Our lives are indeed These stages are punctuated by key milestones: birth, transition to adulthood, unions, the arrival of children, separations, retirement, death… Celebrating these milestones through ceremonies helps us pass these symbolic milestones and become aware of our evolution. Lay celebrants play an essential role in accompanying and ritualizing these important milestones in a neutral, benevolent and non-religious way.
Become a celebrant
Would you like to accompany people in these key moments of their lives through secular and humanist ceremonies? CAPSA offers a complete training program to become a celebrant of secular ceremonies.
This theoretical, practical and creative training program is aimed at all those who wish to take on a rewarding role and contribute to ceremonies that respect the values and convictions of each individual. It provides an opportunity to learn the trade of lay celebrant, with a choice of specialization: weddings or funerals (or both).
Our training is organized into different modules, each dealing with an essential aspect of life rituals.
These modules are designed to offer a complete progression for people wishing to deepen their knowledge of secular ceremonies, whether they wish to specialize in them as a profession or explore life rituals for personal interest. Each module brings specific expertise to the table, providing the fundamental skills and techniques required for the various ceremonies of passage.
The course begins with a general introduction, accessible to all, before dividing into certifying specializations in the fields of funerals and unions, to meet the diverse needs and aspirations of each participant. Together, these three modules provide a structured learning framework that respects the diversity of beliefs and life paths, while offering personalized guidance to become an accomplished celebrant.
Skills required
The profession of ceremony celebrant demands deep involvement and rigor. While certain skills can be acquired through training, certain personal qualities are essential to fulfilling this role with accuracy and respect.
A celebrant must not only master the techniques of expression, writing and organization, but also embody strong human values such as empathy, ethics and the ability to maintain emotional balance at sensitive moments.
These prerequisites form the basis of a sincere commitment to those we accompany through the important moments of their lives, and enable us to create ceremonies that are imbued with meaning and respect for each individual’s life journey.
Registration procedure
Please send your application by email to
info@acor-ceremonies.ch
and include the following documents:
- Personal narrative: An 800-1000 word text describing your background and explaining what motivated you to undertake this training course.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Your up-to-date CV, presenting your relevant experience and skills.
Please mention in your e-mail which module you would like to register for.
Your application will be studied carefully, and we will contact you to discuss the rest of the process.
Interest
A strong interest and a commitment to the role of celebrant of secular ceremonies.
Respect
Empathy, open-mindedness and respect for the diversity of beliefs and cultures.
Calm
Ability to regulate emotions and stress in sensitive situations.
Expression
Writing and oratory skills for creating and conducting ceremonies.
Communication
Ability to communicate respectfully and authentically.
Ethics
Empathy, open-mindedness and respect for the diversity of beliefs and cultures.
Collaboration
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Structure
Event planning and organization.
And above all, take care of yourself…
As a matter of ethics, we must draw your attention to the fact that this training is not compatible with certain fragile personal situations.
Our training addresses sensitive issues related to death, bereavement, relationships, separation and resilience. It prepares you for a professional posture that demands a certain personal stability.
It’s therefore important to have begun a process of understanding and distancing oneself from one’s own wounds.
Module A | Initial common core
Awareness of life rituals
Creating rituals that make sense, inhabiting your posture, learning to say the right words.
This module can be taken independently of the full course.
This module is designed for those who wish to add ritual to their lives, whether in a professional or personal context. It provides an opportunity to explore what it means to celebrate, accompany and mark important passages with precision.
Module B
Funeral
Supporting a bereavement is much more than following an order of ceremony.
This module invites you to explore rituals, question your posture and develop sensitive listening skills with loved ones.
We learn how to write an authentic tribute, structure a coherent ceremony and hold space with presence.
But above all, we understand that a ceremony is more than just a beautiful text:
it meets a
need for passage
before, during and after the fragile moment of mourning.
Particular attention is paid to traumatic bereavement (accidents, suicides, loss of children), with extensive role-playing to anchor practice.
Module C
Weddings
Celebrating a wedding is much more than telling a love story.
This module invites you to explore the meaning of the link, between traditions, symbols and singular trajectories.
You’ll learn how to structure a lively ceremony, accompany the writing of the vows, and find the right words for each couple.
Participants practice their listening and conversation skills, as well as imagining tailor-made symbolic gestures, particularly in intercultural or intergenerational contexts.
Particular attention is paid to the coordination of the D-day, the celebrant’s posture, and the management of unforeseen events.
The practice is anchored in real-life situations, from the first meeting to the ritual.
Module D – Final common core
Professional reality and celebrating your career
The final stage of the course, this module deals with the professional reality of the business: self-employed status, rates, contracts, invoicing.
It invites you to establish aligned communication, define your limits, prevent relational conflicts, and cultivate a stable posture in the face of emotions.
Each of us is called upon to identify our own personal resources in order to last in this demanding profession.
The module closes with a symbolic ceremony, the awarding of certification and a real time of shared assessment.
Our training team
The training course you are about to embark on is led by a team of enthusiasts: Léa Candaux, Julien Abegglen Verazzi and Andrés Allemand Smaller. Together, they embody a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and sensibilities, united by the same vocation: to transmit the art of celebrating life’s essential moments.
Through their unique perspectives, each will guide you in discovering the many facets of the celebrant’s craft. Their cross-disciplinary backgrounds will enable you to tackle different aspects of ceremonies, from accompanying techniques to respect for cultural and personal diversity, so that each celebrated moment is authentic.
Each trainer, guided by a deep respect for individual rituals and stories, will share his or her skills and vision with you. Their human and committed approach will provide you not only with the essential technical tools, but also with the inspiration and benevolence to accompany you with authenticity and empathy.
You’ll learn how to design unique ceremonies and provide sensitive support, so that each of your future celebrities finds a place of comfort and remembrance.
Sensibilisation
CHF 650.–
Modules : Tronc commun – 2 jours
Pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent
découvrir la posture rituelle et explorer le sens des passages de vie sans prétendre à une certification.
Parcours funérailles
CHF 2650.–
Modules : A + B + D – 10 jours + 1 examen
Pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent
accompagner les deuils avec justesse et créer des cérémonies sensibles et ajustées.
Parcours mariage
CHF 2650.–
Modules : A + C + D – 10 jours + 1 examen
Pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent
célébrer des unions symboliques et joyeuses, en lien avec chaque histoire.
Parcours complet
CHF 4500.–
Modules : A + B + C + D – 17 jours + 2 examens
Pour celles et ceux qui souhaitent
accompagner tous les rites de passage avec justesse et poésie.
Offre early bird
CHF 4250.–
Valable pour toute inscription effectuée jusqu’au 31 décembre 2025 inclus (Paiement des arrhes et entretien individuel validé)
