Ceremony and Celebration – kick start your celebrant training here!
31 January/1st Feb & 14/15th February 2026 (online across 2 weekends)Is now the time? Have you been wondering what a celebrant really does, what makes a ceremony meaningful, or whether celebrancy could be your next professional step? Perhaps you have long wanted to become a marriage celebrant, or you have completed Marriage Celebrant Essentials and are ready to explore the deeper ceremonial dimensions of this mahi.
Ceremony and Celebration offers a realistic and inspiring introduction to professional celebrancy. The course explores a wide range of contemporary ceremonies and begins to build the core skills required for practice as a professional celebrant. It is recommended as the first course toward the Certificate in Celebrant Studies (although other entry points are possible).
You will:
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Develop a strong understanding of ceremony and ritual
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Explore the role of the celebrant in Aotearoa-New Zealand
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Build essential writing, presentation, and delivery skills
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Learn a practical framework for planning and designing ceremonies for births, deaths, marriages, and other significant life events
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Gain confidence, clarity, and a grounded sense of professional practice
Course dates and format
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Weekend 1: 31 January & 1 February, 9.00am – 4.00pm
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Weekend 2: 14 & 15 February, 9.00am – 1.00pm
(The course is delivered across two weekends with a weekend break in between.)
Delivery
The programme is delivered fully via Zoom. We have created an engaging online learning experience that keeps participants connected, active, and involved. Past participants consistently report strong skill development, meaningful professional connections, and genuine enjoyment throughout the course.
Invest in yourself — and in your confidence and competence as a professional celebrant.
Christmas Special
The earlybird rate has been extended until 31 December. Enrol before year end to secure the discounted fee.
Marriage Celebrant Essentials (Feb)
starts Thursday 12th February 2026 on ZoomThis very popular, on-line, short course provides all the essentials for starting out on the right foot as a marriage celebrant. It ensures a thorough knowledge of the legalities imposed by the Marriage Act and recent changes affecting celebrants. You will be well set up for applying or renewing your appointment with BDM, and dealing with the tricky legal questions that invariably arise in a public role. You will learn about designing ceremonies at the simpler end of the spectrum and practical tips to build your confidence.
Class times on Zoom:
Thursday 12 Feb 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Thursday 19 Feb 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Thursday 26 Feb 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
This Feb MCE course coincides with Ceremony and Celebration, the foundation paper for the Certificate in Celebrant Studies. If you are serious about working as a professional celebrant, this combination will give you a strong start towards realising your dream. Note that MCE is also offered in March to give you some flexibility to choose your preferred dates.
The Earlybird rate for the Feb MCE class closes 8 Jan after which the course fee increases by $50. This course fills quickly so early enrolment is necessary to secure your place. To enable smooth processing of enrolments and adequate time for pre-course student preparation, we require enrolments at least one week before course commencement. Enrolments after this date incur a 10% admin surcharge.
AfterGlow Ceremony – a ritual for fully & semi-retiring celebrants
Sunday 15th February 2026 at 4:00pm (by Zoom for approx 1hr)Have you decided to relinquish your registration as a marriage celebrant, or semi/fully retire from your wider celebrant role? During your celebrant career you have been a beacon for others, crafting ceremonies to shine light on important transitions and rites of passage including births, marriages, and deaths. Now it is time for your service to be acknowledged, and how better than to use the celebrant métier of ritual?
With support from Dept Internal Affairs, BDM, this ceremonial event is an opportunity for you to mark this transition with your peers as you bathe in the AfterGlow of your unique journeys as celebrants.
Based on a successful pilot in early 2024, Ceremonies NZ has commissioned transition ceremony specialist, Kerry-Ann Stanton, to design and facilitate this event. Some preparation will be necessary, so please register your participation so we can send you the details nearer the date.
A long lead-in time has been planned to allow the word to spread through the celebrant community. Please share this event with others at a similar career stage.
There is no fee for participation, but if you have both the means and the inclination, an optional koha to help cover costs will be appreciated.
