Celebrant

You do not need formal qualifications to become a celebrant though training may help your career prospects. There are different courses you can do with private training providers and through organisations like Humanists UK.

Courses vary in length, cost and entry requirements, and include:

• Level 3 Certificate and Diploma in Celebrancy
• wedding, funeral and naming ceremonies training
• postgraduate Master's in Existential Humanist and Pastoral Care

You'll need excellent organisational skills and sensitivity to people's emotions when planning and conducting ceremonies.

Experience in wedding or event planning may be helpful but is not essential.

Career tips

Celebrants are usually self-employed and often combine their work with a second career, for example wedding planning, events management or funeral directing.

Further information

You can find many celebrant organisations online, who offer information on how to become a celebrant, training courses and the different types of ceremonies they conduct.

You'll need:

• sensitivity and understanding
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• business management skills
• the ability to work well with others
• leadership skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• active listening skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• pass background checks

Your day-to-day duties may include:

• meeting with couples and families to plan the ceremony they want
• offering practical advice on things like venues, music and timings
• helping clients to write personal vows, tributes or readings
• organising a rehearsal before the actual event
• leading the ceremony on the day
• making sure everyone is involved in the ceremony
• advising clients about legal obligations, like registering a marriage
• producing a copy of the ceremony for the clients to keep
• marketing your business to attract clients

You could work at a venue, at a client's home or in a place of worship.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.