01480 276080 ku.oc.seinomereclivic@ofni

Further Training for Celebrants – Handfasting and other spiritual elements for ceremonies

NOCN Endorsed

This course is perfect for professional Celebrants wishing to offer spiritual enhancements to the ceremonies they offer. Handfasting is increasingly popular and can be offered as a stand alone ceremony or included within wedding celebrations, renewal of vows and commitment ceremonies.

The course has been endorsed by Awarding body NOCN and a certificate reflecting this is included in the course fee.

Various levels of enhancement will be suggested ranging from simple but effective additions to more complex elements.

handfasting training

One Day Workshop

The practical and intensive day includes:

  • Establishing what the couple require, origins of handfasting and how to introduce various elements in the ceremony.
  • Practical instruction on the use of cords and ribbons.
  • The four elements and why they are central to the theme.
  • The right equipment for the ceremony.
  • Creating the ceremony space.
  • How to deliver the ceremony without a script.

Plus other spiritual elements including: Creating a sacred circle, using the elements, blessing of rings, jumping the broom, cake and mead, setting up your ceremonial altar and much more.

Course Tutor: Dawn Kinsella

Dawn is a Priestess of Avalon and Priestess of the Goddess. She holds the Level 3 Diploma in Celebrancy and is one of the Authorised Persons for legal marriages at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple.

Dawn completed three years training as a Priestess of Avalon. Her role as Priestess is as ceremonialist and she conducts ceremonies, sacred marriages and handfastings in the Temple.

Course dates:

Tuesday 8th April 2025 – FULL 

Tuesday 14th October 2025

Course fee: £210+vat (£252)

Location: Mitchell Hall, Cranfield University, College Rd, Cranfield, Bedford MK43 0AL

Refreshments: Tea, coffee and lunch included.

Course materials: Full notes on all sessions provided.

To book: Call Civil Ceremonies Ltd on 01480 276080 or email ku.oc.seinomereclivic@arabrab for a booking form.

Course Feedback

What an incredible day! Dawn is such an intuitive trainer and the content of the day was inspirational, but accessible. Thank you so much for providing this enrichment opportunity and the chance to work and learn alongside so many wonderful fellow celebrants.

Excellent experiential learning. Hands-on practical activities to give us firsthand experience of how to conduct an unscripted handfasting ceremony.

Just fabulous, I learnt so much! Really enlightening and inspiring. A deeply spiritual and beautiful experience too.

I was told Dawn was fabulous – she is!

Intensive, practical day and I left armed with knowledge and skills to offer handfasting immediately. Dawn is an excellent teacher and has the most charming way of pushing you to achieve something you didn’t think you would be doing! Exceeded my expectations, thank you!

Fantastic course – would love to take it further.

I really thought it was excellent.

Excellent, loved Dawn’s teaching, very interactive.

Over and above anything I was expecting – fabulous.

Excellent, so inclusive and made you feel at ease and confident.

Excellent delivery and content. I’ve fallen in love with weddings again!!

Practical, fun and scary!! Loved it, feel a lot more confident now.

This day was fabulous. Such a great experience, thank you!

Exceeded expectations.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I felt Dawn was able to share the organisation and detail of handfasting very well with the group. Dawn is a super lady and very interesting person and made an excellent job of it. It went very well, we were well supported with much encouragement. I feel handfasting has been clarified and is now accessible to me.

Find out more about training to become a celebrant today.

01480 276080
ku.oc.seinomereclivic@ofni

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    Call us on 01480 276080

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        Please note the Level 4 course is for practising celebrants only.

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        IT Skills you will need both during your training and working as a celebrant

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        If you have answered ‘no’ to any of the above then you will need to improve your basic skills before starting the course. This can be done in a few hours by using one or more of the free online tutorials available on the internet.