Your First Steps as a Celebrant: Where to Begin?

This article is about taking your first steps as a celebrant, whether as a wedding or funeral celebrant and looking at marketing yourself when you're ready to start finding your first clients and building your celebrant business as a new and inexperienced celebrant. The table of contents below can also help you to navigate around this useful guide as well. Click on the heading to jump down to the relevant section.

You've just received your celebrant certification, and that initial thrill is now mixing with a flutter of nervous energy. ‘All this is great but how do I actually find my first clients?’ you wonder, staring at your shiny new certificate. If your heart just skipped a beat in recognition, you're in exactly the right place!

And if you are thinking of training to be a celebrant but wondering how on earth you’re going to get the word out there and get bookings if you go for it, you’re also welcome here!

That mixture of excitement and ‘what now?’ is something we see in almost every new celebrant (and we've trained a lot!) You were most likely drawn to celebrancy because you love connecting with people and creating beautiful ceremonies—not because you dream of mastering search engine optimisation, or creating the perfect Instagram grid.

We hear you. We really do.

The good news? Celebrant marketing doesn't need to feel overwhelming, technical, or—worst of all—inauthentic.

In this celebrant marketing guide, we'll share thoughtful approaches that have helped our celebrant course graduates build meaningful practices that align with their personal goals—whether that's a handful of carefully chosen ceremonies each year or a more regular celebrant schedule.

Celebrant marketing is uniquely personal. It's not about selling a product; it's about connecting your authentic self with the right couples and families during their most significant life moments. And this requires genuine connection and trust.

And here's what we want you to know right from the start: there's no single ‘correct’ way to market your celebrant services in the UK or beyond. The ‘right’ approach is always the one that feels most authentic to you!

Is Marketing Difficult for New Celebrants?

Let's address the elephant in the room—is marketing really hard for new celebrants?

The simple answer is: it can feel challenging at first, but it doesn't have to be!

Many of our trainees worry they'll need to become marketing experts overnight. But successful celebrant marketing is actually more about human connection than technical wizardry.

The most important marketing skills for celebrants are listening, empathy, and clear communication—all qualities you already have if you're drawn to celebrancy!

What might feel unfamiliar are the platforms and methods, but we'll break these down into manageable chunks that even the most tech-hesitant person can tackle with confidence.

Defining Your Own Celebrant Journey

Before we dive into specific marketing tactics, let's take a quick step back. The foundation of effective celebrant marketing isn't a fancy website or social media strategy—it's clarity about what success means for YOU.

Some of our celebrants dream of conducting ceremonies every weekend, some want to fit celebrancy around their primary job or family commitments, and others just want to add a string to their bow and perhaps conduct a 2 or 3 ceremonies a year. These approaches are equally brilliant—and require different marketing strategies.

Ask yourself:

• How many ceremonies would feel fulfilling for you each month or year?
• Are you focusing on weddings, funerals, or a combination of ceremony types?
• How does celebrancy fit alongside your other work and personal commitments?
• What is your bottom line in terms of how much money you want to make or how much time/energy you can spend?
• What geographical area feels comfortable for you to work in? Just your town? A radius of 100 miles from your home? The entire country, or even further afield?
• What makes you unique as a celebrant? (Your background, perspective, and style)

Don’t forget that your previous experience offers valuable transferable skills! Perhaps you've worked in education and can bring exceptional public speaking abilities, or maybe your background in HR gives you amazing people skills. These unique qualities will become cornerstones of your marketing.

During our celebrant training courses, we work with trainees to develop their unique celebrant voice, creating the foundation for a sustainable practice that complements their lives rather than dominates them.

Starting to Market Yourself as a New Celebrant

The transition from training to your first client can feel like a big leap, but it doesn't have to be! Here are some gentle first steps:

1. Tell your circle: Let friends, family and colleagues know about your new venture (they'll be your biggest cheerleaders!)
2. Connect with 2-3 local venues or funeral directors: Start building genuine relationships
3. Join celebrant and wedding networking groups: Both online and in-person groups provide support and opportunities
4. Prepare your basic materials: Business cards, a simple brochure, and a consultation process
5. Create a simple online presence: This doesn't need to be complicated (more on this below)

The key is to start small rather than trying to do everything at once. Many successful celebrants begin with just one or two of these steps and build from there.

Please don’t worry about having everything sorted before you go out and tell people what you’re doing. You really don’t have to have a logo and a website in order to get some basic cards printed, for example—you just need a way to contact you and perhaps a photo. Then, get a small amount done so you can upgrade as you go on.

