It’s usually one of the first things people ask me, once they’ve started to take the idea of a celebrant career seriously.
But will I actually get work?
And I love this question, because it tells me something important about the person asking it. It tells me they’re thinking seriously. They’re not just drawn to the idea of the role – they’re already thinking about what it means to build a real, sustainable practice. That’s exactly the right instinct.
So let me answer it honestly.
Yes – but not immediately, and not without effort.
The celebrant market in the UK has grown significantly over recent years. More couples are choosing celebrant-led weddings. More families are moving away from traditional funeral services towards ceremonies that truly reflect the person who has died. The appetite for meaningful, personalised ceremony is real, and it’s growing.
But the market is also more competitive than it was five years ago. Simply completing a training course and setting up a website won’t automatically bring enquiries to your door. A sustainable celebrant career requires you to be visible, consistent, and patient – especially in your first year.
So what does building a celebrant career actually look like?
In my experience, the celebrants who build sustainable practices share a few things in common. They show up consistently – on social media, at networking events, in conversations with local funeral professionals and wedding venues. They invest time in their online presence before they have a full portfolio to show. They price themselves fairly and don’t undercut their own value out of nervousness. And they understand that word of mouth, once it starts, is the most powerful marketing tool available to them.
None of this is complicated. But it does take time, and it takes a willingness to be visible before you feel completely ready.
This is why business is part of my training.
I made a deliberate decision to include marketing, business foundations, and pricing confidence within both my Wedding and Funeral Celebrant training programmes. Not as an afterthought, but as a core part of the curriculum. Because I’ve seen too many talented celebrants struggle to build their practice because nobody had taught them how to run a business.
By the end of your training with me, you won’t just know how to write and deliver beautiful ceremonies. You’ll have a foundation for finding clients, handling enquiries, setting your prices, and building a celebrant career that reflects your values and your voice.
And the community matters too.
All my students are invited to ongoing online networking sessions, held every six weeks, long after their training ends. Because building a celebrant career is easier when you’re not doing it alone. And the connections you make with other celebrants are often as valuable as anything I can teach you in a session.
Will you get bookings? With the right preparation, the right support, and a willingness to show up for your own business – yes. I believe you will.
Before you go – a free resource for you
One of the things I cover in depth in my free guide – Transitioning to a Celebrant Career – is exactly this: what the first year looks like, how to approach building your business, and how to stay steady when it feels slow. If you’re weighing up whether a celebrant career is right for you, it’s a good place to start.
When you’re ready to talk through your specific situation, my Informed Decision Session is a 30-minute conversation with no pressure and no agenda other than helping you find clarity.
Warmly, Dinah (She/Her)