Gentle, meaningful ceremonies for life’s most important moments
Supporting you to create a farewell as unique as the life it honours.
Bespoke ‘At Need’ Funeral Services
I extend my sincere condolences at this time, it would be an honour to serve you and your loved one
Funeral Consultant & Advance Planning
From the first conversation to the final farewell, I’m here to listen, guide, and support you with kindness and care.
Educational Workshops & Talks
With knowledge comes empowerment, confidence and comfort.
I knew that I wanted a celebrant for my mother’s funeral but didn’t know where to begin; then I came across Kym’s profile – I felt immediately that she would be the right person. I texted her; she responded and arranged an initial phone conversation before arranging to meet me and my partner at our home to begin the process. Kym talked us through the practicalities, and we talked at length about Mum, it all felt very natural. The first draft was with us in a few days, and we worked together to tweak it until it was ready.
Kym kept in touch throughout and really took time to get to know Mum and us as a family. She liaised with the Funeral Director and Burial Ground, so everything was seamless. She conducted Mum’s celebration beautifully, creating many beautiful touches to make it unique – Mum would have been so proud!
Every last detail is considered and provides a quality service from start to finish. I cannot thank you enough Kym, for the service you provided mum and for helping me with my grief and healing journey.
What stage of your journey has led you to me?
Perhaps you are searching for the right person to lead your ‘at-time-of-need’ service? Or maybe you are considering your choices for the future?
There are many stages to your journey; for some it is the first time they have arranged a funeral and they are overwhelmed by the choices. Others may wish to plan ahead to save their loved ones the stress of making decisions they don’t feel able to make.
I hear you, and you are not alone.
As a celebrant I can support you, listening to your requests and helping you to create a memorial service which is bespoke to you and your loved one, including all the things that made your loved one unique. We can include prayer, ritual and free spirit; whatever the situation calls for!
We can blend the service into whatever environment feels right for you; whether it’s a ceremony in a crematorium, a burial site, in a natural woodland or on the beach!
When looking for your celebrant you’ll have your own set of needs and requirements, this will be different for everyone. Some may prioritise proximity, choosing a local celebrant. Others may want the personality of the celebrant to align with the loved one who has died, someone who enjoyed the garden or a particular music artist. For some, the feeling that this person is just ‘right’ will rule over everything else. No matter the priority a celebrant must always apply wisdom, empathy, understanding and knowledge, to serve you and your loved one.
As a dedicated funeral celebrant you can rest assured that you will feel safe with me. You can celebrate your loved one’s life without fear or judgement. I am committed to inclusivity, no matter who you are, your background or beliefs, I will support you. I am so much more than a celebrant too, my skills, experience and training mean I can assist you in so many more ways than a service itself; take a look through my website to see what I can offer you.
I’m Kym Swan
Specialist Funeral Celebrant & Compassionate Guide
I’m Kym, and I help families create meaningful, personalised ceremonies that truly honour their loved ones. With experience as a funeral arranger and a deep understanding of grief and ritual, I’m here to guide you with warmth, respect, and care—so your farewell feels as unique as the life it celebrates.
Ready to talk?
I offer a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your needs. Let’s create something meaningful together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Celebrant Accord?
“The Funeral Celebrant Accord defines the attributes and skills required of an excellent funeral celebrant and is intended to set the standards by which all celebrants offering funeral services should be measured.”
I provide my families with a full explanation of the Accord and its checklist, so that you know you are receiving the highest service from me.
What is GriefChat?
GriefChat provides bereaved people with access to high-quality emotional support and counselling if and when they need it. The service connects bereaved people with specialist bereavement counsellors via live web chat.
The service is available between 9am and 9pm Monday to Friday and the service is free to clients of AOIC Members and are completely confidential.
Can we include cultural or religious traditions in the ceremony?
Absolutely! Having worked with a wide variety of ethnic groups and religious faiths I understand that they all vary greatly and have different needs. I have arranged funerals for those of Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Methodist faiths as well as completely secular.
Your loved one’s ceremony should reflect who they were, whether that includes religious traditions, cultural customs, or personal rituals like music, readings, or symbolic gestures. I’m here to weave these elements into the service with care and respect, just let me know what matters most to you and your family.
How does a Celebrant differ from a Minister?
Ministers will generally be called when a person was an active or lapsed member of a church. If they followed a particular faith then it makes sense that a family would want a minister to conduct the service. While celebrants can include elements of faith, such as reading the Lord’s prayer or including hymns or Bible passages, if it makes up a considerable amount of the service, it might be best to call a minister.
Minister-led ceremonies will often follow an established religious liturgy, this allows for a certain amount of predictability which can be comforting to both the family and other attendees. Usually the service will take place at a church though they can conduct them at crematoriums and other venues.
Choose a minister if a traditional, church based ceremony is the priority.
Who are the AOIC?
You’ll see on my website that I am a member of the AOIC – The Association of Independent Celebrants. The AOIC is the only registered trade association for celebrants in the UK. They provide members with support, insurance, resources and are not-for-profit. If you see a celebrant is working with the AOIC you know that they are working to a high standard to support families and that the celebrant has been through a robust process to ensure they are suitable for the role. The AOIC also supports and is represented in the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and Associate Members of The Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF).
How does a Celebrant differ from a Humanist?
Celebrants can offer complete freedom to blend ritual, religious or spiritual beliefs into any ceremony. Humanist ceremonies are completely secular and will not incorporate any sense of spirit, faith, or religion; they focus on human qualities.
Do you offer talks to groups?
Talking to groups who are seeking information, cultured discussion, thought provoking ideas and connectedness is something I love to do! I have a wealth of information and passion to share and would be privileged to come and give a talk.
During my time in Nottinghamshire I gave a number of talks to the Nottinghamshire Hospice to help staff understand the whole journey a person takes, from before they pass away, all the way to the period following a funeral.
Take a look at my Talks & Workshops information on my Services page.
If I have a Direct Cremation, can I still hold a memorial?
Yes! Due to the changing times many families will opt to have a direct cremation. This doesn’t mean that you cannot hold a memorial service, indeed the ritual of these services has been shown to help us move through our grief and bond more closely to our intimate community. Get in touch if you would like to know how I can help you arrange a memorial service either before or after a direct cremation.
Take a look at my Articles page for a wealth of information and guidance, or get in touch if you would like some personalised assistance.
Contact Me
Ask a question or book a consultation with me below.