Advice for New Celebrants: Finding Your Path in Modern Celebrancy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Starting your journey as a celebrant is exciting, challenging, and totally unique – just like the ceremonies you’ll create! We’ve gathered wisdom from three of our experienced mentors at the Academy of Modern Celebrancy – Miranda Ash, Tara Heath Arnold, and Sonal Dave – to help guide you through both your training and those early days of your celebrancy career.

    All of our Celebrant Mentors are working Celebrants who have been where you are! Together they share their advice for new celebrants.

    Celebrant Mentors Miranda Tara and Sonal_

    Embrace Your Authentic Self

    “Be yourself. Be your authentic self and shine, and people will find you,” shares Miranda. This isn’t just about standing out – it’s about creating genuine connections with couples who resonate with your particular style and approach.

    Take AMC graduate Martin Fox-Roberts, for example. Initially hesitant about embracing the camp side of his personality, Martin had a breakthrough when building his brand. He decided to go all in, incorporating his Drag act into his celebrancy practice. Now his business is thriving! Martin’s unique combination of celebrancy, British Sign Language, Drag, and couples massage might sound unexpected, but it works because it’s authentically him.

    Proud Fox Ceremonies_Maria Hurtz Drag Queen Celebrant_martin fox roberts

    Remember: Your Journey, Your Path

    One thing our mentors consistently emphasise to new celebrants is the importance of focusing on your own journey. As Tara wisely notes, “I don’t really worry about what other people are doing. I’m inspired by lots of my celebrant colleagues, but I don’t get focused on ‘oh, they’ve done this, or they’ve been there.'” This mindset is crucial for developing your unique celebrancy style without getting caught up in comparison.

    Miranda adds an important reminder about imposter syndrome: “Don’t lean into it, because it’s just not serving you.” Instead, channel that energy into developing your skills and building genuine connections with your couples.

    Related: Miranda Ash, Meet the Mentor

    Find Your Place in the Market: There’s Space

    The celebrancy industry offers diverse opportunities across both wedding and funeral sectors. With the UK wedding industry worth £15 billion annually and the funeral industry valued at £2.7 billion in 2024 (expected to grow to £2.8 billion by 2025), there’s significant scope for new celebrants to establish themselves.

    Wedding Ceremonies and Beyond

    As Tara puts it, “The market is massive. So there’s lots of opportunities.” The wedding sector continues to evolve, with couples increasingly seeking personalised, meaningful ceremonies that reflect their unique stories and values.

    Take inspiration from Sonal’s journey. When she pivoted from her original “Luxury Wedding” niche to serve Multi-faith and LGBTQIA+ couples, she spent a year educating her community about celebrant ceremonies and understanding their needs before seeing real traction. Sometimes, finding your perfect niche takes time and patience.

    Emerging Opportunities in the Funeral Sector

    The funeral industry is experiencing significant changes, with a shift away from traditional services towards more personalised alternatives. Direct cremations, living funerals, and natural burials are gaining popularity, creating opportunities for celebrants who can offer meaningful ceremonies that align with these modern approaches.

    Diversifying Your Services

    Beyond weddings and funerals, proactive celebrants can explore growing markets for:

    • Pet funeral ceremonies
    • Adult naming ceremonies
    • Commitment ceremonies
    • Vow renewals
    • Family blending ceremonies

    The key to success in these emerging areas often lies in education – helping your community understand the choices available to them and the value of personalised ceremonies. Don’t be afraid to position yourself as an expert and advocate for these alternative options.

    Related: Alternative Ceremonies that could skyrocket your earnings

    Make the Most of Your Training

    Sonal Dave emphasises the importance of approaching your celebrant training with intention. The AMC training really does lead the field in terms of both content, quality and support, but as with anything, you get out what you put in. Here are some of Sonal’s key tips for Celebrants in training:

    Treat Each Ceremony Like a Performance

    Think of your ceremonies as theatrical performances, considering everything from staging to entrances and exits. This mindset helps you create more polished, professional ceremonies from the start.

    Focus on the Business Side

    Make the most of your business training modules. Ask lots of questions during marketing sessions, and don’t shy away from seeking advice about the practical aspects of running your celebrancy business.

    Embrace Professional Development

    “We spend years honing our craft, being trained, continuing with professional development to develop those writing and presentation skills,” Miranda reminds us. This dedication to growth is what sets professional celebrants apart.

    Build Your Professional Foundation

    Success as a celebrant isn’t just about creating beautiful ceremonies – it’s about building a sustainable, professional business that reflects your dedication to the craft. Our mentors have found that the small details often make the biggest difference in how you’re perceived by both clients and industry colleagues. As Sonal often reminds her mentees, “Your professionalism in every interaction shapes your reputation in the industry.” Here’s how to lay the groundwork for a thriving celebrancy practice:

    Attention to Detail Matters

    Pay attention to the small things – from email subject lines to ceremony scripts. Use tools like Grammarly to ensure your written communications are polished and professional.

    Create an Inclusive Practice

    Consider accessibility and inclusivity in every ceremony you create. Think about language choices, mobility needs, and sensory elements to ensure everyone feels welcomed and considered.

    Build Your Network

    All our mentors stress the importance of building positive relationships within the industry. Connect with venues, other celebrants, and local wedding professionals to create a supportive network for your business.

    Remember…

    Stay consistent, be patient with your progress, and keep focusing on what makes you unique. As Tara says, “Be consistent, be authentic, and be yourself. Your people will find you.”

    The wedding industry is constantly evolving, and the most successful celebrants grow with it. Whether it’s embracing new ceremony trends or developing your business skills, maintaining a growth mindset will be key to your long-term success.

    Remember, every successful celebrant started exactly where you are now. Take advantage of your training, lean on your mentors, and trust that your authentic self is exactly what your future clients are looking for.

    Ready to Begin Your Celebrant Journey?

    If you’re feeling inspired to take the leap into celebrancy, we’d love to help you get started. At the Academy of Modern Celebrancy, we offer industry-leading training programmes designed to give you everything you need to launch a successful celebrancy business.

    Our comprehensive training includes:

    • Expert-led modules covering both ceremonies and business development
    • One-to-one mentoring from experienced celebrants
    • Ongoing support through our vibrant community
    • Regular professional development opportunities
    • Access to our extensive resource library
    • Monthly Q&As and bonus masterclasses

    Join our supportive community of modern celebrants and start building a career that allows your authentic self to shine. Explore our training programmes and take the first step towards your new career as a celebrant.

    Team AMC

    Our team of writers and contributors at The Academy of Modern Celebrancy are dedicated to educating Celebrants and helping them build thriving Celebrant businesses. Our team is made up of Celebrants and Industry experts dedicated to sharing their expertise with you.

    The Academy of Modern Celebrancy also has a thriving community of 2.8k celebrants that we are dedicated to helping grow their businesses and taking celebrancy from a hobby to a lifestyle.

    AMC host the global celebrant summit, Celebrantopia, each year, where experts from the Celebrant world share their expertise and passion for Celebrancy.

    The Academy of Modern Celebrancy has trained over 600 celebrants, and employs award-winning Celebrant Mentors who know what it takes to make it in the industry. We train the best celebrants out there across the UK, Europe and the USA.

    Take the Quiz to find out if you have what it takes!

    Not sure where to begin? Start here:

    Are you a Celebrantin the making?

    Find out if you have what it takes to be a celebrant and if now is the time for you to start this new chapter.

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    Download the Ultimate Guide to becoming a Celebrant & find out how you can make this happen!

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