Funerals and Celebrations of life
As a modern celebrant working in Poole and Bournemouth, Dorset and Newquay and Truro in Cornwall, I believe that a funeral should reflect the person we’ve lost, their spirit, their story, their truth: never a standard script or copy and paste service.
At Smartly Said, I create bespoke funeral ceremonies that are as unique as the individual we're saying goodbye to.
Some of the lives I help to honour have been long and well-lived, full of rich memories and legacy. Others may have been tragically short, or ended in sudden, heart-breaking ways including through suicide or unexpected loss.
No matter the circumstances, every life deserves to be remembered with compassion, dignity and honesty.
A contemporary, compassionate approach
My role isn’t just to lead a service. It’s to listen.
To understand who they were, not just what they did, but how they made people feel. What they loved. What made them laugh. The quirks, the stories, the truth.
Whether you’re planning a ceremony for:
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a close-knit family group in a chapel or crematorium
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a younger person with a crowd of friends and chosen family,
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or someone whose life touched only a few, but deeply...
It's my privilege to work with you to shape a ceremony that feels right, inclusive, and truly them.
I create funeral services that are:
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Personal – no templates, no clichés, just real stories and real words.
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Inclusive – spiritual, secular, or somewhere in-between. We honour your loved one’s values, not mine.
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Sensitive to the audience – younger guests, older relatives, friends in shock or deep grief — I’ll pitch the tone with care.
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Creative and considered – whether that’s using music, poetry, humour or symbolic acts, we’ll find what feels fitting.
I understand this deeply, because I’ve lived it
I lost my mum to cancer in my twenties.
I remember wanting so badly to speak at her cremation, to honour her in my own words but I couldn’t. I was too overcome and I didn’t know how.
We searched for a celebrant who felt right for our family, who could carry the emotion with skill and grace. But we couldn’t find them.
Our family ended up using the services of what the Funeral Director called 'Rent a Minister' and as kind as he was, the service felt like it was something he delivered serveral times a week.
That moment stayed with me.
It’s one of the reasons I became a celebrant to offer families what I couldn’t have: A voice. A sense of calm. And a ceremony that truly feels like theirs.
My funeral ceremony service includes:
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A relaxed meeting with you (in person or via video call)*
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A deep listening process to understand your loved one and your wishes
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A fully written, bespoke ceremony script
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Advice on readings, music, tone and content
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Coordination with your chosen Funeral Director
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Delivery of the service on the day
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A printed copy of the script afterwards
*Read more about what to expect from a family meeting.
