What is Celebrant Training and Why It’s the Perfect Career for the Over-50s?
Are you seeking a new career that offers flexibility, creativity, and the chance to make a real difference in people's lives? If you’re over 50 and looking for a meaningful path forward, celebrant training could be the perfect fit. In this post, we’ll explore what celebrant training entails, why it’s such an ideal option for people aged 50 and above, and how you can take your first step towards this rewarding career.
What is Celebrant Training?
Celebrant training equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a professional independent celebrant. A celebrant is someone who officiates significant life ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, baby naming ceremonies, and more. It’s a role that blends creativity with compassion, allowing you to craft unique, personalised ceremonies that reflect the wishes and beliefs of the individuals or families involved.
When you sign up for a celebrant course, you’ll learn everything from how to structure a ceremony to how to communicate with clients and create bespoke scripts that resonate with them. The best celebrant training also covers essential business skills, ensuring that you're equipped to become a celebrant and manage your new self-employed career successfully.
Why become a celebrant?
Many people in their 50s and beyond are seeking a new direction—whether they’re approaching retirement, have taken early retirement, or simply want a career change. If that sounds like you, celebrant training offers several key advantages:
1) Flexibility
Celebrancy is an extremely flexible career, making it ideal if you want to balance work with family commitments, travel, or hobbies. You set your own schedule, choosing how many funeral services or wedding ceremonies you want to conduct each month. Whether you want to work part-time or build a full-time career, celebrancy allows you to tailor your workload to suit your lifestyle.
2) Creative Fulfilment
If you have a creative streak or enjoy writing, becoming a celebrant is a fantastic outlet for your skills. Every funeral service or wedding ceremony is different, and you have the freedom to craft something unique and memorable each time. Whether you’re planning a joyful wedding or a poignant funeral, you’ll find creative satisfaction in designing meaningful ceremonies that reflect your clients' personalities and beliefs.
3) Personal Reward
One of the most fulfilling aspects of becoming a celebrant is the chance to make a lasting impact on people's lives. Whether you’re helping couples celebrate their love and marriage or guiding families through loss, the emotional rewards of this role are immense. Many celebrants are drawn to the profession because it offers a sense of purpose and connection—something that’s particularly appealing for those over 50 who are looking to give back or embark on a more meaningful career.
4) EARNING POTENTIAL
Celebrancy offers good earning potential, especially if you’re willing to market yourself effectively and conduct a variety of ceremonies. Celebrants can earn on average £250 per funeral service, and £750 per wedding ceremony. While the income can be supplementary for those who are semi-retired, many celebrants turn this into a thriving full-time self-employed business. With training, business support, and good on-going sales and marketing, you can enjoy both financial security and job satisfaction.
How to become a celebrant
Getting started is easier than you might think. With a range of celebrant courses available online or in-person, you can choose the one that fits your schedule and budget. Most celebrant training programs cover writing and delivering a range of ceremonies. Not all celebrant courses however will fully assess and develop your skills in all aspects of the job: for example holding effective and efficient client meetings, public speaking and business management. Some courses get you to complete coursework for an academic qualification which you don’t need (NOCN or City & Guilds) at the expense of developing the practical skills that you do need to be successful in business. Plus, with our courses, even once you have graduated as an accredited professional celebrant, you’ll have ongoing support as you build your career.
If you’re ready to start your journey to becoming a celebrant, check out our FREE Celebrant Training courses. Each is a discovery module into an exciting new career:
“The Job and Skills of a Funeral Celebrant”: Learn more here
“The Job and Skills of a Wedding Celebrant”: Learn more here
Before Enrolling on Celebrant Training
After doing your initial research, if you are 2-3 weeks away from wanting to enrol on any celebrant training, you are invited to join David on the next "Celebrant Success Workshop". Book your place here.