Sarah Chapman, Celebrant

Sarah conducts weddings, funerals, civil partnerships, hand fasting, naming ceremonies and wedding vow renewals. Each ceremony is as unique as the next, with personal anecdotes and rituals, and she remembers every single one of them.

She was recently reunited with a lady at a party whose mother’s funeral she’d officiated. The woman gave her a huge hug and told everyone at the party about Sarah’s work.

She said: ‘Being a celebrant is such a rewarding role. It’s all about people marking their special days creatively and in the way they want. People often say ‘can we do that?’ and ‘are we allowed to do that?’ They don’t realise there are alternatives out there.

 ‘The most exciting thing I’ve done was a wedding vow renewal at South Milton sands when everyone went out into the bay on kayaks.

‘My husband and I have a tandem kayak, so he was taking photos while I performed the ceremony. The couple sent out little paper origami boats with guest’s wishes on, followed by a ‘ribbon of love’ circle and a BBQ on the beach.’

Sarah has a wealth of creative ideas including romantic ceremonies with roses, sand, water and wine.

She added: ‘Getting married or christened in a church is fantastic but if you’re not religious or it just isn’t your choice you have other options.

‘I suggest couples go to the registry office first to fulfill the legal ceremony, followed by a ceremony conducted by me which will be as individual as they are and can include spiritual or religious elements in a setting of their choice.

‘Prior to their wedding ceremonies couples share their stories with me - where they met, who proposed and how, which I can then relate back to at the ceremony.

‘The best thing people say to me is I’m professional, warm and empathetic and that means more to me than anything in the world.’

Sarah often goes the extra mile for her clients. Recently she learnt some Japanese words to help conduct a wedding ceremony.

She conducted the ceremony for a Japanese couple who’d already had a wedding where they live in Japan, which was quite formal. They wanted a traditional English ceremony too and their friend Keishu, who speaks English, translated the full ceremony for the couple and their families and friends.

Sarah works with The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation, a charity dedicated to organising and funding weddings for terminally ill people. She offers a free ceremony once a year for the charity and this year is renewing a couple’s vows on a beach in Cornwall.

After 15 years of teaching music and drama Sarah came across the celebrancy world at her mother-in-law’s funeral three years ago.

She said: ‘I was looking for a change of career after the children had left home, and found inspiration in the unlikeliest of places – at a funeral.

‘There was a celebrant conducting the day and I was so impressed by how he put everything together and made the experience such a personal one.

‘I spoke to him afterwards and realised the role could bring together my years of public speaking, drama and music. That moment was a real catalyst for change and I set about my training.’

Sarah then gained a diploma in celebrancy with Civil Ceremonies Ltd in Cambridge and later another diploma specific to funerals. She has conducted nearly 300 funerals since.

She said: ‘At this most difficult time in people’s lives the role of the celebrant can really come to the fore.

‘When I meet people for the first time, after their loved one has died, they are often stilted and anxious. I’ve looked through many CD collections with widows and widowers, recalling memories and holding people’s hands.

‘After a while we’re often laughing and joking and recalling happy times spent with the deceased. The process can help people come to terms with grief and enable it to become an everyday subject.

‘I love it when, after a funeral, people say ‘did you know him?’ as the ceremony was so personal. Such a ceremony spurs people on to talk and share memories.’

Sarah has also conducted ‘living funerals’.

She said: ‘A terminally ill lady in her 60s contacted me because she wanted a ‘living funeral’ or ‘celebration of life’ to say goodbye to friends and family. Her family was a little unsure at first but in the end they were over the moon.

‘We had a slideshow of her life set to her favourite music, her most treasured objects on display, favourite food and a champagne toast with all her loved ones present.

‘She wrote about her life and read it out to everyone. When I conducted her funeral three weeks later, we could all recall what we’d done at the celebration of her life and I read out the piece she had written as her eulogy.’

Sarah moved from Cornwall to Totnes in 1994 with her three children to attend Dartington College of Arts. She has maintained links to the college, conducting weddings in the Private Garden and funerals at the Upper Gatehouse at Dartington Hall.

She was Head of Drama at Stover School for four years and then spent 11 years teachi       ng music in schools.  Sarah has also conducted and directed choirs and once conducted a choir of passengers for a month on a cruise ship from Sydney to Singapore.

Sarah and husband Andy have just returned from her second trip to Japan. She last went 30 years ago before touring around Australia in a camper van.

She said: ‘This time we will be staying in hotels! Andy and I want to travel a lot more but we also love exploring the South Hams.

‘I loved bringing my children up in this area, with its fantastic access to the beaches and moor. Everyone is so friendly too.

‘We love going to Dartmouth and go to the music festival every year, and also the food festival and Flavel.

‘Nothing beats eating breakfast at Alf Resco’s, walking along the coast path, and then patisseries at Saveurs.’

For more information see www.celebrationceremoniessouthwest.com

First published By The Dart July 2016 issue

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