I live in Edinburgh with my partner and son, and work part-time for Humanist Society Scotland as their Community Engagement Manager.

I believe in our common humanity, and that it is our relationships with our f...ellow human beings and the natural world around us that make our lives worthwhile.


I have been a member of Humanist Society Scotland for over a decade, and a registered Celebrant since 2011. I love conducting ceremonies, it is some of the most rewarding and worthwhile work that I have done, and it is a real honour and a privilege.

What humanism means to me.

In short, it is about the things that bring us together rather than those that divide us. We treat this life as the only one we have, so we need to take responsibility for our actions in it. It is this acceptance that we each have only one life that makes it so very precious. Life is not a dress rehearsal and Humanism provides a positive and fulfilling life stance for making the one life we have as worthwhile as possible for ourselves and others. Above all Humanism is about being human. 

Personally I try to live a good life, guided by reason and compassion – not religion or superstition. I enjoy fresh air and sunshine, reading books, building Lego with my son, cooking and socialising.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

It’s a pleasure to help couples to celebrate their love for each other in a way that is personal and meaningful to them, it’s simply a privilege to be part of that.

I like couples to be fully involved in s...haping and crafting their ceremony, and ideally writing their own vows. I am there to help couples to express what they would like to say, by providing resources, templates, suggestions and samples which will give you ideas and inspire you! I am happy to meet you first or speak on the phone before you make-up your mind. I can explain and guide you through the process, and help you to create the kind of ceremony you want. I usually meet couples at least once in person if possible, and continue to be available on the phone/skype and email.

I enjoy hearing the stories of two people who are in love and fully committed to each other, it is simply so life affirming. I love the energy, the emotions, the creativity, and the fun and laughter that are so often part of a Humanist ceremony.

Whether you have plans for something small and intimate, a big gathering, or something in-between, I would be delighted to work with you create the kind of ceremony you want. Conventional or unconventional, formal or informal, traditional or contemporary, simple or elaborate, the choice is yours! So please feel free to get in-touch and discuss your ideas with me.

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

The arrival of a new baby or child into a family is a joyous occasion, and a "naming" or "welcoming" ceremony provides a wonderful way to celebrate it.

Our ceremonies can provide a meaningful opportunity to ga...ther family and friends to mark the occasion in a way that is fitting to your own life philosophy.

It is a way to introduce and welcome the child (or children) into both the wider community and into your family and circle of friends. You can use it to appoint "guide parents" or "supporting adults", or highlight the importance of family and friends in guiding and nurturing the child.

The degree of formality or informality is up to you. You can involve siblings and other family members if you wish, express your commitments to your child, re-affirm humanist principles and values, and incorporate moving symbolic gestures.  Each ceremony is unique to the child/children and the family celebrating it.

It can be held in a location of your choice, at home or elsewhere, indoors or out, whatever captures your imagination!

I am happy to advice on choice of words, poetry, readings, music, activities and symbolic gestures (such as hand, foot or finger printing, candle lighting, a wishing tree, flying a kite, signing of commemorative certificates, proposing a toast etc.)

Please note that these ceremonies can be held for older children too, several children at once, an adult changing their name, or incorporated into a wedding ceremony.

Funeral Ceremonies

A Humanist funeral should reflect the life and personality of the person who has died in a fitting and meaningful way. It’s a way of saying goodbye honestly and without pretence, using words and music to remember wh...o they were and how they lived their life. It is a celebration of their life and the people who shared it with them.

Conducting funerals is some of the most important work I ever have done. Helping families and friends to say goodbye, but also to celebrate the life of their loved one, is an amazing privilege and I feel honoured to be asked to do so.

I feel that my role, in helping you to plan the ceremony, is to listen, to empathise and to respond to your needs. As well as coming to terms with the sadness of your loss, it is also important to focus on your happy memories too. The funeral is an opportunity to reflect on both of these things and my job is to pay tribute to your loved one on your behalf so that the ceremony becomes a fitting celebration of their life. 

I always offer a preview of the tribute I have prepared so that you can suggest any alterations or additions that you wish.

I can help advise on readings, poetry and music, and offer support for any members of the family or friends who wish to speak during the ceremony.

Contact

• 07905374395
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HumanistCelebrant

I have been doing ceremonies for more than ten years and it has been a very rich and rewarding experience. I have had the pleasure of helping many couples and families in times of joy and celebration and also at more ...difficult times. My work in Higher education and my personal life are shaped by a conviction that each human life is unique, rich in its own way and a cause for celebration. For me, Humanism means leading the best lives we can and involves a commitment to respect for human beings, their freedom and fulfillment. My five-year old son tests this commitment regularly.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Weddings celebrate a couple's love for one another - what could be richer or more uplifting? A Humanist wedding is also a declaration of mutual respect and of the couple's willingness to share their lives together - w...ith all that involves.

Just as every human life is unique, so is every wedding. My aim is to provide couples with the advice and support they need, helping them to shape a ceremony that is exactly what they want and which celebrates their love in the ways that are important to them.

Some feedback from couples:

"Just wanted to say a very big thank you for marrying us! We absolutely loved having you as our celebrant. Thank you for taking everything we threw at you on board so easily. You are a true professional and made our ceremony so beautiful" - Christine and Johnny, Australia. 2018

"Will and I would like to thank you for such a fantastic ceremony. It was great fun and exactly what we had hoped for. We've had so many guests commenting on how wonderful you were and how much they enjoyed the ceremony" - Will and Eilidh 2018

"We are so delighted to have chosen you as our celebrant. Supportive, reassuring and meticulous, you made us feel comfortable throughout with gentleness and good humour. We can't thank you enough" - Drew and Elaine 2018

Funeral Ceremonies

Funerals offer the opportunity to celebrate the unique life of someone dear to us, to share our sense of loss by coming together to offer mutual support. It is a profoundly rich and moving aspect of my work as a celeb...rant and an immense privilege.

Contact

• 0141 4239400
• 07989 721817

Hello - and thanks for looking at my profile. I have been a celebrant for Humanist Society Scotland since 2010. Prior to that at varying times I was a secretary, registrar of births, deaths and marriages and wedd...ing/events planner all of which tie in well to my life as a funeral and wedding celebrant.

I'm happily married with two grown up children (one in Glasgow and one in Australia), loving being a Granny to two gorgeous granddaughters and a darling new grandson in Queensland and lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country not far from Loch Lomond and Argyll.

If you're organising things from a distance that's not a problem, we can sort things by Facetime and the wonder of email but generally I prefer to meet people if at all possible.

When contacting me for wedding availability via the website enquiry form, you should expect a response within 24 hours. So if there is still a stunned silence from me say 48 hours later - PLEASE PHONE OR TEXT ME.

I will always reply so if you don't hear from me your message has either not been received by me or my response has gone into your Junk/Spam folder!!! PLEASE CHECK!!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

If you are looking at this as an engaged couple then congratulations! It’s an exciting time and I always feel so privileged to be a part of such a special day. I am happy to meet you (sooner or later) and have a ...general chat about the format of the day and any specific thoughts you may have about the ceremony.

The ceremony is all about you, and your family, and I can personalise this as much or as little as you like. You may wish to have others taking part, e.g. reading, playing an instrument or singing and I can give you suggestions for poems as well as help with vows and music.

It's also nice to include a bit about "your story" (if you're up for it!) - it's very much your wedding. Your wedding tells a story - where you have been, who you are, what your future holds.

I then draft a ceremony for you to consider and amend as you wish - sometimes it's easier for couples if they have something to work from rather than starting from scratch themselves.

My job is to make sure we get the legal bit in somewhere to ensure that you are in fact married (!) - but there is great flexibility around that. Same with vows - I can suggest a form of words for you which you may wish to keep or ditch for something personal you read to each other (perhaps as a surprise from one another) or maybe a bit of both.

