Grammar underpins the way we communicate. Without grammar there is no logic to our sentences. Grammar assists us to understand each other as we speak or as we read. It removes ambiguity by assisting a common understanding of the spoken or written word. This topic will explore the mechanics of our language and how it best works to our advantage when dealing with couples, suppliers etc. and in ceremony writing. We will work through some common mistakes made in sentence construction. Example paragraphs from ceremonies will be given to small groups to work through and decide the correct way to construct them.

This topic will provide examples, and initiate discussion about some unexpected and unusual situations that celebrants have found themselves confronted with. Then how they were able to resolve them. We have probably all had experience of some kind with the unexpected happening at ceremonies. Sharing solutions can help us provide insights. The insights will benefit celebrants greatly when striving to deliver an excellent service to our client couples and families.

The unexpected, the unusual, the frustrating. A celebrant needs to be adaptable and flexible when dealing with unexpected things that can crop up from time to time. The paperwork has blown overboard, the PA system has failed, the fainting party of the marriage, or a guest, the forgotten wedding rings, the sick flower girl, the screaming child, the missing singer - and many things that can go wrong when planning and conducting a funeral. All these are situations that confront the celebrant with a challenge and a decision; work with the couple to resolve the situation, or leave it alone because it is beyond the celebrants jurisdiction. This session will discuss some actual unexpected events, how they were dealt with and what the responsibility of the celebrant should be. It will also offer ways of mitigating risk so the problems rarely occur.