meet karen

karen lynn brady

funeral celebrant
marriage celebrant
ceremonialist
​ritual designer
death care advocate
AHFA secretary
NDAN committee member

a celebrant for ceremonies that matter

I am an independent funeral and marriage celebrant based in Melbourne's west. My work is guided by one simple principle: ceremonies matter. They mark our thresholds - moments of love, loss and change - and help us make meaning. Whether we are saying goodbye to someone or celebrating the beginning of a shared life, ceremony gives shape and voice to what words alone can’t hold.
My work centres on meaning-making through participation - not templates, scripts, or rushed timelines.

​Whether your ceremony is large or small, formal or informal, it should be shaped with care and compassion. 

what shapes my work

Ceremony is not just words. It is structure, symbol, and action. I draw on ritual, rites-of-passage frameworks, and contemporary practice to create moments that support meaning, transition, and connection.
Not everyone wants the same level of involvement. I will help you explore what’s possible, from quiet presence to shared ritual, and choose what feels right for you.
I believe people deserve clear, honest information about funeral options. Supporting death literacy helps people feel less overwhelm and more confident about their end of life choices.

experience & background

My work as a celebrant is shaped by a diverse professional background, including:
  • Experience as a primary school teacher, supporting learning, communication, and emotional literacy
  • Time spent working in the trade union movement; more specifically in advocacy, governance, and supporting people through complex situations
  • Formal training in celebrancy, ongoing mentoring and professional development, with a particular interest in ritual theory & design, and family-centred ceremony
These experiences inform how I listen, guide, and hold space, particularly when emotions are layered or decisions feel heavy.

how I work

I work slowly, respectfully, and with care. I will not rush you through decisions OR assume what you want.

Together, we explore:
  • what matters to you
  • how ceremony can support what matters
  • what level of participation feels right
  • how ritual, words, and actions can be crafted meaningfully
You are not expected to know what you want straight away. Part of my role is helping you discover it.

my values

working together - ​creating ceremonies that matter

My role is practical and collaborative. I help you think through structure, language, music, ritual, and participation.

The process begins with careful conversation and preparation and continues through to delivery on the day.. I’m happy to talk things through, whether you are clear about what you want or still finding your way. 

Every ceremony is a collaboration; where we bring together your words and mine, your vision and my experience. 
If you are planning a funeral, wedding, or any ceremony that marks a significant moment in your life, and you would like support, please reach out today.!
The aim is not performance, but a ceremony that is honest, deeply personal and will be remembered:
A ceremony that matters.
​​"We trust that beyond absence there is a presence.
That beyond the pain there can be healing.
That beyond the brokenness there can be wholeness.
That beyond the anger there may be peace.
That beyond the hurting there may be forgiveness.
That beyond the silence there may be the word.
That beyond the word there may be understanding.
That through understanding there is love."

Anonymous
​sincere ceremonies - creating ceremonies that matter