Welcome
I'm Leah Foley, an independent celebrant based in Southend-on-Sea in Essex.
As a civil celebrant my services cover wedding celebrations, couples, naming and funeral ceremonies. I am also able to offer scattering of ashes and memorial services. I will help you to create a personal and unique ceremony, beautifully crafted to fulfil your wishes and beliefs.
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Celebrate Life Life Celebrations
About Leah
My working life so far has been varied and at times quite colourful. My early days as a fashion model, dancer and ‘stand-in’ to the stars on many films and TV productions was hard work but equally enjoyable.
I trained to be a yoga teacher in 2002 and have taught yoga ever since to all ages and abilities. I am also a qualified reflexologist, reiki healer and massage therapist.
I decided to train to be a funeral celebrant during the ‘lockdown’ life of 2020 after speaking to an old friend who had recently trained. I immediately felt a great surge of passion to follow in his footsteps, and soon after began on a new direction in my life and enrolled on a diploma course to attain my celebrant training. In 2021 I attained another diploma covering weddings, couples and naming ceremonies.
I’m happiest being able to help and care for others and have the qualities to bring comfort in times of grief when a loved one dies, but also joy to the wondrous occasion of a wedding or child naming ceremony. I am organised and will put my heart and soul into creating a ceremony for a special day that is memorable and runs smoothly.
​I have completed two NOCN Level 3 Diplomas in Celebrancy, one covering Funerals and the other for Naming and Couples ceremonies.The training is the highest level accredited national qualification in Funeral Celebrancy and Naming and Couples Celebrancy in the UK.
The most important part of my life is my family and friends and being able to offer guidance, support, care and empathy to those who need it especially in times of difficulty but to also embrace the happiest moments in a person's life.
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Accredited by
Services
Funeral Ceremonies
My role as a civil funeral celebrant will be in helping you to create an individual and dignified ceremony that reflects, honours and celebrates the life of a loved one and to carry out yours and your loved one’s wishes. I am here to guide you in creating a ceremony with care and compassion for a unique life lived and to fulfil the wishes and beliefs of all concerned.
I will personally meet with you to explain and discuss the ceremony, to gather all the necessary information required to compose a beautifully crafted tribute to reflect on a unique life lived. If needed I will help with choices of music, poetry and readings and produce a full script of the day's proceedings for you to keep. I will write and deliver a service with a truly personal touch to tell the story of a person's life in an engaging and touching way creating memories that will last a lifetime.
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Many people today would prefer a funeral service that celebrates and honours the life of their loved ones, their story and personality, and I will endeavour to tailor a ceremony to meet your needs to create a unique and memorable experience.
A civil ceremony can be conducted at a location of one's choice to include either, religious, semi-religious or spiritual content. You will have plenty of time to check the ceremony content and to make any changes required. Any readings from family or friends are welcomed and encouraged to be included in the service.
I will carefully support you with kindness, so you can say your gentle farewells peacefully.
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Celebrate Life Life Celebrations
Scattering of ashes
Scattering of ashes is often thought to be a spiritual act for setting one free. It provides an opportunity to remember and honour a loved one in a manner that is unique only to him or her and can be performed at a location of one’s choice.
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The ceremony also provides a special time for those who may have been unable to attend the funeral service.
Couples Celebration Ceremonies
Life celebrations are important and memorable times throughout our lives, whether celebrating a wedding, civil partnership, or renewing your vows. As an independent celebrant I will help you plan and create a unique ceremony to reflect your wishes, personalities and beliefs.
The legal part of a marriage or civil partnership must be carried out before your celebration ceremony, this can be done on the same day or sometime before.
Your wedding or civil partnership ceremony can be held at a venue of your choice and at any time you prefer, so there aren't any limitations on the many options available.
You can literally have anything you want when choosing a celebrant led ceremony.
My job is to help you create a beautiful, memorable ceremony full of joy and wonderment.
I will meet with you to discuss your thoughts and ideas about the kind of ceremony you require, assisting if need be with any choices of readings, poems and music.
