Understanding what I do

What is a Civil Celebrant?

You may have come across the word and wondered exactly what it means — or how it differs from calling the council or a church. Here's a plain, honest answer.

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A ceremony created around you

A civil celebrant is a trained, independent professional who designs and leads ceremonies that aren't bound by religious rules or legal scripts. Every word of the ceremony is written specifically for your loved one — their personality, their story, their life.

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No restrictions on belief

Whether a family holds deep religious faith, no faith at all, or something quietly personal, a celebrant can honour that without compromise. Prayers, poems, secular readings, music, or meaningful silence — whatever feels right for your loved one.

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Written from the heart

I spend time listening — to you, to your family, to the stories that made this person who they were. The ceremony I write is shaped entirely by what I hear. Nothing is generic. Nothing is off the shelf.

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Support throughout

From our very first conversation to the day of the ceremony and beyond, I'm here. Planning a funeral is one of the hardest things a family faces. I'll guide you gently through every step, at your pace.

How is a celebrant different from other officiants?

A registrar is a council official whose sole role is the legal registration of deaths — they play no part in conducting a funeral ceremony. Funeral ceremonies are typically led either by a minister of religion, a funeral director's officiant, or a celebrant. Of those options, only a celebrant offers complete creative freedom, unlimited time, and a ceremony written entirely around the person who has died. Most families work with a funeral director who handles the legal and practical requirements, whilst I focus entirely on creating a ceremony worthy of the life being honoured.

Who I am

A personal introduction

I'm David Millitt, a civil celebrant based in Belper, Derbyshire. I came to this work not through a career path, but through personal experience — through losing my much-missed sister, and knowing what it means to sit through a ceremony that felt nothing like the person you loved.

"I became a celebrant because I believe every person who has lived and been loved deserves to be properly remembered — in their own words, their own colours, their own song."

That experience changed everything about how I see ceremony — and ultimately led me here. I trained with the Association of Independent Celebrants and have been creating meaningful farewell ceremonies ever since. I also hold specialist training in supporting people through end-of-life conversations, whether facing their own death or the death of someone they love.

Which brings me to why this website is purple.

Purple is the only colour with no wavelength of its own. It doesn't exist in the physics of light — it is entirely an invention of the brain, conjured to fill the gap between red and blue that the spectrum leaves open. And here is the remarkable thing: every brain fills that gap differently. Your purple and mine are not the same.

I think that is the most honest description of what a funeral ceremony should be. The universe doesn't provide meaning on its own. That has always been our work — yours, mine, every brain that has ever looked at the sky and added colour to the dark. A ceremony is the meaning we make together, unique to one life and no other.

What I offer isn't a service so much as a conversation. I listen carefully, I write thoughtfully, and I lead every ceremony with steadiness and warmth. Families often tell me afterwards that it felt as though I'd known their loved one personally. That is the thing I'm proudest of.

What I can offer

The ceremonies I create

Whether you're saying goodbye to someone you've lost or beginning a new chapter together, I create ceremonies that feel genuinely personal.

A funeral ceremony conducted by a celebrant is quite different from a standard service. There is no template, no script borrowed from elsewhere — only a ceremony built from the life that was actually lived.

I meet with the family as soon as you're ready — often within a day or two of the death. Over the course of one or two unhurried conversations, I gather everything: the memories, the habits, the humour, the things they always said, the music they loved. Then I write a ceremony that holds all of it.

I conduct ceremonies at all venues — crematoria, gravesides, village halls, gardens. Wherever feels right for your family.

I also conduct memorial services — for families who want a separate, less pressured gathering to celebrate a life, weeks or months after the death. These can be deeply healing occasions.

First contact

You reach out — by form, phone, or message. I respond promptly and warmly.

The conversation

We meet (in person or by video) and I listen. This is the most important step.

The ceremony

I write a bespoke script and share it with you for approval and any changes.

The day

I arrive early, lead with care, and ensure the day reflects your loved one fully.

A wedding ceremony with a celebrant means complete creative freedom. Your ceremony can be held anywhere — a barn, a garden, a clifftop, a village green — and can last as long as you wish. There are no prescribed words, no obligatory readings.

I work with you both from the very beginning to understand your relationship: how you met, what you mean to each other, the tone you want — whether that's gently moving, warmly funny, or simply quietly intimate.

A civil celebrant cannot perform a legal marriage in England. A registrar is a council official whose role is to legally register a marriage, often by conducting a basic, standardised ceremony — typically brief, with very limited personalisation. While I don't have a legal registration function, I bring something a registrar cannot: time, care, and complete creative freedom. Couples work with the registrar for the legal requirements, whilst I focus entirely on creating a wedding ceremony worthy of you as a couple.

Initial chat

A relaxed, no-obligation conversation about your vision for the day.

Getting to know you

I learn your story — how you met, what matters to you, what you want said.

The ceremony script

I write a bespoke ceremony for your approval, with revisions until it's perfect.

Your wedding day

I lead your ceremony with warmth, confidence, and complete attention to detail.

Families I've worked with

Words that mean everything

You captured Mum exactly as she was. When you spoke about her love of gardening and her terrible puns, people genuinely laughed — and that felt like the greatest gift. She would have been so pleased.

The Henderson Family

Funeral service, Derbyshire

I had no idea what a celebrant did until a friend suggested it. Now I cannot imagine how we'd have got through that day without David. He was calm, kind, and absolutely in command. The ceremony was perfect.

James & Patricia W.

Memorial service

We wanted something that felt like Dad — irreverent, warm, a bit unconventional. What we got was exactly that. Several people said it was the most meaningful funeral they'd ever attended. We'll be forever grateful.

The Okafor Family

Funeral service, Nottinghamshire

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Get in touch

Let's have a conversation

There's no obligation, no pressure, and no such thing as getting in touch too early. Whether you're planning ahead, facing an immediate loss, or simply curious about what a celebrant can offer — I'd be glad to hear from you.

I'll respond to every enquiry personally, usually within a few hours.

If you're a funeral director looking to refer families, please do reach out using the same form. I work closely with directors across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.

Your name

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Every life deserves to be honoured in its own way