Scotland is one of only a handful of countries where Humanist weddings are legal, just like any other civil or religious wedding, and are recognised as a legal marriage everywhere in the world.
I can conduct legal Humanist ceremonies anywhere in Scotland as long as it's "safe and dignified". This means we can go from wearing our wellies up the hilltops of our beautiful Scottish landscape, to wearing oxygen tanks while Scuba Diving in the Lochs; from the historic settings of Inchcolm Island on the Forth and the depths of the old Caves in Edinburgh; or from grand venues like Edinburgh Castle to intimate personal locations like your own back garden.
As well as legal wedding ceremonies, I can also offer civil partnership ceremonies and renewal of vows.
Planning your ceremony
Once you've booked me in for your ceremony I send you an information pack which includes lots of ideas for readings, vows, symbolic gestures, and well wishes. I also include a planner checklist so you can start to note down what you like, who is involved in your ceremony, and a little about your story.
2-3 months before your wedding date, we'll meet up (usually virtually for convenience) and go through the content in more detail, discussing ideas and if I can help with suggestions or advice, then I'm happy to do so.
I'll then send you a draft of your ceremony to look over and make any changes, and then you can relax and concentrate on the other 101 things you need to think about - menu tastings, table plans, etc.
What's in your ceremony
Ultimately it's completely up to you. I'll make sure we have the necessary legal words in there, but outwith that, we can be very flexible. I've found the majority of couples appreciate a template to work with, so I tend to recommend the following structure as a starting point...
- Welcome and introductions to bridal party
- Some words about the importance of marriage
- First reading
- Your personal story - how you met to how you got engaged
- Personal vows and exchange of rings
- Signing of the marriage schedule
- Second reading
- Words of thanks
- Well wishing and close
And any symbolic gestures such as handfasting, candle lighting, drinking from the Quaich, ring warming, sand mixing etc can be added anywhere during the ceremony.
