Erica Harley | Wedding and Funeral Celebrant

Wedding and Funeral Celebrant in Oxfordshire

Hi, my name is Erica Harley  and I am a Family, Wedding and Funeral Celebrant in Oxfordshire. I have come to Celebrancy quite late in my career, but it feels exactly what I should be doing. I have gathered a great deal of life experience along the way and I bring this to my work with wedding couples, bereaved families and other ceremonial occasions.

Weddings: I have performed at a number of weddings since training - and I love it! The ability to create an atmosphere between the couple and the guests, the warmth and intimacy of the occasion and the experience to help you choose the most appropriate vows and readings that reflect your love for each other and that reflect the quality of your relationship. Each ceremony is totally different and that is why they have to be bespoke to you!

Naming Ceremonies: These special celebrations are fast becoming my favourite ceremonies. For those people who want to celebrate their child’s arrival in their community, but don’t want a Christening, then this is a wonderful way of getting all your family and friends together, create your own vows and promises to your child and invite special people to be their guardians/mentors with appropriate wishes. Add in special activities – thumb print tree, wishes tree, sand ceremonies – and you have a unique and bespoke ceremony.

Funerals: So why should you ask me to officiate at the funeral of your loved one? I have been carrying out funerals for local Funeral Directors for over three years and have a wide variety of bereavement experience. I am now beginning to get return customers, having been the celebrant for one relative and then being asked to officiate again, which is an honour.

I also have experience of stillbirth funerals – a most painful and heart-rending time for the family. And I am also planning funerals with those people who have been given the devastating news that they have a terminal illness. My role is to help them plan their ceremony, giving practical and emotional support at such a difficult time.

My Background: I have been a senior teacher at an Oxfordshire Secondary School as head of Drama. Then I moved into the corporate world working in the L&D field. I use professional actors, using role-play and forum theatre to give participants the opportunity to practice new behavioural skills. But my real love has always been the theatre and I have honed my skills by directing and acting with some high quality amateur dramatic groups.