How to be a Profitable Celebrant: Practical Tips on Running a Profitable Celebrancy Business

By Vlady Peters

Unique book designed for Officiants of ceremonies.

Whether you’re a legally appointed Celebrant who conducts legal marriage ceremonies, or you’re and Officiant more interested in the social ceremonies such as:

1. Baby naming
2. Adoption of a child
3. Loss of a child in child birth
4. Coming of age ceremony
5. House blessing
6. Birthday ceremony
7. Funeral
8. Scattering of Ashes
9. Rite of passage
10. Successful graduation
11. Entering the workforce
12. Entering a new career
13. Starting one’s own business
14. Retirement ceremony
15. Engagement
16. Renewal of Wedding Vows
17. Commitment Ceremony
18. Anniversaries – wedding and others
19. Separation or divorce ceremony
20. Pet Ceremony
21. A bon voyage or welcome back ceremony
22. Boat naming
23. Memorial

‘How to be a Profitable Celebrant: Practical Tips on Running a Profitable Celebrancy Business’ will give you hints on how to do it in a successful way.

Already used by Officiants conducting ceremonies, it is also used as a manual by trainers of Celebrants.

As a business book, it includes such topics as:

1. Getting the best out of interviews with the bride and groom planning a wedding
2. Finding the best ways to reach people planning weddings or other ceremonies
3. Setting up an office at home or finding premises where people will find you
4. Setting fees and keeping track of expenses
5. Acquiring the right equipment for your business as an Officiant
6. Dealing the right way with wedding enquiries to increase your bookings
7. Checklist for wedding ceremonies
8. Networking at weddings and other ceremonies you conduct

One book that Officiants can’t do without if they are looking for a successful celebrancy career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vlady Peters
• Release date: Mar 31, 2013
• ISBN: 9780987322111

Vlady Peters

Planning a Wedding Ceremony? Vows Renewal? Baby Naming?Budgeting for your Honeymoon Travel or the decorations for your Wedding Day?Looking for Wedding Vows that will exactly express what you feel?Have you been asked to officiate at a Vows Renewal Ceremony for a family member, or a Baby Naming Ceremony for a friend?Whatever the occasion and wherever it is to take place, whether it’s simple or formal, money no object or need to keep the ceremony budget in mind, you will find everything you’re looking for in this author’s books.Whether you want a traditional Wedding Ceremony or looking forward to creating a Wedding Ceremony all your own, whether you intend to have a Wedding Reception at home or leaving all the details to a professional Wedding Planner, whether you intend to spend your Honeymoon just up the road from where you live, or travel miles into the exotic world, you’ve come to the right place to learn how to plan that special event.

Book preview

How to be a Profitable Celebrant:

Practical Tips on Running a Profitable Celebrancy Business

by V M Peters

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Disclaimer

This book was written as a guide only and does not claim to be the final definitive word on any of the subjects covered. The statements made and opinions expressed are the personal observations and assessments of the author based on her own experiences and were not intended to prejudice any party. There may be errors or omissions in this guide. A such, the author or publisher does not accept any liability or responsibility for any loss or damage that may have been caused, or alleged to have been caused, thought use of the information contained in this book.

How to be a Profitable Celebrant:

Practical Tips on Running a Profitable Celebrancy Business

by

V M Peters

Copyright 2012 V M Peters

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ISBN: 978-0-9873221-1-1

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Books by V M Peters published by Smashwords:

Love and Roman Book

1. Californian Poppy: A Love Story

Self-help Books

1. 1,000+ Answers to Your Wedding Questions

2. Wedding Your Way

3. Honeymoon! A Sizzle or a Fizzle: Prepare Mentally, Physically and Emotionally for the Best Time of Your Life

4. Celebrating Love’s Special Moments

5. How to be a Profitable Celebrant: Practical Tips on Running a Profitable Celebrancy Business

6. You can be a Successful Officiant

7. Wedding Words: Perfect Words for Your Wedding Ceremony

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List of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One - What is a Celebrant?

