Beyond The Ceremony: Modern Celebrancy. Unfiltered.

What actually happens when a ceremony seeker opens a celebrant directory and starts scrolling? The Celebrant Directory is the UK’s dedicated online directory for people planning weddings, funerals, vow renewals, and naming ceremonies, and it is where thousands of couples go to find and compare celebrants in their area. Brand strategist and integrative designer Danielle Garber has spent three years...

Wedding law reform in the UK is one of the most talked-about topics in the wedding industry right now, and for good reason. You choose who photographs your wedding. You choose who makes your dress, who cooks your food, who plays the music. But in England and Wales, you still cannot choose who legally marries you. That, according to one of the most influential voices in the UK wedding industry, is...

Here is a question worth sitting with. If religion is declining, why do we still need ceremony? Why do we still gather, still mark the moments, still need someone to stand at the front of the room and hold space for us? Char Srahan wrote her university dissertation on exactly that. And the answer, backed by anthropologists, neuroscientists, and sociologists, is that ceremony is not a religious inv...

If you have ever pictured what a celebrant's office might look like, chances are it was not a hillside in the Scottish Highlands with a loch in the distance and a dog at your heels. But for Amanda Luscombe-Smith, The Great Glen Celebrant, that is not a fantasy. That is a Tuesday. A former drama student and theatre educator who spent 20 years at Eden Court Theatre in the Highlands, Amanda came to c...

Every celebrant knows that words matter. But do you know why a single adverb can cause harm at a funeral? Or how a mixed metaphor can unravel an entire ceremony in seconds? The language you choose as a celebrant does not just describe a moment. It creates one. And in this episode, host Laura Crockett is joined by someone who has spent over 30 years thinking deeply about exactly that. Julie Chudlei...

Something significant is happening in the UK wedding industry right now, and if you are a celebrant, a couple planning a wedding, or anyone working in the wedding world, this episode is not one to skip. The government has launched a public consultation on wedding law reform, and the initial position is that independent celebrants should be allowed to legally marry couples. That is not legislation...

Most celebrants spend years trying to figure out their niche. Jess May accidentally fell into one of the best in the business, and almost missed it entirely because she kept ignoring the emails, and now she is leading French weddings abroad! Here is the short version: Jess somehow ended up listed on a French wedding supplier directory, had no idea how she got there, and spent years deleting the en...

A wedding celebrant in southern Spain, ceremonies at sunset, couples flying in from across the world, and the freedom to work from wherever the sun is shining. It sounds like a dream. But the real story behind how Marcia Bravo got there is even more extraordinary than the life she's living now. What do you do when grief leaves a hole so big that a new city just won't fill it? If you're Marcia, you...

Celebrancy is one of the fastest-growing careers in the UK (and world) right now, and Beyond The Ceremony is the podcast that takes you inside it. Whether you're a qualified celebrant, somewhere in your training, or just wondering if this could be the career change you've been looking for, you're in exactly the right place. Season 2 is here. And honestly? It's going to be even better. In this open...

As Season 1 of Beyond the Ceremony comes to a close, host Laura Crockett steps behind the mic for a final, solo episode, answering all of the celebrant questions you’ve been sending in this season. Laura is a practising celebrant and mentor at The Academy of Modern Celebrancy , and for this finale, she opens up her sparkly pot of audience questions and answers them live, unscripted, and honestly....

Ever wondered what really sets celebrancy in Scotland apart when it comes to weddings, ceremony choices, and the way celebrants work? In Episode 18 of Beyond the Ceremony , Laura is joined by the brilliant Niki Smith , an Independent Celebrant and Chair of The Fulcrum Foundation , an organisation that provides inclusive legal weddings and civil ceremonies across Scotland. Bringing decades of exper...

Marriage law reform has been a long-awaited topic in the world of celebrancy, raising one big question: will independent celebrants ever be able to legally marry their couples? In this episode, host Laura Crockett is joined by Professor Russell Sandberg, a leading expert on law and religion , whose research has helped shape national discussions on modernising wedding law in the UK. Together, they...

Connie Keogh has built a celebrant life that is equal parts practical, theatrical, and utterly joyful. Based in Ireland, Connie is the force behind Hitched by Connie, a registered Solemniser who loves the less ordinary, the inclusive, and the beautifully human. In this episode of Beyond The Ceremony, Connie talks to Laura Crockett about how she found celebrancy, and what it actually looks like to...