On the day I arrive early - not to rush you but to make sure everything is in place for a smooth running ceremony, checking with the venue, photographer, piper, whoever is in charge of the music, people taking part in the ceremony etc and that important family members have got the best seats! I am a clear and distinct speaker and totally guarantee those in the back row will hear what is being said 🙂

The end result for me is to deliver a ceremony that is meaningful and personal for both of you, which is light hearted and fun, but at the same time recognising the solemnity of the occasion.

I have a "less is more" attitude to the internet with no personal website or Facebook page but hopefully my experience as a celebrant makes up for social media deficiencies 🙂

I would love to help you plan your perfect wedding!

Funeral Ceremonies

A humanist funeral is all about the person, their life, family and interests. As well as mourning the death, it’s an opportunity for friends and loved ones to come together and focus on good memories and celebrate... the life.

I would generally visit you at home to have a chat so that I can then go away and write up a fitting tribute for you to review before the ceremony. If a home visit isn’t appropriate, can either email or talk on the phone - whatever suits you.

What I find most rewarding is being able to help families through perhaps one of the most difficult weeks of their lives. It helps to talk and often people say the whole process is very cathartic.

"Sheena, the whole family thank you most sincerely for a perfect day. Everything went like clockwork and we could not have wished for a better farewell for Dad. Everyone commented on your script which left us all remembering the good times of his life. Some had not been to a Humanist service before and were most impressed."

"Thank you for your help with Mum’s funeral. We were able to offer her the simple service that she had asked for in a dignified way that reflected how she was. It was helpful to us to participate so fully in creating the ceremony and I know this will be important as time goes on."

"Just a short note to say thanks for all your help, support and encouragement. Your contribution helped us greatly and gave us all the strength to get through this time".

Contact

• 07821 720198
• 01360 441050

I AM AFRAID THAT I AM SOLD OUT FOR WEDDINGS IN 2022

Hello from the glorious Aberfeldy in northernmost Perthshire. I trained as a humanist celebrant in May 2009 and my ceremonies are light-hearted, relaxed and I... hope it is OK if we have a bit of a laugh because it's all about the celebration. Please note that from 2023 I am limiting my ceremonies to those only taking place in Perthshire.


What humanism means to me
It is inclusive, it embraces the core values of many religions: it is based on respect, tolerance, goodness, kindness, a concern for the natural world and a recognition that every individual deserves to be valued for who they are. I am a scientist and I believe in a rational world but I respect that others have the right to hold their own beliefs.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Your wedding ceremony or Civil Partnership ceremony is the most important day of your life, a day that you and your family and friends should remember forever. That is where I start when working with you. Your guests ...should leave your ceremony saying that it was fantastic, unique and truly reflected who you are as a couple. Your challenge is that you have probably not done this before and, like most couples I work with, you have little idea where to start. No problem, you are in safe hands and since 2010 I have been working with couples to help create their perfect ceremony.

My wedding and Civil Partnership ceremonies are relaxed and light hearted, your guests should be more than spectators and should part of the special moment in your big day. Humour is one of the best ways to engage with people but, at the same time, your ceremony should have heart. So, we’ll do the meaningful bits seriously because, although it is a celebration, marriage is a serious commitment.

I usually meet with couples to start planning their ceremony about 4 months before (although I’d be delighted to meet before then). At that meeting I’ll listen to your ideas and walk through what might happen in a ceremony with you both integrating your ideas and giving you loads more. The best way I find to get your input is to ask you to do some homework after the meeting, don’t worry this does involve a bottle or two of wine! When you’ve done that, I’ll send you Brian’s Handy Handbook, which is full of ideas and examples of ceremonies, readings, and symbolic gestures, which you can include (like handfasting, sharing a Quaich or a band warming, although there are many more). I then work with you as you want. Either I can put your ceremony together for you or you can. In reality, it’s usually a bit of both, and we work together until you have the ceremony you want.

One of my couples sent me the following after their wedding: "We just wanted to also let you know how fantastic our ceremony was. It was truly personal and it was without a doubt my favourite part of the day. Our guests (many of whom had never attended a Humanist ceremony before) were blown away by it. They loved how quickly you put them at ease with some humorous remarks and I believe that you created a relaxed and happy feeling that lasted throughout our whole day (and night!). You were wonderful and I cannot thank you enough for making our wedding ceremony so memorable with the perfect balance of laugher and tears!"

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

I just love conducting Naming Ceremonies. They are the most flexible of all the ceremonies we perform and I will work you creatively to produce a very special day for your little one. You tell me the tales and stories... of the wee one’s arrival, tell me all about the little angel (aye right!), tell me of the important people in their little life and we will together put together a ceremony that everyone will remember. I'll help you with readings, music and poetry and we will have a great celebration with your family and friends.

Funeral Ceremonies

I take my role at a funeral as a serious responsibility and I work to ensure that each ceremony is exactly as the family want it to be. 
The most rewarding aspect of the role is to see the family after the ceremony... and how they have begun to come to terms with their loss. It is a privilege to be allowed to share in the highs and lows, the triumphs and disappointments of a life lived and an honour to celebrate and share these moments during the ceremony. And because we celebrate the person's life, I love to see people laughing at a happy memory and realising that it's OK to do that at a humanist funeral.

"I can't thank you Brian, adequately, for yesterday. The ceremony was absolutely perfect - and commented on by everyone (you have 3 more lining up). And thank you especially for your warmth and understanding."

Contact

• 07785 925298
• Twitter https://@humanistbrian
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HumanistBrian/
• Website https://humanistbrian.com

I have been a celebrant since 2005 and have enjoyed this work more than anything else I've done previously. Humanism is about equality and respect, what we share rather than anything that might divide us, about making... choices and the opportunity to live life to the full.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

How I feel about being a wedding Celebrant
I love it! - it's a privilege to be part of your special day. I enjoy meeting people, discussing your plans with you and ensuring it all comes to fruition.

My ap...proach to weddings
Meet each other (if it's possible, if not use email and phone) discuss the ceremony, I can write the script or I'm happy to read what you have written. I take my lead from you. There are lots of ideas and advice I can pass on however I like you to make the decisions. My role is to ensure the ceremony is what you want and feel comfortable with and we all enjoy the day.

What I love most about conducting weddings
Being part of your day, making sure that you are calm and prepared, saying the things you want to say to family and friends and ensuring the day is happy and memorable

My advice to you
Enjoy the day, be yourself, delegate as many tasks as you can and have a wonderful time.

My favourite piece of wedding poetry
Finally, I have found a place into which I fit,
Perfectly, safely and securely, with no doubts, no fears, no sadness, no tears.
This place is filled with happiness and laughter,
Yet it is spacious enough to allow me to move around,
To live life and to be myself.
This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed,
I have found. Finally - in your arms, in your heart, in your love.
(Author unknown)

My favourite piece of wedding music
"Lovely Day", by Bill Withers

My most unusual location for a wedding to date
A youth hostel, a beautiful old house with spectacular grounds.
More recently I conducted a wedding on a privately owned island on Loch Lomond which was spectacular. The sun shone, the cows joined in by serenading us and it was exactly what the couple hoped for, sunshine too!

Funeral Ceremonies

A Humanist funeral ceremony should reflect the life and personality of the person who has died in a fitting and meaningful way. It's a way of saying goodbye honestly and without pretence, using words and music to reme...mber who they were and how they lived their life. It is a celebration of their life and the people who shared it with them.

In these difficult times it's even more important that people feel part of the ceremony, this has been helped by the introduction of 'live-streaming' in venues. If there is a way to make the ceremony meaningful and inclusive then it should be done. Everyone who is part of the process of conducting and carrying out funerals will do whatever it takes to make it the best it can be.

