Sarah Blake | Spiritual Celebrant
Celebrations of life
after direct cremation
A direct cremation does not mean going without a beautiful farewell.
Perhaps the cremation has already taken place. Perhaps you are planning ahead and want something more personal than a conventional funeral. You can still gather, tell their stories and honour the love that remains.
I create celebrations of life and memorial ceremonies in St Neots, Cambridge, across Cambridgeshire and beyond. Together, we shape a farewell around your person: their humour, their passions, their beliefs and the people who knew them.
Talk to me about a celebration of life
A ceremony with room to be themselves
A garden filled with their favourite flowers. A woodland clearing. A private home, a welcoming venue or a place woven into their story. A gathering can be quiet and intimate or full of voices, music and laughter.
We might light candles, share memories, listen to a treasured song, read their words or create a simple symbolic ritual. Faith, spirituality and secular beliefs are all welcome. Nothing needs to be included simply because it is expected.
How we create it together
First, a conversation
You can approach me directly. We talk about the person you love, the gathering you imagine and any arrangements already in place. You do not need to arrive with a finished plan.
Then, the words and the details
I listen to your memories and write a personal ceremony. We choose readings, music and rituals with meaning for you, agree the structure and help anyone taking part feel prepared.
On the day, a steady presence
I lead the ceremony with warmth and care, leaving room for emotion, connection and the unexpected moments that make a gathering human.
Questions families often ask
Can we have a ceremony after direct cremation?
Yes. A separate memorial or celebration of life can take place after the cremation, at a time that works for you and your guests. The ashes can be present if you wish, but do not have to be.
Do we need a funeral director to arrange the celebration?
You can contact me directly to plan and lead a separate celebration of life. Your cremation provider or funeral director handles the cremation arrangements. Venue hire, catering and other suppliers can be arranged separately, with responsibilities agreed together.
Where can a ceremony take place?
At a private home, in a garden, woodland, a community space or a venue with personal meaning, subject to permission and practical arrangements. For outdoor gatherings, we will consider access, seating, sound and a weather plan.
How long do we have to wait?
There is no single timetable for a separate memorial. We can discuss available dates, whether you want the ashes present and when the people who matter can come together.
Can the ceremony be spiritual without belonging to a religion?
Absolutely. Nature, candlelight, shared silence and personal symbolism can offer a spiritual thread. I also welcome religious readings, prayers and family traditions where they reflect your wishes.
What if we want to attend the cremation itself?
Some providers offer a simple attended cremation, sometimes described as an attended direct cremation. A short farewell may be possible where the provider and crematorium permit. Confirm the attendance, timing and celebrant arrangements before booking.
Explore intimate attended cremation ceremonies
Can we include scattering or interring the ashes?
Yes, we can discuss a linked or separate ashes ceremony. We will consider the location, permissions and any guidance from the venue or landowner.
Explore ashes ceremonies, memorials and traditional funerals
Your person. Your memories. Your way.
My work brings together professional celebrancy, lay chaplaincy, decades of coaching and mediation, and my own lived understanding of grief. I will listen carefully and help you create something individual, with beauty, meaning and soul.