A funeral, memorial or end-of-life celebrant delivers funeral, memorial or other end-of-life services, including living wakes. They have no legal role in this setting, but work with those approaching death and/or the loved ones of the person who has died to craft a ceremony that reflects the life that is ending. They can also provide connections to relevant services and support, such as end-of-life care, funeral homes, grief and bereavement counselling.

The funeral or memorial celebrant often works directly with a funeral home to manage logistical elements of the funeral or memorial service. If you do wish to work with a funeral home, I can work with the funeral home of your choosing, or recommend values-aligned services in your area, like Life Rites Funeral Services in Sydney. We can also discuss options that are available outside of working with a funeral home.

Unlike marriage celebrants, funeral celebrants do not require specific qualifications in Australia. However, like many marriage celebrants, I have been formally trained in funeral celebrancy as part of my celebrant training. 

For those approaching death, living wakes can be one way to bring together community and celebrate the unique and incredible life you have lived. They provide an opportunity to share stories, say goodbye, and encourage those you love as they grapple with their grief. I’m currently undertaking end-of-life doula (or death/mortality doula) training and will soon be offering end of life doula services. For now, I’m available to support you and connect you with the administrative, emotional, practical and spiritual support you might need as you navigate this profound period of transition and everything it brings. 

For those experiencing the death of a loved one, funerals and memorials provide a space for ritual and remembrance that honours the life that has ended. Some people like to do a lot of the ceremony themselves, while others prefer a celebrant with specific training to take the lead. So, whether it’s supporting you and your loved ones to officiate, or allowing you to focus on other things while I take care of the ceremony, I’ll work with you to ensure this service holds you and your people as you journey along this road.

In addition to weddings and end-of-life ceremonies, I can officiate:

• Commitment ceremonies (like a wedding without the legal element)

• Engagements (sometimes way funner than weddings imho)

• Vow renewals (to reignite the spark)

• Baby namings and/or guide-parent ceremonies

• Namings (for folks who have found a name that fits them better than the one they were assigned at birth)

• Gender affirmations/reveals (just not for babies or those not yet born)

If you’re experiencing a big life moment and it doesn’t fit under one of the above, I’d love to get creative together and craft something bespoke. Get in touch and let’s chat.

Not at all. I work with all kinds of couples and am interested in crafting a ceremony that is right for you. The most important thing is that we're values-aligned and can work well together. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat to see if that’s the case.

Yes. Aside from any legal aspects (i.e. for marriages), this is really the only part of a ceremony that we will necessarily include. Wherever we are across this continent, we are on unceded Aboriginal Land. Commencing your ceremony in a way that meaningfully acknowledges that is really important. If you like, we can work together to craft an acknowledgement that is meaningful and not just a tick-a-box exercise. I’d also suggest we include a Welcome to Country (see below), if possible.

Yes. A Welcome to Country is typically performed by local Traditional Owners/Custodians, and often is accompanied by a small fee, honouring the time, knowledge and generosity brought by those who deliver it. I really highly recommend including a Welcome to Country if you can, and can help to connect you with local folk who may be able to deliver this. If cost is an issue, lets talk - we can always bring down celebrant fees to make sure your money is going where it should be.

Absolutely. I’m all for making your ceremony the most authentic reflection of your life, your relationship/s, your values and beliefs. I’m not a minister of religion but I can work with anyone you feel is important to ensure we get these elements right, too.

Colonialism and my own position as a white settler on this continent has meant that English is the only language I speak fluently. However, we can work with interpreters to deliver ceremonies in the languages that are most resonant for you. This of course includes Auslan interpreters. I can connect you with interpreters if helpful, or we can work with those you already know. For wedding ceremonies, there is a legal requirement that interpreters are certified through NAATI. We will also need to sign an additional document that states they have interpreted the legal aspects of the ceremony in a way that you and I can both understand.

Absolutely. Get in touch and we can talk about it!

100%. Let’s chat about dates and locations, but I’m keen. If for some reason I can’t make it work, I can connect you with other celebrants who do destinations abroad. One thing to note is that Australia-registered marriage celebrants can’t legally marry outside of Australia. So, we’d be crafting and throwing a celebration overseas and then finalising the legal aspects in Australia.

As soon as you start planning your wedding. Celebrants book out quick and finding the right one can make all the difference. If you’re still feeling things out, get in touch and let’s chat. There’s no obligation to book me if we’re not the right fit, but we can at least see if our availability aligns.

Let’s go. For a detailed overview of the process of planning and hosting a wedding ceremony together, see the ‘how it works’ section of the Weddings page. I’m here to answer anny questions as we go. Ready? Get in touch and let’s chat.

So the LaW in Australia only allows two people to be married at one time. But we can certainly craft a ceremony like a wedding in all but LaW. And it will be perfection.

Hosting ceremonies can be really expensive, and I feel pretty strongly that it doesn’t need to be. If you’re keen to chat but don’t have the budget to meet the fees listed on my site, please get in touch anyway. If we’re right for each other, I would much rather work with you at a cheaper rate than not at all. I can also connect you with other community-oriented, affordable suppliers, and we can have fun crafting a low-cost ceremony together.

No worries. I’d be really happy to recommend other celebrants if that’s helpful for you, and provide you with any info that might help you get closer to what you’re looking for. There are some real gems out there and I’m confident you’ll find the right fit.

I’m part of a great network of celebrants who would be able to step in and do an incredible job. You and I would already have written the ceremony together, and we could talk about what’s most important for you to help me find the right fit. I got u.

I’ll make sure we’re prepared with a couple of wet weather/back-up ceremony plans that you feel great about.

Ahhh families. We’ve got this. We can talk it out and come up with some really meaningful ways to honour family members, traditions and anything else that feels significant, all while maintaining a ceremony that feels authentic to you.

I’ll be there to guide you and support you, and jump in as needed. We can do all the prep you need to, and I have a heap of experience helping people feel calm and confident to deliver in front of a crowd. If it all goes south, I’ll have your lines written out on a discreet card to pass you and get you through.

They can be as short, or as momentous, as you need. Bare-bones, ‘legals only’ ceremonies can be done in 5-10 minutes. Longer ceremonies might incorporate readings, poetry, performances, cultural traditions and other meaningful rituals. So, we can get creative, or just get it done. I’m here for it all. See the weddings and packages page for more info and pricing.

Typically, a ‘legals only’ wedding is about getting the paperwork done, and saying the things we need to say, in order for you to be legally married. These are generally very short, and much cheaper. I offer $500 legals only wedding packages, but we can get this price down if you need it for less. See the weddings and packages page for more info.