Is the Celebrant Market Saturated?
(Or is that just what people say when they’re worried they need to up their game?)
Celebrant forums are full of it…
“There are too many celebrants now.”
“The market’s saturated.”
“Training organisations are churning them out.”
And yes — let’s be honest — there are more celebrants now than when we started (way back in the mists of time…).
But let’s dig a little deeper.
What does ‘saturated’ actually mean?
Who gets to decide when there are ‘too many’ of something?
And — dare we say it — is that sometimes just code for:
“I don’t like that I’ve got competition now”?
If someone had said that to you when you were thinking about training, would it have put you off? Or would you have thought yes, but I’m determined to succeed – I know I can be good at this! You trained, so why shouldn’t I?’
And, why shouldn’t you?!
Here’s the truth: we’re celebrants too.
We’ve worked hard to build our business – www.kateandkatecelebrants.co.
We used to keep an eye on “the competition” — but these days?
We don’t bother.
We just focus on being the best at what we do in our patch.
And guess what?
The cream always rises. (We’ve got a lot of awards to prove it – just saying!)
Yes, We’re Trainers — And We’re Proud of It
Let’s address the elephant in the room.
We train celebrants — so maybe we’re supposed to be part of the problem?
But here’s the thing: just like there are more celebrants, there are more training organisations too.
Does that mean we shouldn’t have started another one?
Should we have left it to the ones already out there?
Absolutely not.
We knew we had something different to offer.
We started Match and Dispatch because we cared deeply about celebrancy as a profession — and we were frustrated by the tick-box, fast-track, “that’ll do” approach we saw elsewhere.
We didn’t want to churn people out.
We wanted to raise the bar.
We Don’t Want Just Anyone to Become a Celebrant
This isn’t a job for someone who just fancies flexible hours and no boss and thinks, a week after training, they’ll be watching the dineros roll in.
We want people with heart, guts, and the staying power to hold space for others — again and again.
We train people properly.
We give them honest, boundaried expectations from the start.
And we prepare them not just to do ceremonies — but to build a career.
Because we believe this:
Training orgs that are only in it for quick cash will burn bright and fade fast.
The ones who care? They last.
Just like celebrants.
Let’s Flip the Narrative
Why are there more celebrants now?
Because more people know celebrancy exists.
And that’s a good thing.
It means more couples choosing meaningful wedding ceremonies.
More families realising they don’t have to settle for a single crem slot and a generic script.
More people asking:
“Is there a better way to do this?”
If we work together — as celebrants, trainers, and advocates — we can raise the tide for everyone.
Because more awareness means more demand.
And we’ve only just scratched the surface. Which is why as trainers we have always focussed on the broader picture – we are all about changing the face of celebrancy for the better.
And… There’s More Work Than Ever — If You Know How to Find It
There are more people getting married.
More people dying.
More people waking up to the fact that they don’t want:
- A one-size-fits-all script
- A funeral that feels rushed and generic
- A ceremony delivered with no added oomph
The Marriage Law Reform Is Coming…
Let’s not forget: big change is brewing.
There’s movement in government around reforming marriage laws — and if (when!) it happens, independent celebrants could finally get legal recognition.
That means a bigger bite of the wedding cherry.
If you want in, now’s the time to get your ducks in a row — and start lobbying your MP
Let’s Talk Funerals: The Real Bottleneck
We’re funeral celebrants too, and we’ve seen the inside track. We were the first training organisation to recognise that funeral celebrants needed to kick the FD-as-gatekeeper model into touch.
Because we could see that one of the main reasons new funeral celebrants struggle?
They rely solely on funeral directors for work.
And while some FDs are fantastic… others simply aren’t.
They might not recommend fairly.
They just hand over the next name on the list – their trusted team.
They may insist on setting your fee for you – hello, self-employed person here!
But families are getting wiser.
They’re asking for celebrants by name.
They’re planning ahead.
They want more choice, more meaning, and more control.
If you can be the person who educates, inspires and guides your community — not just shows up — you’ll become the go-to.
And, if you’d like to be clearer just how to do that – that’s exactly what ourCelebrant-Plus course is all about.
Why We’re Not Just Another Training Organisation
We know the reputation:
Some training organisations are sausage factories.
Get ‘em in, get ‘em out, stack the certificates high.
Maybe that’s the case for some. But certainly not for all and, that’s never been our way.
At Match and Dispatch:
- We’re honest about who celebrancy is and isn’t for
- We train people properly — we give honest, boundaried expectations right from the off
- We stay in touch long after the training ends — our support is ongoing as you build your business and beyond
- We actively champion our celebrants — through photoshoots, newsletters, events and Funeral Celebrant Day
We don’t churn out celebrants.
We raise the benchmark — and we back the people who raise it with us.
That’s why, whoever they initially trained with, so many celebrants come to us for CPD — whether it’s our Celebrant-Pluscourse our Funeral Photoshoots or Marketing for Celebrants. Because if you’re in it for the long haul — if this is your passion and your profession — you need all the tools in your toolbox to succeed.
And succeed is what we want you to do.
You’re Not Just a Celebrant. You’re a Business Owner.
And that’s the bit so many people forget.
You’re not waiting to be picked.
You’re not a passive participant.
You’re a professional — with something powerful to offer.
You can:
Market yourself
Connect with your people
Stand out — even in a “saturated” market
And, if you need some help:
- Getting found
- Getting booked
- Growing your celebrant business without cringing at the word “marketing”
Final Word?
Yes, there are more celebrants.
Yes, it’s more competitive.
But that’s not a reason to give up.
That’s your cue to get better.
Because people still want beautiful weddings.
They still want meaningful funerals.
And they still want celebrants who get it — and give it their all.
And one last bit of real talk?
Any new business needs at least three years to find its feet — financially and reputationally.
Celebrancy is no different.
At Kate and Kate Celebrants, 100% of our clients come to us directly, or because someone specifically asked for us. We don’t rely on funeral directors for work.
We use direct marketing, email funnels, wedding directories, educational and inspirational content and strategy… along with crisps and power naps!
And we can show you how to do the same.
Big love – let’s be bloody brilliant together!
Kate & Kate
(Still very much not planning to retire, die, or move abroad just yet)
