Frequently asked questions

A celebrant is a trained professional who writes and leads personal ceremonies, without a religious or legal template dictating what happens. I create and conduct weddings, funerals, celebrations of life and naming ceremonies built entirely around the people involved. That means your ceremony can sound like you, include what matters to you, and happen where you want it. My focus is always on understanding the people involved and getting the words right.

A celebrant listens, then writes and leads a ceremony that fits the people it's for. In practice I meet you, get to know you or the person being remembered, write a bespoke script, and deliver it warmly on the day. I shape the flow of the ceremony, weave in your words, music and readings, and make sure everyone feels held. Whether it's a wedding, a funeral or a naming, the ceremony is created from scratch, never pulled off a shelf.

A registrar handles the legal side of marriage and follows a fixed, non-religious script with strict rules about wording. A celebrant creates a personal ceremony with no such restrictions, so it can be held anywhere, include anything meaningful to you, and be written entirely around your story. For weddings in England and Wales the two work together: you complete the legal marriage with a registrar, usually in a short separate appointment, and I create and lead the ceremony that actually feels like your wedding day.

There's no single legal licence for celebrants in the UK, so training and standards vary, which makes who you choose important. I trained with Match & Dispatch, a respected celebrant training organisation, and I bring years of experience listening to people and speaking in public. More than any certificate, what matters is whether a celebrant can listen properly, write well, and lead a room with warmth and calm. Those are the things I care about most.

I'm based in Royal Leamington Spa and work throughout Warwickshire and the surrounding Midlands. That includes Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Coventry, Kenilworth, Rugby and the wider county, and I'm always happy to travel a little further for the right ceremony. If you're not sure whether your venue is within reach, just ask, the answer is usually yes.

I travel throughout Warwickshire and the surrounding Midlands as standard, and further afield by arrangement. My prices include travel within a local radius of Leamington Spa, and for venues beyond that I'll add a modest travel cost, agreed with you upfront so there are no surprises. If you have a venue in mind, tell me where and I'll let you know straight away.

My ceremonies start from £999 for weddings, £300 for funerals and celebrations of life, £250 for naming ceremonies and £800 for vow renewals. Every fee covers our conversations, all the preparation and writing, revisions until it's right, and leading the ceremony on the day. Funerals are priced separately and sensitively, and I'll always be clear about what's included before you commit. You can see the full detail on my Fees page.

For weddings, most couples get in touch six months to two years ahead, and popular dates go early, so sooner is better. Funerals are different: they usually come together within a week or two, and I keep space to take them at short notice, often working closely with your funeral director. For naming ceremonies and vow renewals, a few months' notice is ideal. Whatever your timing, do get in touch, even a last-minute enquiry is worth a conversation.

A funeral celebrant writes and leads a personal funeral or celebration of life, built around the person who has died. I spend time with your family to really understand them, then craft a ceremony that tells their story honestly and warmly, in your words, with the music, readings and moments you choose. There's no fixed template and no assumptions, just a service that feels true to the person and gives everyone the chance to say goodbye properly.

A minister leads a funeral within the traditions and beliefs of their faith, following its form of service. A celebrant creates a bespoke ceremony with no religious framework required, shaped entirely around the person and family. That said, a celebrant funeral can still include prayers, hymns or a blessing if that brings comfort, so you're not forced to choose between "religious" and "not". I follow what feels right for your family, whatever that looks like.

Yes, absolutely. A celebrant funeral is led by what the family wants, so if a prayer, a hymn, a reading or a moment of reflection would bring comfort, we include it, warmly and without fuss. Equally, if you'd prefer nothing religious at all, that's completely fine too. Many families choose a blend, a favourite hymn alongside personal stories and music, and I'll help you find the balance that feels right.

I do, working closely with you. During our conversation you share the memories, stories and details that made your person who they were, and I weave them into a tribute that sounds like them and honours the whole of their life. You're welcome to read it yourself, have me deliver it, or a mix of both. Family and friends can add their own words too, and I'll make sure everything fits together on the day.

Yes, and they're warmly encouraged to if they'd like. Whether it's a reading, a few words, a poem or a shared memory, I'll help family and friends feel prepared and supported, and I'm always ready to step in and read on someone's behalf if nerves or emotion make it too much on the day. There's no pressure either way; the ceremony works beautifully whether contributions come from many voices or just mine.

Quickly, and calmly. Funerals usually come together within a week or two, and I keep space in my diary to take them at short notice. Once you or your funeral director get in touch, I'll arrange to meet your family, gather everything I need, and write and share a draft in good time for you to approve. You'll never feel rushed, and nothing goes into the ceremony that you haven't seen.

You can contact me directly, or ask your funeral director to arrange it. Many families come to me straight away because they want a particular person to lead the service, and I'm always happy to hear from you first. If you've already appointed a funeral director, just let them know you'd like Rosie Sayers as your celebrant and they'll coordinate with me. Either way, the simplest thing is to get in touch and we'll take it from there.

Often, yes, but you're always free to choose your own. Funeral directors regularly book celebrants on a family's behalf, and I work closely and easily with them. But you never have to accept whoever is suggested; you can ask for me by name, or contact me directly, and I'll liaise with your funeral director from there. It's your choice who tells your person's story.