What Google and AI Can’t Teach You About Being a Celebrant

I can, hand on heart, say that I’ve never outsourced the writing and creation of a single ceremony script to another celebrant or used AI to write one. It is becoming increasingly common for celebrants to engage in such a practice. Whether it stems from laziness, overwork or being inadequately skilled, it paints a poor image of what should be a profession based on creativity and communication.

 

 

 

 

There’s also a new generation of ‘celebrants’ who have chosen not to spend money and time on seeking suitable training, and have decided to use Google and AI to give them entry into this vocation/career. On one hand, I can understand someone who has been asked to officiate a friend’s wedding might turn to the Internet for help (because, let’s face it, they have NO idea how much is involved in this job and what they’ll be missing). What I can’t (at any level) understand is why someone would base their new career on gathering tidbits of information that won’t necessarily be accurate, authentic, thorough or based on adequate experience.

 

Sometimes we’ve had people come to us for celebrant training who’ve actually trained elsewhere but felt something was ‘lacking’. The content of those courses (even expensive ones) hasn’t been much better than scrolling the net.

 

Here’s why Google (insert any other search engine) and AI won’t give you what you need for this role.

1. The key word here is ‘artificial’ (false, fake, faux, counterfeit, etc.) By choosing that route (to save time, money, or other) you are not getting the lived experience of someone who has successfully mastered the art and craft of celebrancy.

 

2. AI and Google will not show, demonstrate and explain the nuances of working with clients (especially ones who may be particularly challenging, for whatever reason) and how you navigate these relationships with care, compassion, understanding and expertise.
3. Any celebrant worth their salt will not be putting up well-written, beautiful bespoke scripts online so how the heck would AI the Poacher know what one looks like? How can it possibly guide you in crafting with care and creativity? It doesn’t know the scaffolding required for each rite of passage.

 

 

4. How does AI the Poacher (and his bestie Google) teach you how to use your voice to its best advantage, and guide you through learning presence over performance? There’s no point asking your partner or family member to give you feedback on your script or presentation because they don’t know what to look for. They’re not experts.

 

 

5. Will AI and G boy, rigorously go through your training scripts and highlight all the areas which need improving? Do they know all the behind-the-scenes work involved in this job? Will they teach you what’s required to work in a crematorium, other chapel or burial ground? Will they show you the journey to ceremony regardless of the rite of passage? No, no, no and no.
6. A and G have no ‘intelligence’ (emotional or otherwise) about the etiquette and practices required in this role. I once read a book on ‘how to be a funeral celebrant’ and nearly passed out when I saw that to be a funeral celebrant all you need is a printer, paper and laptop. Nowhere in the book was any of the information that takes weeks and months to learn. It’s not just about writing a script, but understanding the logistics of choreography in any ceremony. A and G don’t have any experience of working with funeral directors, crematorium staff, burial ground staff, ordering music through a third-party system or working with wedding couples or families for other rites of passage.

 

 

7. There’s a new trend in celebrancy for ‘unscripted ceremonies’. That’s all very well, but what about accountability? Even with a script, there are many, many accounts of celebrants getting things wrong (because they didn’t show the client the script and have it approved or didn’t save the latest draft that was approved and used the wrong one!). 

Why would you risk having unhappy clients? You’re opening yourself up to a potential law suit if you don’t take responsibility for what you create and deliver. The only reasons a scripted ceremony might be considered ‘boring’ is because 1. the celebrant is unfamiliar with what they’ve written (that is, hasn’t rehearsed it many times) and doesn’t have the skill or experience to get it off the page or 2. it is poorly written. Or both!

If the celebrant is enthusiastic about sharing the ceremony, that will shine through and will rest on the foundation of an excellent script and communication art.

 

8. If you want to avoid the rigour which comes from excellent training, then you won’t last long with clients. They are, in effect, your employers. Your job is to take direction. There’s no place for fragile egos in this job. If you’re unable to receive honest and open feedback from a celebrant trainer, then the day a client ‘tears your script apart’ will knock your confidence in ways you couldn’t imagine.

 

9. When I train someone to be a celebrant, I see their journey as a student akin to that of an apprenticeship. They are taking time to learn from someone who has spent years mastering their craft. They have seven-day-a-week access to support, guidance and mentoring to help them on this path. As a trainer, I am invested in someone’s learning. I want the best for them, and I also care about their future clients. Do you think A and G will be by your side when you’re officiating your first funeral for a baby or a death by suicide?

 

 

Will they be there when the bride is missing her late mother and crying her heart out in the minutes before her ceremony? Will A and G teach you the hundreds of small yet vital details that become part of an experienced celebrant’s ‘muscle memory’ of ‘what does and doesn’t work?’ Nope. 

THINK ABOUT THIS: A and G have never officiated a ceremony. They haven’t got any experience. Why would you learn from someone who hasn’t done this job? If a potential client asks where you trained, how comfortable will you feel saying that you didn’t? That you’ve just popped on line and scavenged around for bits and pieces? 

 

 

10. Your clients get ONE chance at their ceremony. Respect them enough to ensure you have the skills to know what you’re doing AND that you possess the qualities to be a great celebrant. The latter has nothing to do with popularity or meaningless celebrant awards and has everything to do with professional integrity.

What you think you’re saving in time and money by choosing A and G over excellent training will cost you more in the long run. So much more. And not only that, it will impact every client you have. Is that really the legacy you want to leave as a celebrant?

Veronika Robinson and Paul Robinson are a husband and wife team whose boutique celebrant training Heart-led Celebrants attracts people from around the world. Heart-led Celebrants has earned a reputation for excellence in celebrant training, and those who are certified exemplify the highest standards in the industry.

Veronika is the author of many books including the popular Celebrant Collection: Write That Eulogy; The Successful Celebrant; Funeral Celebrant Ceremony Planner; Wedding Celebrant Ceremony Planner; The Discrimination-free Celebrant; The Five Elements.

Award-winning voice artist, Paul Robinson, has had a whole career centred around his voice and other people’s. He’s highly experienced as a celebrant, trained actor, drama coach, voice-over artist, singer, broadcaster, compère, and ventriloquist. Paul is an excellent communicator and teacher, and has a sixth sense about how to relate to individuals, groups and audiences.