You do not have to use any kind of officiant if you don’t want to. Families often ask if a member of their own family can officiate at the funeral (usually in the crematorium or at a graveside) to which we would say yes: however, it is a daunting task to be able to speak publicly, sometimes in front of a large amount of people and be able to keep a service flowing, include all the points needed, and often keeping to a timescale of around 20-25 minutes. We can recommend various celebrants from different organisations or, if appropriate, your local parish priest but if a family member or friend is confident they can officiate. We are more than happy to work with them.