Time for Individual Reflection: Over the years I’ve developed a reflective process that is one of the signature elements of collaborating with me. Seemingly simple questions that are designed to help you express what lies within. Not perfect words but real, honest words. This helps me get to know each of you as individuals. You work on them at your own pace, with lots of time, and send them to me in the way that suits you best.

Getting to Know you as a Couple: Another part of my creative process is to get together with the two of you for a relaxed in-person interview. It can be at your place or mine, and sometimes I even cook for you! I listen deeply to you, drawing out the most compelling threads of the experiences and feelings you share with me. My gift as a ceremonial writer and storyteller is to weave your words and feelings into the tapestry that will be your wedding ceremony.

Blowing the ‘Same-Old Same-Old’ out of the Water: Modern Celebrant’s ceremonies are the complete opposite of mass-produced.  I don’t go anywhere near cookie cutter or template ceremonies. Whether it’s in the readings we choose together, the rituals I research and design for you based on your cultural or faith backgrounds, the stories we share, the way we talk about the connection you have with each other, and how we engage your family and friends in the experience — All of it, every word, written for you.

Who do I work best with? The couples who are drawn to these one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony experiences are couples who want their first step into marriage to be powerfully experienced and collectively remembered. Couples of ALL orientations who value living and thinking outside the box. Whether a ballet dancer, artist, boutique hotel owner, cardiovascular surgeon, celebrity chef,  community lawyer, film director, or overseas aid worker  — they share a desire to live a deeper and more meaningful life. (Yes, those are real clients!)

Just 20 – 30 Labours of Love per Year:  I accept a small number of Wedding Ceremony Commissions each year to make sure every ceremony is a profound expression of the real couple it is crafted for. Creating ceremonial celebrations of such depth is one of the greatest joys of my life. I choose to work with remarkable people who believe in the lasting value of a wedding ceremony created for and about them.

……..

May this be helpful. May it inspire you to find a wedding officiant who will manifest the wedding of your dreams.

Michele Davidson, Master Celebrant & Seeker of Meaning

Here’s why I believe the Couple Visioning Box™ is so relevant in these times.

The original intent of engagement was to focus on getting to know each other at a deeper level and building the foundation for a lasting relationship.

Sadly, today we live in a society that treats engagement and the lead up to the wedding as though the Bride and Groom are the stars of a fairy tale.  It’s become a time of what I call ‘romanticized consumption.’ The result is that there is very little, if any, discussion about what happens after the wedding.

If you are a couple who already lives together, you may think you know everything about each other and that there’s nothing to discuss. But I’m willing to bet that you don’t and there is! There can be many things you have never thought to talk about.

Don’t get blindsided. Talking about things, getting clear on your values, hopes and dreams, doesn’t mean that if you disagree you walk away. It just gives you more information about each other. And it increases your ability to cultivate love and harmony after the wedding day is over. Wouldn’t it be nice to start out on strong footing?

I’ve been blessed to collaborate with many couples over the years as their Wedding Celebrant. Because of the deeply reflective process that I use, we get to know each other pretty darned well.  Most stay in touch and many ask me for advice and guidance around making a stronger and more conscious marriage.

Their experiences, combined with my own doing lots of couple-building therapy with my fab husband Dan, inspired me to create a Couple Visioning Box™. My goal is to help engaged and newly married couples thrive in relationships of joy and intention.

The box is filled to the brim with tips, tasks, and tools (and some fun treats) to nourish your emotional connection with each other. A strong emotional bond is what will hold you together in the long term, not the size of your dessert table!

The boxes will be ready to post in June. If you want to be put on the pre-order list, email Michele@moderncelebrant.ca

The first 44 readers to sign up for the new box receive it for just $95 (regularly $175). Please note this code in the subject of your email: MCMD12.

