5 key insights for Funeral Celebrants in 2025

At our recent Funeral Roundtable at CelebrantTopia, we had the privilege of hearing from Sarah Wickham, a celebrant with over 12 years of experience who has witnessed firsthand the transformation of the funeral industry towards more personalised services. Sarah is a passionate advocate for eco-friendly funeral practices and even operates her own natural burial ground, specialising in family-focused ceremonies and green funerals, and she’s also one of our Celebrant Mentors at The Academy of Modern Celebrancy.

We were also joined by representatives from Poetic Endings, an award-winning, independent and ethical funeral service based in Forest Hill, London. Unlike inherited businesses or corporate groups, Poetic Endings was founded on the belief in the power of meaningful funerals. They support both modern and traditional approaches, offering simple, creative, bespoke, green, alternative and affordable funeral options.

From our enlightening discussions, here are five valuable lessons for funeral celebrants looking to enhance their practice and provide exceptional service.

1. Empowering Clients Through Knowledge and Reliability

Funeral directors are increasingly seeking celebrants who can empower clients to have the experience they truly need and want. This requires more than just ceremonial skills—it demands knowledge, promptness, and reliability.

“Families today want to feel heard and supported in their choices,” noted Sarah Wickham. “As celebrants, we must be well-informed about all available options, from traditional burials to woodland interments, so we can present these choices clearly and compassionately.”

Being responsive and dependable is equally crucial. Funeral directors value celebrants who promptly return calls, arrive early for meetings and ceremonies, and deliver scripts on time. These seemingly small professional courtesies make an enormous difference during what is often a stressful time for families.

2. Maintaining Boundaries While Fostering Partnerships

Our panel emphasised the importance of maintaining clear professional boundaries whilst working collaboratively with funeral directors, suppliers, and venues.

“It’s absolutely fine to ask for help,” Sarah advised. “Knowing when you need support and reaching out for it isn’t a weakness—it’s essential for providing the best service to families.”

Working in partnership with funeral directors creates a seamless experience for the bereaved. Understanding each other’s roles and communicating clearly prevents confusion and ensures that nothing falls through the cracks. Likewise, building relationships with crematorium staff, florists, musicians, and other suppliers creates a network of support that benefits everyone involved, especially the grieving family.

3. Understanding How Funeral Directors Prefer to Work

Getting to know funeral directors and understanding their preferred working methods is crucial for successful collaboration. Each funeral director has their own approach, priorities, and communication style.

Poetic Endings representatives shared: “We value celebrants who take the time to understand our ethos. When a celebrant aligns with our values and can adapt to our processes, we’re more likely to recommend them to families.”

This relationship-building isn’t just about securing more work—it’s about creating a cohesive team that can provide the best possible support to bereaved families. Taking time to meet funeral directors, understanding their expectations, and being flexible enough to accommodate their working style fosters trust and mutual respect.

4. Seeking Feedback and Continuous Learning

Professional growth requires openness to feedback and a commitment to ongoing education. Our panel stressed the importance of regularly seeking constructive criticism and investing in continued training.

“I still attend workshops and training sessions even after 12 years as a celebrant,” Sarah shared. “The funeral industry is constantly evolving, and so must we.”

Having knowledge of your local area—including crematorium procedures, burial grounds, and regional customs—also enhances your service. Families appreciate celebrants who can guide them through local options with confidence and personal insight.

5. Community Engagement and Profile Building

The panel highlighted the value of giving back to the community to serve others and raise your profile as a celebrant.

Creative suggestions included:

• Starting a local coffin club to help educate people on their options when it comes to funerals and celebrations of life.
• Hosting funeral planning coffee mornings where people can discuss end-of-life wishes in a relaxed setting
• Approaching local crematoria about holding Christmas memorial services
• Engaging with hospices or charities to provide education and family support

“These initiatives serve a dual purpose,” Sarah shared. “They provide valuable community support while also establishing you as a knowledgeable, caring professional in your area.”

Looking Forward

As the funeral industry continues to evolve towards more personalised, meaningful ceremonies, the role of the celebrant becomes increasingly significant. By empowering clients, maintaining professional boundaries, building strong partnerships, committing to continuous learning, and engaging with the community, celebrants can provide exceptional service during one of life’s most challenging transitions.

Sarah Wickham’s journey—from beginning her celebrancy career to establishing her own natural burial ground—exemplifies how passion, dedication and a willingness to embrace change can lead to a fulfilling career that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

The message from our panel was clear: funeral celebrancy is not just about conducting ceremonies—it’s about creating meaningful experiences that honour the deceased, support the bereaved, and reflect the unique values and wishes of each family we serve.

Catch up on CelebrantTopia

CelebrantTopia 2025 brought together the brightest minds in modern celebrancy for an extraordinary virtual summit. Over two action-packed days, ambitious celebrants gathered to unlock the secrets of business growth through 13 brilliant talks, panels, roundtables and workshops with leading industry experts.

Missed these brilliant insights at CelebrantTopia? You can still upgrade to access all the summit recordings here to watch the full conversation and see all of the seminars and workshops.