Butterfly Heart Celebrations
Celebrations of a Life
Celebrations of a Life
Joyful reflection
My job is to ensure that your loved one is properly remembered and gets a fitting send-off. Together we will create a ceremony that truly reflects their life and what made them the person they were - whether they had a long life or were with you for just a few moments.
A life celebration is generally centered on the joy of having been blessed by the departed person’s presence. It can be colourful, contemporary, held at any location deemed appropriate and anyone or everyone can participate.
With the focus being placed on funerals being a celebration of life, mourners can also be encouraged to wear more relaxed clothes such as a loved one’s favourite colour, take part in a picnic or wear a favourite sports team's kit.
As a celebrant I can help you create a ceremony that is not bound by convention, but is completely personalised to better reflect the life of the deceased and the wishes of the family and friends.
Memorial Services
Remembering & sharing
As a celebrant I help the family and/or friends of the person who has died to arrange a fitting and comforting event to commemorate their life. My aim is to help you unite fellow mourners in supporting each other’s loss.
Each service is thoughtfully created and we work as a team to make sure we set the right tone and include appropriate rituals.
A carefully-crafted service will move the relationship with one who has died from an in-person one to a memory. It provides a time and a place for us to think about and share the moments we cherish.
A memorial service can be held alongside a burial or cremation, or at later date.
Planning Your Own Service
Expressing your wishes
It is not unusual to want to put your affairs in order and as part of this process you may want to design your own service. Many do this is to take the stress away from someone else, and it also gives you an opportunity to discuss your last wishes with the ones you love.
Having a chat with a celebrant about your service, allows you to focus on how you would like key moments and relationships in your life to be celebrated.
As part of the discussion, you can state preferences such as whether you want to include any rituals or any religious elements. You can also express practical preferences like wishes for a burial or cremation, a graveside service (in a cemetery or a woodland burial site) or a private event for those who are closest to you. You may also wish to consider if you want a memorial service and where and when that is to be held.
When you plan your own funeral you are in charge of your ceremony and you may wish to buy a pre-paid Funeral Plan to cover the costs.
Pet Services
Repay the Loyalty
The loss of a beloved pet is an exceptionally tough and emotional time.
I understand that pet loss is a real sense of grief and the feeling of deep emotion and bereavement is not always understood.
Let me help you to say a dignified, final farewell to your special friend and I am happy to work with your vet or cremation service to ease the loss of your loved four-legged companion.
How we work together
Creating and delivering the ceremony
The great advantage of a celebrant-led ceremony is that I can customise all elements for you. Everything from the type of music that you would like, to the atmosphere and tone of the ceremony, to any readings or including any religious aspects.
Reflections of your loved one's life
We will talk about your loved one, revisit memories and I will listen to your stories.
Working with you, I’ll create an individual service befitting their memory.
Elements to consider
We can then discuss what you would like to include in the service: readings, poems, music, a slideshow or anything else you wish.
You may wish to include a story about their travels, working life or a favourite joke or all of these. You might like everyone to wear the deceased's favourite colour.
Let's choose what feels appropriate for you and them!
Participants
As a celebrant, I can deliver the whole service or a portion. You many want family members, friends or children to play a part. We can look at the big picture and see what everyone is comfortable with. If they do not want to read or sing, there are lots of other ways they can be involved.
Review process
Next, I will present you with a written service outline.
It will include all the elements we have discussed. You review it and we make any necessary adjustments.
Timings
We will check the timings and I can coach any of the ceremony participants, as you wish.
On the day I will be ready to step in, if needed.
Performing the ceremony
On the day of your ceremony, I will arrive early and tend to any last minute details.
I will be there to provide support for you and the other people involved in the ceremony.
Useful resources
Please click here to access the wealth of information sheets that are provided to help you plan a service.
FAQs
What qualifications do you hold?
I am a Civil Celebrant accredited by The Celebrants Collective, with a lifelong background in creating and organising bespoke learning events.
All the roles I have held during my long career have involved listening, reflection, storytelling, working to deadlines and public speaking. I also have a genuine love of people.
Where can you perform ceremonies?
The specific venue can be entirely up to you, such as a crematorium, cemetery, woodland burial site, beach or a place that is special to your loved one.
It does not have to be a formal - it can be a walk with specific stopping points or at a favourite restaurant or a picnic - you will know what feels right.
A ceremony can be held alongside a burial or cremation, and/or at later date when you scatter the ashes.
I am based in East Anglia and willing to travel if required.
How will you work with the Funeral Director?
The celebrant is qualified to officiate at the service. The Funeral Director will make practical arrangements for the funeral, burial or cremation and they will tell you about the procedures and documents needed to register the death.
Celebrants and Funeral Directors often work together, each having specific responsibilities for particular parts of the service. They will liaise during the planning phase on the details including the venue, timings and Order of Service. On the day, they will work seamlessly alongside each other.
What fees do you charge?
I charge very reasonable fees, which are commensurate with the size of the planned ceremony and the work involved in organising it. A detailed quote will be provided once we have had an initial discussion.
Pricing starts from £300 + VAT.
Do you have public liability insurance?
As a responsible celebrant I have full public liability insurance, giving you full peace of mind. I will provide details on request.
Can you recommend suppliers?
Linda Martin Florist
Linda Martin is a highly respected local florist with over 20 years of experience. Her bouquets are absolutely beautiful and are entirely handmade to your own personal taste. Linda specialises in funeral flowers and will be able to transform your vision into reality. She has made many personalised wreaths and arrangements to reflect hobbies or interests.
Woodland Wishes Limited
Woodland Wishes offer more personalised and 'greener' funerals such as woodland burials, cremations, church services and home funerals using British 'earth friendly' coffins.
Woodland Wishes was founded by Tracy O'Leary, Green Funeral Director in 2012 to offer a more personal service and to raise awareness of natural burial and beautiful funeral alternatives for a relaxed, meaningful goodbye.
For more information see their website https://woodlandwishes.co.uk/
H J Paintin Ltd
Paintin's are a completely family-owned business and truly independent. The fifth generation of the family are now involved with the business and they continue to help and care for people through one of the most difficult times of their lives.
On a personal note, they handled my own mum's funeral with dignity and care, liaising with a Funeral Director in Ireland to facilitate repatriation.
For more information please see their website http://www.hjpaintin.co.uk
Rainbow Hearse via Green's Carriage Masters
Green’s Carriage Masters is an independent family-run business, providing a diverse range of services to the funeral trade nationwide.
They operate an extensive selection of vehicles with one of the largest privately-owned fleets in the country, whether your requirements are for a modern, traditional black fleet….. or for something more alternative.
For more information see their website https://greenscarriages.com/
