Helen and Laura’s experience of building a Celebrant business around your family

Creating a new career as a celebrant while raising young children might feel like a juggling act, but for many, it’s a move that brings flexibility, fulfilment and the chance to do meaningful work without missing out on family life. In Episode 7 of Beyond the Ceremony, AMC mentors Laura Crocket and Helen Jubb opened up about what it’s really like to build a celebrant business around a young family and why they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Whether you’re on maternity leave, considering a career change, or looking to design work around your family instead of the other way around, this article explores how celebrancy offers just that.

Why Celebrancy Works So Well for Parents

The beauty of celebrancy is the freedom to design a business that aligns with your values and lifestyle. For Helen, it was that exact reason that drew her in. After planning her own wedding in a small, unlicensed theatre in Sheffield, she discovered celebrancy as a career and immediately knew: “This is what I’m meant to be doing.”

By the time her first child was born, Helen had already decided to train. She said maternity leave gave her the space to start her business but, like many new parents, she quickly discovered it wasn’t all spare time and slow mornings. “You always think you’re going to have so much time on maternity leave,” she laughed, “but it’s more chaotic than you expect.”

Still, it became her launchpad. And while there were challenges, the flexibility it offered made all the difference.

Helen’s Celebrant Journey: Flexibility with Boundaries

Before launching her celebrant business, Helen Jubb spent a decade working as a newspaper and magazine journalist, before moving into teaching journalism and event management. Her passion for storytelling and experience managing events laid the perfect foundation for a career in celebrancy.

The spark came when Helen and her partner were planning their own celebrant-led wedding in a small Sheffield theatre. Working with a celebrant to co-create a ceremony that was warm, personal, and reflective of them both was a turning point. It inspired her to train and launch Helen Jubb Ceremonies in 2018.

Now seven years into her celebrant career and a mum of two, Helen’s business fits around her life. From school runs to reading in classrooms and being present for nativity plays, she’s been able to show up for her children and her clients.

“My husband works a 9 to 5, which gives me the freedom to do drop-offs, pick-ups and school trips,” she shared. “That flexibility to be there for the little moments means so much.”

But flexibility doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. When a couple asked if she was available for a date that happened to be her son’s birthday, she’d initially said yes then rang back to change her mind.

“That’s the reason I chose this job. I want to be there for the things that matter.”

With her background in journalism and education, Helen brings both empathy and organisation to her ceremonies and to her mentoring role at AMC, where she now supports new celebrants building careers that align with their values and families.

Laura’s Celebrant Journey: Intentional Growth and Family First

Before celebrancy, Laura Crockett was a full-time breakfast radio presenter, starting her day at 3 am to go live on air by 5. She loved the energy of radio, but the early starts and rigid schedule felt incompatible with the family life she wanted to build. It wasn’t until planning her own wedding in 2019 that she discovered celebrancy and instantly knew it was the perfect career to combine her love of performance, people, and storytelling.

She launched her business in January 2020, just as the pandemic hit. Despite the uncertainty, Laura adapted by offering intimate outdoor ceremonies and slowly grew her business alongside her growing family.

Now with two young boys, Laura knows what it means to work around nap times, nursery days, and shifting family rhythms. She’s shaped her weeks around her children, with discovery calls in the evenings and scripts written in quiet pockets of time.

“It’s constantly evolving,” she said, “but I feel so lucky that I’ve had time to watch them grow and still build something that’s mine.”

Her approach is rooted in working smarter, not harder.

“You don’t need to say yes to every inquiry. Set your limits early on and build slowly. That’s the beauty of running your own business.”

In 2024, after relocating to the Gloucestershire border and rebuilding her business in a new region, Laura was recognised with two celebrant awards and expanded her offering to include funerals. She now mentors celebrants at AMC, championing flexibility, sustainability, and self-belief.

Become a Celebrant as a Parent: Working Smarter, Not Harder

Both Helen and Laura emphasised the importance of setting boundaries and managing expectations both for yourself and your clients. Laura recalled, “I used to put so much pressure on myself to respond and deliver instantly, even if I’d had one hour of sleep. But I’ve learned to communicate realistic timelines. Most couples completely understand.”

Helen added that recognising early signs of overwhelm is key. “When I feel the burnout creeping in, I pause, reassess and reset my priorities. It’s so easy to overbook during school holidays or stay up until 2 am trying to do it all but that’s not sustainable.”

Do’s and Don’ts of Balancing Celebrancy with Family Life

Do:

• Keep a well-managed calendar and block out important family dates early
• Build a strong support network ask for help when you need it
• Set clear working hours that align with your family’s routine
• Refer to other celebrants when you’re booked and build reciprocal relationships
• Communicate clearly with couples to manage expectations

Don’t:

• Try to go it alone collaboration and community make all the difference
• Overcommit during school holidays or family milestones
• Neglect your own wellbeing in the name of getting it all done
• Feel guilty for setting boundaries this career is meant to work for your life
• Underestimate how much your children gain from seeing you thrive

Why AMC’s Training Model Is So Family-Friendly

Training to be a celebrant with The Academy of Modern Celebrancy is designed for real life. With on-demand access, bite-sized lessons and mentor support, the course is ideal for parents who need flexibility. You can train in the evenings, while the baby naps, or during a quiet moment between school runs.

Laura summed it up best: “You don’t have to squeeze yourself into someone else’s schedule. You get to do this in a way that works for you.”

Final Thoughts: It’s Worth It

Helen shared one final story that captures the magic of it all. After performing at an outdoor ceremony at a local bandstand, she discovered her husband had brought their kids along and they’d watched her in action from outside.

“They got to see me doing what I love. And it hit me that our children are watching. They see us working hard and building something of our own. That’s powerful.”

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