(Because funerals don’t have to be beige if the person who’s died definitely wasn’t.)

Here’s a truth bomb from Kate T and Kate D:

Funerals are changing.

Gone are the days when a funeral meant:

• A wood-panelled “chapel” with heavy velvet drapes
• Hymns nobody sings
• A eulogy that feels like a polite CV read out under fluorescent lights

People want something more personal. More truthful. Sometimes more joyful.

And sometimes… they want something utterly different.

“Can We Really Do That at a Funeral?”

Kate T and Kate D hear this all the time from families who come to them whispering things like:

• “Mum hated hymns. Can we play ABBA instead?” (Yes, you can — and let’s make it a sing-a-long!)
• “Dad would want shots of rum passed round.”
• “Nan was a witch. Can we do a circle of candles and wear cloaks?”
• “He’d want people in football shirts singing the team anthem.”

The answer? Yes.

A funeral celebrant’s job is to:

• Help families figure out what feels right
• Balance creative ideas with respect and legality (although, to be fair, pretty much anything is allowable as long as you do the “disposal of the body” bit properly with a cremation or burial)
• Weave even the wildest ideas into a meaningful ceremony

Real life ceremonies…

Some gems from the Match and Dispatch vault:

🚀 The Star Trek Send-Off
A lifelong Trekkie. The transporter sound played as the curtains closed. Kate T had to time it perfectly — and it brought the house down.

⚽ Football Fan Farewell
Kate D led a funeral where everyone wore football shirts, and the service ended with the entire crematorium belting out the club anthem.

🪩 Dancefloor Departure
A funeral finished with “Dancing Queen,” and Kate T joined the family in a spontaneous dance party between the pews.

🎨 Artistic Goodbye
One family set up a display of all their person’s artworks. The service centred around the thing the person loved best — creating beautiful works of art. At the end, there was an auction raising money for an organisation supporting artists with learning disabilities.

Why Personal Matters So Much

When families choose something personal, it:

• Helps them connect to the person who’s died
• Makes the goodbye feel real — not generic
• Gives permission to grieve and celebrate a life
• Often brings laughter through tears

People walk out of those funerals saying:

“That was so them.”
or “That’s the best funeral I’ve ever been to.”

And honestly, there’s no higher praise for a celebrant.

Handling “Out There” Requests

Sometimes families have brilliant ideas… and sometimes they have requests that need gentle steering.

Kate T and Kate D have a few golden rules:

• Check the logistics — Not everything is possible in every venue. Fire codes exist for a reason!
• Keep it legal — There are laws around ashes scattering, burial practices, and venue use.
• Keep personal judgment out of the mix — It may not be to your taste, but you’re a facilitator, not an arbitrator. And if something is waaaaay out of your comfort zone, be honest — maybe another celebrant would be a better fit.

At Match and Dispatch, funeral celebrant training covers:

• How to gently guide families through creative ideas
• How to blend unique rituals into ceremonies without making it feel awkward or force
• How to handle big personalities and bigger emotions
  

  Could You Be the Celebrant Who Makes It Happen?

If you:

• Love helping people tell unique stories
• Can balance creativity with compassion
• Don’t flinch when someone suggests something unexpected

… funeral celebrancy might be for you.

Kate T and Kate D believe:

“A good celebrant makes anything possible!”

Want to Learn More?

👉 Join our mailing list for real-life stories from celebrants who’ve done it all
👉 Come to a Free Discovery Meet-Up and ask us anything about funeral celebrant training, how to become a celebrant, or how to make even the quirkiest ceremonies truly special

Because funerals don’t have to be beige — and sometimes the most unusual ideas make for the most powerful goodbyes.

Viva,

Kate and Kate x