🌎 From Vancouver to Vows: How Young Hip and Married Built a Global Love Movement Imagine a wedding on a mountaintop, a sunrise elopement on the beach, or a ceremony on paddleboards in the middle of the ocean. For Vancouver-based officiant and coach Shawn Miller , that’s just another day at the office. As the co-founder of Young Hip & Married , Shawn has spent the past 15 years helping couples...

What happens when you swap corporate law for ceremonies of love and loss, and do it as a husband-and-wife team?  In this episode of Beyond the Ceremony , host Laura Crockett sits down with Academy of Modern Celebrancy graduates Nia and Huw, the duo behind Seren Celebrants , to explore the rare dynamic of working together as celebrants. Nia and Huw share how a simple dinner with friends unexpe...

Ever wondered about the relationship between celebrants and photographers and what really happens when a wedding photographer and a celebrant work hand in hand? In this episode of Beyond The Ceremony , host Laura Crockett is joined by the brilliant Jodie Hurd Photography , a UK wedding photographer who has captured over 500 love stories with her timeless, heartfelt style. Jodie reveals how her uno...

What inspires someone with 33 years in the British Army to also step into a world of love stories, goodbyes, and meaningful milestones? In this episode, you’ll find out exactly how Graham Miller of Graham Millar Ceremonies made the leap into celebrancy, the surprises he’s faced along the way, and the lessons he’s learnt that every aspiring celebrant needs to hear. Graham is a newly qualified weddi...

Being authentic isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the secret to a thriving celebrant career.  If you’re dreaming of becoming an authentic celebrant or looking to build a celebrant business that truly reflects who you are , this episode is packed with insights and practical advice to help you succeed.  Laura Crockett sits down with Miranda Ash, an experienced celebrant and respected AMC mentor w...

Ever wondered what it’s really like working with a funeral director? In this episode, Laura Crockett chats with the brilliant Julie Sullivan, who runs her own family funeral business in the North Cotswolds.  Julie’s been supporting families through loss for years, and she brings so much wisdom, warmth, and honesty to this conversation. They talk about everything from first phone calls with gr...

What’s the first thing most couples book when they get engaged? The venue. Which means, if you’re a wedding celebrant, building relationships with venues could be one of the most valuable things you ever do for your business. Celebrant mentor and host Laura Crockett is joined once again by Tara Heath-Arnold (also known as Tara the Celebrant ) to talk all things networking, visibility, and venue st...

“A celebrant brings something completely different to the table.” So says Worcestershire Wedding Planner, Lindsay. She has guided countless couples through their planning journeys, whether it’s a charming barn wedding or a tipi celebration in a field. With her behind-the-scenes insight, she knows exactly how much of a difference a celebrant can make to the flow, feel, and flexibility of the big da...

When was the last time you imagined work that fits around your family, from school runs, story time, and still lights you up inside? This week’s episode host, Laura Crockett pairs with the brilliant Helen Jubb , a Sheffield‑based independent wedding celebrant, mum of two, and beloved AMC mentor who specialises in humour‑laden, heartfelt ceremonies.  Seven years ago, Helen swapped the nine‑to‑five...

Have you ever wondered, What is a funeral celebrant, and how can they help families create a meaningful farewell? In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Ceremony , host Laura Crockett sits down with Sarah Wickham , an independent celebrant who has been crafting personal, eco-friendly, family-focused ceremonies since 2012. From weddings to vow renewals, baby namings to funerals, Sarah’s approach i...

Names carry weight. They hold our identity, our heritage, our transformation. Whether it’s a baby being welcomed into the world, an adult claiming a new chapter of themselves, or a chosen family gathering to celebrate a name that finally fits — a naming ceremony can be a profoundly moving experience. Have you ever felt the stirrings of wanting to hold space for moments like this? Where your compas...

Have you ever felt a quiet nudge, like your heart is trying to tell you there's something more meaningful out there for you? Something that uses your natural empathy, your deep listening skills, your love for people and stories? In this week’s soul-stirring episode of Beyond the Ceremony, host Laura Crockett sits down with the incredible Penny Boycott, whose transformation from registrar to celebr...