A family may officiate or emcee their event in anyway they wish.
 
Alternatively, a celebrant speaker is a person who will speak and officiate at the funeral service or celebration of life on behalf of the family.

He/She will set a time to meet with the family, in which time he is able to meet with the family members, and gather information about the deceased so that he is able to compile a personalized eulogy and tribute for the service day.

A celebrant is an alternative to having a minister officiate at the service. Their services are often used in cases where a family does not have a church background, or perhaps feel that a religious service would not be fitting for the deceased but would like a professional speaker to officiate the service.

A celebrant conducts meaningful services that are still spiritual, using stories to help face the grief of a death. Yet the focus of the service will be in reflecting your loved one’s life, who they were and what they gave.

Though families do at times ask for scripture to be read, a celebrant does not make scripture the focal point of the service.

Instead, it should be a day to pay tribute to the one you love and say thank you for all you have done, and thank you for all that you were.

This is done by focusing on their beliefs, values, qualities and attributes, and learning from what they have left for others.

A celebrant will bring all these elements together, so that on the service day it is a time that reflects your loved one, bringing comfort to your family and creating a comfortable environment for you to say goodbye.