Contact

• 07798 606490
• Facebook https://Linda Britton HSS Celebrant

I never used to believe people who said that they looked forward to going to work every day and that's because until 2009 I treated work as a means to an end or rather a means to a salary. Then I became a celebrant an...d now I understand what those people meant. Every day brings a new opportunity to meet people with wonderful stories to tell and I consider myself privileged to be invited into their lives to help them put together a unique and personal ceremony - whether it's a wedding, a naming or a funeral. I have lived near Elgin in Moray for about twenty years and I love the fact that I live right by the sea – fulfilling a lifelong ambition. For me, humanism is all about people and the way that we interact and affect one another’s lives. Life, family and friends are the most precious possessions that we have and they should be nurtured carefully and enjoyed to the full for as long as we are lucky enough to have them.

You’ll find more information about me on my website:
www.janetdonnelly.co.uk

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Conducting weddings is one of the greatest joys of my life. You will probably already have your own vision of what you want your ceremony to be and I'd love to work together with you to make that vision a reality.

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

The arrival of a baby is a huge event in a parent's life and it is lovely to be involved in a happy occasion such as a naming ceremony. The important thing to me is to meet the parents and of course the new arrival (s...) and get a feel of what kind of ceremony would suit them best. A naming doesn't have to be a formal affair, it can be a celebration and a welcoming too. Quite often a naming ceremony happens when the 'baby' is not really a baby anymore and so the actual 'naming' part is less of an element. Once we have met and discussed what form the ceremony will take, I'll draft a ceremony and then we can work on it together to tweak it so that it is absolutely perfect. Things to consider are music, poetry, readings and whether or not you want to include 'guide parents' who are the non religious equivalent of godparents. There is no such thing as a standard ceremony, what's important is that it suits you and your family. It is great to be able to take the pressure off mum and dad at a time when they are inevitably a bit frazzled and to be a part of a happy family. My advice to you is to go with the flow, don't worry if it doesn't all go exactly to plan. When babies and young children are involved anything can happen and it frequently does!

Funeral Ceremonies

The death of a loved one is something that we are all going to have to face at one time or another. A humanist funeral should be more than just a farewell to somebody - it should be a celebration of their life and a t...ribute to their achievements. My part in this is to work with the family to really find out what made the person tick and to compose a funeral ceremony that reflects the honest realities of their life. Each ceremony is unique and that is the key. There is no standard that must be followed, for me being flexible means that the family get the ceremony that is right for them.

Contact

• 07986 190870
• 01343 870612
• Website http://www.janetdonnelly.co.uk
• Website https://skype: celebrant.janet
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Janet-Donnelly-Humanist-Celebrant-313024378822595/

To help you decide if I'm right for you, check out my short video by clicking on my name above. Ceremonies can be traditional, quirky, funny, touching, romantic, down-to-earth - whatever suits you two best. Your Big ...Day should be the way you want, unique and memorable.

To me, Humanism isn't just the negative of not believing in a god. It is about living a good and ethical life, respecting other people in all their diversity and making a contribution to society. Humanist ceremonies are a very personal way to celebrate life's important milestones and it's great that more and more people are having them.

I discovered Humanism and the joined Society in 1991 (in those pre-Facebook days it was from a poster in the library!) and realised that I'd been a humanist since my teens, without having a name for what I believed. While national Treasurer, I proposed that our celebrants donate 10% of their fees to the Society which, as ceremonies have hugely increased, has helped us to grow and fund more education and campaigning work.

In 2008, after 34+ years of working with councillors for the City of Edinburgh Council, I took voluntary redundancy and trained as a celebrant. I have also done a variety of voluntary work, including health promotion, political campaigning, telephone helplines and fundraising.

Feedback from ceremonies has all been very positive and it's great that so many couples get in touch saying "you conducted my brother/friend/mother's wedding .... " This is the most rewarding work I have ever done and I love it!

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

My husband and I had a humanist ceremony in 2003 (before they were legal, so we had to have the civil ceremony too) and it was a wonderful experience.

With guidance from our celebrant, we really enjoyed writin...g the story of how we met, choosing poems, writing our vows and involving my son, step-children and best friend. It is lovely to have your guests say how much they liked your ceremony and know that you and your partner helped to write it!

That is the approach that I take to working with couples to plan the centre of their special day. I have a Facebook page at Marilyn Jackson Humanist Celebrant and I'm more than happy to speak with you by phone or in person before you book. 

In all cases, I like to meet couples (or Zoom/Skype if you are far away) as soon as possible (even if your date is over a year away) rather than waiting to just a few months before the wedding. That gives us more time to get to know each other and to make sure your ceremony is just right.  I will provide lots of examples to help you either choose or write important parts of the ceremony. It is nice to include a "story" of your relationship and I will give you example stories that other, real, couples have written.

I not only take a photo when we meet for your file but also on your wedding day, as I like to keep photos of all my lovely couples!

I have now conducted over 600 weddings and each one was different, just as every couple is different.   Big or small, formal or relaxed, indoors or outdoors, I love them all!

As an active campaigner for equal marriage, I was delighted to officiate at one of Scotland’s first legal same sex marriages on Hogmanay 2014 and I still get a lump in my throat at the end of these ceremonies. Marriage is life-changing for everyone but perhaps even more so for those who never thought it would be possible. In 2016 I married my nephew to his now husband and was pleased I managed not to cry during the ceremony!

You can see some photos from recent weddings on my Facebook - Marilyn Jackson Humanist Celebrant

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

The arrival of a new baby is a joyous occasion and naming ceremonies provide a way for everyone to celebrate with more than just a family party.

 As there is no legal requirement in a naming ceremony you can cho...ose the words and readings that suit you and your family. Your ceremony can be relaxed or formal, simple or involving lots of family, you can hold it indoors or outdoors ...

Ceremonies can also be held for older children, several children, on adoption, for an adult changing their name, a gender reassignment, or can be included in a wedding (at no extra charge to the wedding fee!)

I will work with you to build a very individual ceremony, providing you with lots of examples of poetry, parent and guide-parent promises, symbolic gestures etc to help you choose/write parts of the ceremony. It is nice to include your child's "story" - which starts before birth - and can send you examples of these from other namings.

Naming ceremonies are joyous and fun!

Funeral Ceremonies

It is a privilege to meet with families and use their reminiscences to write a fitting tribute to their loved ones and to deliver a ceremony that centres on celebrating the life that was. Everyone's life is important ...and there is always a story to tell - indeed, I "meet" the most fascinating people after they have died.

Contact

• 0131 229 7731
• 07973 722218
• Facebook https://Marilyn Jackson Humanist Celebrant

My work and leisure time is between Lochgilphead in Argyll and the west side of Glasgow. I am therefore available for ceremonies in Argyll and in the Glasgow / Dunbartonshire areas.

My working life has alway...s been working with people -in nursing and health care settings, running a small guest house and, for the last twelve years, being a Humanist Celebrant.

I joined the HSS after attending a Humanist Funeral here in Argyll. The ceremony gave the opportunity to recall so many happy memories and celebrate the life of a dear friend. For me it also brought forth the realization that humanist values were what influenced the way in which I try to lead my life. Humanism is integral to my place in the wider world and helps make sense of day to day living. Respecting the environment and my fellow human travellers regardless of who they are or what they believe is an important part of my humanism because we are one human family. For me, life is not about power, money, control or divisions. Membership of the HSS led to Celebrant training in 2007 and I am now privileged to provide ceremonies at times of sadness, happiness and joy.

I think it is important for those who wish it, to be able to have some help to write and plan a ceremony for these important times in life. It is a real privilege to work with families and couples and help to create a very personal ceremony for milestone times in their lives.

Every Ceremony is special and unique - the day, setting, venue and words are all tailored to the wishes of the people involved.

In my spare time I meet up with friends, go on adventures as often as possible and simply enjoy where I live. I walk, sing and play ukulele - not necessarily all at the same time!