Photo credit – photographer Mohamed-Nohassi
Marriage Celebrant Essentials (March)
starting Tuesday 10th March 2026This very popular, on-line, short course provides all the essentials for starting out on the right foot as a marriage celebrant. MCE ensures a thorough knowledge of the legalities imposed by the Marriage Act and recent changes affecting celebrants. You will be well set up for applying to be appointed as an independent marriage celebrant by Internal Affairs (Births Deaths and Marriages, BDM), and dealing with the tricky legal questions that invariably arise in a public role. You will learn about designing ceremonies at the simpler end of the spectrum.
Enrol by 26 Feb to catch the earlybird rate!
Class times on Zoom:
Tuesday 10 March 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 17 March 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 24 March 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Enrolments less than one week before course commencement incur a 10% surcharge to cover the additional admin.
For full exposure to a wider range of ceremonies, this paper is ideally complemented by Ceremony and Celebration, which will be offered in February and June this year. See other course listings.
Professional Practice – Build Your Brand
Monday 16, 23 & 30 March 2026Prerequisite: This is designed for students who have already completed at least one Certificate paper. Practising celebrants wanting to improve their management and marketing systems are also welcome to enrol in this as Ongoing Professional Development (OPD) which is recognised by CANZ.
Student feedback has shown that celebrants often start making decisions about their brand early in their training, so to help avoid expensive mistakes, we now offer our Professional Practice paper in two, shorter, stand-alone courses, each with a distinct focus. This first one (BYB) helps you to define and/or refine your brand and to establish the systems to manage, market, and support your practice. This course can be taken at any point during your training.
The course consists of three Zoom evening sessions held 7.00pm-9.30pm on Monday 16, 23 & 30 March and an applied assignment on which you will receive individual feedback.
Please enrol early to take advantage of earlybird rates closing 5 March, and to provide adequate time for pre-course work which will require some research on which to base your celebrant branding and systems.
Polish Your Practice (PYP), the ceremony design part of Professional Practice, will be offered both in May as well as later in the year as the final paper in your Certificate. Our Graduation ceremony will be in November.
Māori Language for Ceremonies: He Karanga ki te Reo Māori
Two Zooms: Wednesdays 25th March & 1st April 2026; 7.30-8.30pmThis practical celebrant training workshop is designed for those who want to feel more confident, competent, and culturally grounded when using te reo Māori in their ceremonies.
It is particularly suited to celebrants in the earlier stages of their te reo journey, although newer celebrants with greater fluency may also find the workshop valuable as a ceremony-focused refresher.
Facilitated by Karen Tangaere (Ngāti Porou) — celebrant and teacher — this workshop provides a supportive, encouraging learning environment that gently reduces fear, builds understanding, and supports accurate pronunciation and respectful use of te reo Māori in ceremonial contexts.
In this workshop you will:
- Identify common barriers to using te reo Māori — and learn practical ways to move through them
- Explore meaningful opportunities to incorporate te reo Māori into your ceremonies
- Practise pronunciation of the Māori words you already use (or want to use)
- Rehearse greetings, commonly used phrases, and blessings relevant to ceremony
You will have time to ask questions, voice concerns, and practise aloud.
The workshop is delivered over two sessions, allowing space to embed learning and build real confidence in your language use.
If you miss a session, a recording or written resources will be provided — though nothing replaces the value of live practice.
This is ceremony-specific training, designed by celebrants, for celebrants.
Tūwhitia te hopo! Feel the fear — and do it anyway. He Karanga ki te reo Māori – invite Māori language into your ceremonies now.
Earlybird rate available until 15 March.
Marriage Celebrant Mastery
Starting Tues 7th April 2026 in weekly evening sessionsThis in-depth course is designed for those seeking to become fully trained, professional marriage and civil union celebrants offering bespoke, personalised ceremonies.
Building on the foundation of our Marriage Celebrant Essentials (MCE) course, this MCM course assumes a strong working knowledge of the legal responsibilities outlined in the Marriage Act and Civil Union Act.*
You’ll explore the full design process and a broad range of creative elements that can be woven into modern ceremonies of commitment. Through practical, hands-on learning, the course covers:
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Interviewing techniques
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Vow coaching
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Enhancing your ceremony writing and delivery
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Responding to the diverse needs of couples
- Managing Rehearsals
Whether you’re aiming to deepen your celebrant practice or elevate your professionalism, this course is practical, inspiring, and fun!
