Hilary Ceremonies

01/11/2024

Beautiful colours at Exeter Crematorium this morning. The vibrancy of the red may help lift the sadness somehow.

11/10/2024

This poem is perfect. The last two verses.... but amongst the darkness, there are still glimmers. Hope within and outside sadness and grief.

04/10/2024

Most of the funerals I am honoured to lead occur at crematoriums. Recently I led one at the beautiful chapel within Sidmouth Cemetery with a private burial for the family afterwards. What a place, full of history and where the lady who had died requested her funeral. She now lies amongst close friends already departed.
Proves, you can have what you want for your funeral provided you tell your friends and family.... if you would like to plan ahead, I will come and chat informally and write down your requests for you.

05/09/2024

Today I visited the Museum of Broken Relationships, Zagreb. People donate items and an explanatory text. I found this a beautiful exhibit. I bet those messages gave comfort.

23/07/2024

I have the best job, sometimes tough, but the times I receive a thank you mean so very, very much.
Yesterday I met with a lovely couple and their new baby who have experienced much, and overcome with love and looking forward. What a wonderful gift.
My garden has roses growing sent to me from families, I have many cards with heartfelt messages : all are humbling. They provide a sense of connection , a thread between us who are celebrating a life no longer, a new born, joy, sadness: it's all love. Thank you for making my job so joyful.

22/06/2024

And the sun came out and kissed Dartmoor just in time for today's celebration. The bride arrived on her horse, the groom grew the flowers and the pianist, Jonathan entertained us, the goats, donkeys and alpacas.

22/06/2024

A beautiful wedding today. Take a peek at the video to see how the bride arrived. And the groom arrived in a huge truck.

09/06/2024

Yesterday, somehow courtesy of What3Words, somewhere down a narrow winding lane on Exmoor, I found the campsite I was heading for... we had a naming day for a beautiful almost walking, contented child who will be sure to grow up making tree houses, camps, learning about bugs and foraging. Then we surprised the guests with a commitment ceremony for the parents.... a handfasting, ring exchange and promises. The weather was perfect and I snuck off as the fizz was being opened. Such a pleasure to be a part of this day.
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09/06/2024

On Friday, a service for one of my neighbours, a true character who grew up with diverse influences from his Jewish / Salvationist family and Catholic schooling. I met David before he died to work out what he wanted at his funeral, even the fact that he wanted pebbles left on his coffin by people as they left. As he was always immaculately dressed, I hope he didn't mind me painting all the pebbles so they looked well turned out!

26/05/2024

Honoured to have been the Celebrant for Sophie and Ben in this beautiful setting. What a fabulous day. I have been meeting Ben and Sophie for the past year and it was a pleasure to make their wedding ceremony truly personal for them. Even Poppy their dog joined in.

21/05/2024

At this time of year, I remember my husband bringing me a bouquet of wildflowers he had picked on a walk. It was so special as he was not an obvious romantic. Reminds me that when I die, I will be buried in the meadow next to him so wildflowers and beautiful grasses cover me forever.
If you would like to learn more about natural burial please contact me.

29/04/2024

Self reflection this morning: I have been miserably super critical of others lately... had a talk with myself about being kinder... and then a friend posted this. Good timing.

04/04/2024

Yesterday I worked in Berkshire helping a family spread across the world (South Africa, UK, Australia) to say farewell.
As a Mum, Granny and Great Granny she was beloved by her friends and family for her listening ear, advice, and endless cups of tea. Rest peacefully now your travels have ended. Beautiful flowers by Cherubs Floral Design and thank you to Ashbrook Funeral Directors, Burghfield.

16/03/2024

A ceremony to celebrate 15 years married and 20 years of love.... Richard and Lucy's "I Do Part Two".

12/03/2024

Unbelievable and heartbreaking headlines about a funeral firm. But please, this is definitely not the norm. Every funeral director I have worked with has been extremely caring, hold the family through their distress, and treat the deceased with the most respect.

26/02/2024

I absolutely love my job as a Celebrant whether it is a farewell, a wedding celebration, vow renewal or naming day. And to receive a card from a family after a funeral when everything is so stressful and sad is incredibly meaningful and treasured.

18/02/2024

When You Go by Edwin Morgan

29/11/2023

06/10/2023

Today I was honoured to be the Celebrant for one of my family in Jersey. The Chapel at Jersey Crematorium had standing room only. A piper led in the coffin draped in tartan, there were beautiful tributes from his children and Flower of Scotland sung beautifully. The wake was in glorious sunshine on the beach with a curry and the opportunity for anyone to speak, tell stories and share memories.
An extraordinary farewell for a much, much loved man.

17/09/2023

Yesterday I was honored to be the Celebrant at Hannah and Andy's dinosaur themed wedding. Lots of tears, laughter, but above all love. Dena Login and her team at The Barn at High Beardon were outstanding.

19/08/2023

This is what grief is.
A hole ripped through the very fabric of your being.
The hole eventually heals along the jagged edges that remain. It may even shrink in size.
But that hole will always be there.
A piece of you always missing.
For where there is deep grief, there was great love.
Don’t be ashamed of your grief.
Don’t judge it.
Don’t suppress it.
Don’t rush it.
Rather, acknowledge it.
Lean into it.
Listen to it.
Feel it.
Sit with it.
Sit with the pain. And remember the love.
This is where the healing will begin.

01/08/2023

01/07/2023

Today we celebrated love, strength, togetherness, fortitude, and parenthood at the wedding of Poppy and James. Poppy's father played a blessing for his daughter before the ceremony, and the venue at Higher Beardon, near Tavistock was stunning on the edge of Dartmoor. Joyous day.

12/11/2021

I have recently qualified as a Funeral Celebrant. I can now conduct natural burials and cremations - personal and unique.
By Christmas 2021 I will have qualified as a Family Celebrant too which will mean I can conduct wedding ceremonies naming days, and any ceremony you want to mark a milestone in your life.
I will make each occasion joyous and listen to what you want, and add a few suggestions to make the celebration ceremony unique.