How to Know If You’d Make a Good Celebrant

(No, you don’t need a drama degree. Yes, you do need to care about people.)

Let’s be honest — most people have no idea what a celebrant actually does.

(“Oh! Like the vicar but… not religious?”)

And even fewer people realise they might already have the perfect skills to become one.

So, how do you know if you’d make a good celebrant?

Here’s a handy, honest checklist:

✅ You’re a people person

Not in a “life of the party” way — more in a “genuinely gives a toss about others” kind of way.

Celebrants don’t need to be extroverts. But they do need to care.

TBF, if you’re a total introvert, standing up in front of a room full of strangers might be too big an ask…

But the classic introverted extroverts? They thrive in this world.

You need to be able to listen.

To ask good questions.

To make people feel safe sharing their stories — even the painful ones.

✅ You can write a good sentence

You don’t need to be Shakespeare.

But you do need to be able to put together a ceremony script that feels like the people it’s about — not like a template you downloaded off the internet.

Creative writing is at the heart of what we do, so you’ll need a sense of storytelling and a feel for evoking a scene through words.

We’ll help you shape that voice and write with confidence. But if you already love words, or know how to write with warmth and clarity, that’s a very good sign.

✅ You’re calm in a crisis

You’re the one who keeps your head when everything’s gone pear-shaped.

Your niece forgot the rings? You’ve got it.

Friend to overcome to read their tribute? You’ll take over Family at loggerheads? You can mediate.

People look to celebrants to hold the space. To be steady. To make sure things feel under control — even when they’re not.

✅ You’re comfortable speaking in front of a crowd

You don’t need to be a performer – jazz hands are generally not reqruired. But you do need to be able to stand up, speak clearly, and connect with people — in wedding barns, crematorium chapels, wind-blown beaches and slightly rowdy function rooms.

You don’t have to love being the centre of attention — you’re not. The couple or family are.

You’re just holding the thread. To read the room, to stage manage and to spot any potential disasters way before they happen.

✅ You want your work to feel meaningful

This is the big one.

You don’t just want to do a job. You want to do something that matters.

Something that feels human. Heart-centred. Real.