Beyond The Ceremony Podcast Ep 6: What Is A Funeral Celebrant?

Have you ever wondered, What is a funeral celebrant, and how can they help families create a meaningful farewell?

In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Ceremony, host Laura Crockett sits down with Sarah Wickham, an independent celebrant who has been crafting personal, eco-friendly, family-focused ceremonies since 2012.

From weddings to vow renewals, baby namings to funerals, Sarah’s approach is all about weaving authenticity and care into every milestone.

But it’s funerals that have captured her heart in a unique way.

Sarah shares how funeral celebrants guide families through the delicate process of saying goodbye, creating personalised funeral ceremonies that honour the life and legacy of the person who has passed.

They talk about how funeral celebrant-led ceremonies are more than farewells, they’re an opportunity to share stories, celebrate memories, and hold a space where grief and gratitude can sit side by side.

Sarah’s wisdom and warmth remind us that funerals can be more than sombre rituals, they can be celebrations of life that capture the essence of a loved one’s journey.

HIGHLIGHTS

• What a funeral celebrant is and why their role is so important
• Sarah’s journey from eco-friendly weddings to becoming a funeral celebrant
• The power of storytelling and listening when creating a funeral ceremony
• How celebrant-led funerals bring authenticity, warmth, and personal touches
• Why there’s no “right way” to say goodbye—only what feels true and heartfelt

Could you make a perfect funeral celebrant? 

Take our quiz to find out if you have what it takes.

MEET SARAH

Sarah Wickham is an independent celebrant who has been helping families and couples create personal, eco-friendly, family-focused ceremonies since 2012. Her work spans funerals, known as ‘celebrations of life’, as well as weddings, vow renewals, handfastings, and baby naming or welcoming ceremonies. Sarah’s ceremonies are known for their warmth and authenticity, blending heartfelt storytelling with her deep appreciation for life’s transitions.

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MEET YOUR HOST, LAURA

Laura has been an independent celebrant for 5 years and absolutely loves it. It makes her so proud seeing how far she's come in that time. Laura feels like she's found her calling and is so excited to keep progressing and growing her Celebrant business! Laura creates all kinds of ceremonies, including Weddings, Funerals, Vow Renewals, and Naming Ceremonies. Before she was a celebrant, Laura was a breakfast radio presenter, so her happy place is either at the front of a ceremony or sitting behind a microphone!

At home, Laura is married to Johnathan (a primary school teacher and her biggest cheerleader) and a mummy to two boys - Woody and Dougie. Laura is also a dog mum to Betty and Barney the cockapoos! They can often be found curled up by her side when she's writing scripts or lying by the radiator in the office when she's on couples calls! 

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