How weddings have changed...

During lockdown and the months that followed, couples had to think creatively and out of the box, in order to plan their wedding. Whether out of neccessity or preference, brides and grooms were considering different types of venues... non-traditional options that perhaps offered more outdoor space... and also how to deal with the limitations on numbers attending. 

There have been some truly beautiful weddings over 2020-2022 and often very different to what a couple had originally envisaged. There's still a place for a traditional wedding - indeed my own wedding in 2007 was very traditional. But in the same way that the arrival of legal Humanist Weddings offered couples an alternative to religious or civil ceremonies, so now do these more unusual/intimate weddings offer another option for couples.

As we move from one crisis to another, the ongoing Cost of Living impact means that being financially smart is also a factor. Some of the biggest wedding costs come from the venue hire and the catering for all the guests. Going smaller and more intimate definitely reduces costs and I've seen more couples looking to have a more intimate wedding (30-50 guests) but then a larger reception party where they're not looking at a sit down meal for 100 people. 

So why does this all matter? My takeaway message from this post is to let you know that the sky is the limit. While our ceremonies cannot have religious content, beyond that you are only limited by your own imagination. Whether indoors or outside, in a formal setting or in your favourite park, up a mountain or out on the water, you can consider any location in Scotland for your wedding. I have high heels, trainers and wellies at my disposal and happy to wear whatever is needed to help you celebrate the start of your marriage in the perfect way that suits you both to a tee! 

When lockdown changes your plans....

 No matter what type of wedding you had planned for 2020, it's fair to say that unless you had your wedding before mid March, you will be affected by Coronavirus and the ever-changing impact and restrictions placed on public gatherings. For some couples it was a change at the eleventh-hour with only days or weeks until their wedding day in the Spring. For others, there has been at least some time to think about what the options are.

Some couples have opted to push their wedding back to 2021 (or later) and others have adjusted their plans for a smaller, but just as meaningful event. There's no right answer - you have to decide what is right for you. As celebrants, we understand how distressing this can be, and we are absolutely there for you. We can work with you to look at the different ways to adapt your original plans so that you still have the amazing day you dreamt of.

There are practical differences we can't get away from - things like limited numbers of guests/households and the impact that has on those you love. And of course some of our symbolic gestures become impossible - a handfasting with a socially-distanced celebrant means you have to take direction to navigates the traditional twists and knots of the sash you are using, and of course the very popular 'ring warming' which saw your rings passed through the hands of all your guests, is against so many health rules at present. But there are so many other things we can do, so we can plan your ceremony around all these limitations and we have years of ceremonies under our belts, to bring lots of ideas to the discussion.

Please keep up to date with current guidance on our news page:

https://www.humanism.scot/what-we-do/news/planning-a-wedding-and-covid-19-what-you-need-to-know/

Whether you're wedding is now in the celebrant's garden, or on a quiet beach, or up the hills of our beautiful countryside, the most important thing is that the two of you are saying to the world that you will be together for always. I wish you the most beautiful and memorable of days. xx

It's not always the bride that runs late!

It's fairly traditional for the bride to be running late and I always factor in around 15mins. Sometimes it's delays from traffic, or a bridesmaid's zip getting stuck, or a mother's hat needing extra pins, but that last half hour getting ready can get a bit crazy.

Anyway, I had a first... the bride and groom, Fiona and Stef, were already at the venue getting ready when I arrived and most of the guests were on time. There was a bit of nervousness as we got closer to the official start time, as the groom's father hadn't arrived yet. This was a man who was known for being prompt and just wasn't late for anything. So as we got to 10mins before the ceremony, Stef decided to give him a call...

We've all been there... you get a time in your head and you're so certain you're right it never crosses your mind to double check. Usually for me, it's getting the wrong time for a doctor/dentist appointment, but for Stef's Dad it was the time of his son's wedding. He was all ready, and sitting at home waiting on the time to come where he should leave. 

Thankfully he wasn't too far away, and to avoid him breaking all speeding records on the road, we encouraged him to take reasonable time and we told the guests to enjoy a last stretch of their legs before taking their seats. 

Everything after that went very smoothly, and indeed it probably gave Fiona and Stef something else to think about and focus their nerves on. It also gave Stef a good anecdote for future family parties and never again can his Dad complain if he turns up late for something! Indeed, Fiona has told me since, that whenever they look at their jar from the sandmixing ceremony it makes them smile - not just because they had a great day, but because they can laugh at the drama along the way!

Candles are lovely but...

I'll admit I'm a fan of candles at wedding ceremonies. Not lots all round the room necessarily, but a few to add a bit of atmosphere, especially when the venue is one of our lovely castles, or has a dramatic presence to it.

What is quite popular is to line the aisle with floor candles, a bit like this:

It can really add to the overall look of the room you are having your ceremony in, but here I feel I need to add a word of warning, after a wedding I conducted recently.

The couple were both very relaxed, informal people, who had a great sense of humour and I had been enjoying a bit of banter with the groom prior to the wedding. It was then that someone commented "is that something burning?" and we looked down to see the father of the groom's kilt had fallen into the glass jar on the floor and the candle inside had burnt a hole right through, about the size of an apple.

Thankfully it was low down, and round the back, but needless to say, he saw the 'hire fee' penalty flash up before his eyes and dreaded what it would cost him.

However, when I went out to say hello to the bride after she arrived, and to just warn her in advance what the burning smell was, she and her bridesmaids just started laughing - it was just the medicine she needed to get rid of those nerves. And when she walked up the aisle, and smiled at her soon to be husband, he started laughing too, and so did many of the guests. It's not a tactic I'd recommend but it fairly set a joyful mood for their wedding ceremony, and I'm sure gave some good last minute material for the speeches!

A little glamour on the Glasshouse rooftop

It was my first trip to this venue - the rooftop garden on the top of the Glasshouse beside Edinburgh's Playhouse Theatre. Right as Edinburgh was experiencing a summer heatwave, it was a perfect sunny spot for a wedding. Flora has on a beautiful silvery grey sequined dress, adding a bit of old-Hollywood style to the wedding, and the black and white theme around the garden definitely gave it a bit of glamour. 

Flora and Colin were eager to involve her children in their ceremony, making it about them all coming together as a family, so I suggested the sandmixing ceremony to them. It has definitely become a favourite of mine, especially when children are involved, and I think the end result looked amazing. Definitely something for them to keep as a reminder of their great day.