Please do telephone or email me to discuss your plans.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Legal Marriages, non-legal weddings, renewals of vows - I would be delighted to conduct your ceremony whether it is to be a small and intimate or big occasion. I see my role as a facilitator. It is helpful to meet in... advance of your big day so I can help you plan your unique ceremony. Many couples travel long distances to marry in this beautiful area; I find Skype or Facetime useful if meeting up in person isn’t feasible!
When we meet we can discuss your ideas and plans, I usually make suggestions and guide you so I can then write a first draft.
Your Humanist wedding script should express your love and commitment in a way which reflects you as a couple and as individuals, reflecting your lives and aspirations.

A Humanist wedding ceremony can include symbolic gestures such the traditional exchange of rings and / or hand-fasting, drinking from a Quaich or lighting candles. Music that is meaningful to you reflects your personalities add to the sense of occasion.

You can choose elements to suit your style and lives.

I encourage couples to be fully involved in designing the ceremony and, ideally, to write what you love about each other, ‘your story’- about your journey together so far and plans for the future, your vows and the promises you will exchange with one another. These are woven together along with the necessary legal declarations to create a tailored and distinctly personal celebration of love and commitment.

It may sound daunting to be asked to write vows etc but your own words are so much more meaningful in the ceremony and I have plenty of examples to help with ideas!

Planning your wedding can become stressful with so many decisions to be made. No-one benefits from rush or pressure - I use email reminders and deadlines in the preparation time ahead of the wedding day so the script is ready well ahead of your ceremony day.

It is my role to guide you through your ceremony and that extends to the day itself. I always arrive early so I can meet with all the important people who will make your day so special - the photographer, musicians, those who will be speaking and the best man, so you can be as relaxed as possible to really enjoy your day

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

It has been my pleasure and privilege to conduct a few naming ceremonies now - sometimes for couples I've also married, which is a joyful link. Namings are most commonly for babies but can be for older children, for e...xample, when the youngest is being named or when a child is being adopted into a family.

In meeting well before the naming ceremony, it is important to plan and shape the ceremony as the parents wish for the celebration of their addition to their family.

In addition to making their own pledges and promises to their child (or children), many parents also choose to ask other supporting adults to act as guide-parents.

I can assist with choices of readings, music and suggestions for symbolic gestures.

Funeral Ceremonies

A funeral touches me more deeply than any other ceremony, it is a ceremony with a serious professional responsibility; an essential part of the grieving process and it is an immense privilege to be involved with the ...family at such a difficult time. An important part of a Humanist funeral is to create a ceremony that is fitting and meaningful, that celebrates the life and character of the person who has died.

I have officiated at burials, cremations, scattering of ashes and memorial ceremonies.

Before the funeral ceremony.
It is unusual for me to have known the deceased, so meeting with the family before the funeral is essential. Families quite often find this eases the pain a little as they recall past events, shared times and anecdotes that reflect the personality of their loved one and the special place and influence he or she had on their own lives.

I try to encapsulate their “being” as well as their achievements. I work to ensure that the funeral ceremony is exactly as the family want it to be, with music, poems and readings chosen by family and friends to remember their loved one and how they lived their life. I encourage friends or family members to read a personal tribute or a poem they have chosen.

The Funeral Ceremony
When conducting a Humanist funeral ceremony I hope to offer those who have been bereaved some comfort by capturing their loved ones life; their uniqueness and the stories that shaped who they were.

The funeral ceremony provides the opportunity to say goodbye and celebrate the life of the deceased in a respectful and dignified way, the bereaved can then begin to find the strength to turn back to their own life again. A funeral ceremony that reflects thoughts and feelings about a loved one is an important part of this process. It is always an honour to be a funeral Celebrant.

Funeral Planning
I am available to speak to people who want to plan their own funeral. To discuss your thoughts, whatever your circumstance, please get in touch and I will try to help plan what is best for you and your family.

Contact

• 01546 606450
• 07825 718114
• Facebook https://Belinda Humanist Celebrant Scotland

Before becoming a celebrant, I had 33 years experience in paediatric nursing which I enjoyed enormously. I love spending time with my family, particularly my four beautiful grand daughters. Since leaving nursing, I ca...n now devote my time to being a Humanist Celebrant and support those who invite me to do so.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

My approach to weddings.
The 1st step is to have a meeting with the happy couple to have an informal chat soon after the initial request. This will hopefully give both parties a feel for how their big day could ...be. If the couple are still happy that I am the celebrant for them, then I send them some paperwork to explain the process thereafter.
The next step, is another meeting about 3 months before the wedding date, where I gain all of the information I need, to write an initial draft script which will be sent 4 weeks before the wedding day for approval and any changes/additions that the couple may decide. This will be an on going process over the next 4 weeks until the final script is complete. We are now good to go. All that needs to be done then, is turn up on the day and relax knowing that everything is in hand, enjoy, eat, drink and be married.

What I love about weddings.
I love the great outdoors, non convention, surprises and informality. So if you happen to be getting married in a field in wellies, or in the Lost Valley in Glencoe or even in your garden or front room, then I would be delighted to be part of your day. Having said that, weddings held in more 'conventional' venues are definitely not off limits. Also, to expect the unexpected which can add some drama if not fun to your day. There is, rightly so, some need for formality during the legal part of the ceremony, but basically the rest is up to you. As long as it is dignified and safe for all, then there should be no worries. Thank you for taking time to read this profile and I wish you all the best for your future together.

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

My approach to the naming ceremonies.
The 1st step is to meet with the proud parents and of course "The star of the show" and i thoroughly enjoy hearing the stories of this life changing event for you. We then p...lan together what you would like to happen on the day. When we meet, we will discuss things such as: How your baby has changed your lives, why you have chosen those specific guideparents, if you would like any other family to be part of the ceremony, e.g.poetry or reading or toast etc, any rituals, and promises to be made by parents and guideparents. Once I have the information I will then draft a script and send it to you for your approval and any changes you would like to make. Sorted!!!! The next step is easy. Just show up on the day, relax and enjoy the celebration of having brought this precious little person into the world.

What I love about naming ceremonies.
The unexpected! Rarely do things go to plan on time but if you already know this there is nothing to stress about. I love that we have the luxury of creating the day to individual wishes, therefore making it a very personal, fun and special event specifically for your family.

Thank you for taking time to read this profile.

Funeral Ceremonies

My approach to funeral ceremonies.
The first step is for me to arrange to meet with the family at a time and location that suits all concerned; usually as soon as possible. When we meet we discuss who your loved... one was, how they lived their life and what they meant to you, among other things. We also discuss music, poetry, inclusion of others (If you wish) and the process of what happens on the day of the ceremony.
This information then enables me to write a very personal script which will hopefully portray a true reflection of who your loved one was and reflect on just some of your memories of them.

What funeral ceremonies mean to me.
I feel deeply privileged to be asked and to be part of and trusted with, this very personal part in you and your loved one's lives. I take this role very seriously and strive to make this ceremony a celebration of the life of someone who contibuted to the lives of others.

Contact

• 07507 592245

Hello there, pleased to ‘meet’ you.
Thank you so much for looking at my profile. I have been a humanist celebrant for over a decade. And I help couples and families that want to have personal ceremonies, cre...ate beautiful, real, individual, warm and meaningful weddings, naming ceremonies and funerals that reflect peoples’ personalities, lives and loves.

I live in the West End of Glasgow, but I love travelling and conducting humanist wedding ceremonies all over Scotland.

Being a humanist celebrant is fulfilling and wonderful, and I have over ten years of experience of building relationships and working together with people that choose me to be their celebrant to have the ceremonies they want to have. Have a look at my website it has a blog with lots of beautiful and meaningful wedding and naming ceremonies in it and accounts of how people felt about their ceremonies. (all links are on this page)

Please visit my humanist celebrant Facebook page (you can find couples’ reviews here and see how they found working with me).
And also see my humanist celebrant Instagram page for lovely pictures of some of my ceremonies and to find out more about humanist wedding ceremonies, humanist naming ceremonies.