There are some beautifully unique and meaningful symbolic actions you may chose to include on the day, perhaps the lighting of a unity candle, a hand fasting ceremony , the signing of a certificate or jumping the broom!
There's lots to chose from and I can give you plenty of suggestions.
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When a child is born a new family is created and a naming ceremony can be a special way to celebrate the occasion.
Unlike a traditional christening that focuses mainly on religion, a naming ceremony is focused purely on the child and their family .
God parents, supporting adults, grandparents and siblings can all be included in the ceremony and I will help you create a unique ceremony tailored to your wishes to mark this memorable day.
Welcoming ceremonies for adopted or step children to unite families together can be an harmonious and memorable way to celebrate this type of union.
There are many choices of unity ceremonies and symbolic actions that can be included in the ceremony which I can advise you on to enhance the whole experience and make a special day even more memorable and fun.
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Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies
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What is a funeral celebrant?A funeral celebrant is a qualified person who officiates funeral services by planning and overseeing funeral ceremony proceedings. They will meet with the family to obtain all the necessary information about the person who has died and then create the full ceremony script including tributes, readings and music required. Funeral celebrants typically help organise and conduct funerals, supporting the bereaved family every step of the way with the aim of celebrating the life of the person who has died. Celebrants tend to be independent and will usually be engaged by the funeral director on behalf of the family. A celebrant should be able to offer a non-religious funeral as well as services with prayers and spiritual themes. Many people choose a celebrant to conduct their loved one’s funeral as the service can be custom made to best reflect the wishes of the family and the life of the deceased.
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Why have a celebrant for a marriage, civil partnership or naming ceremony?"Choosing a celebrant led ceremony gives a much wider choice for the venue or time of the ceremony celebration.The ceremony is personalised to your wishes and can include semi-religious or spiritual content, the choice is yours. You can basically have anything you want! Perfect for those not requiring a purely religous ceremony but one that is unique and memorable.
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Do you use religious content in your ceremonies?Sometimes yes, if it has been requested by the family and is the known wish of the deceased. Many celebrants aim for the funeral service to be a ‘celebration of life’ that honours the person’s memory but any religious, semi- religious or spiritual content can be included.
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In which locations do you work?I am happy to travel to wherever I am needed. My fee includes travel expenses to cover a 15 mile radius from Southend on Sea, Essex.
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How much are your fees?Funeral ceremonies from £234 (generally paid directly to the funeral director ) Scattering of Ashes Ceremony £150 Memorial Service from £450 Wedding Celebration Ceremony from £700 Civil Partnership Celebration Ceremony from £700 Renewal of Vows £650 Commitment Ceremony £650 Naming Ceremonies from £450
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Do you follow a particular faith?No I do not have a particular faith but I am open-minded to all beliefs and religions. As a qualified yoga teacher my ethos is human kindness.
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Can you visit me at my home?For funeral ceremonies I will arrange a meeting with you at your home to meet you and any other family members to gather all the necessary information about your loved one. I can also arrange to interview you and your family either by phone, a video call such as Facetime, Zoom, Whats App or Skype at your convenience. If there are other friends or work colleagues that would like to offer some contributions I will contact them too. For couples and naming ceremonies I will arrange to meet at your home or if popssible at the ceremony venue of your choice.
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How does COVID-19 impact our ceremony?During the pandemic the number of people allowed at a funeral ceremony indoors is limited to 30 depending on the size of the venue. Smaller venues, scattering of ashes and stone settings ceremonies can only accommodate a maximum number of 15 people. These numbers do not include any funeral staff. The guidance from the government remains under review and may be updated in line with the changing situation.For more information please check the Government's guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic on GOV.UK
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How does a funeral celebrant differ from a funeral director?A funeral celebrant and a funeral director often perform many of the same functions. They coordinate and conduct various aspects of a funeral ceremony in conjunction with the immediate family of the person who died. A funeral director will arrange the details and handle the logistics of planning the funeral such as paperwork, consulting with the family, transportation and caring for the deceased. The funeral celebrant will meet with the family, obtain the relevant information needed to produce and deliver the ceremony and guide and help the family with any choices of readings, music or poems.
Testimonials
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