When I began doing Adoption & Baby Naming Ceremonies, I wove the Covenant into my ceremonies. My big dream was to share with Raffi what I was doing and seek his blessing. Last week the most extraordinary thing happened. I put out a call on Twitter, “Does anyone know Raffi? Can you introduce me to him?”  And lo and behold… I heard from the man himself.  To say I was stunned… understatement!

Just days after that tweet, we met in person.

Spending nearly two hours together, chatting and getting to know each other, we found we shared many common interests and understandings. Raffi is such a gentle soul, peaceful yet full of energy.  Amazing to be around.  I can see why children are utterly enthralled by him and why adults feel the same way.  In his presence you feel so seen and perfect just as you are.  That such a conscious concept as a Covenant for Child Honouring came from Raffi comes as no surprise.

Raffi took his time reading through one of my children’s ceremonies, asking questions and giving feedback. He loved seeing how the Covenant is being used and has given my his blessing to use the term ‘Child Honouring’ for my children’s ceremonies. I’m THRILLED. He is an inspiring individual and I am so fortunate to have met him and received his endorsement for my work.

News Update: The Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of BC will be presenting Raffi Cavoukian with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. The ceremony will be held on Friday March 16th at the Government House in Victoria. Congratulations to Raffi!

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was the setting for a New Year’s Eve to remember. We came for a wedding. We left having shared powerful moments of connection, the likes of which we rarely experience these days. Truly, there was something special in the air that night.

Rebecca and Geoff’s wedding was all about honouring each other, sharing their love with family and friends, and upholding traditions in meaningful modern ways. Not to mention having a totally glam but utterly unpretentious time!

Modern Celebrant Michele Davidson created a Transformational Wedding Ceremony for Rebecca and Geoff to tell their remarkable love story. She seamlessly integrated their family traditions (Jewish and Greek).  Scott of Contrast Studios got some fantastic shots of this heartfelt ceremony and indeed of every moment of this amazing evening.

The ceremony was so unique and so moving, that we (Michele and Scott) wanted to share our experiences of it with you!

Prior to the larger more public ceremony, an intimate group of family gathered to hear Michele give the reading of Rebecca and Geoff’s beautifully crafted and worded Ketubah. The Ketubah is the Jewish Marriage Contract and it reflects the emotional and moral covenant between the couple. The Ketubah is signed and witnessed, much like the marriage register.

Then we were off to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s glamorous ballroom for the larger ceremony. Let’s look at how the truth and beauty of Rebecca and Geoff’s transformational wedding ceremony unfolded.

The groom and the bride walked down the aisle with their extremely proud parents, who stood near them throughout the ceremony. Rebecca’s gown was specially ordered from France. You’ll see it in Scott’s fine art photographs. It was GORGEOUS!

Then Michele began the process of transformation by settling us to see, hear, and feel what becoming a married couple meant to Rebecca and Geoff.

The ceremony, while universal in tone and intent, observed a number of Jewish wedding customs that were of significance to Rebecca.  Geoff, though not Jewish, connected to the meaning that underlies these traditions. Michele enjoyed blending these wonderful rituals into the ceremony.

For instance, Rebecca and Geoff’s ceremony was held under a wedding canopy called a ‘Chuppah’. The Chuppah represents the shelter and peace of a loving home, and is a gathering place for hope and happy memories.  Geoff and Rebecca, with the help of their friends, built their own Chuppah!

Another Jewish custom is the ancient ritual of Circling. Traditionally the bride circled the groom seven times upon entering the Chuppah, which is said to break down any walls between the couple and help them to enter the spheres of each other’s souls.  A circling ritual is also present in Geoff’s mother’s background. She is of Greek heritage where crowns joined by a ribbon are placed upon the couple’s heads and exchanged three times after giving of the rings. The couple then circles the wedding platform three times.

When Michele explained circling to Rebecca and Geoff during their work together in the months before the ceremony, they were delighted by these commonalities and wanted circling to be a part of their wedding ceremony.