Celebrant and Ceremonies

Types of Celebrants

Celebrant Know-How

Chapter Two - Where to Start as a Celebrant

Equipment used in a Ceremony

Practical Aspects of the Celebrancy Business

Production or providing your Service

Marketing or allowing Them to find You

Salesmanship or convincing Them

Financial Control

Strategies for Business Success

Chapter Three - Setting Up an Office

Home Office

Office Equipment

Chapter Four - Marketing Yourself as a Celebrant

Separating Yourself from other Celebrants

Networking the Right Way

Getting Yourself Discovered

Chapter Five - The Celebrant and the Client

Know what You’re About

The Right Way to Communicate

Chapter Six - Improving Your Chances as a Celebrant

Getting Yourself Noticed

Chapter Seven - Handling Enquiries, Bookings and Appointments

Enquiries

Appointments

Fees

Chapter Eight - Keeping Records

Records

Clients

Invoices

Chapter Nine - On the Day

Ceremonies

Ceremony Site

On the Day

At the Venue

Chapter Ten - Business Basics

Matters of Business

Celebrant Business

Bibliography

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Introduction

This book is designed to help celebrants set up and run their business successfully at a profit.

You find officiants at all sorts of memorable events – from the house warming party to the wedding, the funeral, and everything in between. When there’s an event worthy of a celebration, be it bringing a new baby into the world, or opening your doors to a new business venture, a celebrant could be the one adding drama and meaning to the occasion.

But how do you start as an officiant? What qualifications do you need? What characteristics? Can anyone become a celebrant? Can you earn money performing ceremonies? Is celebrancy a part-time work, or can it be a full-time profession?

Many people are attracted to the profession of an officiant without really understanding what it entails.

Some hope to make it a self-sustaining business. Some see it as a part time-job. There are the retirees who see celebrancy as a way of keeping busy while earning an income. Some are even ready to give up jobs they have and hate, in order to become full time celebrants.

This book is dedicated to all of the above.

To those toying with the idea of becoming an officiant, the book will answer many of their questions, including their suitability for the position and how realistic their expectations.

For those practicing celebrants, no matter how experienced or how new to the profession, there will be answers for setting up their celebrancy business and putting into place strategies to help them achieve their objectives.

The celebrancy business is still in its infancy, but growing at an alarming rate. Those hoping to make a living out of it will need the know-how and the determination to succeed in a profession becoming increasingly competitive.

How to be a Profitable Celebrant: Practical Tips on Running a Profitable Celebrancy Business could very well be the edge you need.

V M Peters

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Chapter One - What is a Celebrant?

Celebrant and Ceremonies

A celebrant or an officiant is like the conductor of an orchestra, the compere at a fashion show, the DJ at a disco club, the MC at a wedding reception. Whenever people choose to celebrate a special event in their lives, there is a good chance that there will be one person weaving the various segments of the event together. Call her a celebrant, or call her a compere, she helps to direct the event, maximise its importance, and dramatise its impact.

Celebrations over which officiants have been asked to preside have included the well-known as well as the less obvious events. Some of the more common ones include:

1. Naming Ceremonies

2. Wedding Ceremonies

3. Renewal of Marriage Vows Ceremonies

4. Commitment or Unity Ceremonies

5. Funeral Ceremonies

Not as common are ceremonies such as:

1. The establishing of a new Home

2. House warming

3. Step children or step parent ceremonies

3. Adoption of a child

4. Loss of child in child birth

5. Coming of age ceremony

6. Birthday ceremony

7. Rite of passage

8. Successful graduation

9. Entering the workforce

11. Entering a new career

12. Starting one’s own business

13. Retirement ceremony

14. Engagement

15. Separation or divorce ceremony

16. Anniversaries – wedding and others

17. Pagan

18. A bon voyage or welcome back ceremony

19. Boat naming

20. Memorial

To any event that has special importance in the lives of the people concerned, whether a wholly happy event such as a wedding, or, as in the case of a funeral, which is both a tribute to the life of the departed, as well as a farewell from those left behind, an officiant adds new life and dimension by drawing together the various elements making up the ceremony.

A ceremony is both a ritual and a message that explains the purpose and the meaning of the event, and is used whenever something happens which is deemed worthy of recognition or remembrance.

Most people recognize the legally appointed marriage celebrants who perform marriages according to law. These government-appointed individuals are the only people who can perform marriages ceremonies. However, there are no legal restrictions as to who can perform other social ceremonies such as naming or renewal of wedding vows etc., Any person can choose to be an officiant for such ceremonies.

