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 compassion, your ability to see people, and your deep appreciation for life’s transitions could become part of something truly meaningful?

In this week’s episode of Beyond the Ceremony, host Laura Crockett is joined by the vibrant Jess Thrush, a joyful and down-to-earth celebrant from the Ribble Valley who brings warmth, humour, and heart to everything she does.

From being a busy mum of two to qualifying with AMC in November 2022, Jess’s journey into celebrancy is refreshingly real and deeply inspiring. She shares how naming ceremonies have unexpectedly become some of the most emotionally resonant work she does, not just for the families involved, but for herself as well.

This isn’t just about babies and balloons. It’s about identity. Acknowledgement. Belonging.

• Why naming ceremonies are so much more than people realise
• The deep honour of celebrating not just new life, but new beginnings at any age
• Jess’s honest and heartwarming journey into celebrancy (and how it fits around family life, pub lunches, and countryside walks!)
• The emotional intelligence and empathy this work calls forward
• How ceremonies rooted in joy, humour, and authenticity can leave the biggest impact

You don’t need to be perfect.

You just need to care deeply, show up fully, and trust that your natural gifts—your heart, your presence, your words—are enough.

Listen in to this week’s conversation and see what resonates. Because sometimes, witnessing someone step fully into who they are can be the moment that wakes something up in you, too.

Take our quiz and discover if celebrancy is for you.

If celebrancy already excites you, you can view our courses here!

Jess is a mum of two young boys, originally from Cheshire but now embracing the country life in The Ribble Valley. After qualifying with AMC in November '22, she dedicates herself to creating unforgettable, lighthearted, joy-filled ceremonies for weddings, naming days, and vow renewals. When not crafting beautiful moments for her clients, Jess can be found enjoying country walks with her dogs, savoring a good gin, or settling in for a relaxing pub lunch in the picturesque surroundings of her adopted home.

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Laura has been an independent celebrant for 5 years and absolutely loves it. It makes her so proud seeing how far she's come in that time. Laura feels like she's found her calling and is so excited to keep progressing and growing her Celebrant business! Laura creates all kinds of ceremonies, including Weddings, Funerals, Vow Renewals, and Naming Ceremonies. B...

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 celebrant will leave you inspired—and possibly questioning if you’ve been quietly called to do the same.

This isn’t just a career shift story.

It’s a deeper invitation to reflect on how your whole self—your life experience, your intuition, your desire to connect—might be leading you somewhere truly impactful.

The differences between registrars, humanist celebrants, and independent celebrants

How the path of celebrancy can unexpectedly become a journey of healing and purpose

Why your most human traits—empathy, presence, storytelling—are your most valuable tools

What it feels like to be trusted with the most intimate, joyful, and vulnerable life moments

How your existing experience (even from unrelated careers!) may have prepared you more than you think

When you create a ceremony that truly reflects someone's essence, you're giving them the gift of being seen, perhaps more deeply than they've ever been seen before.

Whether you’ve just discovered celebrancy or have been quietly curious for a while, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what this work really looks and feels like, beyond the ceremony.

Tune in to this eye-opening episode and let it sit with you. Because sometimes, that quiet voice inside? It knows exactly where you’re meant to go next.

TAKE OUR QUIZ and discover if celebrancy could be your soul-aligned career path!

Meet Penelope Jayne—known to friends and clients alike as Penny. She is a Yorkshire-based independent celebrant who brings over two decades of experience supporting couples and families in celebrating and acknowledging their most significant life moments.

With a warm smile and genuine approach, Penny embodies the belief that every day deserves celebration, whether that's savoring a freshly brewed latte, treasuring time with family, or enjoying a proper chocolate bar. Her passion shines through in her dedication to creating ceremonies that are truly individual, meaningful, and authentic, reflecting the real essence of the people she serves.

As our head of learning here at the AMC, as well as an independent celebrant, Penny brings both extensive experience and heartfelt enthusiasm to guiding aspiring celebrants on their journey.

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Laura has been an independent celebrant for 5 years and absolutely loves it. It makes her so proud seeing how far she's come in that time. Laura feels like she's found her calling and is so excited to keep progressing and growing her Celebrant business! Laura creates all kinds of ceremonies, including Weddings, Funerals, Vow Renewals, and Naming Ceremonies. Before she was a celebrant, Laura was a breakfas...

Join us for a heartfelt conversation about the meaningful impact celebrants have on life's most significant moments!

In this episode, host Laura Crockett welcomes fellow AMC mentor and celebrant sister, Tara the Celebrant (Tara Heath-Arnold), to explore the profound importance of celebrancy.

Tara shares her journey from a fast-paced corporate career in financial recruitment to finding her true calling as a celebrant.

After completing a Master's in English Literature and taking time to reassess her career path, Tara discovered celebrancy (thanks to her husband's suggestion that she should "marry someone like John Barrowman!").

The Emotional Significance of Ceremonies - Tara and Laura discuss why celebrant-led ceremonies create such profound connections during life's milestone moments.

Being a "Safe Pair of Hands" - Why celebrants must be prepared for both when things go right and when they don't quite go according to plan.

Cultural and Religious Flexibility - How independent celebrants can weave together different traditions, faiths, and cultural elements to create truly personalized ceremonies.

The Beauty of Ongoing Relationships - Tara shares the joy of being invited back to mark multiple milestones with the same families, from weddings to naming ceremonies.

Transferable Skills - Discover how skills from previous careers—public speaking, people engagement, and storytelling—can make celebrancy a perfect second career.

Finding Your People - Why consistency and visibility matter in building a successful celebrancy business, and how "your people will find you" when you're authentic.

Whether you're considering celebrancy as a career path or simply interested in understanding what makes celebrant-led ceremonies so special, this conversation offers valuable insights into the heart and soul of this meaningful profession.

Tara's Advice for Aspiring Celebrants:

"If your gut instinct is telling you this is right for you and you have the right skills for it, then go for it, but give yourself time as well... You've got to be consistent, you've got to be visible, and you've got to take the highs with the lows... Your people will find you."

Considering celebrancy as your next career move?

Tara offers this advice: "If your gut instinct is telling you this is right for you and you have the right skills for it, then go for it, but give yourself time... It takes time, and you've got to be consistent, and you've got to be visible, and you've got to take the highs with the lows, because that's what life is."

Take our quiz and find out if celebrancy could be your perfect career path!

Beyond The Ceremony Podcast: Modern Celebrancy. Unfiltered.

Everything you need to know about how to succeed as a modern celebrant. From top tips on how to create unforgettable ceremonies, to success stories from some of the best in the biz, we will give you a behind-the-scenes look into life as a celebrant. Hosted by Laura Crockett, Award-winning Celebrant, radio personality, and celebrant mentor at the Academy of Modern Celebrancy.

Learn more about The Academy of Modern Celebrancy here.

After a long career within the financial recruitment industry, progressing from the position of Sales Support to Regional Director, Tara decided it was time to step away from the corporate world.

She then completed a bucket list ambitio...