From wedding host to funeral officiant: Lidija Terlanova speaks openly about death

Lidija Terlanova has gained attention on TikTok for speaking openly and without excessive sentimentality about death, funerals and the process of laying someone to rest. She describes funerals as an opportunity for those left behind to make peace with themselves, often easing guilt over things left undone while the deceased was alive.

Terlanova works as both a wedding host and a funeral officiant, a combination she says is less contradictory than it first appears. By talking about death, she says she is really encouraging people to live more fully — recognizing that nothing is permanent, she argues, makes people freer and pushes them to appreciate the present.

How she entered the profession

Terlanova began considering funeral work after someone suggested it to her during a conversation. At first the idea seemed disconnected from her work hosting weddings, but she later realized it was a logical extension of her background in creative writing and event hosting.

To break into the field, she contacted several organizations, offering her services and describing her experience in writing and event management. Staff at the funeral home "Atvadas" allowed her to observe how other officiants worked.

Her first real experience proved emotionally difficult — in a single day she took part in two funerals in a row, and it was the first time she had seen a deceased person up close. Afterward she went home in tears, doubting whether she could continue in the role, but a few days later she received another call offering further work.

Speaking openly about mental health

Terlanova also shares that she has personally gone through difficult periods with her mental health, including depression, and has chosen to speak about it openly rather than hide it. She notes that society tends to teach people to suppress their emotions and cope alone, but says this is not something people are obligated to do.