Funeral speaker training: Overview of schools, information

The training courses for ceremony leaders vary greatly. Some are very comprehensive, while others offer specific teachings on individual areas, such as wedding ceremonies or how to marry couples. Holistic training deals with design options as well as the symbols and rituals of various ceremonies. There are also several areas of communication and the basics of management. Leadership techniques, writing techniques or basic knowledge of philosophy and literature are sometimes also part of the training. A ceremony leader needs multitasking skills. During a training course, participants learn how to hold conversations, elicit people's wishes or skilfully avoid pitfalls within a limited time frame. They also learn how to place ideas correctly and how to identify rituals and design options. It all adds up, but everything can be learned! Internships, mentoring or supervision can also be part of training programs.

Heads of ceremony are responsible for special ceremonies. Weddings, funerals and baptisms used to take place exclusively in churches. In the mid-nineties of the last century, however, the first of these ceremonies also took place outside of a church setting. The demand for independent wedding ceremonies, funeral orators and independent speakers for a wide variety of ceremonies, as well as the various offers are considerable and are increasingly becoming part of everyday life. The professional field of ceremony management is still developing and will therefore remain exciting new territory for a long time to come.

To date, there is neither a job profile nor generally applicable requirements. The various training courses on offer show that they are also making their contribution in this direction, which is extremely important. Being a ceremony leader is a varied, interesting, demanding and responsible job. Anyone who works with higher powers would do well to be aware of the possible effects. This also applies to areligious celebrations. A solid foundation makes it easier to work with people. Anyone who works professionally knows boundaries, gray areas and appreciation.

Professionalism - and this is what clients want - is demonstrated by the ability to act with confidence on several levels at the same time. Customers and guests expect something new, good rhetoric, an appearance appropriate to the occasion and clear, empathetic leadership during the ceremony. A broad range of specialist knowledge, trained skills on several levels, plus knowledge of marketing, management and advertising are important prerequisites for success in this professional world.

Most training courses for ceremony leaders are part-time. They take place at weekends, during whole weeks or in evening courses.