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Celebrant Training UK

Heart-led Celebrants is a dynamic movement of autonomous independent celebrants who have been certified by Heart-led Ceremonies Celebrant Training. They are certified to rigorous standards in order to exemplify best-practice celebrancy. A Heart-led Celebrant creates, writes and officiates beautiful ceremonies with integrity, acceptance and creativity.

Celebrants who feature the Heart-led Celebrants logo are certified, and have professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

Train to be a Celebrant

Heart-led Ceremonies Celebrant Training is creative, practical, inspiring and thought-provoking (and for some people, completely life changing), but it also involves a huge level of commitment from the celebrant-in-training not only during the face-to-face training but afterwards with ongoing tuition.

Unlike some training organisations, our certificates are issued on aptitude not attendance. This guarantees that our graduates become working celebrants of the highest professional standard in the industry. We make no apologies for our high standards as we take the role of celebrancy seriously, and we honour the fact that grieving families are vulnerable, and that all ceremonies will be remembered by the client.

Regardless of the type of ceremony you wish to create and officiate, we expect a high level of professionalism from all our graduates. This begins with the commitment they bring to their training.

CELEBRANT-TRAINING TUTORS

Veronika Robinson

Veronika Robinson is a highly experienced working celebrant with more than 29 years of experience. She has had the privilege of officiating in New Zealand, Australia and England where she has written and led all manner of ceremonies, including weddings, handfastings, blessingways, namings, divorce healing, miscarriage memorial, conscious conception, funerals, memorials, interment of ashes, sagesse, menarche, and house blessings.

Veronika has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, and is an author (fiction and non-fiction), journalist, public speaker, workshop leader, and metaphysician. She’s the author of the popular book Write That Eulogy; and Funeral Celebrant Ceremony Planner; Wedding Celebrant Ceremony Planner; and The Successful Celebrant.

She is honoured to be a celebrant for Gift of a Wedding, a charity which provides weddings for couples where one of them is terminally ill. Veronika was the founder/facilitator of Penrith’s first Death Café, a place to open up honest discussion around death and dying.

Veronika is the former editor of The Celebrant magazine, an international publication which seeks to educate and inspire celebrants of all types and at all stages in their career. thecelebrantmagazine.co.uk

Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson’s whole career has been centred around his voice, and other people’s. He is highly experienced as a celebrant, trained actor, drama coach, voiceover 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.

On our course, Paul shares insights and techniques on how to make the best of your personality, how to build your self-confidence, control any nerves you may have… and of course, your voice, your presentation skills and body language.

He will also look at how to engage with clients before a ceremony – and how to be the glue that holds any ceremony together. www.paulrobinsonvoicecoaching.co.uk

Training Courses

The differences between the two courses are similar to

the differences between a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree.

Certificate in Celebrancy

(Weddings, civil partnerships, handfasting ceremonies, vow renewals; Namings; Funerals: cremation, burial, eco-burial, Memorials, Interment and Scattering of Ashes)

Starts with THREE days of one-to-one sessions

Face to face in Cumbria, or via Zoom, followed by twelve weeks of independent learning and written modules.


  • One-to-one tuition in celebrancy with Veronika Robinson (Funerals, weddings, namings)
  • One-to-one voice and presentation coaching with Paul Robinson
  • Heart-led Ceremonies (book)
  • Guardians of the Threshold Study Guide
  • Workbook
  • 1 year of back issues of The Celebrant magazine
  • FREE listing on the exclusive Heart-led Celebrants Directory
  • Monthly group CPD (various aspects of celebrancy)
  • Monthly group CPD (voice and presentation)
  • Ongoing support and script appraisal
  • Monthly group CPD (voice and presentation)

Diploma in Advanced Celebrancy and Ritual

(this covers all foundation celebrancy work PLUS all rites of passage/human transitions)

 Starts with FIVE days

Face to face in Cumbria, or via Zoom, followed by eighteen weeks of independent learning and completion of practical and written modules.


