Alright, you gorgeous human being – if you’re considering a career as a Celebrant, first of all, congrats on choosing such a rewarding path! Whether you’re all about weddings, baby-naming ceremonies, or being there for the sad times – there’s one thing you’ve gotta nail down: picking the right celebrant training provider.
Spoiler alert: not all providers are created equal, so here’s a quick, rundown of what to look for when looking for the Ivy League of celebrant trainers. 🌟
1. Online or IRL Training? Pick Your Poison
Let’s cut to the chase: We’re an online training provider so that’s what we’re going to big up – but you may know you’re more of a room full of people, water-cooler chats kind of person than a ‘my sofa is my office’ kind of learner… and that’s cool. So let’s look at the pros and cons.
Residential training: Think group bonding, deep dives into learning, and uninterrupted focus. It’s like going on a retreat… with knowledge.
But… added expense of travel and accommodation, specific time/geographic location which may not suit your diary or your situation. You may bond… or you may have that one person who likes the sound of their own voice just that bit too much (seriously – we know there’s always one in every group). You can’t go at your own pace or do your own additional research… going on a Google meander to find out more on a subject that floats your boat. It’s a very intense and tiring way to learn and, at times, you may feel a bit overwhelmed…
Online training: Perfect if you’re juggling 52 things (kids, jobs, world domination, etc.). You can start when you like, work at your own pace, stop, pick up again… or just binge watch and power right through. You have the added bonus of monthly tutorials so if you need a bit of 1-2-1 time, it’s there. In addition to that, there’s the closed FB group for daily human-being-ness should you need it. Because we had the luxury of making as many modules as we felt like we have got literally EVERYTHING in there. You know who you’re getting as trainers, cos you’ve seen us on social media etc and you know it’s going to be fabulous and fun!
Find out what newly trained Celebrant Helen Borking thought of our training in her guest blog
At Match and Dispatch, even though our initial training is delivered through self-learning, we’re all about the in-person experience. Ask any of our past students how well supported they felt and we’re confident they’ve going to give you a massively positive response. Because we’re a teeny tiny team, we genuinely care about everyone who goes through our courses – we’re definitely in this together.
2. Do They Walk the Walk?
Aka, are the trainers legit? You don’t want to be learning Celebrancy 101 from someone who’s only ever officiated their cousin’s backyard wedding.
Pro tip: look for training providers where the trainers are active Celebrants. At Match and Dispatch, not only do Kate and Kate have decades of celebrant experience but they are also multi-award winning in this field. They’re not just pros but they’re still chiselling away at the coal face of this career – and they are renowned for sharing real-world tips you won’t find in textbooks
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Kate & Kate also set up and still run the award winning Coffin Club
3. What’s the Cred?
Let’s talk qualifications. Is the certification you’re getting gonna be worth the paper it’s printed on?
Match and Dispatch have gone to the trouble and expense of yearly CPD certification – because we feel it’s important to put our courses through external scrutiny from the most established CPD accreditation organisation in the UK. So, it’s not just that we think our courses are the bomb, we know they are cos CPD’s given us the once over.
4. What’s the Word on the Street?
Don’t just take a provider’s word for it – check out what the grads are saying. Reviews are like gold dust when it comes to sussing out a training provider.
We proudly post regularly on Instagram and Facebook what our students say about training with us… the most frequent feedback we get? ‘I love, love, loved this course!!’
5. Do They Have Your Back Long-Term?
Celebrancy isn’t just about the training; it’s about building a business, connecting with clients, and thriving in a self-employed world. A good provider will stick with you post-training, offering support, resources, and maybe even a shoulder to cry on when you’re freaking out over your first gig.
At Match and Dispatch, we don’t ghost you after training. With our Silver Bundle training You get to jump on a weekly tutorial, as often as you like whilst doing your training and for a full 12 months after you have successfully completed the course
And with our individual courses you can still come to tutorials for an additional 6 months after completing your course, and remember, there’s no paying to be a member of our gang.
Added to that our closed Facebook group gives you ample opportunities to chat to other Match and Dispatch celebrants, (including Kate and Kate) pick their brains, share your concerns and your wins.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a celebrant is a big decision, and picking the right training provider is like choosing the right shoes – it’s gotta fit you. So do your due diligence, check out the competition and, if ours is the shoe that fits, we hope to see you very soon!
Now, go forth and slay. 🎤✨
Kate & Kate
