Why I only do ceremonies that actually mean something

I am somewhat of a rule breaker, rule challenger, rule questioner, any of those suit me just fine. I always wonder why on earth people carry on doing certain things even though they really don't need to. Often they have no idea, which baffles me even more. You have no idea but you continue . . . Why?!

Which is why hearing about this malarky they call "Celebrant" properly piqued my interest. A service which challenges the status quo of weddings (and funerals) as we know it.

YES!

I am here for it!

I first heard of the word celebrant when a lady spoke about her ongoing training to become a wedding / funeral celebrant during a networking meeting. I was hooked on every word and entirely fascinated.

My very initial thoughts were: "wow, a job which encompasses all my past life experiences and jobs. How wonderful. How do I find out more?" I went home and looked it up. I followed a variety of celebrants on socials and I read and read and read to find out all I could.

While I loved the sound of becoming a celebrant and everything it entailed, it wasn't the right time for me to pursue my (now) dream job. So I ended up chucking my dream on a shelf and simply dreamt about it instead. All the while keeping an eye on those celebrants on the internet. My fascination never waned and it all seemed so wonderful.

Fast forward a few years later, I got a call out of the blue from a family member. "Granny has had a heart-attack and we don't think she'll make it." I packed my bags, my one year old daughter and got in the car for the 8 hour journey. That journey ended up taking me 10 hours and all I could think was "hold on granny, I am coming and I want to say goodbye!"

Granny held on all right, she hung about while we all sat around her bed reminiscing about her life. We laughed, we cried and we spent time as a family, uncles, cousins, my mom, my daughter and I. Twenty four hours later she quietly stopped breathing and we all breathed a sigh of sad relief. She was gone. The tears fell and we all hugged each other in comfort.

My granny with my siblings & I

It was time to plan granny's funeral and it came down to me. I had never ever planned a funeral before. I had no idea what was what. All the same, I got to it while the family gave their two cents here and there.

My mom decided she wanted to read a poem at the funeral, but no one else wanted to speak. I could not let us say goodbye to granny without telling her story. I got up on the day to tell her story and honor her life.

That afternoon, as we all gathered at my cousins house, I sat and pondered about how granny's story would not have been told if I had not got up to speak. It made me sad. There are so many out there who cannot speak at their loved ones funerals. It's difficult. The saddest time of your life and now you have to speak in public too. For some that is impossible.

I came to the final decision that this is what I wanted to do, become a celebrant. Become that person who will stand up and speak on behalf of those who cannot.

My cousin, Cassandra came to sit next to me, we chatted about granny. We chatted about how it was sad to say goodbye but that the funeral was as good as it could have been for her. I told my cousin my decision, I was going to become a Celebrant.

Two years later, that's exactly what I did. I trained, I started my business as Ribeiro Ceremonies and I was officially a celebrant.

Five years later I still absolutely love what I do. Yes, being a celebrant is a service I offer to those getting married, those having life celebrations or funerals, to those having business launches. It is a business. But it is so much more than that. It is my passion.

A passion which encompasses my past life experiences, which pulls on the skills I have learnt in previous jobs and courses I have taken. A passion which feeds my soul and helps others in the process. It's also a passion properly kickstarted by my granny (Thank you, Granny, I love you heaps!)

Which is exactly why I will only do ceremonies that mean something. How could they not when I love it so very much!

©T. Ribeiro ‘26

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