In a nod to these egalitarian times, Michele suggested Rebecca and Geoff circle each other.  Rebecca began by circling Geoff three times, her beautiful dress and veil floating about her as she did. Then Geoff too his turn, and finally they circled once together.

The signature piece of Modern Celebrant ceremonies is Michele’s storytelling. It is the personal narrative, the story of the couple, that makes her ceremonies such deeply felt experiences.

Rebecca and Geoff’s wedding ceremony was so enthralling for guests. They were on the edge of their seats!  Narrative combined with familiar traditions reminds us of the poetry and the truth of our human lives. It lifts us up out of our individual selves into an experience much more universally felt.

Guests loved hearing about Rebecca and Geoff partnership and what it meant to them to set out on the path of marriage. Young and old connected by sharing light moments and laughter, as well as tender tears when words about the couple’s delight and passion for each other illuminated the ceremony.

Michele shared Rebecca and Geoff’s own words about what wearing and giving the rings means to each of them before the wedding bands were placed on their fingers.

This was followed by a lovely Jewish tradition called The Seven Blessings. Seven groups of family and friends came up to offer words of blessing. The Seven Blessings are traditional in Jewish weddings, however Michele adapted the words to feel more suited to Rebecca and Geoff as an interfaith couple. The readings of the blessings were powerful and clearly touched many guests… moments of profound connection that are only possible in deeply intentional ceremonies.

Once blessed, the marriage register was signed. And Michele read the Ketubah to guests. The room was still as men and women alike let the meaning of the words settle in their hearts.

The Big Reveal: On the day of the wedding, Michele and Scott were excited to see what this creative couple dreamed up with their wedding planner, the lovely Corinne Colledge. Scott’s fantastic images give us all a glimpse. Let’s just say the big reveal was a collective ‘WOW!’ and that the couple danced a first dance of such beauty that Michele and her husband signed up for ballroom dancing classes two days later!

Michele’s Take: This was truly what I call a Threshold Experience. Rebecca and Geoff wedding ceremony took them on a journey to leave behind one way of being and step forward to embrace a wonderful new adventure. Through ceremony Rebecca and Geoff committed to creating a new world together, with all the colours and textures that life brings to those who live it and live it fully. Everyone present felt part of their journey of transformation. And, I just have to say that Scott is an artist. He believes in the power of visual storytelling. Together we are an amazing team!

Mazel Tov Rebecca and Geoff!

You can see more of their wedding images on Contrast Studio’s blog.

Ash Scattering & Burial Services

In addition to Celebrations of Life and other larger more public ceremonies, Funeral Celebrants also perform more intimate services for the Scattering of Ashes and Graveside Ceremonies of Committal.

When families engage me to create custom Memorials, Celebrations of Life, and other Ceremonies of Remembrance very often they also ask me to guide them at the Graveside or at the Scattering of Ashes.  Again, this is something that most families feel is very important, but they haven’t a clue how to make it so.  I find this work inspiring.

Here is what a woman said recently about the internment of ashes ceremony I created for her husband.

“You guided us with caring through his internment. The touches of earth from home and the flower petals added such poignancy to the moment.  When I think of his laying to rest, I feel a sense of peace that it happened the way it did, and I know that I owe much to you.”

Here are some of the ways I can support you and your family:

Create and guide a ceremony for the Scattering of Ashes. Most people want the return of their loved one’s cremated remains to the elements to be dignified and heartfelt. It’s not just a flinging!  I have lots of ideas and experience that will help you ensure this final act is an act of remembrance thoughtfully done. In a way that grounds you and provides comfort whenever you think about it.

Create and guide a Burial Service. In our culture, very few people have a lot of experience being at a graveside. It can be difficult for families to know what to do and and how to do it. This is a time in life where it can be very comforting to have someone you trust do the leading so you don’t have to. As with ash scattering, I have many ways to make you feel safe and included. To lay your loved one’s body to rest is poignant. This is far too important to be haphazard.