Some people call these celebrants civil celebrants. Others, in order not to confuse these officiants with the legally appointed civil marriage celebrants, call them general celebrants.

Whether she is a civil marriage celebrant or a general celebrant, the ideal officiant believes in the power of ceremony. Being a private person she accepts that it’s the client’s values and wishes that are important. What goes into the ceremony is the reflection of where the client comes from. The officiant does not align herself with specific groups within the community; she is part of the whole community. For religious people, who however cannot have their ceremony conducted in the church – for whatever reason – the ceremony might include spiritual aspects.

The thoughtful celebrant brings substance to a ceremony which might otherwise be superficial. She becomes the advisor as well as the resource person to help clients express themselves in the most elegant and meaningful way. Each ceremony is individual and personal, according to what lies behind the particular client’s situation and needs. And the individual and personal aspects cover the whole spectrum of what affects the ceremony. The place where it’s conducted. The mood which is created through the use of music, poetry, prose, symbolisms and cultural traditions. The way in which familial and community bonds are strengthened and enlarged.

Whether clients are seeking an alternative ceremony to a religious ceremony which is prohibited to them by their particular situation, or whether they are looking for a non-denominational ceremony, the officiant is equally able to help them celebrate their event by allowing them to articulate the principles and ideals of their relationship and the basis of this relationship. By allowing the client to control the content of the ceremony, clients feel more committed to it.

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Types of Celebrants

An officiant can be a man or a woman, young or mature, a professional or a stay at home grandma, granddad, mum or dad. There are those people who begin to think of a career as a celebrant when they’ve retired from their normal employment. Anticipating a great deal of time on their hands with very little to fill up their days, they look around to see what is available to them.

They might attend the weddings, and the naming ceremonies and the funerals and watch people, no different from themselves, conducting these ceremonies as officiants. And it might seem to them that not only would they enjoy being involved in the momentous occasions of other people’s lives, but that they are particularly suited for the job of a celebrant.

At this stage, their question might be, ‘How do I become an officiant? What do I do? Who do I get in touch with? How do I begin?’

To answer these questions we might look at the different situations in which a celebrant might be found.

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The legally appointed Civil Marriage Celebrant

Firstly, of course, is the legally appointed civil marriage celebrant. This person can’t just decide to perform marriages because she thinks she’d enjoy it, and it looks like it could be a good thing to do.

This person must actually have the necessary training or knowledge to allow her to discharge her duties as a marriage celebrant. Apart from other things, she will need to have knowledge of the Marriage Act under which she will be asked to operate. But even if qualified in having the necessary knowledge, this person will need to apply to the Government, filling in a form to show that she is a competent person and there is nothing which might disqualify her from the position of a civil marriage celebrant.

If the government approves her application, she will be contacted and told that she has been placed in a queue and will be appointed once she reaches the top of the list. There are literally thousands of people applying to be a marriage celebrant. Some applicants have known as early as eighteen months beforehand, that their application has been successful and they will be appointed once they reach the top of the queue.

Even though, at this stage, the applicant knows that she will be appointed a civil marriage celebrant eventually, she can’t advertise herself as a marriage celebrant or accept bookings under the assumption that the appointment is just around the corner. She must wait till the appointment is made formal. And this will happen when a government official contacts her and gives her the news.

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The Trainee Marriage Celebrant

The second type of celebrant might be like the first one. She has either completed all the formal courses required for a civil marriage celebrant position, or has proved her competence in that area, has applied to the government, and is now waiting for some response. She has no way of knowing whether her application will be accepted.

Or, she may have applied, and, for any number of reasons, her application has been refused. If there are specific reasons for her application being refused, she might try to eliminate its cause and reapply. But, at the moment, she knows that she will never be a civil marriage celebrant able to perform legal marriages.

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General Celebrant Without Training

This is the person who has no qualification that will lead her to becoming a civil marriage celebrant. Nor is she interested in becoming one. But she is one of those people who enjoys being in the public eye or is often asked by friends and relatives to take the role of a compere, MC, DJ, or even play a significant role at friends’ special ceremonies.

She might often be asked why she, in fact, doesn’t become an officiant, seeing as she is so good on these celebratory occasions.

