Posts by Kate Wood
Can You Plan Your Own Funeral?
What if you could plan your own funeral? Or better still, actually be there for it? It might sound a bit strange, but there are good reasons to think about how you’d like to be remembered and what you’d want your final farewell to look like. And you don’t have to leave all those decisions…
Read MoreCan You Have a Funeral Somewhere Other Than a Crematorium?
Who says a funeral has to take place in a crematorium or church, with everyone sitting in rows listening to solemn music? It really doesn’t. More families are choosing to say goodbye in ways that reflect the personality and life of the person they’re remembering. And sometimes that means holding a celebration somewhere completely different.…
Read MoreWhat If Nobody Wants to Speak at a Funeral?
One thing families often worry about when arranging a funeral is who will stand up and speak. And sometimes, nobody wants to. They might be worried about: And that’s absolutely fine. You Don’t Have to Deliver a Speech to Make a Funeral Personal You don’t have to deliver a speech to make a funeral personal.…
Read MoreWedding Favours That Aren’t Just More Stuff
How many wedding favours have you taken home, put in a drawer and never looked at again? Or worse, left on the table? Wedding favours are a lovely idea, but they don’t have to be another thing that eventually ends up in landfill. In fact, the most sustainable wedding favour might be no favour at…
Read MoreHow to Stop Your Wedding Day Feeling Rushed
Almost every married couple will tell you the same thing: their wedding day went by in a flash. And while you can’t make time stand still, you can do a few things to make sure the day doesn’t feel like one long rush from one activity to the next. Build more time into your schedule…
Read MoreWedding Traditions You Don’t Have to Follow
Do you have to walk down the aisle with your dad? Exchange rings? Have a first dance? The short answer is no. Absolutely not. One question couples often ask me is which wedding traditions they have to include in their ceremony. And the answer is that you can keep the traditions you love and leave…
Read MoreWhy Have a Naming Ceremony?
When people hear the words naming ceremony, they often immediately think of welcoming a new baby. And yes, those ceremonies are always incredibly special, gathering your favourite people together to celebrate a tiny new person and the family growing around them. As an Independent Master Celebrant, I absolutely love creating naming ceremonies because they give…
Read MoreFuneral Poems & Readings | Funeral Celebrant Manchester
Introduction As a funeral celebrant, when I sit down with loved ones to plan a funeral or celebration of life, I encourage them to consider how they want attendees to feel. It’s never about a “one size fits all” ceremony; it’s always about shaping something that feels warm, thoughtful, and truly reflective of the person…
Read MoreWedding Speech Tips: How to Overcome Nerves and Deliver with Confidence
Feeling nervous about speaking at a wedding? You’re not alone. In this guide, I share my top wedding speech tips to help you overcome anxiety, structure your words with confidence, and deliver a speech that feels natural, sincere and memorable. From calming breathing techniques to smart preparation strategies, these practical wedding speech tips will help you enjoy the moment rather than dread it.
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