Let’s chat! You can contact me at caroline.lambie@humanism.scot or 07901987992 I will send you out an information pack and we can chat about how working with a humanist celebrant works and the process when you book me for your humanist wedding ceremony. (or humanist naming ceremony or your loved one’s humanist funeral ceremony)

Please see below for more detail on how I approach each type of ceremony with you, your humanist wedding ceremony, your humanist naming ceremony or your loved one's funeral ceremony.

My background
Before I became a celebrant, I was a magazine editor mostly in the not-for-profit sector. I was the editor of the HSS membership magazine, Humanitie for years, I was on the management team of HSS and was involved in engaging with families in the HSS membership. I also was a business coach. I am happily married with two sons with a huge sixteen-year age gap between them one in his twenties and the other is an imaginative nine-year-old! My older son has severe additional needs and cerebral palsy, so I understand family situations where people have been caring for a loved one.
Humanism means equality of all people in all areas of life. It means not judging people with your own values and accepting that people are different from each other.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

One of the happiest days of your life is your wedding day and with a humanist wedding ceremony, your special day is going to be very personal to you both.
As a great romantic it is a privilege to meet up with c...ouples and hear how you met each other and the story of what brought you to the point where you want to commit yourselves to each other in your humanist wedding ceremony. I will guide you through the process. I will help you by giving you choices and guidance around the different elements of your ceremony such as poetry, music and of course your vows and exchanging of your rings. Then on the actual day of your humanist wedding ceremony is going to be spectacularly enjoyable for you two as a couple and of course I am so happy for you and so lucky to be actually conducting the humanist wedding ceremony that brings you together legally and in front of your chosen friends and family.

I usually meet with couples twice, (but don’t any extra for the second meeting or any other if you would like them) the first meeting is to explain the process of how we will work together on your humanist wedding ceremony and to ensure you know what you want from your humanist wedding ceremony and the second meeting is to run through how you will deliver your vows and how everything will run on the day of you humanist wedding. This meeting is also for us see each other face to face and reassure you that I am the friendly face you booked and that you are going to feel comfortable with`(and happy and joyous about the whole humanist wedding ceremony) on your big day.

What people have said about their humanist wedding ceremony with me:

From the first time we met Caroline, we knew we were in safe hands. She is lovely and reassuring (just what’s required when you’re not sure what to do and when)!

She took the time to explain how the day would work along with what was expected and need from ourselves.

On the day she made us (and the guests) feel relaxed allowing the ceremony to be a celebration rather than a formality.

We can’t thank Caroline enough for marrying us…and agreeing to announce our Pregnancy

Thanks from Mr & Mrs Macleod (and baby Macleod)

“Caroline conducted our wedding ceremony and she did such a wonderful job!! She was a calming presence throughout the whole process and made us feel so much more relaxed during the planning and especially on the day! She helped make our ceremony so very lovely, we got so many compliments from family and friends on how special it was. We could not have asked for a better celebrant, I am so happy that Caroline married us.”

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

One of the most joyous events in life is a birth of a child, and a close second is a humanist naming ceremony for a child.

A humanist naming ceremony a chance to bring together family and friends to welcome a ...little person into life.

I encourage siblings to get involved in your humanist naming ceremony help to bring together two sets of children when parents get together with children from previous relationships.
Your humanist naming ceremony becomes a great perk to being a celebrant, I like nothing better than doting on a baby!

What people have said about their humanist naming ceremony with me:

“We used Caroline to do our sons naming day. We have done two before with other celebrants and must say this was my favourite. Caroline understood from the get go what we wanted, and understood we wanted it light hearted and fun. She nailed it. We were absolutely delighted and I couldn’t recommend more. Thanks again”

"It meant the world to us having a Humanist ceremony as it was very personal for us and our families, as you'd came out and met us previously too it felt like someone who knew us spoke on our behalf.

The highlight for me was when you spoke to her directly, and welcoming her into the world as that's what it was about, celebrating the arrival of our daughter."

Funeral Ceremonies

A humanist funeral ceremony is a celebration of a person’s life, although it is a very sad time, we make the ceremony a joyful tribute of the deceased person.

In a warm and friendly way I meet up with the fa...milies of the loved one, which is an honour. I will then chat with them and ask them lots of questions about the person’s life and get them to recall happy times they remember with them. I will also ask about what the person was like and what they liked to do, so I can get a full picture of what made them tick. I then write a tribute to the person they loved.

Most families will already have music in mind for the funeral. I can give guidance. Three pieces are what is recommended. A sombre piece at the beginning, a quiet piece in the middle when people at the funeral will be reflecting on the person’s life, and it is good to have an upbeat piece at the end, something that sums up the deceased in a happy way. I will also recommend poetry that reflects the deceased’s personality or life.

I’m also an accredited member of the Non-religious Pastoral Carer Network and have experience of sensitively listening to people in a pastoral role in Hospices.

What people have said about humanist funeral ceremonies with me:

“We had an instant connection with Caroline, she felt like a friend of the family. She had such a calming influence and we appreciated her support, compassion and guidance throughout the most difficult period of our lives. She put so much time into the preparatory work and patiently accommodated last-minute changes from us. She understood how much Shona meant to everyone and captured and conveyed her character perfectly; it was as if she knew her personally. She ensured everything ran professionally and smoothly and we were so happy with how the ceremony went. We have been asked for Caroline’s details several times since and we thoroughly recommend her.”

“We would both like to thank you for the lovely service you gave to Mum, it was both honest and moving, and we both miss her deeply she is in our hearts and minds forever, and know now she is at peace.”

Contact

• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/humanistcaroline/?hl=en
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CarolineLambieHumanistCelebrant/
• 07901987992
• Website https://humanistcaroline.com/

“Our celebrant for the day, Mandy went out of her way to help us design exactly the kind of ceremony that suited our style and spirit, and delivered it all with inimitable panache. We have never been more thrilled t...o live in the modern age than now, when unconventional ideas are not only acceptable, but may be endorsed and executed even by qualified wedding professionals – and she is without question the best there is.”

“I just can’t imagine how I would have got through the last three weeks without your guidance, patience, sensitivity and loving thoughts and words. I will never forget your kindness and professionalism.”

“Thank you so much Mandy, your compassion and care through the dark days was like a light shining out over the wastelands.”

It is my very great honour, joy and privilege to help people have meaningful ceremonies and rites of passage in their life.

I am now one of the longest serving Celebrants in Scotland. I have been a Registered Celebrant since spring 2001 and was one of the first twelve to be authorised as a Marriage Celebrant in 2005. I am Humanist Chaplain / Advisor for the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University. I have also been involved in developing Humanist representation in NHS Spiritual Care and am constantly engaged in promoting harmonious relations between people of all beliefs in a wide variety of forums. I have previously served on the HSS BOT and Glasgow Group Committee.

I live on the southside of Glasgow in a warm and close-knit community with my husband Jim.

I present a radio show on Thursday lunchtimes (https://www.camglenradio.org/index.php?id=134). 'Bringing you an eclectic ensemble of tunes and top tips; gastronomy, gardening and guests; readings and recitations; philosophy and features . Celebrating our common humanity, building community, warming your heart and lightening up your day. Welcome to The Bright Side :-)'.
I am a Board Member of Urban Roots, an award winning community led environmental organisation based in south Glasgow; Co-Director and Co-Organiser of Stanmore Social - a local community organisation; Co-Founder of The Love Alliance, a Co-Founder of The (Scottish) Constitutional Commission, supporter of Scotland's For Peace and signee of the Scottish Peace Covenant.