Death Anniversary Observances. These can be hard and bring up a lot of emotion. Over the years I have developed beautiful ways to remember… privately, and with family.  I’d love to help.

Please feel free to call me to request a complimentary consultation. My direct phone number is 604-992-4217. Or you can email me at michele@moderncelebrant.ca

Thanks for reading this series. I hope it was helpful and inspired you to know that there is a way to make memorials extraordinary!!!

Michele Davidson, Master Celebrant & Seeker of Meaning

Modern Celebrant

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I am a professional Celebrant who serves our community in times of joy and in times of sorrow. Like many others who support individuals, families, and communities in times of sorrow, I am called to do this work.

I was a hospice and palliative care volunteer for many years. The experiences I had helped me to be fully present with grieving clients. It fulfills me when people know they can say anything and won’t be judged, and when they feel free to be however they are at that moment without pretending anything.  These are traits that you usually will get a sense of quite readily when you speak to potential Funeral Celebrants.

Go with your gut sense of who will hold your confidences in the highest regard.

But also investigate to ensure the Funeral Celebrant has a well-developed ceremonial practice. Otherwise you might get another version of the ‘Uncle Bob’ style of ceremony I described in Part II.  The Celebrant should have experience helping families of diverse backgrounds and incomes plan ceremonies to mourn and grieve their loved ones.

Okay, so why do I keep talking about a Funeral Celebrant?  This series is primarily addressed to those who are not part of a faith community, or who are trying to plan a memorial for someone who was not affiliated. Funeral Celebrants serve what is now the majority: the Spiritual but not Religious… or those who are neither.  Think about it? Who do they turn to for assistance with creating a memorial, funeral, or celebration of life service?

Here are the ways I collaborate with my clients.  I’m sure that if you take these ideas to another Celebrant, she or he will be able to serve you in similar ways.

Write and perform the entire ceremony from start to finish, including the Eulogy. I call the Eulogy the ‘Soul Sketch’. When I write all parts of the ceremony, including the soul sketch, you don’t have to do anything but share your memories with me and edit the ceremony to your liking. Many people find they are too bereft or too exhausted to craft a eulogy, let alone get up and speak it. For me, it is challenging to craft a real and vibrant soul sketch for someone I’ve never met. But I LOVE doing it.  I get to use all my senses when you tell me your stories. I craft the entire ceremony around the soul sketch. It can include such things as: welcoming guests, words on death and grief and what it means to truly mourn, suggestions for a reading or two, the story of your loved one’s life, guest sharing, video montage, caring for the family, and a lovely closing. The thing you should know about GOOD Celebrants, is that they do not use templated or pre-scripted ceremonies. They will create a ceremony especially for you.  There is no rule around what must and must not be included.

Write and perform everything BUT the eulogy. In these cases, I write the entire ceremony except the Eulogy.  I’m sure other Celebrants are similar to me in that they would be very willing to coach you on how to write the Soul Sketch yourself, and support you with editing. In these cases, I write the rest of the ceremony, hold the ceremonial space, and guide the memorial. This can be very healing for those who want to have some degree of participation. Or you can have the eulogy spoken by two or three people. In this case, I can help each of you figure out the theme of your words so that you don’t overlap.

Coach and guide YOU to create the ceremony yourself.  It sometimes happens that there is a vibrant and creative community of people who wish to create the remembrance experience. In these cases, I serve as the person who helps with logistics and says, ‘Here’s what to watch out for,’ or ‘Sounds great, let’s just check that 2 + 2 =4′.  I can also provide guidance on the writing, the flow of the ceremony etc. I’m not sure all Celebrants would be willing to do this, but I suspect many would.

. . .

Memorial services should be meaningful and illuminating. A classy, educated Funeral Celebrant’s guiding purpose is to create an atmosphere of profound connection where family and friends share memories, laugh through their tears, and help each other find the courage to live in a world without their loved one.

