Marriage Celebrant Essentials
starts Thursday 15th May 2025This 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 subsequent courses will develop deeper knowledge and skills.
This course is the perfect complement to our Ceremony and Celebration course which starts the following month and which explores the ceremonial skills that you will need. It is a highly recommended starting point for celebrant studies and is the basis of the CertCelSts qualification which you will be well on your way to achieving.
The Earlybird rate for MCE applies up till 10 April. Thereafter, the course fee increases by $50. This course fills quickly so enrol as soon as you can 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.
Class times by Zoom:
Thursday 15 May 2025: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Thursday 22 May 2025 2025: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Thursday 29 May 2025 2025: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Ceremony and Celebration – start your celebrant training here!
14/15th & 28/29th June 2025 (online across 2 weekends)Are you wondering what a celebrant does, what makes a good ceremony, or how to become a celebrant? This course gives a realistic preview of the role, explores a range of ceremonies, and starts to build essential skills. It is recommended as the first course towards the Certificate in Celebrant Studies (although other entry points are possible). You will gain a firm understanding of the nature of ceremony and ritual and the role of the celebrant in Aotearoa-New Zealand, build essential writing and delivery skills, and receive a framework for the planning and design of a broad range of contemporary ceremonies.
Weekend 14 and 15 June 9.00am – 4:00pm each day then skip forward two weeks to
Weekend 28 and 29 June 9:00am – 1.00pm each day ie the course runs across two weekends
Note: We are delivering this programme fully by Zoom, but be assured that we have mastered how to keep you so engaged that time will fly on Zoom. Feedback from past participants shows that you build both skills and a professional network and have fun in the process!
Early enrolment before 9 May will give you a discounted course fee. To enable smooth processing of enrolments and adequate time for pre-course student preparation, we prefer enrolments at least 2 weeks before course commencement. (Please Note: Last minute enrolments involve additional admin and a surcharge is applied within the week prior to commencement to cover this) Please enrol early!
Marriage Celebrant Mastery
Starting 15 April 2025 in weekly evening sessionsThis course is for those who wish to be fully trained as professional marriage and civil union celebrants providing bespoke personalised ceremonies. It builds upon our prerequisite Marriage Celebrant Essentials (MCE) course and therefore assumes a thorough working knowledge of the legalities imposed by the Marriage Act and the Civil Union Act.* We will explore the full design process and a spectrum of creative enactments that can be incorporated into contemporary ceremonies of commitment to meet the needs of client couples. You will delve into interviewing, vow coaching and managing rehearsals, as well as how to enhance both your ceremony writing and delivery.
The course is delivered in 5 evening sessions 7.00pm – 9.30pm starting Tuesday 15 April and ending Tuesday 13 May. It is practical, inspiring and very rewarding for those wanting to excel in the role.
*Note: Practising celebrants who have already conducted 4+ marriage ceremonies may apply for direct entry into this course (and bypass the MCE pre-requisite)
We like smooth enrolments and for students to have time for precourse preparation. Enrolments received less than a week before course commencement incur a 10% surcharge to cover the additional admin required.
Professional Practice – Pt 2: Polish Your Practice
Wednesday 11, 18, 25 June & 2 July 2025Prerequisite: This is one of two parts of our newly reformatted Professional Practice paper, the final paper prior to Graduation. You may complete this paper prior to Pt 1 – Building Your Brand. Please contact the Director if you are unsure of your eligibility.
This paper wraps up the learning in the four Quadrants of professional celebrant practice and gives your performance a final polish. Establishing strong client connection for more complex ceremonies, clarifying ceremonial purposes, diversity and dealing with difference come under the lens, along with emerging issues, such as the use of technology and AI. Students can also request special topics that they would like addressed.
The course consists of four Zoom evening sessions held 7.00pm-9.30pm on the dates above.
Please enrol before 7 May for the early bird fee of $449, after which date the course fee will be $499.
Funeral Celebrant – superb combo of online and face-to-face training
starting Thursday 31st July 2025Our newly formatted combination of online and face-to-face funeral celebrant training has proved enormously successful in taking advantage of the convenience of Zoom and the added depth of in-person training. If you are considering how to learn to competently and confidently design and lead funeral ceremonies in NZ, there is no better option. You build some skills and knowledge in the online classes and then meet for an intensive, practical weekend in Wellington. Here you get the inside view of a Funeral Director, see a mortuary, visit a natural burial cemetery and urupa, and get live funeral delivery practice. This enriching experience builds your collegial network at the same time!
It is beneficial if you have already completed the Ceremony and Celebration paper, 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:
Thursday 31 July: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Thursday 7 August: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Thursday 14 August: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Thursday 21 August: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Saturday 30 August: : 10:00am-5:00pm face-to-face in Wellington
Sunday 31 August: 9:00am-3.00pm (Please note: the weekend times allow for those travelling and may be adjusted depending on group size)
Earlybird rate of $745 applies through to 25 June. Please enrol early
Precourse work is sent prior to the first Zoom session. 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.