Surrey & South-West London

Funeral ceremonies, written and held with care.

I help families say goodbye in a way that actually sounds like the person they're remembering — whether that's a quiet, traditional service or something that breaks every rule they'd expect.

Funerals only — no weddings or vow renewals

Photo placeholder — Rachel Goodin

12 years' practice Institute of Civil Funerals member DBS-checked & fully insured Serving within 25 miles of Guildford

How I can help

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Non-religious & part-religious ceremonies

Entirely secular, a blend of faith and none, or anything in between — built around what the family actually wants, not a template.

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Ceremony writing & delivery

From the first phone call to standing at the front on the day, and a written copy of the words to keep afterwards.

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Pre-planning your own funeral

For anyone who'd rather leave clear wishes than leave it to guesswork — a calmer conversation, on your own timeline.

"Rachel took the time to actually get to know Dad before she wrote a single word. What she read out didn't sound like a stranger's summary — it sounded like him." — The Bennett family, Woking

My story

How I ended up doing this work

Photo placeholder — Rachel Goodin

I trained as a celebrant twelve years ago, after spending a decade working in adult hospice care. I'd sat in on more funerals than I could count by then — some that felt exactly right, and some that clearly didn't fit the person being remembered at all. That gap is what pulled me into this work.

I only take on funerals. Not weddings, not renewals — partly because the skills genuinely don't transfer as neatly as people assume, and partly because I'd rather give every family my full attention than split it across very different kinds of days.

What I do is mostly listening. I meet the family, usually more than once, and I ask the questions that help the real person come through — not just the potted biography, but the habits, the running jokes, the way they took their tea. Then I write it down and read it back to you before anyone else hears it, so nothing goes into the service that doesn't feel true.

"A ceremony should sound like the person it's for — not like a form that's been filled in."

Training & approach

Credentials, and how I work

If this is the first time you've looked into hiring a celebrant, here's what actually matters and why.

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Institute of Civil Funerals — full member

Trained and accredited through the ICF, with ongoing continuing-education requirements to keep my membership current.

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DBS-checked & professional indemnity insured

An enhanced DBS certificate renewed every three years, and public liability and professional indemnity cover held throughout.

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Listening-led, not template-led

No stock script gets adapted with a name swapped in. Every ceremony starts from a blank page and the family's own words.

Ceremonies I write for

How it works

From your first call to the day itself

There's no such thing as too little notice — but here's the shape it usually takes.

1

You get in touch

By phone, email, or the form on this site — usually within a day or two of a death, sometimes sooner. I'll call you back within 24 hours.

2

We meet

At your home, or over video if that's easier. This is where the real work happens — I ask about the person, not just the facts, and I listen far more than I talk.

3

I write the ceremony

Usually within a few days of our meeting, drawing directly from what you told me — including anything you'd like to read yourselves.

4

You read it first

Nothing is said publicly that you haven't already seen and approved. We adjust anything that doesn't feel right.

5

I liaise with the venue

Timings, music, and any handover with the funeral director are sorted directly with them, so you don't have to relay messages.

6

The day itself

I arrive early, keep things calm and unhurried, and deliver the ceremony we wrote together.

7

Afterwards

You keep a written copy of everything, and I'm still at the end of the phone if you have questions later.

Fees & what's included

Clear pricing, no surprises

Example figures for this preview — confirm real rates before publishing.

Full ceremony

£275

Up to one hour, anywhere within 15 miles

One in-person or video meeting
Ceremony written & shared for your review
Delivery on the day
Written copy of the words to keep

Short committal

£120

Brief service, direct cremation or graveside only

Short phone consultation
Concise, personal words
Delivery on the day

Plan your own funeral in advance

£85

A calm, unhurried conversation to record your own wishes, so your family isn't guessing later.

Optional extras

Extra	Price
Additional family meeting	£45
Help proofing & formatting the order of service	£35
Poem & reading research	£25
Tribute slideshow coordination	£60
Travel beyond 15 miles	45p / mile

Kind words

From families I've worked with

"She made us laugh at Dad's funeral, which felt impossible a week before. It was exactly what he would have wanted."

— The Bennett family, Woking

"Nothing was rushed. Rachel gave us as much time as we needed and never made the meetings feel like a checklist."

— Priya M., Guildford

"We had no religion in the family and were dreading a generic service. What she wrote was entirely ours."

— Tom & Sarah R., Farnham

"My mum planned her own service with Rachel two years before she died. It meant we didn't have to guess at anything."

— Diane K., Epsom

"Calm, warm, and completely unfazed by our very last-minute request. Three days' notice and it was still beautiful."

— The Ahmed family, Woking

"She read the room perfectly — serious where it needed to be, and genuinely funny where Dad would have wanted it."

— Michael T., Godalming

Questions families ask

Frequently asked questions

Get in touch

Let's talk about the service you need

Whatever stage you're at — even just deciding whether a celebrant is right for you — I'm glad to talk it through with no obligation.

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Phone

01483 000 000

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Email

rachel@example.co.uk

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Response time

Within 24 hours, every day of the week

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Service area

Guildford, Woking, Godalming, Farnham and within 25 miles

Legal

Privacy policy

This is placeholder legal text for the preview build — replace with a proper policy before the site goes live, ideally checked against current UK GDPR guidance.

What I collect

When you use the contact form, I collect your name, contact details, and anything you choose to share about the service you need. This information is used only to respond to your enquiry and, where you go ahead, to plan the ceremony.

How it's stored

Details are kept only as long as needed and are not shared with anyone outside of those directly involved in arranging your ceremony (such as a funeral director you've named).

Your rights

You can ask at any time to see what's held about you, or to have it deleted, by getting in touch directly.