If you’re thinking of training to become a Celebrant then this Blog is for you…
Guest Blog
When I started out I looked around a whole lot of training providers, but kept being drawn back to the two Kates. I liked their down to earth approach to celebrancy rather than some which may have seemed a little too ‘corporate’ for me.
I also liked that I could train at my own pace from the comfort of my own home by following the workbook and You Tube videos. The Kate’s are masters at the You Tube video and the course really is a lot of fun. I never felt I was under pressure in that the videos really do put you at ease. Their banter together is wonderful!
I did the funerals, marketing and wedding courses one after the other, in that order. I printed off all the workbooks and got myself a lever arch file and separators and I found that really helped me flipping backwards and forwards rather than doing it on screen – I made tons of valuable notes in the workbooks too (which of course you can’t do if you’ve not printed them off).
I joined (and still do) as many of the Monday night teams chats as possible as I feel it keeps me in the training loop – because I think at the end of the day you only really start to learn when your training is over.
Kate T does the homework feedback and you can tell she’s not just ‘going through the motions’ when she’s critiquing it. I got lots of constructive feedback which I know will remain with me throughout my celebrant journey.
I did all of my training in quick sticks time – I really immersed myself in it from start to finish and I found that really put me in the celebrant zone. I totally understand that not everyone has the time to block out time to be able to do this … but I did find it really helped me.
I am still working a 4 day week at the moment but I intend to retire mid-2027. I have started the celebrant thing with a view to organically growing it over the next year in the hope I can average one to two funerals a month and perhaps a couple of naming ceremonies, renewal of vows and weddings per year on top of that.
I have found that looking at other celebrants in your local area and beyond is a great way to get ideas and I have followed a few on socials along with some local FDs too.
I haven’t actually conducted a ceremony as yet because I don’t want to go banging on every funeral directors door shouting “choose me, choose me” … that’s really not my style. What I am doing is working in the background on my socials, building my brand and I’m currently on with my website at the moment. In the marketing course, the Kate’s do say it will be quiet to start and their advice is to work on your business until the ceremonies start to come in, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m sure it won’t be too long before I do a ceremony but as I’m still working full-time, my mindset is not to overthink it.
I would highly recommend the training from Match and Dispatch because the quality and delivery of the courses is fantastic, and as working celebrants themselves, the Kate’s are 100% in the celebrant zone and their experience and enthusiasm is forefront.
I would recommend you tag the marketing course onto your package too – even though I do some marketing of our businesses at work, I found this course extremely good and worth the money.
Helen Borking
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