Please join me next week for Part IV: Planning a Memorial, Celebration of Life, or other Ceremony of Remembrance.   I will talk about how to plan a Ceremony for the Scattering of Ashes, or a Graveside /Burial Ceremony. Important stuff that we rarely speak of. Now is the time.

Michele Davidson, Master Celebrant & Seeker of Meaning

Modern Celebrant

Please call me for a complimentary consultation at 604-992-4217 or email me at michele@moderncelebrant.ca

Here we go:

With a background in fitness and dance, I’m often asked how I came about helping people to plan their won weddings, and it’s a good question.  When I got married in 2008, like many brides, I was both excited and nervous to plan such a large event and important event in my life.  My stepmother gave me a wedding planning book, as did one of my friends.  I figured I was set.  I had over a year to pull this shindig off, and was impatient thinking that the day would never get here.

Once all the big decisions were handled, date, venue, church, I started to coast into a year of planning, thinking I had plenty of time, staying on track with my task lists set forth from my books.  As long as I could tick off my monthly to-do’s I would be solid gold!  And for the most part, I was.  Of course as I came closer to the end of my engagement, the check lists got longer and I had to be extremely organized and on top of what had to get done before the big day.

I loved everything about my wedding.  I loved my ceremony, the reception.  I loved all of my guests who came to watch my husband and I tie the knot.  It was a fantastic day.  One that my only regret was that it was far too short.

After all was said and done, I looked back at what I had accomplished.  Throwing a huge party for 150 people is not an easy task, and I was thrilled that I managed to pull it off.  With the help of some great friends, we had a flawless evening.  I realized that through my entire engagement, as I went through the process of meeting my vendors and building these relationships, I thoroughly enjoyed my interactions and the connections I was making.  Not only was I planning an event, something I love to do, I realized that I couldn’t have done it without the help of so many people.  I became very grateful for these relationships and the services they provided and thoroughly enjoyed working with such a talented team.

I thought to myself, “this was fun” I mean, yes…  stress was involved, but at the end of the day, I can truly say that I loved planning my wedding.  And I wanted to do it again.  But since that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, I decided to help others with their wedding plans.  I wanted to help people by providing wedding guidance for those who were much like myself… needing a little bit of help, a good head start and some encouragement along the way.

In the beginning I had been given those two books to help me plan.  You would think that two would be better than one, however I found that there were some aspects of both books that were very useful, and many that were not or didn’t apply to my needs.  So I found myself bouncing back and forth between the two.  So, seeing that there was a need for something less generic, I decided to create my own.  A totally customized wedding planning book that could be personalized to each individual wedding.

My “Notebook Planner” would include a wedding plan template that could be customized for each couple including every aspect of the planning process, from start to finish.

Looking back at my experience, and every time I finish helping a client, I realize that what I find most rewarding is my interaction with my vendors, keeping track of the tasks at hand, and absolutely loving it when a plan came together.  Why else do I do this?  Being able to help two people plan a very important and memorable time in their life is very exciting and rewarding for me.  Not to mention, the beauty of a wedding, and creativity in planning that evolves when two people come together can be very unique.

Your engagement should also be a memorable time, full of excitement and joy.  Not stress and headache.  Make this a special and memorable time as well.  Who wants to stress out about the tasks at hand?  How many times have you heard the word Bridezilla?  My vision is to completely obliterate this word by helping brides breeze through the planning process with grace and ease, making their wedding plans as stress-free, enjoyable, and as fun as possible!

So I thought I’d run a little series about real men who popped the question by making heartfelt proposals they thought of themselves.  These are from some of the cool grooms I’ve been so fortunate to collaborate with on their wedding ceremonies.

First up is Samuel:

Samuel remembers, “We had just moved into our new place and it was approaching our 10 year anniversary of meeting each other. Sarah knew I was going to propose sometime but had no idea of when or how. On july 5^th, I took the day off work and made a slide show of our photos that I could show on the TV screen. Then I put on my suit, laid a trail of rose petals, and waited.”