And remember that people love to hear your news! Even if you haven’t finished your course yet, or if you’ve not done any ceremonies so far, you can still tell people about your celebrancy plans. It’s so great when you’re talking to someone who’s full of enthusiasm about something they love – so enjoy spreading the word and the smiles!

Building Genuine Connections with Venues and Suppliers

In the celebrant world, quality relationships always outshine quantity. Building genuine connections with a handful of venues and wedding suppliers who share your values will be more fruitful than mass-emailing every venue in your region.

Starting With Wedding Venues

Rather than trying to connect with dozens of venues, start with just 3-5 places that are within your geographical scope and that truly align with your style:

1. Research thoroughly: Look at their website, social media, and the types of weddings they host
2. Make a personal connection: Drop by during an open day or call to arrange a quick coffee meeting or a look-round
3. Focus on adding value: Ask thoughtful questions about their needs and explain how you can enhance their couples' experiences
4. Follow up thoughtfully: After meeting, send a personalised thank you note or email

Many of our celebrants have built wonderful relationships with venues simply by being genuine and consistent in their approach.

Connecting with Funeral Directors

For funeral celebrants, building relationships with funeral directors follows similar principles:

1. Start locally: Connect with independent funeral directors in your immediate area first
2. Understand their process: Learn about their approach and challenges – be curious and ask questions, don’t just sell your services
3. Be reliable and available: Funeral directors value celebrants they can depend on
4. Provide exemplary service: Word travels fast when you deliver exceptional ceremonies

Our graduates learn how to build genuine connections with wedding professionals and funeral directors, approaching these relationships with integrity rather than purely as marketing opportunities.

Once you’ve got going with making connections and telling people in real life about what you do, you might want to think about getting online and taking your message to a wider audience (top tip – don’t skip this in-person stuff first, as you get better feedback about your messaging, you get to know the questions people ask the most, and you get more confidence, all of which will help you with your online content).

Building a Simple, Effective Online Presence

In today's world, having some form of online presence is helpful—but that doesn't mean you need a complicated website with all the bells and whistles!

Celebrant Social Media Made Simple

Don't have a website yet and feeling overwhelmed? Start with a simple Facebook business page or Instagram profile and share some things about you and your work while you work up to a website. You can also use your profile to share pictures or links to the venues you have visited, for example. 

Social media can be a wonderful way to connect with potential clients—but it can also become a time-consuming obligation if you're not careful. It’s all about balance!

Most successful celebrants focus primarily on just one or two platforms rather than trying to be everywhere. Instagram and Facebook are particularly popular choices for wedding celebrants, while LinkedIn can work well for funeral celebrants.

Which Platform Is Right for You?

• Instagram: Great for visual content and connecting with other wedding suppliers
• Facebook: Excellent for local community groups and more detailed posts
• LinkedIn: Useful for connecting with funeral directors and industry professionals
• TikTok: Growing platform if you're comfortable with video content

Choose the ONE that feels most natural to you and start there!

Simple Content Ideas That Work

Quality is always better than quantity. Here are some easy ideas for when you’re starting out:

• Posts about who you are and what drives you
• Inspirational posts about ceremony inclusions (eg ‘what is handtying?’)
• Beautiful venues in your area that you've visited or worked at
• Short reflections on what you love about celebrancy
• Seasonal inspiration for ceremonies
• Sharing relevant posts from other suppliers you admire
• Photos from ceremonies (with permission, of course!)
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your process
• Testimonial quotes from happy clients

A thoughtful post once a week is much better than daily posting that you can't sustain.

In the Celebrants Collective HQ group, our members share sustainable social media approaches that work within their available time and energy, that they enjoy and that get attention. Some of our most successful celebrants post just once a week.

Celebrant Website Basics

Your website can be wonderfully simple while still being effective. Include:

• A warm, welcoming homepage that clearly says who you are and what you offer
• A friendly photo of yourself (professional but approachable!)
• Separate pages for each ceremony type you offer
• A simple ‘about’ page that helps potential clients connect with you
• Clear information about your process
• Ways to contact you and your service area

That's it! No need for complex features or fancy designs.

When it comes to SEO (short for ‘search engine optimisation’, AKA helping people find you on Google), focus on local terms that potential clients might search for, such as ‘wedding celebrant in (your county)’ or ‘funeral celebrant (your town).’ Work these naturally into your page titles and content.

An Easy Win: Google Business Profile

One of the simplest yet most effective marketing tools for celebrants is completely free! Setting up your Google Business Profile helps you appear in local searches and on Google Maps.