And after thinking about it for a while, she may decide to take up the challenge. Loving the work as she does, she decides to become a celebrant not just as a favour to friends and relatives, but also as a means of earning some extra money. In particular, if the person happens to be retired, she might see the position of an officiant not only as an enjoyable pastime, but as a profitable money-earner.

In short, what started for her as a hobby, becomes a business.

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General Celebrant with some Training

Just for her own satisfaction, this person has taken some courses in the area of celebrancy in order to understand its requirements. This might include study in the more popular ceremonies such as funeral or naming ceremonies. However, she is definitely not interested in becoming a civil marriage celebrant and dealing with the legal aspects which a marriage entails. She simply wants to be a general celebrant who can perform those ceremonies which do not require any specific qualification. Using her talents is what she is interested in, and taking some courses has made her realize how suited she is to this particular career.

Enjoying the interaction with people as she does, she knows that given the opportunity, she can do the job as well as any other officiant she has seen in action. She may even feel that she has other talents that will give her a unique style in the field of celebrancy.

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Celebrant Know-How

Celebrant Attributes

Looking from the outside in, people might see an officiant as someone who turns up at a venue with her bag of tricks, takes center stage for an average of ten to fifteen minutes, then goes back to wherever she came from. To many, the role of a celebrant seems too easy and something anyone can do – and get paid for as well!

However, like any successful production, there is a lot behind the scenes that never shows on the day. Before you set yourself up as an officiant on the basis that anyone can be a celebrant, take a reality check.

We’ve all encountered people who seem to have chosen a business which seems eminently wrong for them. An exaggerated example might be ‘Faulty Towers’ where a man who obviously hates people, is running a hotel where he has to deal with people all the time. So you need to remember that as a business person you might fail not because you are performing badly, but because celebrancy is not the business for you.

There are certain attributes that the successful officiant has. This includes:

1. Enjoys people

Ceremonies are all about people. The celebrant needs to be a skilled communicator, able to tease out the needs of the client who may know very little about the ceremony she wants the officiant to perform.

2. Is a great listener

She needs to hear not only what the client is saying, but also what she isn’t saying. Not all clients are able to express themselves clearly and concisely.

3. Is flexible

No matter how experienced she is, she allows the clients to have the type of ceremony they want instead of the kind of ceremony she feels they should want. She will advise but not insist.

4. Is Unflappable

Reacts to the unexpected in a calm manner, especially when the clients themselves are going to pieces.

5. Is a diplomat

Weddings, for example, can be full of tensions. Everyone involved wants his or her say – the mother of the bride, the maid of honour, and even the bride and groom are sometimes divided on the details of their wedding.

6. Is patient

Although she is the expert, she encourages clients’ input and treats their comments and queries with respect, recognizing that what suits one client may not suit another.

7. Is immune to emergencies

The ceremony may be preceded by death in the family, or sudden breaks between one set of family members with another, but the day of the ceremony reflects all the expectations as if none of these things happened.

8. Is always up to date with the fashions and trends of the day

If she wants her clients to have confidence in her ability, she won’t be hearing of a new style of ceremony from her clients. She’ll be already prepared to celebrate it by the time her clients hear about it on television or on the Internet.

9. Is both creative and practical

If the style of ceremony requires props, she will know not only what props are required but how to arrange them in the most practical and visually attractive way.

10. Is aware that details make the difference

Remembers the little things that clients often forget, like the matches for a candle lighting ceremony. It is remarkable how often clients will search far and wide to buy an unusual candle for a ceremony then forget the fact that it has to be lit.

11. Shows initiative

If she is accepting bookings from interstate or overseas, then she is also able to supply the client with a list of other services which they may require. While she may not necessarily recommend these services, she will certainly check them out as to their quality and reliability.

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The self-employed celebrant

Like any other self-employed person, the celebrant, to be a successful business person, must have not only the qualities that make her a good officiant, but also characteristics that will make her a successful business person. Successful business people are noted for:

1. Initiative

Business people who succeed take personal responsibility for what happens. Action is the key. Whatever you plan to do, you do it in a timely fashion. Any promises you make to yourself or to your clients are kept because you enjoy the challenge of getting things done. You know the importance of promoting yourself as a business person and are active in doing just that.

2. Persistence

No one has ever succeeded without persistence. By focusing on exactly what you want to achieve as a celebrant you will be able to overcome the inevitable challenges that will come your way. You have the