Networking as a Funeral Celebrant: Building Connections with Compassion

Establishing yourself as a funeral celebrant requires a different approach to networking than other celebrancy roles. While wedding celebrants can embrace the joy of happy occasions, funeral celebrants must navigate the sensitive landscape of grief with professionalism, respect and compassion. Drawing on advice from our funeral mentors, here’s how to build meaningful connections without compromising the dignity of your role.

The Delicate Art of Funeral Networking

Unlike networking as a Wedding Celebrant, where the atmosphere is celebratory, funeral networking requires careful consideration of timing and approach. As our mentor Sarah Wickham Hancock notes, “Networking at funerals isn’t always easy because it’s a sensitive situation… the funeral director and suppliers are there to support the family, so their focus is on them and it’s important they are not distracted.”

The key is to remain present for the families you’re serving whilst finding appropriate opportunities to connect with industry colleagues. This means:

• Keeping networking informal and sensitive
• Finding moments before or after the ceremony when families aren’t present
• Adopting a helpful, supportive approach to other suppliers
• Understanding that your primary role is always to support the bereaved

Photo credit: Sarah Wickham Handcock Heart of Pembrokeshire Ceremonies

Building Relationships with Funeral Directors

Funeral directors (FDs) are often the gatekeepers to celebrancy work, with 67% of Celebrants citing Funeral Directors as their best source of referrals. Our mentors suggest various approaches for making these vital connections:

Funeral directors are often the gatekeepers to celebrancy work. Our mentors suggest various approaches for making these vital connections:

1. Make appointments when possible: Draft an email to your favoured Funeral Directors and ask if they could spare you some time to come and meet them and get a bit of a tour. Do your research and see if they specialise in a specific area, let them know how you can add value to their clients.
2. Be prepared for drop-ins too: One of our graduates who went against the grain with advice to always book an appointment said, “Funnily enough now most of my work comes from the ones I dropped in on rather than the appointment ones.”
3. Be personable: One Celebrant who was brave enough to pop in “just to say hello and ask about celebrancy” was rewarded with an invitation to a coffee morning.
4. Understand their busy schedule: Acknowledging that Funeral Directors will already have celebrants that they work with on a regular basis, but that there must be times when they get to the bottom of their list. Be open to being on a reserve list and keep checking back. Celebrants retire, move out of the area – things change.

Staying Top of Mind with Funeral Directors

Developing ongoing relationships with funeral directors requires consistency and professionalism:

• Follow up after meetings: Send a brief thank-you note or email to express appreciation for their time
• Engage on social media: As one mentor notes, “If they are on Facebook, I follow them, and send messages and comment on their posts”
• Provide quality materials: Leave behind professional business cards or brochures that clearly communicate your services
• Demonstrate reliability: Always be prompt, prepared and professional in every interaction
• Ask for feedback: After ceremonies, check in with the funeral director about how things went

The Power of Celebrant Community

One of the most overlooked yet valuable networking channels is your fellow celebrants. AMC Celebrant Mentor Miranda Ash and AMC Graduate Suzie Simmons both experienced breakthrough moments with previously inaccessible funeral directors through celebrant referrals.

When a family approaches a celebrant who is already booked, that celebrant usually looks for a trusted colleague to recommend. This creates a win-win situation:

• The family gets the ceremony they deserve
• The referring celebrant maintains their reputation for helpfulness
• You gain access to a funeral director who might otherwise be difficult to approach
• The funeral director sees you’ve been vetted by a trusted celebrant

This community over competition approach demonstrates why maintaining positive relationships with other celebrants is essential. Rather than viewing them as competition, see them as part of a supportive network where everyone benefits from collaboration.

Consider these approaches to celebrant networking:

• Join celebrant associations and groups: Both online and in-person
• Attend celebrant gatherings: Conferences, workshops and social events
• Create a local referral circle: Connect with celebrants in your area who may have different specialities or scheduling constraints
• Offer to shadow or assist: Particularly valuable when starting out
• Share resources and insights: Building goodwill benefits everyone

Remember that funeral timing is often inflexible, and no celebrant can be available 24/7. By developing strong celebrant relationships, you create a safety net for families and opportunities for yourself.

Looking Beyond Funeral Directors

Sarah reminds us not to limit networking to funeral directors alone. Consider connecting with:

• Florists and coffin makers: Sarah says “These people are great for collaboration because they want to make things as personal for families as we do”
• Solicitors who specialise in will writing: People are sometimes thinking about funeral wishes when arranging a will
• Venues you regularly use: Natural burial grounds, crematoria and other ceremony spaces
• Bereavement charities and hospice staff: Sarah said “I have ended up doing training sessions for some of these in the past”
• Community groups: The WI and Men’s Shed Group who may be looking for guest speakers
• Pet crematoriums and vets: If you offer pet funeral services

Social Media Networking with Sensitivity

Social media offers opportunities for tasteful networking without compromising dignity. Sarah suggests:

• Taking general photos of spaces or elements (without families or personal details)
• Asking suppliers for permission before tagging them
• Scheduling posts for a few days or weeks after the funeral
• Focusing on natural elements or special touches (like wildflowers at a natural burial ground)
• Expressing gratitude to other suppliers involved

For example, Sarah shares: “I will schedule a post a few days or a week after the funeral sharing that image, saying how lovely it was to hear the bird song at a recent celebration of life, or to see a light and bright silver hearse and will thank the suppliers in that post.”

Here’s are some examples of facebook posts Sarah has shared tagging a local florist who provided flowers for a natural burial and Funeral Director who provided a silver hearse.

Community Outreach and Education

Building your presence goes beyond direct networking:

• Attend funeral-related events: Look for exhibitions and “Dying Matters Awareness Week” activities
• Offer to speak at community groups: Share your expertise and raise awareness of funeral choices
• Volunteer with bereavement charities: As Sarah notes, this allows you to “give something back” while also building connections
• Participate in open days: Natural burial grounds and crematoria sometimes host events where celebrants can showcase their services

Finding Your Balance

AMC graduate, Funeral Celebrant and Death Doula Katie Costello reminds us of the importance of being yourself: “Please also just share yourself with your local community! Shout loud and proud about what you do, choices folks have and all the things they don’t know they don’t know! Don’t rely on FDs for all your work… If you stand out just for being YOU, many will find you and ask for you directly.”

This balance between professional networking and authentic self-presentation is vital. The funeral celebrant who can build genuine connections while maintaining appropriate boundaries will thrive in this meaningful profession.

Conclusion

Networking as a funeral celebrant requires empathy, sensitivity and respect. By approaching connections with the right mindset, you can build a sustainable practice while upholding the dignity of the families you serve. Remember that every interaction represents your celebrancy style – thoughtful, compassionate and professional.

At the Academy of Modern Celebrancy, we believe in empowering celebrants to build fulfilling careers with integrity. Find out more about our Funeral Celebrant training programme here to learn how we can help you on your celebrancy journey.