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 celebrancy through one of the most human experiences there is, writing and delivering her father's eulogy. In this episode, host Laura Crockett sits down with Amanda to talk about how that moment changed everything, what it really means to build a nature-based celebrancy business in Scotland, and why being completely yourself is the most powerful thing you can do for your career.
Whether you are dreaming of ceremonies on a lochside, wondering 💭 if your existing skills could transfer into celebrancy, or exploring what training looks like in Scotland specifically, this one is for you.
"Be true to who you are. The people that really want to be with you, that want to choose you, will find you." Amanda Luscombe-Smith
💡 In this episode, you'll learn:
🏴 How Amanda went from 20 years teaching drama at Eden Court Theatre in the Highlands to standing in the sea conducting a wedding ceremony
🏴 Why writing and delivering her father's eulogy was the moment everything clicked, and how that experience now shapes the way Amanda approaches every funeral she leads
🏴 The real behind-the-scenes work of celebrancy that surprises almost every new celebrant, including voice notes, questionnaires, and why the foundation skills from training matter more than you think once you are out in the real world
🏴 What nature-based celebrancy actually looks like in practice, including a beach wedding involving wrong tides, a rowing bride, hay bales, and a jellyfish sting, all in the same ceremony
🏴 How Amanda markets herself as an independent celebrant in Scotland where humanist celebrants can legally marry and she cannot, and why she sees that challenge as one of the things that made her better at her job
🏴 The M10 process and how couples handle the legal side of marriage when working with an independent celebrant in Scotland
🏴 Why funerals in the Scottish Highlands are different to the rest of the UK, and the extraordinary freedom to hold ceremonies almost anywhere with permission
This episode is perfect for:
💫 Anyone in Scotland considering celebrancy as a career; this episode covers the landscape honestly and without sugarcoating
💫 Aspiring celebrants anywhere who are still figuring out their niche; Amanda's journey is a masterclass in trusting your identity over chasing the work
💫 Qualified celebrants navigating a crowded market who want to understand how to stand out authentically
💫 Anyone drawn to outdoor, nature-based, or non-venue ceremonies who wants to see what building a business around that specialism actually looks like
💫 Anyone drawn to outdoor, nature-based, or non-venue ceremonies who wants to see what building a business around that specialism actually looks like
For more on how celebrancy works across the UK and beyond, Episode 21 is a brilliant companion listen, where Laura Crockett speaks with Málaga-based celebrant Marcia Bravo about building a celebrant career in Spain 🇪🇸 after loss, another story of finding your place and trusting the journey.
After this episode, you will understand that your niche is not something you manufacture. It is something you discover by doing the work, trusting who you are, and letting the right people find you.
Thinking About Celebrancy in Scotland 🏴?
Scotland's celebrant industry is growing fast, and as Amanda explains in this episode, being an independent celebrant there is genuinely different to the rest of the UK.
The legal landscape for wedding celebrants has its own distinct pathways, and understanding them before you train means you can build your business with clarity and confidence from day one.
The good news is that for funeral and naming celebrants, the rules are the same as the rest of the UK. And for wedding celebrants, as Amanda's own career shows, the legal distinction does not limit your ability to build something brilliant. It just means knowing who you are and who you are for, which, if this episode teaches you anything, is the whole game anyway.
Want to understand the full picture before taking the next step?
👉 Read our full guide: Celebrant Training in Scotland
Or take our free quiz to find out if celebrancy is the right path for you.
MEET OUR GUEST, AMANDA LUSCOMBE-SMITH
Amanda Luscombe-Smith is a wedding, elopement, funeral, naming, and adoption celebrant based in Drumnadrochit in the Scottish Highlands, by the shores of Loch Ness. Trading as The Great Glen Celebrant, she trained with the Academy of Modern Celebrancy and has built a business rooted entirely in who she is. A nature-loving, adventurous, word-weaving celebrant who came to this work after 20 years in theatre education and the deeply personal experience of writing her father's eulogy, Amanda creates ceremonies outdoors across the Scottish Highlands, in all weathers, in all seasons, and occasionally in the sea. She believes the natural environment is the most magical backdrop for every milestone in life, and she has the jellyfish sting to prove it.
Website | Instagram
MEET YOUR HOST, LAURA CROCKETT
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 breakfast radio presenter, so her happy place is either at the front of a ceremony or sitting behind a microphone!
At home, Laura is married to Johnathan (a primary school teacher and her biggest cheerleader) and a mummy to two boys – Woody and Dougie. Laura is also a dog mum to Betty and Barney, the cockapoos! They can often be found curled up by her side when she’s writing scripts or lying by the radiator in the office when she’s on couples calls!
Website | Instagram | Facebook
🌟 Still exploring whether celebrancy could be your calling?
Take our free quiz to find out if this is the path for you.
💒 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 give you a behind-the-scenes look into life as a celebrant. Hosted by Laura Crockett, award-winning celebrant, radio personality, and host of Beyond The Ceremony.
