What skills are important to you?
When choosing the right person for your Ceremony what are you looking for?
As well as a sense of fun here’s what I think matters!
As a celebrant the two specific elements which relate to the actual ceremony are firstly to make sure legal requirements are met at all stages of the process.
As a funeral celebrant background information is crucial to fulfilling the role sensitively and effectively. Religious beliefs are immensely important and it needs to be absolutely clear from the outset the type of ceremony the client has in mind. As a celebrant I am aware of the difference between a Humanist Ceremony and a religious one; or even one which is to all intents, non-religious, but may include a prayer or a hymn as part of the service.
If the wish is for a Humanist ceremony – it is important there is a complete and extensive understanding of what that is the client wants. You do not need to be a humanist to perform the ceremony but you need to adhere to the philosophy of the humanists’ beliefs. One of which is, there is only one life, no afterlife and they will have no belief in in any supernatural phenomena and have no part in recognised religion.
There should be no prayers, hymns or reference to any religious elements.
Full religious ceremonies will normally be carried out in a place of worship by relevant ‘ordinated’, service provider such as a priest in the Catholic Church or a Rabbi in a Synagogue. This type of service would not be done by a Civil Celebrant.
If, on the other hand a client wants to have part of the ceremony religious then it is up to the Civil Celebrant to agree and include this in the service if they are comfortable doing so. It is a two way street and agreement needs to be unanimous. Myself, as a Civil Celebrant would be willing to adapt in order to function to the needs of a client within the riles of law and health and safety aspects involved.
If you have any quesitons then please ask in comments?
MM The Celebrant 