I ran my own business for 14 years offering Life Guidance, Coaching and Consultancy. I am a Social Worker to trade. I have also worked in the arts, including Glastonbury Festival - where I have been a Front of House Manager on an 850 capacity Theatre and Circus venue for 21 years, an annual pilgrimage for the most enjoyable festival work with a crew whom I love deeply. I previously danced with Indepen-dance, Scotland’s premier mixed ability dance company.

I am passionate about our beautiful earth, gardening, permaculture, yoga, cycling, dance, music, great food, great company and the great outdoors.

What humanism means to me
To me, Humanism means focusing on common values, and on the universal qualities, abilities and aspirations that unify all human beings regardless of creed or class, and, valuing the unique contribution that each of us makes to this magnificent mandala that is life - because we are one human family. I firmly believe - deep in my heart - that through human will and effort peace, harmony and sustainability can prevail and that another world is possible.

Peruse my testimonials and reviews here: www.facebook.com/MandyHumanistCelebrant/

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

My approach to Weddings
I see my role as a Celebrant as a facilitator, to help people express themselves, their love and their life in a way which is most meaningful to them. In weddings, as with all ceremonies,... people choose the elements and expressions that are important to them, and along with the necessary legal obligations, these are woven together like an individual tapestry to create a tailored and distinctly personal celebration of love and joining together of two people in marriage. 

What I love most about conducting weddings .... The feelings of such joy, meeting so many beautiful and wonderful people dressed up and looking gorgeous and happy, the new experiences, the champagne, and, most of all, the satisfaction of helping people express their love, commitment and good intentions for one another.

My advice to you ..... Love is patient and love is kind.
My favourite piece of wedding poetry .... There are so many wonderful things to choose from, of every ilk – deeply moving, funny, irreverent, tremendously thoughtful, and more. My favourite changes.
I always particularly like this . . .

From WHERE WE BELONG
Then you rose into my life
Like a promised sunrise.
Brightening my days with the light in your eyes.
I’ve never been so strong,
Now I’m where I belong.
(Maya Angelou)

I would advocate highly that you to seek out a truly wonderful, and slightly longer, piece called ‘The Invitation’ by Orion, Mountain Dreamer.

And I have always loved this for any occasion:
May the sun bring you new energies by day;
May the moon softly restore you by night.
May the rain wash away any worries you may have
And the breezes blow new strength into your being.
And then, all the days of your life,
May you walk gently through the world
And know its beauty.
(Apache Blessing)

My favourite piece of wedding music
Och, self-indulgence . . .
1) ‘Breathe Easy’ – The Sugababes
2) A medley of Waterboys tunes played on the flute by an adorable girlfriend
3) ‘Celebration of our Love’ (tune: Cwm Rhondda)
4) ‘Fields of Gold’ by Eva Cassidy, sung beautifully by Alison

My most unusual location for a wedding .... So hard to decide between so many ... someone’s front room, halfway up Goat Fell on Arran or the stunning beach at Eriskay, a historic location where Bonnie prince Charlie first stepped foot on his return to Scottish soil and the film ‘Whisky Galore’ was sited!

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

My approach to Namings
I feel deeply honoured and privileged to do this work whatever the nature of the ceremony. Our words, our intentions and our actions are important things that shape lives so a ceremony to ...name a child and welcome them to the world is a wonderful way to let them know explicitly that they are loved, wanted and valued, and wish them well on their journey through life. Every ceremony, as with all ceremonies, is bespoke; for Baby Leo, as well as making good promises, and celebrating his being heartily and joyously, and with cake and bubbly, we sang ‘heads and shoulders, knees and toes’ !

Funeral Ceremonies

My approach to Funerals
“Death is the one thing that connects us all. It reminds us that what's really important is who we've touched, how much we've given. It makes us realize that we have to be good to one a...nother.” (Peter Petrelli).

I feel very strongly, that as far as is humanly possible, the death of someone we have known and loved should be marked in a way that is inclusive for all those who gather to lament a death and celebrate a life. This final rite of passage allows us to acknowledge and reflect on the significance of a person’s life within their circle of love and existence, and on the gifts and lessons from knowing and loving them.

“Every blade in the field, Every leaf in the forest, Lays down its life in its season, As beautifully as it was taken up.” (Henry David Thoreau).

Contact

• 07836 366291
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MandyHumanistCelebrant/
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandy-evans-ewing-115a7911/

I have been a Humanist Society member for about 16 years and a humanist celebrant for 14 years and have had the pleasure of conducting some of the first legal humanist weddings in Scotland. After all the years I stil...l get a buzz from conducting every single wedding. I just love weddings. A wedding is not only publicly declaring your commitment to each other, but also the coming together of family and friends and reaffirming the close bonds you have in your lives. Even the smallest wedding is a significant sign post in your life and nothing can be more appropriate than declaring Humanist values as part of your own life stance no matter where or how many guests attend your wedding.
Apart from ceremonies, my pleasure in life comes from amateur theatre, dance, singing and 'propping' for amateur companies. My humanist philosophy is simple and incorporated into every ceremony. "Essentially Humanism comes down to a belief and optimism for human nature and the capacity for us all to love and care for our fellow human beings and the world around us."

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Hopefully I can give you the best of my experience to contribute to your perfect day. My style is relaxed but with enough quiet and dignity between the laughter that will honour your momentous occasion. You are cen...tral to the shape of the ceremony and I take great care to make sure you are 100% happy with everything that will be said and done on your day.

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

To welcome a child into a family and this world is such a pleasure to do especially when I have married mum and dad! I usually conclude my naming ceremony with these words:
"And now may our hearts be open to all... the children of humankind, that a circle of love and peace may grow for evermore"

Contact

• 07798 851 442

It has been my pleasure and my privilege to conduct Humanist ceremonies since 2011.
Each ceremony, whether it be a funeral, wedding, naming, is personally crafted and unique.
Please look at my video https:...//youtu.be/hskMWX0Ffgo,
or visit my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/celebrantjackiegrant/
to get a sense of the my style, and the range and variety of wedding and naming ceremonies that I conduct.

About me:
Many people are Humanists without knowing the term. This was certainly my experience. I gave up on religion as a teenager...but was never really happy to call myself an atheist...it only said what I didn’t believe. So it was a joy for me to discover Humanism, to state positively what values are important to me.


I worked for a number of years with the local authority in Edinburgh, managing the delivery of social work services to children and families. Social work values of respect, empathy and non-discriminatory practice fit comfortably within Humanist ethics.


My family is important to me, both near and far, and spanning different beliefs and cultures. I think it is important that family and friends come together to celebrate significant life events and achievements. This motivates me as a celebrant: there is a clear need for people to have access to a ceremony that reflects their beliefs and preferences. Humanist ceremonies provide an important choice.

I particularly value the Humanist view that what unites us as human beings is more important than what divides us. Humanism is inclusive and embraces the core values of many religions. Humanists believe we can live good and worthwhile lives guided by compassion and reason rather than religion. We have just this one life, it is precious, and we must use it well.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Your wedding is a very special day when you make a public declaration of your love and commitment to each other. For me it is an honour and a pleasure to conduct the ceremony that brings you together legally married... as partners for life. The Humanist Society Scotland campaigned for equal marriage and I am proud that since 31st December 2014, we can end a ceremony with my declaring you married as husband and wife, or wife and wife,or husband and husband.

Every couple has a different story, different priorities, different budget. So I do ceremonies in luxury hotels and castles, in romantic rural lcations, on beaches and in private gardens. Some weddings are large with hundred or more guests, others are very small with just the witnesses and a few very special friends.

Weddings at the luxury venues, castles and hotels need to be booked a year or more in advance (though you may get a good deal on a week-day or in the winter). It's good to book your celebrant at the same time as your venue and I'm proud to be a celebrant recommended by Heritage Portfolio (/www.heritageportfolio.co.uk) who do the events management and catering for a number of iconic venues around Edinburgh including Mansfield Traquair, Signet Library, the College of Physicians/ Surgeons and more.

