Katherine Luxford Funeral Celebrant

04/11/2024

This morning I led a service in the beautiful grade-two listed chapel at Maidstone Cemetery. It fell into disrepair and was closed for twelve years, but has just reopened after extensive renovations by the local council.

15/10/2024

Yesterday I led a funeral service at The Secret Garden Kent . The ceremony took place in The Old Chapel, and then refreshments were served in The Coach House. It is a very beautiful and peaceful venue.

28/08/2024

I took two funeral services today. The first was in the Grade II listed chapel at Ramsgate Cemetery, built in 1872. It only seats thirty mourners and there is a cart (called a bier) which is used to take the coffin to the graveside. The second was the very modern crematorium at Herne Bay. The venues could not have been more different!

10/07/2024

An interesting and thought-provoking post from Poppy's about the importance of personalisation when it comes to planning a funeral or celebration of life.

"Personalising a funeral is not about buying more stuff, spending more money or doing something unusual just for the sake of it. It’s about making choices that reflect the character and passions of the person who has died".

Every aspect of a funeral — from coffins to celebrants, flowers to vehicles — can be tailored to suit the personality of the person who has died and what’s right for you.

30/06/2024

Today I led a celebration of life for a very special lady at the beautiful Howfield Manor in Chartham, with the ceremony being followed by a delicious afternoon tea.

12/03/2024

Lovely to have an image (photo 4) from a photoshoot I arranged featured in a story by Funeral Choice, who are a great source of information and ideas for anyone who has to plan a funeral.

Photographer SHOT by JFK
Coffin supplied by Ecoffins
Photoshoot arranged by Katherine Luxford Funeral Celebrant with Willow & Green at Frasers .

29/01/2024

So kind of Willow & Green to mention me in their post about some of the alternative ways of saying goodbye to a loved one.

Direct cremation is becoming more popular, but choosing to have one doesn't mean that you can't also have a beautiful ceremony, in the form of a memorial service or a celebration of life. These rituals can comfort us, allow us to say goodbye in a meaningful way, and help us begin to process our loss.

Did you know you can still have a funeral service with a direct cremation?

Direct cremations, or unattended cremations, are becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons.

However, for some people, a funeral service can be a significant part of the grieving process.

A memorial service or celebration of life can take place anywhere, at any time. For example, after the cremation with ashes present. This could be at a venue such as Frasers, and celebrant led, for example by the lovely Katherine Luxford Funeral Celebrant
Some people choose to have a service when they are scattering or interring ashes.

Photos by the talented SHOT by JFK

Biodegradable arboform urn from Shaws funeral products.

08/12/2023

Lovely to be featured in this post by local independent funeral director Willow & Green about the fact that a funeral or celebration of life can be held at any venue.

These pictures were taken by John Kennedy at SHOT by JFK at Frasers, a beautiful eco-friendly venue in Egerton, and feature a woven wicker coffin from Ecoffins.

28/11/2023

It was a privilege to be invited to write and lead this special ceremony at Holly Barrow at Dode by Jo Williamson, owner and director of award-winning Albany Funerals .
Photo credit - John Kennedy at SHOT by JFK

27/11/2023

I was engaged by a corporate client to write and lead a memorial event which took place at Jupiter Artlands in Edinburgh. The guests were given a tour of the gardens, took part in a flower-arranging workshop and ate lunch together, before gathering for a service of reflection to commemorate their friend and colleague. They laid their bouquets in her memory in the formal garden, before walking through the parkland to experience some of the artworks and sculptures displayed in the grounds.

Client testimonial - “Katherine, thank you so much for an amazing service on Tuesday. This felt so personal and so bespoke to us, you did such a wonderful job… Again thank you so much, the feedback from everyone has been amazing."

21/08/2023

Coffins are usually decorated with floral tributes, but there are lots of creative alternatives, such as draping the coffin with a flag, a quilt or a blanket, tying ribbons or scarves to the handles, or placing a personal item, such as a hat, on the top.

Wreaths can be made from paper flowers, artificial flowers, material, feathers, crystals, toys, collectibles and all sorts of other objects.

The only limit is your imagination!

16/08/2023

The flowers a family chooses for their loved one's funeral can bring such comfort.

This is a beautiful story x

18/07/2023

This is Chips. On sunny days when I have a funeral at Hawkinge Crematorium I sit on a bench in the beautiful gardens before the service and he keeps me company. Today he joined us in the chapel and slept through the whole thing 🐱

29/03/2023

Hearing the sad news of Paul O'Grady's death this morning made me think of this beautiful reading.

The Rainbow Bridge, author unknown.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends, so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

And then you cross Rainbow Bridge together…

22/03/2023

At a Celebration of Life which I led at Bilsington Priory Estate Ltd the family gave out these beautiful Forget Me Not lapel pins as a keepsake for all of the guests, which they sourced from Albany Funerals .

23/02/2023

Direct cremations are marketed as a simpler, lower-cost alternative to a traditional funeral, and for some people they are a good option. The pros and cons are helpfully explained in this article. Please do contact me if you would like any information about working with a celebrant to hold a beautiful celebration of life or memorial service after your loved one has been cremated.

Cremations without a service are on the rise, but others say they need a funeral to deal with grief.

11/02/2023

13/01/2023

When I meet with bereaved families they often say they wish they had asked what their loved one wanted their funeral to be like when they had the chance. This is a great example of a fabulous lady who made her very specific wishes known!

Sandie Wood had requested stunt as part of her ceremony, which also included pink coffin marked with words ‘Going out in style’

10/12/2022

Who knew that this was a thing? An olden days funeral plan for sailors!

21/10/2022

I'm so excited to be joining Simply Ceremonies UK - Independent Celebrants as one of their associates, offering wedding ceremonies, hand fastings and naming ceremonies.

13/10/2022

After this morning's funeral, we set up a little table in the courtyard at the crematorium, so that the family could raise a glass to their loved one.

28/09/2022

I had an amazing day with some wonderful people creating this beautiful medieval -inspired wedding at Bilsington Priory near Ashford, which incorporated drinking mead in a unity cup ceremony and a handfasting.

28/09/2022

Photography Lauren Potter Photography
Videography Lauren Luxe Videography
Photography/videography assistant
Get Ready Room The Pretty Prep Studios
Model (Bride) Leigh Sinden Leigh's Models
Model (Groom) Ben Gonsalves
Model (Bridesmaid) Laura McPhee
Model (Bridesmaid) India Reeve .sniff
Hair Harrisons Hair Team Kent Bride
Make-up Samantha Campbell Bridal Make-Up
Jewellery Navette Jewellery Studio
Floral Arrangements Patina & Petal
Venue Bilsington Priory Estate Ltd
Props and Event Décor Bay Wedding Props
Celebrant, concept and organiser Katherine Luxford Celebrancy
Wedding Car Brass Cars Kent
Wedding Cake Belle’s Bespoke Cake Design
Wedding Dress Mia Rose Bridal Boutique
Bridesmaids' Dresses Everpretty_uk
Dressing Gowns theaelizabethstudio
Wedding stationery
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11/09/2022

You can hold a funeral anywhere...

A place that was important to a person during their life makes the perfect location for their friends and family to say goodbye.

25/08/2022

Funerals can be personalised in so many ways, including the vehicle used to carry the coffin and the route it takes on the way.

Cattle farmer' George Brookes's coffin was carried to his funeral on the back of a tractor so he could 'see his cows' one last time. George, from Uttoxeter, died on July 31, aged 85.