Alex Collis Celebrant

29/09/2026

A lovely start to my week with this review from Helen's sister after her natural burial earlier this month.

I always think that handing over your memories of someone to a stranger and asking them to tell that person's story, is a real show of trust and a hugely generous gesture.

At every funeral meeting, my number one aim is to help people feel reassured and safe, so that they're able to share their memories with me - and be sure that those memories will be treated with real care and respect.

That matters to me very much because, in truth, everything that follows - the words, the tone and feel of the funeral - stems from that first meeting.

I remember talking to the celebrant about my dad, and how strange it felt, and I keep that conversation in mind whenever I'm on my way to meet a new family.

Good to have this reminder at the start of a week of family meetings... 🙏

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I'm Alex, a Cambridge based humanist celebrant and I love showing people how creative, colourful and joyous funerals can be.

If you're planning a celebration of someone's life, take a look at my pinned post on how to work with me. You can either go through your chosen funeral director or contact me directly.

📸 by the brilliant Lisa Gilby | London Brand Photographer

21/09/2026

Have a wonderful honeymoon Ellie Hubbard and Barry Clare! Or perhaps I should say 新婚旅行おめでとう

Thank you so much for trusting me with telling your story, and for the most wonderful, sunny Saturday in the woods 🍄🪵 Your wedding vows (or wows as they're now called) were perfect, and the tale of your 91st Street Garden proposal will forever be one of my favourites 🗽

Sorry that Tom Hanks didn't make it all the way to Norfolk, but I guess you can't have everything, and we still had Henning!

Lots of love to you both, you've got the most amazing future ahead of you...

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Swipe to see the guest hiding out in Ellie's bouquet, made by the very talented

Hands up who loves a celebrant led wedding 🙋🏻‍♀️

20/09/2026

🍄🪵 WOODLAND WEDDING WEEKEND 🪵🍄

So much time, care and love went into the finishing touches for Ellie and Barry's wedding decor...

Hening the Troll, who's become an important part of their family, made several appearances throughout the day (including hiding in Ellie's bouquet and presenting Cakenhagen) 🇩🇰

Their cats, Charlie and Converse were there in spirit, on these handheld masks for the guests 🐾

Ellie, who is ridiculously talented, handmade lots of the decor herself, including these amazing chandeliers dripping with greenery and moss 🌿

And their seating plan was just 🔥 with each table name celebrating their shared love of travel, especially through Scandinavia. It was there, in a Finnish forest, that Barry knew for certain that he wanted to ask Ellie to marry him 🌲🌲🌲

It all made an already memorable day even more special and I loved hearing all the oohs and ahs from the guests as they started arriving...

20/09/2026

✨️ Magic ✨️

That's the only way to describe yesterday at Hubbard's Farm Woodland Wedding Venue, Norfolk.

Beneath the trees Ellie Hubbard and Barry Clare made the most beautiful vows to each other in front of their family and friends. Just the perfect setting for a cosy, intimate wedding.

The day before they'd been busy transforming the space with flowers grown specially by Ellie's mum (kudos to Karolyn for managing to keep them going through the heatwave!)

There were also several many woodland trolls, including one specially crafted by a friend as a gift for Ellie and Barry that stood at the entrance to the ceremony space, holding some wooden wedding rings.

Loved every single minute of it!

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Hello, I'm Alex and I'm a humanist celebrant creating perfectly imperfect, unique and down to earth wedding ceremonies that are filled with colour and joy 🧡🌈

10/09/2026

Every life has a story to tell. Just look at the variety of stories I've told in my last few funerals.

When I visit a family to help them plan a funeral, often they'll be worried about remembering the details of someone's life. Maybe they'll say "We don't really know much about him" or "I don't know what to say, she didn't do much."

That's where I come in.

Through gentle prompting and deep listening, I'll help you reflect on who they've been and together we'll work out how to tell their story.

Because there's always a story to tell. It just needs uncovering.

So please, while it can help to jot down a few thoughts, don't worry about having it all worked out before you meet with your celebrant. And, if there are parts of their life we don't need to talk about... then we won't.

It's your farewell. You're in control. I'm there to help you create the funeral that you want.

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I'm Alex, a creative humanist celebrant on a mission to show people how colourful, individual and special funerals can be.

Big love to Stefanie | Humanist Wedding Celebrant Northern Ireland for the post inspo 🧡

10/09/2026

When you're planning a funeral, knowing where to start can feel like an impossible task.

There's so much to think of. Where should the funeral be? What music should be played?

And then there are the words. Where do you even begin to express what that person has meant to you?

There are lots of different sources of inspiration out there, all sorts of words that work beautifully for funerals, and I'm going to be sharing some of my favourites...

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I'm Alex, a humanist celebrant on a mission to show inspire others and show them how colourful, individual and special funerals can be.

07/09/2026

That felt good. Very good.

I'm back after my Instagram break. What did I miss?

I've had time to think and plan, and there are going to be a few changes in how I post and talk about celebrant life.

But I'm back and feeling a lot happier about life online for having had a little holiday.

Having said that... Dolly and Tim in one day. Wtf?

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31/07/2026

Great to see funeral directors responding to this week's news so eloquently and with so much compassion 🤍

SAIF has responded following the sentencing of Robert Bush at Hull Crown Court. Bush was sentenced to twenty years after pleading guilty to 67 offences connected with his operation of Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Hilliard said: “No sentence I pass can...

31/07/2026

I'm lucky to work with some wonderful funeral directors, every single one of whom is open, transparent and completely dedicated to looking after the people in their care - as well as improving the funeral world however they can.