Smaller and less formal venues can often be booked at short notice. It may be that all you need is the consent of the person who owns the land. If I am available I am happy to take bookings at short notice so long as you have time to get your marriage schedule from the Registrar. Please get in touch and check my availability.

What is important is that I hear from you what you want in your ceremony. If you know just what you want, then I will make it happen for you; if you are looking for advice and guidance, then I have lots of ideas and resources we can draw on. I will help you to choose the different elements of your ceremony... poetry, music, symbolic gestures and of course your personal vows... so together we construct a ceremony that is totally personal and unique and everything that you hoped and dreamed it would be.

I always charge the fee recommended by HSS and advertised on their website.
I live close to the centre of Edinburgh and meet with couples usually in my own home.
If you are at a distance we can use FaceTime, WhatsApp Video, Zoom or just talk on the phone. I am happy to meet before taking a booking to talk you through the process and answer any questions.

At approximately 3 months before your ceremony I hope to meet with you and will then prepare a draft script, which we can amend until you confirm it is just right for you.
If you wish, I will meet you again shortly before the big day either for a brief recap or a formal rehearsal at the wedding venue.
My aim is that when it comes to your big day you can be cofident and relaxed...and enjoy!

If you have not done so already, do look at my Facebook page: Jackie Grant Humanist Celebrant, https://www.facebook.com/celebrantjackiegrant/ .

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

For so many parents there is nothing more joyous than bringing a new child into the family. It is this sense of joy and wonder that we celebrate and share as we introduce a new child to our friends and family. A nami...ng ceremony is a structured occasion where we welcome a child into our world, formally state his or her name, and acknowledge friends and family who will be important as the child grows.

Your child is unique and so is the naming ceremony. Dependent on government restrictions I will meet with you at a venue of your choosing, usually your home or mine, or we can use FaceTime, WhatsApp Video, Zoom or just talk on the phone. I will design and deliver a Naming ceremony for your child based on a discussion of your thoughts, hopes and wishes.
A naming ceremony isn't just for new born babies. It can happen at any stage in the child's life. An older child may have a naming ceremony alongside a younger brother or sister. A ceremony of welcoming and recognition may be held for a child who has joined a family by adoption or foster care. Such a ceremony may be useful for children and parents who come together to form a new family, or as a secular Coming of Age ceremony. The ceremony should be fun and flexible, often involving other children.

My ceremonies typically include readings and music and parents’ promises or pledges to the child, and these may extend to friends and family making a public statement of their well-wishing, or a promise to support the child and the parents. You may also sign a Naming certificate and include symbolic gestures like thumb prints or a Well-wishing Tree. As always, your choice and what feels right for you.

Funeral Ceremonies

At a Humanist funeral we come together to celebrate a life, to mourn the passing, to say our farewells and to offer what support and consolation we can to the family.


Each human being is unique, so each cere...mony is unique. My task as a funeral celebrant is to work with you to create a funeral ceremony that pays respect and reflects the personality of the person who has died. It should be a ceremony that they would appreciate, and a ceremony that leaves you feeling comforted that you have given them the best possible farewell.

I will meet you and your family before the funeral at a venue of your choosing, usually your home. I will suggest how we might use readings and music to give structure to the ceremony and will hear your memories in order to prepare the tribute. The circumstances of a death vary widely. It may be tragic and unexpected or after a long illness; shockingly premature or after a long life well-lived. This is often a difficult and distressing time; relationships may be complicated. Many family members report that coming together to share memories is helpful in coming to terms with the loss.


After our meeting I will share the draft script with you to ensure it is accurate but more importantly to ensure the tone is right and that it reflects your wishes.

Post-script: Advance Funeral Wishes:
The coronavirus pandemic makes us all more aware of our own mortality. As a Humanist Celebrant I can work with you if you wish to give thought to your own funeral, the type of ceremony you would like and how you would like their life to be celebrated. Following government restrictions I may speak with you by phone, FaceTime or Zoom to explore options and we can record your wishes on the HSS Advance Funeral Wishes form. I do not charge for this service.

Contact

• 07947684178
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/celebrantjackiegrant/

Since 2010, I have been in the privileged position of being a Registered Celebrant of the Humanist Society Scotland, based in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, and I conduct weddings, partnership ceremonies, funerals and naming...s in all areas of Tayside, but I also travel to many further flung parts of Scotland, if/when requested! I have lived and worked in Scotland and Europe over the past twenty years, and I am also a freelance writer and trainee proofreader. I am qualified to conduct ceremonies or parts thereof in German and Spanish, and French and Italian on request

I try to live a good life as a Humanist by making my ethical decisions based on reason, empathy, and a concern for human beings and the natural world. I also believe that, within the one life I have, I can act to give life meaning by seeking happiness in this life and helping others to do the same.

For me, this includes looking out for and helping others in need in the same way that I would hope if I or my family or friends were vulnerable or in need, that someone who could do so might be looking out for them. We are all part of one human community, and if we all helped each other and co-operated to create a better world then a lot of the world's problems would be able to be improved to a significant degree.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

I am delighted to be able to offer couples the personal type of ceremony which can be provided in the structure and ethos of a Humanist wedding. As a qualified linguist, I can write and conduct parts of ceremonies in... German and Spanish, and also have a good command of French and Italian

How I feel about being a wedding Celebrant
Being a wedding Celebrant is a great honour, and it is exciting and humbling to be performing such an important part of what is such a meaningful day for the couple involved.

My approach to weddings
Within the Humanist wedding structure and ethos, I want to help each couple create an individual and unique ceremony which they and their nearest and dearest will be able to recall with affection and happiness long after the wedding day has passed.

What I love most about conducting weddings
Meeting the people involved in planning what can be one of the happiest days of their lives and sharing in the exciting process of becoming a married couple, as well as the emotional and practical involvement I have in each ceremony.

My advice to you
A Humanist wedding is an affirmation of a belief in your future as a couple together as Humanists, and it is also a way to express your love and unity in a very special and individual way - so I would say it is important to listen to what your heart tells you when making decisions - it is YOUR day, and should be true to the sort of people you are.

My favourite piece of wedding poetry
I was married in a Humanist Ceremony myself, and we had a lovely poem by Roy Croft called "Love", which I read as it said a lot about how I felt about my husband.

My favourite piece of wedding music
There is so much music to pick from, but I had a beautiful piece by Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham called "Violet Tulloch, Queen of Lerwick.", which I felt really connected back strongly to my own Shetland roots.

Comments on wedding ceremonies;
"Just sending you a little note to say thank you for the lovely ceremony that you conducted for us on Saturday,it was exactly what we wanted and we had so many people commenting on how lovely if was.We both had a fantastic day,which began with your lovely ceremony and finished with a big knees up!!"
"We want to thank you again for making our wedding on Saturday such a memorable and special occasion. A number of our guests commented on how much they enjoyed the ceremony and how personal it was. It clearly made a big impression on them and set the right tone for the rest of the day."
"We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for the beautiful ceremony you conducted. Our guests spoke very highly of the ceremony and the celebrant...thank you for making it exactly as we wanted and for all your help and advice."

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

Naming ceremonies are very important in honouring and welcoming a child into the family, and I consider it a privilege and a delight to be able to offer this very personal type of ceremony to families. It is a real j...oy to spend time with parents, other family members, and the guest of honour themselves of course, finding out more about the young life to be celebrated on their own special day. I aim to present a ceremony which includes a variety of elements, from the more formal and serious parental and guide parent promises, to more light-hearted moments - humorous poetry, personal anecdotes and stories, and also perhaps a symbolic gesture, and presentation of gifts and keepsakes. The most important thing is that it is your Naming Day, and it will be exactly as you want it to be.

