"The soul soars where words from the heart are spoken"
A little bit about what I do and why I do it...
Hello! I’m Emma, an Art-Deco loving, Yorkshire Tea drinking, Agatha Christie and Star Wars superfan, and a proud member of the Fellowship of Independent Celebrants,
My desire to become a Celebrant stems from when I was 17 years old, when I attended the funeral service of a vibrant, loving friend, whose service did nothing to capture the essence of his wonderful character, or all that he had meant to his family and friends. It was a heart-wrenching service, not only because of the loss of such a beautiful spirit, but because that amazing young man, was denied the gratitude, empathy, and recognition he (and his family) deserved!
That funeral service shaped how I felt about loss for YEARS - until my lovely Nanny Joan’s funeral, which was a heartwarming celebration of her life, where the Celebrant drew out all the little idiosyncrasies that made my Nanny unique, all those lovely bittersweet memories, giving her the most wonderful and well-deserved 'send-off, in a way that gave everyone who loved her comfort, softening the loss of such an irreplaceable amazing lady...
Our greatest and most important life events, whether they are happy or sad, are our 'rites of passage' onto a new journey, a new chapter of our book of life, or the closing of that story…bringing with them so much joy, love, inclusivity, poignancy, and emotion; there is nothing more disheartening then seeing those moments acknowledged in a completely lack-lustre way!
We each deserve so much more than a 'half-hearted' welcome, joining or farewell and that’s what inspires me to create bespoke ceremonies of distinction, because every life holds meaning; it’s my entire ethos and is my ‘mission statement' for a reason - because the only things that matter in life, are the memories we make with our family and friends, the memories we create for the loved ones we leave behind, and how we ourselves are remembered....and it is my greatest privilege to be able to bring meaning into those moments and memories.
My lovely Nanny Joan and Grandad Des
A little bit about me, and life 'B.C.' (behind celebrancy)
..When you are building relationships, it always nice to get to know a little bit about a person behind their profession, so here's a little bit about me personally...
My family...
I am blessed to be married to a wonderful man, who I endearingly refer to as 'the beautiful Jay'; together we have a gorgeous daughter; Bo-Lily. Our Collie; Nyala, and Jay's cherished beaten up VW Campervan, completes our family unit!
Pastimes and Hobbies...
I'm a fan of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Miss Marple on TV, crime novels, history, and I do love a good declutter! The Hunter family share a combined love of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Star Wars and Monty Python!
My 'go-to' 'tipple'...
Yorkshire Tea! I can't function without a good cuppa!
Favourite Film...
'Somewhere in Time'...if you haven't watched it yet, do! but have your tissues at the ready!
Music that soothes my soul...
- Listening to 'the beautiful Jay' singing; he's an acoustic guitar player and sings at weddings etc. - if you are looking to include 'chilled out' live music at an event do consider him! He is AMAZING ( www.playjay.co.uk )
- Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and 'The Old Woman'
- The Poldark theme music and Enya's 'Watermark'
- Donovan's 'Little Tin Soldier' (my Dad used to sing it to me when I was little)
- 'Thinking of You' by Sister Sledge, always makes me think of my best Friends
What lifts my spirits...
Hummingbirds! These beautiful tiny birds represent the colour and enjoyment of life, and hold a spiritual sybolism across many faiths, cultures, mythology and folklore, where they are considered to be spiritual messengers, bringing good news and blessings from loved ones who have passed, linking to the idea of infinity as their tiny wings move in a figure eight pattern, the ancient symbol of continuity.
Most embarressing moment...
...There have been a lot! BUT one of the most mortifying ones, was when I was shopping for groceries, wondering why people were sniggering at me, realising (when I go back to my car) that I still had the blue plastic shoe covers over my shoes, that I had been wearing while I was watching my daughter at her swimming lesson...I was SO embarrassed!
My biggest regret...
..Wasting SO much time worrying about things I have absolutely no control over! My vocation is a constant reminder that life is fragile and worry just wastes that precious time!, so these days I dont 'fret' like I used to...
Favourite quotes...
I can't choose one! I have three favourites;
- "To believe you are 'less' than you are, is to shatter your 'whole' self"
- "Hearts are broken where words are left unspoken"
- "Nothing changes if nothing changes!"
Most humbling moment...
The first funeral service I delivered, remains the most poignant and profound moment of my life. To be entrusted with the memory of someone else's loved one is the highest and most humbling honour.
Nicest thing anyone has ever said about me...
..."She's all 'hearts and flowers'; she talks a million miles per hour but gives love and support the same way"...