  • One-to-one tuition in celebrancy with Veronika Robinson (Funerals, weddings, namings)
  • One-to-one voice and presentation coaching with Paul Robinson
  • Heart-led Ceremonies (book)
  • Guardians of the Threshold Study Guide
  • Workbook
  • 2 years of back issues of The Celebrant magazine
  • FREE listing on the exclusive Heart-led Celebrants Directory
  • Monthly group CPD (various aspects of celebrancy)
  • Monthly group CPD (voice and presentation)
  • Ongoing support and script appraisal
  • Monthly group CPD (voice and presentation)
  • One-to-one tuition in other rites of passage
  • Masterclass: Mastering the eulogy
  • Masterclass: Mastering the love story
  • Masterclass: Mastering metaphysical marketing
  • Masterclass: Mastering a higher heart frequency
  • Masterclass: Mastering aligned client manifestation
  • Masterclass: Mastering bespoke rituals (for any rite of passage)
  • Masterclass: Mastering the use of nature in ceremonies
  • Copy of The Blessingway Book by Veronika Sophia Robinson

How does it work

The training is divided into seven components:

One-to-one tutorials with celebrant trainer Veronika Robinson

One-to-one tutorials with voice and presentation coach Paul Robinson

Written assignments based on the modules of the chosen course

Independent learning time

Ongoing mentoring/script appraisal beyond the initial sessions

Monthly CPD on various aspects of heart-led celebrancy*

Monthly CPD specifically on voice and presentation*

*Group CPD with other Heart-led Celebrants (1 hour) these are optional, but included in the support offered

When booking dates for training, please allow a full day and evening for each day of your course as you are required to fully complete all written assignments, as well as engaging in independent learning time between tutorials. 

As part of the course, you will also receive:

Heart-led Ceremonies book

Guardians of the Threshold Study Guide

Books by the Author: Write That Eulogy; The Successful Celebrant; Funerals For Children; Wedding Celebrant Ceremony Planner; Funeral Celebrant Ceremony Planner; and issues of The Celebrant magazine.

Dedicated support from your tutors

Voice and Presentation Coaching

There are five one-hour sessions of vocal/performance.

A ceremony is where you bring all your learning and preparation into focus. It’s a moment of truth. Working with Paul – the voice and presentation coach – you’ll learn how to make the most of your voice as it is now, and how you can improve it. If you sound easy on the ear, you’ll connect with your clients and the people attending your ceremonies better than if it’s not. It’s a rare skill!

Even more importantly, you’ll find out how to communicate in a natural and meaningful way – from one to one, to a group of people. Without this ability, your other celebrant skills can’t flourish.

Paul will also guide you through what he calls the increments. These are the little things that aren’t hugely significant on their own, but when added will improve your presentation – online and in person. His aim is to help you be the best you can possibly be.

Ongoing Support

Upon certification, all Heart-led Celebrants can join our closed Facebook group and also take part in monthly group CPD sessions via Zoom with fellow Heart-led Celebrants. There is no limit on the number of one-to-one coaching sessions available to our graduates.

We offer SEVEN-DAY-A-WEEK support for all our graduates.

Learning Outcomes

The Certificate in Celebrancy training will show you how to create, write and officiate weddings, civil partnerships, handfasting ceremonies, vow renewals; funerals, memorials and interment of ashes; and namings for babies, children and adults. You’ll also learn how to confidently include rituals in your ceremonies.

The role of the Heart-led Celebrant

Code of conduct

Understanding ceremony structure

Recognising the skills and qualities necessary for personalised and professional, heart-led celebrancy

Funerals, Memorials and Interment of Ashes

  • The legalities of the funeral industry
  • Essential skills of a funeral celebrant
  • Family meetings
  • Understanding grief
  • Family disputes
  • Funeral etiquette
  • Working with funeral directors
  • Cremation
  • Burial
  • Eco-burial
  • Creating meaningful farewells
  • Writing meaningful eulogies
  • Crafting a committal
  • Writing an Order of Service
  • Funerary rituals: writing narrative and choreography
  • Dealing with stress

Weddings and Vow Renewals

  • Create bespoke wedding and vow renewal ceremonies
  • Understand the legalities of marriage law in your country
  • Write love stories
  • Learn the essential elements and structure of bonding ceremonies
  • Narrate and choreograph beautiful bonding rituals
  • Relationships with other wedding suppliers, such as wedding planners and photographers

Naming Ceremonies

  • Create, write and officiate bespoke naming ceremonies for babies, children, adults, and transgender people who wish to have their new identity formally honoured