Course Format:
Tuesdays, 7 April – 5 May
⏰ 5 weekly evening sessions, 7:00pm–9:30pm (via Zoom)
*Practising celebrants who have already conducted four or more marriage ceremonies may apply for direct entry, bypassing the MCE prerequisite.
Enrolment Details:
To ensure smooth enrolment and allow time for pre-course preparation, we strongly recommend registering early. Earlybird rate available until 26 March
Funeral Celebrant – fabulous combo of online and face-to-face training
starting Wednesday 13th May 2026This combination of online and face-to-face funeral celebrant training gives you the best of both worlds – the convenience of Zoom to begin and the added depth of in-person training to complete. If you want to competently and confidently design and lead funeral ceremonies in NZ, there is no better option. You will build some skills and knowledge in the online classes and then meet for an intensive, practical weekend in Auckland. Here you get the inside view of the funeral industry with Q&A’s, site visits and presentation practice to a real live audience. This enriching experience has been highly endorsed by past students – it’s real and builds your collegial network at the same time!
We prefer students to have completed the Ceremony and Celebration paper first, although practising celebrants and others with experience in the industry and/or with loss and grief may also apply. (Contact the Director to discuss your suitability). Grab this opportunity for the ultimate funeral celebrant training package.
Note the dates:
Wednesday 13th May: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Wednesday 20th May: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Wednesday 27th May: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Wednesday 3rd June: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Saturday 13th June: : 10:00am-5:00pm face-to-face in Auckland
Sunday 14th June: 9:00am-3.00pm (Please note: the weekend times allow for those travelling)
Precourse work is sent prior to the first Zoom session.
Earlybird rate applies for those who have completed enrolment 6 weeks prior to course commencement. Later fee is $799)
To provide a smooth start for the group, we need all enrolments/course admin to be concluded 10 days before commencement – enrolments after this incur a 10% surcharge. Please enrol early.
Polish Your Practice (Prof Practice – Pt 2)
starting Monday 18 May 2026Prerequisite: This paper is one of the two components of our Professional Practice strand, and is typically completed last in your CertCelSts qualification. It may, however, be taken prior to Pt 1 – Building Your Brand. Please contact the Director if you are uncertain about your eligibility.
Polish Your Practice consolidates your learning across the four quadrants of professional celebrant practice and provides a final refinement of your performance standards.
This paper focuses on strengthening client engagement for more complex ceremonies, deepening your understanding of ceremonial purpose, and advancing your capability in working with diversity, difference, and sensitive contexts.
In addition, we examine emerging sector issues, including the role of technology and artificial intelligence in contemporary celebrancy. Participants may request specialist topics of interest, allowing the cohort’s needs to shape elements of the curriculum.
The course is delivered over four Zoom sessions, held weekly, 7.00pm-9.30pm (NZT) on these dates:
Monday 18 May 2026
Monday 25th May
Monday 1st June (note: this is the Kings Birthday Weekend)
Monday 8th June
Sessions combine discussion, case studies, skill-building exercises, ceremony delivery, and facilitated peer reflection.
Enrol by 7 May for earlybird rate
Transition Ceremonies – Diploma paper
starting Wednesday 8 July 2026 - evening and weekend Zoom sessionsPrerequisite: At least 2 previous TCS papers including Ceremony & Celebration
Extend your skills and practice into Transition Ceremonies in a small class of experienced peers! This is an advanced course focusing on the design and delivery of ceremonies for transition through change and crisis – whether personal, family or community (e.g. illness, bereavement, abuse, infertility, separation and divorce, natural disasters etc). It is principally intended for those with existing mastery of key ceremony skills, and some experience as celebrants (or facilitators). If unsure, you are welcome to contact the Director to discuss your eligibility.
Dates: Wednesday evenings 8, 15, 22, 29 July & 5 Aug 7-9.30pm
plus Sunday 9 Aug 9.30 – 3pm
Weekend session time may vary depending on group size
Because this course is only offered every 2nd year, for many students, this will be the final paper for their Diploma in Celebrant Studies. Grab this opportunity to graduate in our 30th Anniversary celebrations.