You Have a Choice: Choosing the Right Celebrant for Your Wedding or Funeral
When people plan a wedding, they are very carefully choosing the right celebrant who will stand with them, tell their story, and lead one of the most important moments of their lives. They meet with their chosen celebrant, talk things through, and make sure they are all a perfect fit.
But when it comes to a funeral, many families don’t realise they have exactly the same freedom of choice.
You do not have to accept the celebrant offered to you by a funeral director. Everyone has the right to choose their own independent celebrant. You can even contact and book them directly before you’ve met with a funeral home.
Choosing a celebrant that fits in with you
If you already have a funeral director in place, you are absolutely entitled to ask for the celebrant you want to give your loved one the best send off possible.
I’m Anita Scott, an independent wedding and funeral celebrant based in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. I work across Luton, Dunstable, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas. Families can book me directly, or simply ask their chosen funeral director to request me on their behalf.
At a time when everything feels overwhelming, people often assume decisions have to be made for them. In truth, you deserve to choose the person who will speak about your loved one, tell their story, and guide you through the funeral service process.
A funeral ceremony is so much more than a formality. The service is your gateway to grief. It’s a chance to reflect, to remember and honour them. It’s a way to say goodbye in a way that feels right for you and for the person who has died.
My role as your celebrant
My role is to walk alongside families with care, compassion and calm guidance. From our very first conversation, I will take the time to listen. I will learn about the person, their life, their relationships, their humour, their passions and their memories.
There is no “set” service template, and certainly not “one size fits all ceremony.” Every ceremony is written from scratch and shaped entirely around the family and the life being remembered.
Families often tell me how important it is to feel in safe hands at a time like this. I pride myself on offering a steady, supportive presence, walking beside families through every step of the way. I ensure their loved one is spoken about with warmth, respect and love.
Whether it’s a wedding or a farewell, my focus is always the same: people first, stories that capture the very essence of someone, and ceremonies that truly reflect the individuals at the heart of them.
Although I am proudly local to Leighton Buzzard and regularly work throughout Bedfordshire, including Luton, Dunstable and Bedford, I also cover Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead and everywhere in between! I am very happy to travel further afield if families or couples need me.
If there is one message I would like to share with our local community, it is this: “You have a choice. You can choose your celebrant. You can contact them directly. And you can ask for them by name at a funeral home.” Contact me for a chat
Anita Scott – Independent Wedding & Funeral Celebrant
Serving Leighton Buzzard, Luton, Dunstable, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead & beyond