You will learn:

  • How to officiate indoor and outdoor ceremonies
  • Create sacred space no matter what environment you’re in
  • The value of intention setting
  • Script Writing
  • Rituals: narrative and choreography
  • Performance
  • Working with the Four Elements
  • Celebrant Well-being
  • Understanding the role of the Community Celebrant
  • Voice development and coaching
  • The use of amplification in ceremony
  • Learning to be of service
  • The responsibilities of being a celebrant
  • Establishing your celebrant business in the community
  • Marketing
  • How to be self-employed
  • Carrying out Health and Safety Assessments for Ceremonies
  • Defining what is your responsibility and what is that of your client/venue
  • What you’ll need for creating a website to showcase your business

Diploma in Advanced Celebrancy and Ritual

The learning outcomes for this course are as for the Certificate in Celebrancy above, and also include any and all rites of passage, such as menarche, conscious conception ceremony, blessingways, miscarriage memorial, sagesse (wise crone), new business, divorce healing, parting of the ways, coming of age, inner child, and more.

The ability to create, write and officiate ceremonies for ANY rite of passage

Creative Writing

Word Medicine

Storytelling

Archetypes in Storytelling

Symbols, Rituals and Altars

Ceremonial Herbs

Developing a higher-vibrational heart frequency

Enhancing Intuition

Sacred Connections with Clients

Metaphysical Marketing

The Four Sacred Archetypes of Building Your Celebrancy Brand

Your Investment

Certificate in Celebrancy

£1,550

Diploma in Advanced Celebrancy and Ritual

£2,550

Applications

Applications are invited from people who are committed to developing awareness of self and others, willing to train to an excellent level, are creative, independent, inspirational, authentic and courageous, and wish to consciously create beautiful ceremonies in their community.

Unlike any other training course in Europe, this course is focussed on the importance of ongoing personal development, and takes a mind, body and soul approach to celebrancy and ceremonies. We recognise the importance of ongoing skill building.

The foundation of this celebrant training, and the life of a Heart-led Celebrant, is based on integrity and self-awareness, acceptance and creativity.

Before committing to this course, please ensure that you have the time and availability to dedicate to your training.

If you’d like the privilege of training with Veronika Robinson and Paul Robinson as a Heart-led Celebrant, and you’re ready to book your place, get in touch for a booking form.  Email: veronikarobinson@hotmail.com

Email for a booking form

Testimonials

Dear Veronika,

There are not enough words to thank you for the truly life-changing two days spent with you in your lovely home in the beautiful Cumbrian countryside.  You are an inspiration, a mentor and an advocate. You helped me to value myself and the gifts I can bring to this new chosen career.   You challenged me, but in a gentle and empathetic way that made me feel that it was going to be ok to try to get my words onto the page and then “off the page”.   By the time I started writing with you (and it was very early on the first day), I felt that no matter what the result was to be, I had a soft place to land, and that you would support my efforts, no matter what the end product.   And, as a result, I could take risks with my emotions and my words-not easy for anyone, especially an introvert like me.

I learned more about being a celebrant from you in two days than I did in the entire nine months of my previous program. I now feel that I can, with grace, humility and hard work, develop and deliver celebrations that will honour and support events in anyone’s life journey.  Thank you, thank you, Veronika for giving me the gift of “you”.  You are a true, beautiful and rare gem.  I shall never forget our time together.

Thank you.

Brenda Martin, Canada

Thank you soooooo much for all the lovely feedback and learning points.  I have thoroughly enjoyed your course and am deeply inspired by it; creating ceremonies has really tapped into something deep that has pleasantly surprised me.

I think a key learning point is that ceremonies are a work of art and hence should be treated so. They need space to percolate.

Rob, Yorkshire

Thank you so much for your time, expertise and lovely hospitality.  I learnt so much, and your belief in my abilities has given me the confidence I needed.

Lesley, Cornwall

I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you (belatedly) for your welcoming nature, delicious food and expertise in my training.

In love and light,

Sandie x

Just received my Certificate in Celebrancy and I am over the moon. Thank you for being such a good teacher. I really enjoyed the course and I hope I do you proud. All the very best and I’m sure I will be in touch for your continued advice and support.

