What is a celebrant and what do they do?
One question I get asked a lot is “what is a celebrant?”. I love being asked because it allows me to talk about what I do as a celebrant and how I help people.
The job of a celebrant is to create, write and lead a celebration ceremony such as a wedding, a naming, a funeral, renewal of vows or memorial. Celebrants are trained to create personalised, one of a kind custom ceremonies that mark life’s milestones.
That’s the simple answer, but the work a celebrant does and how they help people covers so much more than standing up and reading a celebration script.
A celebrant is a storyteller
At it’s heart being a celebrant is about telling stories. The story of how a couple met and fell in love or the stories of their hopes and dreams to build a life together. The story of a new arrival into a family and how that family will grow and support each other. The story of a person stepping into their authentic self and living their truth in the world. The story of a life lived and the legacy they left in the hearts of their loved ones.
I tell your story, in your words.
A celebrant is a good listener
One of the most important skills of a celebrant is to be a good listener. I listen when you talk about your love story and your ideal wedding. I listen when you tell me how sad you are that grandpa has died and listen to your fondest memories of him. I listen to what you don’t say too. I listen to the silences that mean you have a question you’re too nervous to ask and I listen to the silence that is filled with grief.
Being a good listener means that I meet you where you are and with whatever emotions you’re dealing with. It means that I hear the words you use and know how to weave them into a personlised ceremony story so that everyone hearing it feels they know it as well as you do.
A celebrant is an organiser
I work with you and the other service providers to make sure the ceremony runs perfectly and fits together with the rest of your day. We anticipate problems and make sure that any unwelcome surprises are smoothed over and dealt with with as little stress as possible.
A celebrant is a creative
You have a dream for your perfect wedding and all that might entail. As a celebrant it is my job to help you make that happen. We get creative with ideas to represent the important things in your life and weave them into your ceremony.
For funerals I help you find ways to bring your person’s story to life and to help everyone feel that they know them a little bit better.
I help you choose the music, readings and rituals that bring meaning to your ceremony and makes it unique and individual to you.
A celebrant is a magician
I won’t be pulling rabbits out of hats or making you pick a card. I will create a magical and memorable moment for the biggest milestones in your life. I’ll transport you and your loved ones into the heart of your romance. I’ll help you remember a life well lived, while you’re in the midst of grief.
As your celebrant it’s my job to conjour unforgettable memories from the stories you tell me.
If you’d like to find our more about working with me to tell your story, please fill in the contact form at the bottom of the page. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
