What is the meaning of “celebrant”?
A celebrant is a qualified official who leads a funeral service. Celebrants can be from religious or non-religious backgrounds, although they usually lead non-religious or semi-religious funeral services. Celebrants help bereaved families to create a unique and personal ceremony.
What is a celebrant expected to do?
A celebrant’s main role is officiating a funeral. This means they usually take care of the main speaking roles and help you put together an order of service for the celebration of life.
How to find a celebrant who’s right for you
Every celebrant is different. A humanist funeral celebrant will specialise in humanist funerals, a specific type of non-religious funeral. Others may be able to help with spiritual or semi-religious ceremonies.
Various organisations can put you in touch with celebrants, including the United Kingdom Society of Celebrants (UKSOC), and Humanists UK. Your funeral director may also be able to offer recommendations.
Failing that, a simple Google search might help you find suitable funeral celebrants near you.
What happens next?
Once you’ve found a celebrant, they’ll usually arrange an introductory meeting. This is your chance to let them know your thoughts and wishes for the funeral ceremony.
Just like a priest or vicar, they may ask you to share some thoughts and memories about the person who has died. This is so they can include these details in the service.
How much does a funeral celebrant cost?
Celebrant prices for funerals are typically around £150 to £250. How much celebrants charge depends on:
- The services you require
- How far they have to travel
- Their experience
When you’re choosing a celebrant, it’s a good idea to ask what services are included in their fee. This way, you’ll know exactly what the ceremony will look like and won’t face any surprise costs.
Learn more about planning a funeral
If you need more help with planning a funeral, you might find these articles useful too:
- Learn more about how to plan and create an order of service
- Read a step-by-step guide to arranging a funeral
- Learn more about what to say in a funeral speech or eulogy