Aled Jones on becoming a funeral celebrant at 52

Here at The Academy of Modern Celebrancy, we’ve trained our fair share of award-winning, rockstar Celebrants, but when bone fide global superstar and voice of an angel, Aled Jones, MBE, decided to train as a Celebrant with us, we have to admit, the team here were more than a little bit excited. 

Aled very generously agreed to share his story of his journey to becoming a celebrant here:

Who is Aled Jones?

Aled Jones, MBE, for those of you who need reminding, is a Welsh classical singer, radio and television presenter, and actor who gained widespread fame in 1985 with his recording of “Walking in the Air” which featured in the Christmas Classic The Snowman. He’s since released 31 albums and sold over 7 million records. Aled was awarded an MBE for services to music and broadcasting and for charitable services in 2013, and in 2023, he became a certified Independent Celebrant via The Academy of Modern Celebrancy.

Q. Celebrated singer to Celebrant, that’s quite a leap, what made you decide to become a celebrant?

A. I was told that my music and in particular You Raise Me Up was one of the most requested pieces in funerals in the UK. And it really struck a chord with me, I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or what the reason is, but I really felt like I needed to know more about that process that people go through when they’re, you know, saying goodbye to a loved one.

And that process of going from earth to heaven, or whatever you want to call it. And, so I looked into being a celebrant, and I saw that there were different courses available, and I decided that it would be a good thing for me to learn more about funerals, weddings, naming ceremonies, all those key moments in people’s lives that I touch upon with my work on Songs of Praise, to be honest with you.

Aled decided to train to be a Celebrant at 52. He says “I suppose as I’ve got older, I’ve become more spiritual and more aware of a higher power, whatever that is for people, I wanted to find out more about it. And actually, having found out more about it, I realize that it’s not that big of a leap from being a singer to a celebrant. It’s about connecting with people. It’s about making people feel needed, heard and celebrated.”

Q. Why Funeral Celebrancy in particular?

A. I suppose that’s where it stemmed from. And now I’ve gone through all the courses I actually love the idea of a wedding as well. I think I can probably perform a lot more in a wedding. But for funerals you’ve just got to get it right don’t you?

You have to be able to offer your heart and soul, love, compassion, and all those things I really enjoy offering i to be able to sing at somebody’s funeral, so would be an incredible experience. You know, I’ve sung in family funerals and stuff like that before, and I found it very, very, very moving, and very difficult actually. But, you know, I want to be able to say that I’ve done somebody proud. And instead of just using my music, maybe you know if that person was a fan or whatever, I will be able to make sure that their send-off was the very best.

Q. As a Celebrant, what skills are you able to lean on from your singing career?

A. There are so many skills that I possess as a singer that will definitely move across to being a celebrant, you know, even in the delivery. I’ve been presenting all my life, from live concerts to television to radio. So I feel totally comfortable in front of an audience, be it at a happy wedding or in a very sombre funeral. At the end of the day, it’s just learning what the situation is and then being able to adapt to that situation. So yeah, I think the singing and the performing will definitely have helped. It’s not as if I’ll be sort of, you know, a nervous wreck.

I’m sure I’d be very apprehensive before the first wedding or funeral. But that’s more of a case with me, and I want to get it right. I’m a perfectionist. So, you know, I’m there to make sure that everything runs properly and that we make lasting memories.

Q. What was your favourite part of your Celebrant Training?

A. I’ve really loved all my celebrant training. Actually, the videos have been fantastic. I’ve loved working with Pen (Penelope Boycott, Celebrant Mentor) as well. She’s no-nonsense, exactly what I needed. And to be honest with you, it was such a journey into the unknown. If you’d said to me a year and a half ago, what’s the celebrant, I probably wouldn’t be known as now. Awful! But now I most certainly do.

You know, I think the whole training was good. I love the fact that I’m learning new skills. You know, I if you’d asked me before, even what a sand ceremony was, or, you know, hand tying, and all that sort of business, I wouldn’t have had a clue. But also, I’ve loved learning about different faiths and none coming together as well. Because as far as I’m concerned, I’ve always been open about this, that at the top of every, you know, pyramid of faith, if you like his love and compassion and care, and regardless if you’re a Muslim or Sikh or Christian or nothing, you know, we should all aspire to that really.

