Same-sex marriages in South Africa are honoured and joyfully celebrated, particularly in the Pride Month of October. Love takes many forms, and every love story […]
Author: Vanessa Bower
Creating and Conducting a Funeral after Suicide
All funerals are difficult for the bereaved, but a funeral after suicide is particularly challenging for everyone concerned. Vanessa from Wordways Ceremonies has had to […]
Why Stories Matter More Than Perfect Speeches At Ceremonies
In any ceremony, the stories matter more than anything else. Often, after a funeral or a wedding, I hear people say “It was lovely to […]
Why You Should Have a Funeral Ceremony
Recently Vanessa from Wordways Ceremonies held a workshop called How to Plan Your Non-religious Funeral, and one of the liveliest discussions centred on a surprisingly […]
A Celebrant’s Guide to Choosing Music for Your Ceremony
Choosing music for your ceremony is more important than people realise. It is a very important element in creating an effective service. When people picture […]
How a Funeral Venue can Reflect the Deceased
The family’s choice of a non-religious funeral venue can fully capture the personality or lifestyle of the one whose life they are celebrating. Because each […]
How a Celebrant Manages a Funeral with Many Speakers
When a celebrant is confronted by a large funeral with many speakers, the planning has to be particularly detailed. Vanessa from Wordways Ceremonies once conducted […]
Non-religious Funerals for Mixed-faith Families
Planning funerals for mixed-faith families can be problematic. Families often include people with many different beliefs ~ and that is respected. However, the death of […]
How a Celebrant Supports Teenage Speakers at Funerals
Mourners who choose to speak at a funeral are sometimes concerned that they might become emotional while they are reading. When the speaker is a […]
Planning a Funeral when the Relationship was Complicated
Celebrants sometimes have to create funerals for people who had had complicated relationships with their families or friends. Some people leave behind relationships that were […]