Simply visit business.google.com to get started, and include:

• Your business category (Celebrant, Wedding Officiant, Funeral Celebrant)
• Your service area (the regions where you work)
• Business hours (when you're available for calls)
• Contact information
• A few nice photos of yourself

This takes about 30 minutes to set up and can make a huge difference in helping local couples and families find you!

Our trainees receive practical guidance on creating online presences that attract the right clients, including website reviews during our twice-weekly tutorials. We'll help you keep things simple yet effective!

Turning Enquiries Into Bookings: The Consultation Magic

When potential clients reach out, your response sets the tone for your entire relationship. Aim to be warm, helpful, and timely—even if you're unavailable for their date.

Initial consultations should feel like natural conversations rather than sales pitches. Focus on:

• Creating a comfortable atmosphere (whether in person or via video call)
• Asking thoughtful questions about their vision
• Listening more than you speak
• Explaining your approach clearly
• Answering questions honestly

Your pricing should be presented confidently and clearly, without apology. Remember that you're offering expertise and professional service, not just your time on the day.

During training, we provide meeting frameworks that help our celebrants have authentic conversations with potential clients, focusing on compatibility rather than high-pressure sales tactics. The right clients will choose you because they connect with your approach!

Creating Ceremonies That Generate Word-of-Mouth Magic

The most powerful marketing tool isn't your website or Instagram—it's the experience you create for each client and their guests!

Every ceremony you conduct is a live demonstration of your work in front of dozens (sometimes hundreds!) of potential future clients. When you create a meaningful, personal ceremony, guests naturally ask, ‘Who was that amazing celebrant?’

To enhance this natural word-of-mouth effect:

• Create thoughtful touchpoints throughout your client journey
• Prepare thoroughly so you can be fully present on the day
• Connect briefly with key family members before the ceremony
• Have business cards discreetly available if guests approach you
• Thank photographers and venues for their collaboration

After each ceremony, a simple thank you note maintains the connection. About two weeks later, you might gently invite feedback or reviews.

Our trainees learn how to create ceremony experiences so meaningful that clients naturally recommend them to friends and family—the most powerful marketing of all!

Frequently Asked Questions About UK Celebrant Marketing

How long does it take to get my first celebrant booking? Most new celebrants receive their first booking within 3-6 months of launching their services, though this varies depending on your location and marketing approach. Many of our trainees book their first ceremony while still completing their training!

Do I need a website as a new celebrant? While not absolutely essential when starting out, a simple website significantly enhances your credibility. Even a basic one-page site is helpful, but you can begin with just a Facebook business page while developing your website.

How do celebrants work with wedding venues? Relationships vary—some venues have preferred supplier lists, while others share information about celebrants when couples ask. Building personal connections with venue coordinators helps them understand your unique approach so they can recommend you to suitable couples.

Do I need to spend money on advertising as a new celebrant? Most successful celebrants build their businesses primarily through relationships and word-of-mouth rather than paid advertising. Your marketing budget can be very modest, especially when starting out!

How is marketing different for funeral celebrants versus wedding celebrants? Funeral celebrant marketing tends to focus more on relationships with funeral directors and community connections, while wedding celebrant marketing often involves venue relationships, social media presence, and wedding fairs. However, both require the same foundation of providing exceptional, heartfelt service.

Finding Your Marketing Rhythm

As you embark on your celebrant marketing journey, remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint. 

Start with the marketing elements that feel most natural to you, whether that's creating your website, reaching out to venues, or engaging on social media. Then gradually expand your efforts as you become more comfortable.

What matters most is creating a marketing approach that feels authentic to you and sustainable for your life. When your marketing reflects your genuine passion for creating meaningful ceremonies, the right clients will be naturally drawn to your work.

And remember, you're not alone on this journey! Within our celebrant community, we learn from each other, support each other, and celebrate each other's successes. That's the beauty of being part of the Celebrants Collective family!

Ready to Begin Your Celebrant Journey?

If you're excited about training as a celebrant with an approach that helps you create meaningful ceremonies while maintaining a balanced life, we'd love to welcome you to our courses. Our comprehensive wedding and funeral celebrant training provides all the skills and support you need to begin this beautiful journey.

If you’ve already trained and you want to join a supportive community of celebrants who will have your back every step of the way, the Celebrants Collective HQ group is packed full of useful resources, friendly support and regular webinars, coaching calls and productive coworking sessions – come and join us!

Main image photo by Andreas Holm