Some of my favourite parts of the training has probably been the live tests I’ve had to do, getting dressed up and setting everything up. Yeah, I haven’t done that sort of thing for years and years and years. You know, I I tend to turn up for TV shows that I’m presenting last minute I just do it and because I’ve so experienced that doing it, so having to go back to college and learn from scratch has been an interesting one.

Q. What part of the role are you looking forward to the most?

A. I’d love to be able to sing and take a ceremony, and I think hopefully that’s what will set me apart. You know, I think that one will help with the other actually with the performance aspect of it as well.

But equally, I’m looking forward to really getting to know the people I’m working with, be it at a wedding a couple or be at the family for a funeral or a naming ceremony as well. I don’t just want to turn up and just deliver us any old script, you know, I want it to be tailor made for them and I want to see I suppose the the love, I want them to realize that I’m not bluffing. That’s what I mean. So the part of the role that I’m really looking forward to this is getting to know the people I’m working with and then delivering what I hope for them will be a perfect ceremony.

Q. Will you be singing at any of your ceremonies?

A. I’d love to sing at the ceremonies, but I can imagine there’ll be some people getting married at the last thing they want is for being to be singing. So it’s an option. It’s an optional extra at funerals. I think it might be more apt, especially if the person you know like my singing when they were alive. So yeah, that you know, I’m more than happy to sing that sandwich, but I’m also more than happy to recommend musicians as well. I’ve got so many friends that would be able to perform at ceremonies at weddings, funerals or naming ceremonies. So yeah, definitely.

Q. How did you find training with The Academy of Modern Celebrancy?

A. I’ve loved working with the Academy of Modern celebrancy. From the first moment, I was trawling around the internet not knowing what to do, or who to go to, their site caught my eye. And I love the fresh and vibrant attitude of the academy. I love that it’s sort of young and energetic, colourful, and bright, but equally, I love the people who are involved in the teaching as well. There are people that have been there and done it. And so, you know, I felt very easy, and I felt that I could trust them implicitly, which is really important for me. So, yeah, I’m a big fan of the Academy of Modern celebrancy.

Q. Are there any celebrity couples (single or married) that you’d love to officiate for?

A. I’d love to do an Elton John David furnish renewing their vows. It’d be great, wouldn’t it? I don’t know, to be honest with you. It’s not really about the celebrities. Although I guess I’d be happy to do that. I’m gonna see what happens. You know, I might not even get one booking. If that’s the case I’m hoping that one of the teachers in the Academy of Modern celebrancy will put me for a renewal or something like that. But yeah, we’ll see what happens. You know, if the Prince and Princess of Wales want me to do a renewal, then of course, you know, I’d be more than happy to do that.

Q. How would you describe yourself as a Celebrant?

A. Have leading a busy life. Hence, I do a bit of everything, singing, presenting on the radio and on TV, and presenting at live concerts. So I think being a celebrant will fit all that because it takes a little bit of all those skills to be a celebrant. So more than anything, you know, I’m hopefully I pride myself on being a good listener. So, you know, again, I don’t want to be one of those celebrants who think that they’re the star of the show, and most definitely not.

My role as a celebrant is, as I’ve said, to make everything as good as it possibly can be. I also make sure that the spotlight stays very firmly on the bride and groom, the family going through a funeral, or somebody who’s having a naming ceremony. So, you know, I’m there just to facilitate everything running to plan and everything being good.

Q. How can people book you as a Celebrant Aled?

People can book me on my website, which is aledjonescelebrant.com. It’s a really great website very, very clear. And you get an idea of what I’m about there as well. You’ll be put through to the lovely Wendy who has been looking after my diary and everything for many, many, many years. She’s a trusted friend, and we work together every day. 24/7 So she’ll be the one that you’ll first of all get to make contact with.

Want to catch his interview with Lorraine on ITV: Here’s his snippet!

And if you’d like to train to be a Master Celebrant like Aled, find out more about our Certified Master Celebrant training course.