Many, many thanks

Irene x
I just wanted to thank you for sharing so much with me over the past three days. Your cosy cottage. Your beautiful smile. Your amazing knowledge. Your delicious cooking. Your energy.
I hope I will take a little bit of Veronika magic with me wherever I go.
Rachel XX
Dearest Veronika,
A very heart felt thank you for all you have given me over the last two days.
Spending time in your presence has been a real gift. Your knowledge, your warmth and hospitality and the essence of who you truly are have been so precious to me and I feel I am entering into the world of celebrants in the best possible way.
As soon as we met I felt a real connection and I feel so blessed to the universe to bringing me to the depths of the North West!
Thank you to Paul, too, for providing the link between the words and the presentation.
I look forward to further connections and help as I travel along the path that you so carefully placed together for me
With love
Gwyn x

Just wanted to thank you so much for making my funeral celebrant course such an enjoyable one. You were very kind and welcoming and have such a relaxed but professional approach. And we had some giggles!

I was pretty nervous about coming up but I loved every minute; and if I can be half as good a celebrant as you, I will be very happy!

Lots of love,

Sophie

You have that special kind of something that money just can’t buy. What you do so well is package up little bundles of skill and know-how so that we can craft our own ‘special something’ ~ heart-shaped, of course.

Sometimes it happens that people, along with their teachings and learnings, come along just when they need to.

Perfect timing from the Universe, in leading me to you.

I don’t know where the experience of last weekend will take me… but wherever it is, I will go with love.

Thank you for your teachings and sagesse (French for wisdom).

Jane S.

I just wanted to say an immediate thank you for your wonderful weekend Celebrant Training.

Now I am home, the magnitude of all you shared and explained is starting to sink in.

I am more than sure that yours was the right training programme for me. Thankyou.

Amelie and I are both quite blown away by the whole idea of becoming a celebrant ….you have definitely started something within us both.

With much love

Wendy

Thank you so much for the wonderful and mind-opening days I spent with you this week. I loved every minute of learning about celebrancy even though the tears it brought out may have suggested otherwise. I’ll get those ceremonies typed up asap but just wanted to say a heart-felt thank you first.

You obviously have a gift for listening. My mind is permanently racing so I don’t listen as well as I could, and now I’m trying to slow it all down after meeting you.

Just wanted to say a heart-felt thank you.

Amanda C.

I loved every second of my training with Veronika and Paul. The guidance in all aspects, including the voice coaching, was spot on and both so welcoming. I laughed and I cried in equal measure. I want to do it all again.

They have also provided a wonderful sounding board for work I am doing which is very appreciated. I would recommend no one else x

Kate Simpson

This is just a quick email to thank you and Paul again for your kindness and help – the training was brilliant, but made more special because you shared so much with me in such an unselfish way – your knowledge, experience, home and hospitality. And you both built my confidence in a genuine and caring manner.

The training was everything I hoped for and more – and I’m really looking forward to getting started.
You are two very special people, and I’m so grateful I found you.

Glynis xx

I felt honoured to be a part of the first heart led celebrant training last weekend. It was heart led in the truest sense of the words. I left feeling not only well equipped to step into the world as an independent celebrant, but also affirmed in my personal strengths and abilities. Veronika and Paul shared themselves and their extensive knowledge so generously with us all and sustained us with fantastic food, and all in a beautiful environment. Thank you both so much, it may sound odd to be said of a training course but this is something I will cherish for a long time.

Nicola Harrison-Swainston

Thanks for your ongoing help and support. This is not just a training that once delivered you are on your own. The power of the ongoing sense of community, of being upheld by you and by Paul, and the sheer inner strength I get from these resources is beyond explanation!  So thank you so much.

Kay
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Discrimination-free Celebrancy

I practise discrimination-free celebrancy.  

This means that I will not discriminate (or associate with those who discriminate) against you on the grounds of religion or other beliefs, disability, mental health, race, culture, gender, gender reassignment, age, marital or parental status. I honour the right of each human being to celebrate their life.  

You have my assurance that I will accord you the respect you deserve. This assurance is across the board in my work as an author, celebrant and celebrant trainer.  

~ Veronika Robinson

Contact Me

Email:
veronikarobinson@hotmail.com
Phone:
01768 898 748
07717 222695

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© Veronika Sophia Robinson
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