Sarah takes up the story on what happened next, “I came home from work and saw Samuel sitting on the couch in a suit.  This was in early July and it was really hot! He was sweating bullets! He showed me an amazing slide show of photos from our ten years together and at the end he proposed. But before he even got a chance to finish I screamed, “YES”.  We started hugging and jumping around in a circle. It was one of the best days of my life.”

Don’t you think it speaks volumes about the sincerity of Samuel’s intention that he willingly put on a suit that sweltering day in July?

. . .
Hey guys, proposals really don’t need to be fancy. Think honest and vulnerable.

More real proposals next week!

by Michele Davidson, Master Celebrant & Seeker of Meaning

Modern Celebrant

Last week in Part I of this series, we looked what families yearn for in their memorial ceremonies. What they want and what they don’t want. This week, let us turn to the logistics of Planning a Memorial Ceremony. The Who, What, Where, How?  Here are 8 things to keep in mind.

Things to keep in mind when planning a Memorial, Celebration of Life or other Ceremony of Remembrance.

1. Where?  Find the right place.  Think outside the box (no pun intended).  The spaces at most Funeral Homes are pretty traditional. However there are cemeteries (in Vancouver Mountain View and First Memorial in North Vancouver) that have beautiful spaces designed to suit large and small gatherings.  Hotels can offer conference rooms that can be set up with round tables.  I’ve even done memorials in restaurants, as well as cocktail style in a formal lounge. What about at a vineyard or wine tasting space?

2. Who? Who should lead, write, or create the ceremony? Do you want a professional Funerl Celebrant to guide you? Or can Uncle Bob wing it perfectly fine? (Honestly, I do NOT recommend the latter. I’ve been to a few ‘Uncle Bob’ ceremonies and felt worse afterwards because there was no emotional flow, no cohesiveness, and a whole lot of depth got missed.)  My recommendation is to google Funeral Celebrants in your area. These are people like yours truly, who are trained specifically (and usually feel called) to do this work. You can decide on the degree of their involvement, but it is a wise idea to seek professional support here. If you want to know more about me as a Funeral Celebrant, click here. Also, stay tuned to Part III of this series where I go into this in more detail.

3. Food and Drink. Would you like to serve food to your guests?  What about coffee tea or even wine?  I find that buffet style receptions just don’t seem to go well.  There is usually a lot of food waste because most people aren’t quite in the mood to chow down. However, Hor d’oeuvre style receptions seem to flow really well, and they are easier too!  Think about choosing little appetizers or small bites of larger meals that your loved one enjoyed, e.g. bite-sized mac n’cheese balls.

4. Seating. In the past month alone I performed two ceremonies where guests stood or were seated at bar height chairs around small round tables, much as one would for a cocktail party. The atmosphere was intimate and immediately said, ‘this is going to be extraordinary!’  On the other hand, many people choose rows of seats facing forward. This allows them to see the speakers but also to  have some privacy to their emotions. My experience is that seating is wise if the mood is one of a deep grief. It’s hard to stand when you have little strength.

5. Amplification:  A ceremony professional should speak in a voice that is trained for public speaking, is well modulated, and is well suited for projecting into large spaces. For gatherings of under 80 people, I rarely use a microphone. At a recent ceremony where there were over 300 mourners, many in overflow spaces and even listening to speakers in the parking lot, amplification was a MUST.  As for family/friends invited to speak during the ceremony, my experience is that 99% of people cannot project beyond a couple of rows, if that.  Even when they are used to public speaking, addressing a room full of people when one is grieving is extremely difficult. Please ensure they have amplification!  Additionally, make sure you provide a microphone of the sort that picks up sound from several inches away. Avoid microphones that require the speaker to speak so close it is as though they are consuming it.That is awkward too.

