My first experience of a celebrant goes back to 2010 when I helped my mum organise a funeral for my father-in-law and then later in 2016, I organised my mum’s funeral using the same celebrant, Debbie, as I had been so impressed with her. I’d since been to a few funerals more recently, where I came away disappointed that the life of the deceased was not truly celebrated and, in some cases, there was no personalisation of the service in any way. In mid-February 2024, I attended a service led by a celebrant, Liz, and had a lightbulb moment when watching her deliver the service!
The following day was spent researching training organisations and I came across the APC training website and decided to take the plunge. The role of a celebrant would bring together all my transferable skills – conducting client meetings, public speaking, creative writing, business development and marketing. I also believed I possess the soft skills that are absolutely necessary, such as active listening and of course, empathy. So, I clicked on the button to attend the next classroom training course, which was in Dartford, Kent (I live in Wiltshire in The New Forest), so it was quite a trek. I just wanted to get started!
I spent the next two weeks working on all my marketing material, including a website that could be launched on completion of my training.
So, I commenced my APC celebrancy journey following a three-day funeral celebrant training course in March 2024, where I was lucky enough to be taught by Stuart. This opportunity to learn from his vast experience as both a funeral director and celebrant was the best start to my new business, which I confess over the last year, has changed from being a nice way to earn some extra income in my semi-retirement to a true vocation – which I did not expect!
Luckily, my sales and marketing background (and running my own businesses previously) stood me in good stead to kickstart marketing myself around the various Funeral Directors in my area during April, and I also took the many tips that I learnt on the course to do this as effectively as possible.
I am very aware that I am still relatively new, and I am trying to learn from every personal experience and from the benefit of more experienced celebrants in the APC family - from attending CPD sessions and reading the posts (and contributing) on the celebrant app.
I will be forever grateful to the independent funeral director who gave me my first funeral on the 3rd of May 2024, trusting his judgement that although a ‘newbie’, I would not let him or the family down. He was incredibly pleased with my service on the day, and this also resulted in my very first review on localcelebrant.com:
“To organise a funeral for my brother with a difficult family dynamic was made so much easier with the help from Carol. She was very caring thoughtful, aware of all the family needs. The service she delivered was perfect. She is a very calming compassionate professional celebrant who I would highly recommend. Thank you, Carol.” I was really thrilled to receive this.
This early opportunity filled me with confidence (relatively speaking), and I have now completed thirty-four services, of which eighteen ‘five-star reviews’ are on localcelebrant.com. Other non-digital lovely feedback has come in the form of handwritten thank you cards and on one occasion, a big box of chocolate biscuits.
I’ve also been invited back to quite a few receptions/wakes, which I consider to be a real privilege and a testimony to the fact that the families trust me and value my support.
As I want to carry out my celebrant services on a semi-retired basis, I am comfortable with my average of one service per week, to date, which suits my lifestyle. Having said that, I continually visit the funeral directors I’m in contact with, to ensure that I am in their thoughts when they have a suitable opportunity and I’ve even started relationships with several new funeral directors since Christmas, making a total of fifteen, although my regular work is coming from about seven of them. One independent funeral director has given me fifty per cent of all my services, which is a great accolade.
In November, I had the privilege to conduct a funeral for a client whose sister had passed away unexpectedly, and relatively young. She contacted me after the service and expressed interest in changing career to become a celebrant, as she had been inspired by my empathy, professionalism, and service delivery. I recommended APC and we had several Zoom meetings to chat about what it takes to be a good celebrant. I am thrilled that she will be attending her training course in April. She’s already shadowed me on one service and will be doing so for another quite shortly. It’s been a lovely bonus that I have inspired someone to join us in the APC family and it has been an honour to help someone find their own vocation.
It has been an amazing ‘journey’ over the last year and whilst I knew it would be fulfilling; I had no idea what a wonderful vocation it is and how much personal joy it has given me. I absolutely LOVE being a funeral celebrant – it is the most rewarding job I have ever had, and I hope to be able to continue for some time yet!
