Meet the Mentor: Tara Heath Arnold

With her boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm, Tara Heath Arnold has established herself as one of the Southwest’s most sought-after celebrants and as Student Excellence Manager at The Acadmey of Modern Celebrancy is a core part of our team.

Based in Malmesbury on the edge of the Cotswolds, Tara brings her remarkable blend of corporate savvy and heartfelt authenticity to every ceremony she conducts.

Her journey from financial recruitment executive to award-winning celebrant exemplifies the transformative potential of following one’s passion. What truly sets Tara apart is her structured approach to building relationships – a skill that has propelled her celebrancy business forward and made her an invaluable mentor to new celebrants at the Academy of Modern Celebrancy.

As a mentor, Tara embodies the vibrant, supportive ethos that lies at the heart of AMC. Her belief in consistency, visibility and nurturing relationships helps celebrants not only establish their businesses but truly thrive in a competitive industry.

Background and Journey

Before her celebrant days, Tara spent 13 years in the financial recruitment industry, working her way up from sales support administrator to regional director for Fortune 500 companies like Robert Half International. “Those years in recruitment really taught me the importance of how to grow a business and the execution of your plan, about being consistent all of the time, being visible, and taking the highs with the lows,” Tara reflects.

After stepping away from the corporate world, Tara completed a Master’s in English Literature through the Open University – “probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” she laughs. It was during this time of transition that celebrancy entered her life, thanks to an unexpected suggestion from her husband.

“It was my husband’s idea,” Tara recalls. “He said to me, ‘I think you’d be a great celebrant. I could see you marrying someone like John Barrowman.’ I didn’t really know it was a thing, so when I started to deep dive into it and realised that celebrancy had been around for a while, I signed up for a course.”

She trained with the FPC in 2019, initially focusing on weddings following her father’s sudden death, which left her feeling unprepared to take on funeral ceremonies at that time. It wasn’t until 18 months ago that she began building her funeral and Celebration of Life business alongside her flourishing wedding practice.

Tara’s AMC Experience

Tara’s connection with the Academy of Modern Celebrancy began in 2020 when she enrolled in the Celebrant Success Accelerator course. “That was actually really pivotal in terms of boosting my business,” she explains. “I knew that I could create the business – I’d run businesses before, I’d built teams before. But having been out of the game for a bit and venturing into a new industry, which can be the same for lots of people joining celebrancy, you come from a different industry, you’re joining a new industry, you kind of know what you might need to do, but you’re not quite sure. It can be quite daunting.”

This experience informs her approach to mentoring. “We love seeing the students that come through the academy flourishing,” Tara says with genuine enthusiasm. Her mentoring style combines practical, actionable business strategies with warm encouragement – a balance she perfected during her years leading high-performance teams.

Celebrant in Action

Tara’s celebrant journey has seen impressive growth year on year. From a single wedding during the pandemic in 2020, she conducted 12 ceremonies in 2021, 29 in 2022, 42 in 2023, and 36 weddings in 2024 alongside her funeral and celebration of life ceremonies.

Her approach to ceremonies reflects her vibrant personality and commitment to authenticity. “I conducted a vow renewal last year for a lady who has run the Cotswold Way a couple of times. She got landowner’s permission for us to conduct the vow renewal on part of this run. It was amazing – we had all her kids there, we did this beautiful hand fasting, and then there were dog walkers going by!”

This flexibility and willingness to create unique experiences wherever couples desire exemplifies Tara’s belief that celebrancy shouldn’t be limited to traditional venues. “As celebrants in England, we can literally officiate anywhere. It could be a venue with a license, without a license, in the back of people’s gardens… the world really is your oyster.”

Expert Advice: Building Your Venue Network

Tara’s speciality lies in building strong relationships with wedding venues – a strategy that has underpinned her business success. Her approach combines corporate discipline with a personable touch, creating a systematic yet authentic method for developing venue connections.

“When I started my career, I needed to build a client base as quickly as possible,” Tara explains. “I thought back to my recruitment days and adapted that approach to celebrancy.” Her method involves creating a comprehensive spreadsheet of potential venues, researching each thoroughly, and establishing a regular contact pattern.

Tara recommends a multi-layered approach to making contact:

1. A phone call with prepared, thoughtful questions
2. A follow-up email with a link to testimonials
3. A handwritten note with a business card

“Don’t give up,” Tara advises. “It took 12-18 months, probably a little bit longer, to allow my business to evolve, and I’m still very much working on it. As celebrants, we continue to evolve and learn on the job.”

Personal Touch

When not conducting ceremonies or mentoring, Tara’s vibrant personality shines through in her other interests. She drives a charming pink wedding car affectionately named Lady Penelope (you can see it in this beautiful Styled Shoot Inspiration we shared, which features prominently in her brand identity and brings a touch of whimsy to her professional image.

Tara describes herself as “a proper chatterbox” – a quality that serves her well both as a celebrant and a mentor. Though structured and methodical in her business approach, she balances this with warmth and authenticity, making her relatable to clients and students alike.

Begin Your Celebrant Journey

Tara’s story demonstrates how transferable skills from any background can be applied to build a successful celebrancy career with the right guidance and determination. Her journey from corporate director to celebrated wedding and funeral celebrant provides inspiration for anyone considering this meaningful career path.

For those ready to explore celebrancy as a career, the Academy of Modern Celebrancy offers comprehensive training with supportive mentors like Tara who understand both the practical business aspects and the heartfelt ceremonial elements of the profession.

Take the first step towards a career where you can make your mark, share in people’s joy, and express who you really are. View our industry-leading celebrant training programmes and discover how our vibrant, supportive training could transform your life, just as it has for Tara and hundreds of other celebrants.