Why train with us?

Celebrancy as service

You don’t need to subscribe to any specific beliefs to join our courses. If you see celebrancy as more than just a way to earn a living and are open to the inspiration of nature, then these courses are for you.

Be fully equipped

Our training courses are carefully designed to ensure that on completion you will have all the skills you need to provide excellent, fully personalised bespoke ceremonies to anyone – regardless of beliefs- anywhere in the world.

Practice core tasks

One of the key ways we ensure this is by building in opportunities to practice core tasks such as meeting with potential clients, designing orders of service and ceremony outlines, and writing ceremony scripts.

Receive one-to-one feedback

Unlike many other training providers, we give detailed personal feedback to every student, on every assignment, offering support and guidance as needed.

Reflect deeply

Our courses look at celebrancy in context: exploring the roots of ritual as well as current developments, and considering what people really need to make the ceremonies that mark the most important moments of their lives the best they can be.

Be resourced

As well as equipping you with a range of resources to help you work with clients and put together beautiful ceremonies, our courses support you to identify and build on the sources of inspiration and support that will sustain you on your path as a celebrant.

Jacki Clement, Cornwall, UK
I found this course to be really useful and informative. It has been an excellent grounding in celebrancy as service. I have a much better understanding of how I can be of service to clients, and how I can hold the space to create a sacred and meaningful ceremony for them.
Awen Rowan-Nelson, Washington, USA
As a former professor, I recognize a well-prepared, knowledgeable, and experienced instructor when I encounter one, and River is all of these things…This course is thoughtfully designed, well organized, and professionally executed, and, just as importantly, it is a wee bit magical.
Chrissy Fice, Hampshire, UK
The online learning suited me perfectly, being able to pick it up in the bursts of time life affords us. But I also felt good connections through the online chats and videos. I can't thank you enough for sharing so much of your experience.
Colette Corcoran, Vienna, Austria
I have really enjoyed doing this course…it has offered me much food for thought. I am now much clearer on how to conduct and hold ceremonies and what essence I want to bring to them.
Shawn O’Niel, Washington State, USA
River, as an instructor and guide, we couldn't ask for better. Your experience, dedication, knowledge, and communication skills are incredible. You offer so much… making the course both enjoyable and exceptional.
Tabitha Taylor, London, UK
I am so happy to complete the course! It has been even more meaningful than I had anticipated and I am very grateful to you for such excellent course material. It really has been a fantastic course and I have learnt a lot.
Daniel Smith, Hampshire, UK
The course was easy to follow with a perfect mix of media to maintain interest and ensure all learning styles are catered for. The downloadable resources are invaluable. Having examples and templates offers a reassuring guide to my first opportunities when they come, which I'm sure they will.
Casey Das, Arizona, USA
The course itself was incredibly interesting… I've been an ordained minister with the Universal Brotherhood Movement for many years… This course was particularly helpful in broadening my understanding of various ceremonies and refining my preparation process. Overall, this was an incredible experience, and I'm deeply grateful for it.
Shawn O’Niel, Washington State, USA
The lessons were the right length, the included videos, links, attachments, suggested reading materials, and meditations were all of great help… River's reviews were very helpful and aided me in fine tuning where I needed to improve.
Jacki Clement, Cornwall, UK
The videos, downloads and sample ceremonies were invaluable. I’ve been encouraged and inspired to continue to deepen my connection with nature, my fellow humans, myself and with spirit. I’m grateful for the time, effort and love that has been put into this course for the benefit of us all.
Holly Keithth, Essex, UK
My experience on this course has been nothing but positive. I feel I have grown to understand the delicacies of holding space in a way that serves and holds others. I also feel inspired and permitted to create ceremonies in my own way that feel authentic to me, whilst also fully reflecting others. My creative side has felt nourished, writing beautiful words and coming up with beautiful ideas for others. But I have also been pushed.
Ulf Leonhard, Jettenbach Germany
The course was interesting and instructive for me. I took away valuable tools so that I have a good framework for creating my own ceremonies.
Awen Rowan-Nelson, Washington, USA
I recommend this course highly to anyone who wishes to create unique, individualized ceremonies and rituals, and to perform them with grace, humor, and excellence.
Peter Müllerlei, Nuremberg, Germany
I really liked getting an individual answer to every homework assignment and always being met where I was in a very friendly manner…it was nice to get lots of different examples and also to have more organizational topics discussed [which] made it easier for me to now take the step and offer my services publicly.
Shawn O’Niel, Washington State, USA - SLD 2025
I am very impressed with this course… it is self-paced [so] I was able to work on it at my leisure without deadlines … and review as needed. I really liked that I was able to use personal experience and create my own items throughout.
Eve Salthouse, Cornwall, UK
The course has been wonderful. The wisdom in the lessons, the resources. The practical information. The monthly get togethers. Knowing that there is someone I can turn to as I take these first steps. It’s been an amazing time.

Our Latest Interview

Philip Carr-Gomm interviews River Jones School of Celebrancy course director