Any event, including a funeral, needs a ‘host’, usually a funeral celebrant or clergy. Their role is to welcome everyone, introduce speakers and programmed events, to make any announcements and to manage the tone, timing and flow.
We can recommend experienced ‘best fit’ celebrants or liaise with your chosen Minister.
Many of our families choose to capably lead their own funeral. We can provide concept scripts or structures you can personalise.
Beginning, Middle & End
Before the service begins, there’s the housekeeping; reminding everyone to turn off their phones, the safety briefing and where the toilets are.
Followed by ‘Welcome and Introduction’, acknowledging the people and venue (it’s important to connect those gathered to the space and its significance). Then a general overview of the order of events with timings.
The middle of the service is all the information and action – there can be a lot to digest. Remember that people can have a short attention span when sitting still in an emotional state. Mix up the tempo with speakers, photoshow, music or some form of audience participation.
Exercise caution with ‘Open Mic’ (an open invitation for attendees to speak). Ideally this needs to be carefully managed by the MC. Unprepared people become nervous, repeat, talk predominately about themselves and for far too long, which can have an detrimental effect on timing and tone.
The summation of the service can be the trickiest part. The last farewell, a meaningful goodbye. It can be determined with a rousing piece of music.