Five Reasons I Love Training People to Be Celebrants

When I trained to become a celebrant in New Zealand, way back in 1995, I had no idea of the path ahead of me: the wonderful people I’d meet, the beautiful ceremonies I’d have the pleasure of creating, writing and officiating, and nor did I consider that one day I’d be sharing with others how they too could have such a rewarding career path.

 

I have to admit that it does sadden me when I see people set up as celebrant trainers and they either:

1. only have a handful of years’ experience as a celebrant (and in most cases were poorly trained so end up passing on incorrect information or practices)
2. no experience as a celebrant (AT ALL!) but come from a marketing or business background

 

What makes our training unique is that between us, Paul and I have 80 years of real-life experience in our fields. We’re not in this to ‘make a quick buck’ in a rapidly growing industry but because we genuinely want to share our wealth of experience and, unapologetically, have high standards.

I LOVE:

1. Watching people’s faces when they settle into the purple sofa and, within an hour or two, inevitably say “I had no idea there was so much involved in being a celebrant!” I also enjoy when someone has initially trained elsewhere and then they come here and say they learnt more in an hour with me/us than in the whole training course they’d already done.

 

2. Opening the door to a career/vocation that, when it comes from the heart, changes the lives of those we serve. It brings a new layer of meaning to our lives when we are able to give of ourselves creatively, empathically and with acceptance.

3. The long-term connections that are often made with our celebrants-in-training. As our support for certified celebrants is life long, we are invested in being there (as much or as little as the individual chooses) at every step of the journey.

4. As a person who absolutely loves flowers, I see a person’s journey into celebrancy like a bud opening into full-scented bloom. It’s fair to say that almost everyone walks in through the front door with some degree of nerves, but it doesn’t take long (usually over a cuppa) to relax and trust the process. Our job is to encourage each person to open up to their creative possibilities―not just as a writer, ceremony creator or ritual choreographer―and to develop the necessary care, commitment, consideration and attention to detail when working with couples and families we serve as well as our fellow suppliers (funeral directors, bereavement services staff, florists, wedding planners, photographers, videographers and so on). I am so grateful when a celebrant-in-training truly understands the enormous responsibility that comes with this role and that it’s sacred work.

5. Each person who goes on to work as a certified Heart-led Celebrant has been infused with light from the vast experiences Paul and I have had and they go on to spread light to many other people. In my mind’s eye, I see these lights all over the world and that, my friends, is a beautiful thing!

Along with her husband, Paul Robinson, voice and presentation coach for celebrants, Veronika Robinson is a tutor at Heart-led Ceremonies Celebrant Training. Veronika  is a specialist in ritual and has been officiating beautiful, bespoke ceremonies since 1995.

 

She is a certified Infant Loss Professional; founder of Penrith’s first Death Café; has a TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Self-harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention; is a celebrant for the charity Gift of a Wedding; mentors celebrants around the world in all aspects of celebrancy including mastering writing life stories and love stories; and hosts retreats for celebrants. She earned her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Cumbria.

Veronika is the author of many books, published by Starflower Press, including the popular Celebrant Collection:

Write That Eulogy;

The Successful Celebrant;

Funeral Celebrant Ceremony Planner;

Wedding Celebrant Ceremony Planner;

The Blessingway.

The Gentle Celebrant’s Guide: Funerals For Children;

The Discrimination-free Celebrant;

The Celebrant’s Guide to the Five Elements.