calmly and warmly, guiding everyone through it from beginning to end.
The ceremony itself
You’ll also have the opportunity to review the ceremony beforehand, so you can feel confident that it reflects the person you’re remembering.
KIND WORDS
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KIND WORDS 〰️
“Emily thank you so much for yesterday, (it) was the most perfect send off for L, you were amazing and so many people commented throughout the day to say how brilliant you were, was a fitting tribute to lovely L”
Christine, September 2026
“Hi Emily, I just wanted to thank you so much for yesterday. The service you put together for L was truly amazing. It was just perfect. Thank you from all the family xx”
Leeann, September 2026
“You’ve mastered the art of crafting ceremonies that are not only personal but deeply meaningful, showing your ability to connect with and touch the hearts of those in attendance”
Grace, July 2026
Fee
Funeral ceremonies are £250
This includes our family meeting, the writing of a completely personal ceremony and tribute, support with readings, music and contributions, liaison with your funeral director where appropriate, revisions, travel, and conducting the ceremony itself.
Celebrations of life are quoted individually
These are priced individually depending on the format, location, and what you’d like included.
If you’re not sure what you need, please get in touch and I can talk you through the options.
Need to write a eulogy, but don’t know where to start?
Writing a eulogy for someone you love can feel overwhelming. You may have a lifetime of memories, stories and little details you want to include, but no idea how to bring them together into something you can stand up and read.
I offer a personal eulogy writing service for families throughout the UK. You tell me about the person you are remembering, and I’ll help you turn those memories into a warm, honest and completely personal tribute.