Planning, budgeting, and then hosting a funeral ceremony is an extremely difficult thing to do. A funeral service is all about honouring the life of the person who has passed. And when you’re grieving, the logistics of planning the ‘right’ funeral can be overwhelming. To ease the burden, most families engage an experienced funeral celebrant to carry out the ceremonial aspects of the service in a professional and comforting way.
While planning a funeral, 2 of the main considerations are who to engage as the celebrant, and how much you can expect to pay.
Author: Meggan Brummer
If we haven’t met before - I am an award-winning Marriage Celebrant in Sydney, Australia.
I’ve married hundreds of couples over the last 13 years and have over 23 years experience as a professional writer.
Average funeral celebrant costs in Australia
Funeral celebrant rates in Australia can range from $500 to $2,000 per service. Each funeral celebrant will set their own fees for the service, which they may adjust based on the specific requests and requirements of the family.
In some cases, funeral celebrants base their fees on an hourly rate. Others will have a flat fee, so you don’t have to be watching the clock when you work with them..
What to expect when you engage a funeral celebrant
Funeral celebrant costs are tied closely to what is required of the celebrant. Some celebrants will provide end-to-end services, where they will spend time getting to know the family and their loved one, carry out the service, and provide a personalised eulogy. Others may just host the service and provide the means for the family to speak and share their stories at the funeral ceremony.
When you first engage a funeral celebrant, they will typically set up a meeting (whether in-person or virtually) to discuss the wishes, logistics, and arrangements for the funeral service. During this meeting, they will ask questions about the deceased, their life, and their family. The goal for any funeral celebrant is to create a ceremony that accurately reflects and honours these memories.
Before the ceremony, the funeral celebrant will also coordinate with the rest of the funeral service providers to ensure that the service flows smoothly on the day itself.
On the day of the ceremony, the funeral celebrant will travel to the location of the service and officiate the service, delivering the ceremony , and provide you with a written copy of the service for keepsake afterwards.
The funeral celebrant includes all these actions in their fees, but they may also charge additional fees for extensive travel, or for unforeseen or unusual costs.
What is the difference between a funeral celebrant and a minister?
There are two types of funeral celebrants you may engage: civil celebrants and religious ministers. The difference between the two is that civil celebrants will carry out non-religious funeral services, while ministers offer religious funeral ceremonies, usually involving prayers and religious readings.
The choice between the two will come down to the preferences of the family, as well as the beliefs of the deceased.
Considerations when weighing up funeral celebrant costs
A funeral celebrant plays an important role in setting the atmosphere of the entire service, and can make a huge difference in providing the right support and comfort for family members to process the loss. If you’ve ever been to a funeral, you know that the right funeral celebrant can go a long way to creating a ceremony that feels deeply personal and comforting. Sadly, the wrong kind of funeral service can feel unsettling and impersonal.
Speak to potential funeral celebrants as part of the consideration process to get a feel for their personality, experience, and approach to ceremonies. Finding a connection with a particular funeral celebrant isn’t necessarily a requirement, but the right funeral celebrant can go a long way to ensuring you give your loved one a send off they deserve.
Find a funeral celebrant you can trust
If you’re looking for a funeral celebrant who can deliver a personalised funeral ceremony, Meggan Brummer is one of Sydney’s most recognised and compassionate funeral celebrants. Based in the lower north shore, Meggan offers a gracious and tailored approach to funeral services. Book a call today to learn more about creating a heartfelt and meaningful funeral service, and the costs involved in doing so.