Frequently Asked Questions

What does a ceremony cost?

Each End of Living or Remembrance ceremony is completely unique. Accordingly, the fee for each ceremony reflects the nature of the ceremony agreed upon. Sonia Beverley will quote your fee after she has discussed the desired ceremony in detail and has enough information to do so. The fee quoted will form part of a written contract that will outline the agreement. 

Fees typically range from $400 to $1500. 

Sixty percent of the fee is payable as a non-refundable deposit upon signing the contract and agreeing to work together. The balance is due prior the ceremony, and may be paid in up to two installments, as agreed. Payment may be made by e-transfer or cash.

What is a Life-cycle Celebrant?

A life-cycle celebrant is a specialist in ceremony and ritual who is professionally trained and experienced in developing unique, personalized ceremonies for marking and celebrating life major accomplishments and transitions. Anyone may use the title of “celebrant” including those without this specialization. However, “Certified Life-cycle Celebrant™ ” is reserved for those who are certified by the Celebrant Foundation & Institute and adhere to a Code of Ethics and standards of the profession. (These standards are reflected in the answers to questions below.)

Life-cycle celebrants create and officiate at ceremonies for marriage, birth, adoption, baby naming, coming of age, divorce, retirement, healing, end of life and death, and more. The most popular roles for a life-cycle celebrant are doing weddings and funerals.

How do I select the right celebrant?

The celebrant is the person who will help you create the perfect ceremony for the occasion. This person will also be the officiant who presides at the ceremony. Aim to find the right person for this important role.

The “fit’ between you is crucial. Take the time to learn about the celebrant you are considering. Ask all the questions you have to be sure that you are comfortable with and trust the person to respect your wishes and values, and take care of your ceremony on that special day. Sonia Beverley offers you time to get to know each other at no cost.

What qualifications should I look for in a celebrant?

The most important qualifications are your emotional connection with and trust in the celebrant; and,  being comfortable working with this person?  To assess these qualifications, find out:

• The celebrant’s professional values, training and experience
• If the celebrant really loves doing this work and cares about doing it well
• Exactly how the ceremony is developed and customized – if you are picking from a menu of formats, it is not being designed just for you
• If the celebrant has the knowledge to suggest rituals, traditions, readings and other elements suitable to your cultural, ethnic and spiritual beliefs
• If the celebrant will be comfortable with your family, friends and aspirations for the ceremony
• If you are comfortable with the celebrant’s style and sense of humour
• What your role is in creating and finalizing the ceremony
• If you are comfortable expressing your preferences and concerns to the celebrant
• Who the celebrant engages with to create your ceremony
• How the celebrant manages the ceremony on the day
• If the celebrant will book another event on the same day as yours
• If there is a written contract and what the terms are
• What exactly is included in the fee

How do we decide what kind of ceremony to have?

Discuss your wishes and ideas with friends or family to decide how important the ceremony itself is to you. Do you feel deeply about the ceremony and need to it be unique and very meaningful to you? Do you want your family and friends attending to be engaged in it and share a powerful experience with you? Do you want an unconventional ceremony lovingly divined and staged collaboratively with you? Explore these questions during your initial conversations with Sonia Beverley who is expert in the art of ritual, then you may work together to produce the perfect one for you.

What is our role in developing the ceremony?

Your role is to help the celebrant to know you or your loved one very well - to know the story. Talk about your individual and shared heritage, accomplishments, interests, values, preferences, beliefs, wishes – everything that you bring to the life event you are commemorating. Identify all the people and messages you want included or excluded. All these details will not be used in the ceremony, but they will help Sonia Beverley consider possibilities and sculpt a ceremony to your unique mold. Most important, your job is to approve of all aspects of the ceremony and sign-off on the final version. Sonia Beverley will handle the ceremony logistics and coordinating with other professionals on the day.

Can we write part of our ceremony?

You sure can! When you write, you contribute your voice in a very tangible way to your unique ceremony. Sonia Beverley is happy to help you do so. She can provide samples and ideas, and will edit for you, if you wish. 

"Take the attitude of a student; never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.”
Og Mandino