6. Music. This is a wonderful element to introduce in a memorial ceremony. I love it when there is music playing to guide people in and get settled. It’s also lovely to play a favorite song or two during video or photo montages that run during the ceremony.  Choose the music that accompanies  video portraits carefully. I recommend two songs: one to begin that is slower and more melancholy. And the second to be one that uplifts. Otherwise it is hard to recover any lightness of being. Think about having music play during the reception… choose songs that the person loved to listen to. Avoid overtly sad music. The ceremony is done and guests will appreciate being able to mingle and share stories that are more uplifting. The tone of the music should both reflect and encourage this. Designate someone to make sure they know how to use the electronic system at your venue!!! Yikes… I can tell you a story or two about that!

7. Video. I always cry and laugh when I watch videos my clients put together of their loved ones. Such a slice of life. People in times of family celebrations like weddings, the births of children, but also doing the most ordinary of things. Often is the ordinary day to day things that we miss the most! See my recommendations on musical accompaniment in #6 above. Videos seem to give people permission to smile and laugh through their tears! Gets me every time, and I often have never met the person.

8. Things to showcase. Kids and teenagers enjoy putting together photo boards. I also encourage families to bring items of daily life that belonged to their loved one, e.g. gardening gloves, a favorite hat, a refereree whistle, watercolours and paintbrushes, craft objects e.g. stained glass and the like made by the deceased, aprons, recipe cards… that’s a good one for a cook by the way: copy recipe cards and make them available for people to take away. You can even make some of cookies a baker was known for.

…

There are  many more things to keep in mind when planning the logistics around a memorial ceremony.  I don’t want to overwhelm you. Let’s keep it simple, because with the right support — it can be!

Join me next week for Part III of Tips for Planning a Memorial, Celebration of Life, or other Ceremony of Remembrance. I’ll be talking in more depth about the WHO. Finding the right person to create a ceremony that truly honours your loved one and also help you begin to embrace life without them in it.

Michele Davidson, Master Celebrant & Seeker of Meaning

Modern Celebrant

– Every month a grieving family finds me and I can see their panic and then their relief.

Panic at not having a clue how to plan such an important event as a Memorial or Celebration of Life for someone they loved with all their heart. Relief to find someone unstuffy, real, and totally on their side, who will help them to do it.

Here is a letter from a recent client. She speaks to that experience of confusion and relief far better than I ever could.  Let’s hear what she has to say:

We are a small family and my father passed away at 60, which left a huge hole in our lives and in our hearts. He had always had health issues but an out-of-the-blue cancer diagnosis followed by three months in hospice was devastating. We were so emotionally and physically wiped after his passing.

At first we couldn’t face the prospect of a service but within a few weeks we knew we needed to have one for the friends who supported him and us and for everyone to remember and honour him together. We found a wonderful venue at Mountain View Celebration Hall and started the planning. It became clear that we had no idea how to structure the celebration and we hadn’t a clue where to start.

It was beginning to feel overwhelming and we worried that the celebration would fall flat. I had never heard of a celebrant before and we were told of Michele and her services and instantly felt relieved.

We felt comfortable with her as soon as we sat across the table from her and we were able to give her the details about my father’s life that she needed to prepare and lead the ceremony for us.

She provided emotional support and allowed us to be who we are and guided us on practicalities when we needed it. We felt she totally understood us in our state of grief, and we trusted her to handle such an important event in our lives.

She is truly remarkable to be able to work with so many different families with unique personalities and dynamics and yet make you feel that your family is totally normal and that what you’re doing is exactly right.

We are grateful to have shared our father’s life with her and to have her share it with those closest to us on our behalf. The ceremony would not have been the same without her.

My dad and Michele would have liked each other if they had ever met.

…

May these words inspire other families to know that they are not alone. Feel free to call me to discuss crafting a meaningful memorial for someone in your life who has passed away. A memorial often begins the public part of grief… mourning. A ceremony, even a small one, can be a crucial and healing step on your journey through grief.

Michele Davidson, Master Celebrant & Seeker of Meaning

Modern Celebrant