Have you ever sat at a wedding or a funeral and thought to yourself:
“I could do that. In fact… I’d love to do that!”
Maybe you didn’t say it out loud, but something about the way the celebrant held the space, told the story, or brought people together stuck with you. And now the idea is quietly nudging at you, asking for a bit more attention.
If you’re wondering whether you’d be any good at it — or if you’re the “right kind of person” — this post is for you.
Here are five signs that you’d make a great celebrant.
1. You’re a people person in a deep, genuine way
You’re the kind of person who people naturally open-up to. Friends, colleagues, even strangers in the supermarket queue seem to tell you their life stories without much prompting.
You don’t just hear what people are saying — you listen. With warmth, empathy, and genuine interest.
As a celebrant, your ability to connect on a human level is far more important than any public speaking skills. The best celebrants are listeners first, speakers second. Being a people-person is a key sign you’d make a great celebrant.
2. You love words, stories, and the meaning behind them
If you’ve always loved reading, writing, or storytelling, you’re in the right place. Celebrants are, at their heart, storytellers, helping people put words to their love, their grief, their memories, and their milestones.
You don’t need to be Shakespeare; just someone who can shape a story with care and clarity. Many of my students say things like:
“I always loved English at school, but I never imagined I could do anything with it.”
Well — now you can. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful tools you’ll use.
3. You’re calm in a crisis — and comfortable with emotions
Whether it’s a weepy couple on wedding day or a family processing the loss of a loved one, celebrants often step into emotionally charged moments.
If you’ve got that calm, grounding energy… if you’re good at holding space and staying present when emotions run high… then that’s a real gift.
Especially for funeral celebrants, being able to gently support families through grief — while also creating something beautiful and meaningful — is one of the most important parts of the job.
4. You’re looking for flexible, meaningful work
Maybe you’re thinking about a career change. Maybe you want something more flexible, more purposeful, more you.
Becoming a celebrant in the UK doesn’t require years of retraining or a certain kind of background. What it does require is the willingness to learn, grow, and offer something truly individual to the people you work with.
Whether you want to work part-time around other commitments, build a full celebrancy business, or just do it for the love of it — you get to choose.
5. You feel a pull — even if it’s a bit scary
Most of the amazing celebrants I’ve trained didn’t start off feeling 100% confident. They started with a feeling. A curiosity. A quiet knowing that this might be for them… if only they were brave enough to give it a try.
So if you’re feeling that pull too? Trust it. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to take the first step.
So… is this you?
If you’ve read this far and thought “yep, yep, maybe… oh wow, yes” — you’re not alone. So many of the best celebrants didn’t come from traditional paths. They were simply kind, curious, creative people who wanted to make a difference.
And they did.
Thinking about taking the next step?
I offer friendly, down-to-earth celebrant training with options for both self-study and online one-to-one funeral celebrancy and wedding/vow renewal training. No drama, no pressure — just practical skills, real support, and a community that gets it. Why not book a time to talk, directly into my calendar.