Community Over Competition: How Collaboration is Shaping Modern Celebrancy

TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Community over Competition is a guiding principle for every member of the team at The Academy of Modern Celebrancy – it goes to the heart of everything we do. In an industry where the impact we make is measured by the meaningful connections we create and the lives we touch, we understand that true success comes from supporting and uplifting each other. This collaborative spirit isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential to delivering the exceptional ceremonies our couples and families deserve.

    Embracing Celebrancy as More Than Just a Career

    Celebrancy offers something truly special—a lifestyle that enriches your life in ways that transcend monetary value. While it may not lead to millions in the bank, it provides something equally precious: meaningful connections, creative expression, and profound purpose.

    Each ceremony becomes a chapter in your own unfolding story, each family connection a reminder of why you chose this path, and every carefully crafted moment an affirmation that you’re doing something truly meaningful with your life. As Laura points out, “It’s just so rewarding, whether it be weddings, namings, or funerals, just seeing the difference that we can make for families and couples is just such an honour, really—it’s a privilege.”

    AMC Celebrant Meet up celebrating Collaboration over competiton
    AMC South/South West Celebrant Meet Up Christmas 2024

    Meet Your Mentors: Laura Crockett and Sarah Wickham

    Our AMC mentors exemplify the power of collaboration in celebrancy, so we asked two of them to share their insights and experiences in finding and building supporting Celebrant Communities.

    Laura Crockett, who specialises in weddings and namings, and Sarah Wickham, who brings her expertise in funeral celebrancy and her experience running a natural burial ground in Pembrokeshire, demonstrate how different perspectives and specialities enrich our community.

    Sarah’s unique position as both a celebrant and natural burial ground custodian showcases the importance of collaboration. “We understand how important it is for our families when they say ‘this is the person I want to take my ceremony,'” she explains. Her approach emphasises supporting families’ choices and working alongside other celebrants to ensure the best possible service.

    Watch their Facebook chat here:

    The Power of Community Support

    Being a celebrant can sometimes feel like a solitary journey – after all, you’re often working independently, crafting ceremonies in your home office or meeting clients one-on-one. However, at AMC, we’ve discovered that the most successful and fulfilled celebrants are those who embrace the power of community. When celebrants come together, something extraordinary happens: we create a support network that enriches our work, enhances our ceremonies, and helps us navigate the challenges of this unique profession.

    Here’s how our community makes a real difference in our daily lives:

    Practical Support

    Our network springs into action when needed most. From answering quick questions about ceremony structures to stepping in during emergencies, there’s always someone ready to help. As Laura shares, “Write your script so that if you’re on the way to a ceremony and get a flat tyre, you can email it to me, and I can jump straight in and help you.”

    Emotional Connection

    Being a celebrant can be emotionally intense work. Having a supportive community makes all the difference—people who understand the unique challenges and joys of our profession. “Sometimes you need to be able to vent, or share, or say if you’re feeling low,” Sarah explains, “and colleagues will understand what you’re going through.”

    Professional Collaboration

    In our community, competition gives way to collaboration. When you’re already booked for a date or feel another celebrant might be a better fit, having trusted colleagues to refer to is invaluable. As Laura notes, “If you get five or six people asking for the same date that you’re already booked for, you’re not going to be able to do all those ceremonies. Instead, reach out to local celebrants… they’ll return the favour.”

    Building Your Celebrant Community: Practical Steps

    Our mentors share these proven strategies for creating meaningful connections within the celebrant community:

    1. Connect Locally

    Take the initiative to reach out to other celebrants in your area. As Sarah suggests, “Just dropping an email or saying, ‘I’ve heard your name mentioned, I just wanted to introduce myself’ – that’s a really nice way of doing it.” This simple step can lead to valuable professional relationships.

    2. Create or Join Local Networks

    Look for Facebook groups or WhatsApp Groups specific to celebrants in your county or region. If one doesn’t exist, start one yourself! Laura emphasises how these groups can evolve into regular meetups: “We all get together every three months… it’s just such a fantastic idea because there’s all sorts of different celebrants in there, some might be independent, some might be humanist, some that do funerals only, some that do weddings.”

    3. Be a Supportive Colleague

    Don’t hesitate to recommend other celebrants when you feel they might be a better fit for a client. This approach not only serves your clients better but builds trust within the community. Maintain a list of trusted celebrant colleagues on your website as a resource for clients, similar to Sarah’s “useful contacts list” at her natural burial ground.

    4. Offer Backup Support

    Be willing to step in when colleagues need support. Whether it’s covering for maternity leave, illness, or unexpected emergencies, having a reliable network of backup celebrants is crucial. As Laura points out, this creates a safety net for everyone: “Having that network, knowing that you’ve got a local network of celebrants near you that you can rely on – they’re not your competition, they’re your community.”

    Join Our Thriving Community

    For our current AMC students and alumni, we invite you to join our vibrant Facebook community, where you can connect, share, and grow with fellow celebrants who understand and support your journey. As Sarah emphasises, “Don’t be worried if you see a new celebrant training or starting in your area—reach out to them.”

    And for those considering taking the leap into celebrancy—there’s never been a better time to join this dynamic industry. At AMC, you’ll find more than just training; you’ll discover a supportive family of professionals who believe in the power of community over competition. Train with us, and become part of a movement that’s redefining success through collaboration, support, and shared celebration.

    Remember, as more people discover the beauty of celebrant-led ceremonies, the demand for our services grows. Just as there’s room for countless photographers, venues, and cake makers in the wedding industry, there’s space for all of us in celebrancy. Together, we’re not just creating ceremonies; we’re building a community that uplifts, supports, and celebrates each other’s successes.

    Ready to start your journey? Check out our Celebrant Training Courses and discover how you can become part of this extraordinary community of modern celebrants.

    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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