Funeral Ceremonies

I feel that I am in a very privileged position, and always take my responsibilities extremely seriously - to the bereaved family, the Funeral Directors, the Crematorium and Cemetery staff and most importantly to the p...erson who has passed away. It is such an important ceremony, and it must be as fitting and appropriate as it can possibly be.

What I find most rewarding about conducing funerals
It is a privilege to be invited by a bereaved family to conduct their loved one's funeral. I always feel moved and humbled when I hear that I might have helped a very difficult day become ever so slightly easier to endure.

My favourite piece of funeral poetry
Joyce Grenfell has written some very concise, comforting poems which are very fitting for funeral cermonies. Anne Bronte's "Farewell" is also a beautiful verse which says a great deal in a very few words.

My favourite piece of Funeral music
For me it is "Vide cor Meum", by Patrick Cassidy. It is written in a combination of Latin and Italian, and the last words translate as "I am in peace. See my heart".
As a Modern Languages Graduate, I can write and conduct funeral ceremonies or parts of them as required in German and Spanish, as well as writing and reading in Italian and French.

Recent comments:
"Once again, thanks you for everything, you have a beautiful voice and a gracious, quiet and sincere manner, we were very pleased that mum took this path"
"You carried it out to complete perfection and that means the world to us... many people commented on how lovely and uplifting it was... you are definitely in the right job and will be my first thought and recommendation to others"
"An email to say how complimentary everyone was yesterday about the way you conducted his celebration""The whole family wish to say many thanks for the wonderful tribute you did for him...The comments we received were all good."
"Indeed a number of people said they would now consider a humanist funeral as it made much more sense to them than many religious ones they had attended."
"Once again thank you for your time and oration, you did the family proud."

Contact

• 01382 528154
• 07871 159502
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lorna-Hanlon-Humanist-Celebrant-346316055487371/

I was born and brought up in Bathgate but now live in Uphall. Shona, my wife, and I married in 1987 and we have three grown up children plus two granddaughters and one grandson. In my previous profession I gained con...siderable experience in writing, public speaking and dealing with people sensitively, helping them at life changing and also difficult times in their lives.

Through my work with the Humanist Society Scotland, I hope to continue doing so. I have written a wee bit on this profile about the sort of ceremonies which I conduct. However, I am quite happy to have a chat about a ceremony. I would send you an introductory video and wedding pack (pdf document) in advance. You'll also want to decide if you like the sound of me to conduct your ceremony. I am also happy to answer any queries by e-mail or text which I usually answer quite quickly.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

I know you don’t want to read a long passage so let me summarise.

I like to help you craft a wedding ceremony which, although dignified and relaxed, has :-

1. humour;
2. fun;
3. laughs,
.../> 4. love and
5. emotion.

Oh and we’d better marry you too 🙂

Your ceremony should be a roller coaster from laughter to the emotional part and back again. Tears are OK because they are tears of happiness and joy.

I shall help you put together the ceremony but like you to give the ceremony some thought about making your mark on the ceremony and inputting your ideas.

We can write a beautiful ceremony just of words which works well but if you did want to include a symbolic gesture, I shall happily guide you through those too but these are not essential to make a very special day.

Let’s work together and have fun at your ceremony and make it the best wedding you have ever been to. It should be.

I’ll send you my wedding pack and meet you before I expect you to confirm the booking so drop me an e-mail to check your date.

You’ll see lots of photos of ceremonies I have conducted on my Facebook page and website (links below) and I'm on Instagram too. Go on, have a nosey. 🙂

Funeral Ceremonies

When conducting a funeral, my priority is to arrange a meeting with the family and maybe some special friends as soon as I have been contacted. That meeting is important, not only to support the family but also for me... to learn of the deceased’s character stories (funny, sad or sensitive) from his or her life so that I can compile a ceremony and tribute which is personal and truly reflects the character of the deceased. I will also discuss any music and poetry or anything which the family wants included. It is important to me that the family is happy with the ceremony. My aim is to ensure that the ceremony truly reflects the character of the deceased presented in a professional and caring manner. I am present throughout to support the family whenever required and to conduct the ceremony with warmth and humanity and respect.

A Humanist Funeral is an inclusive ceremony and those of faith will always be made welcome and told that they might wish to use the time for quiet reflection to say a private prayer. A Celebrant from the HSS will never include an act of faith such as singing a hymn or saying a prayer during a ceremony. However, The HSS recognises that religious music might have featured in the deceased’s life. Such music can form part of a Humanist ceremony, if it is played to reflect part of the life or character of the deceased but not as an act of worship.

Contact

• 07808 055127
• Website https://www.facebook.com/RobertAnthonyHumanistCelebrant/
• Instagram https://robert_anthony_hss_celebrant

Hello!

I’ve been a celebrant with the Humanist Society Scotland since the autumn of 2005, which coincided with the start of my last year at Stirling University.

I was a full time mature student at Stir...ling…I originally signed up to take my degree in journalism but got side tracked by my fascination with religious studies. I ended up finishing my degree in Religious Studies and Media Studies, and managed to fit in a few extra English units too. I loved it all, but in the end my undergrad’ dissertation was on a fairly obscure facet of Islamic philosophy.

Before that I worked part time in marketing for a touring theatre company, with my daughters and home life in Perthshire the primary focus of my days. Retail work was a big part of my youth, and I worked and lived in the States briefly too, where I met my husband.

I listen to music and radio a lot; read, cycle, dance and play Ultimate Frisbee and have practiced Yoga for many years. I sing folk songs occasionally, but usually manage to keep them to the right occasions.

I love my work. The writing is something I really enjoy, and the families and couples I meet make it all feel less like work and more like a project with friends much of the time.

Balancing the workload can be tough at times – there are weeks when everything seems to be happening at once – but I’m pretty good at letting folk know when their wedding draft for next March is going to sit in my inbox for a week, as I know it will be better to give it my full attention when I have enough time, rather than to try and rush through reading it when my mind is on this weeks ceremonies!

I am always happy to talk about my work or answer questions on how any given ceremony might work, so if you would like further information please feel free to e-mail or call and chat with no obligation to booking.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

There is no right or wrong way of putting a Wedding ceremony together, but this is how I usually go about things:

I meet all my couples before confirming a booking, as that way you know who you are booking with..., and I can get a feel for what might work best for you - I am always happy to hold dates for folk until we've had a chance to meet.

We would talk about the mood you want for your ceremony, as well as the content and your thoughts, plans and ideas - I'd chip in with approaches that might work.

When this isn't possible - skype is our friend! and I sometimes send out a questionnaire to help me get to know folk better before I start writing.

I'd then ask you to get back to me within a week to confirm or cancel the booking, and to send me your HSS membership number and complete an agreement form. This outlines your legal responsibilities and specifies the timings for handing documents to the registrar’s office.

I also ask for a non refundable deposit of £100, which is deducted from the final invoice, which would be £425 (2020) for the ceremony, plus any travelling expenses.

If it is at all possible I like to meet couples again for a chat and planning session about four months before their ceremony, and do the 'real' planning, after which I'd send you a draft of the ceremony, which we would take it in turns to work on, until it's exactly the way you want - be that three drafts or ten!

You are of course free to write the first draft yourselves if you would prefer, and I always emphasise that the more changes you make the better - and the more 'yours' – the ceremony will be.

You can find further information on what might be in the ceremony on the 'A Humanist Wedding?' page of my blog, however you should note that there will be no religious content at all, no hymns, prayers or bible readings.

I do charge for rehearsals, but they are not often needed, as the ceremony script will have lots of stage directions on it, and we will discuss the setting and layout of the proceedings when we meet.

On the day itself I am at the venue an hour before we start, with copies of all the readings, the liquid ink fountain pen we have to use, and my blotting pad.

It is very rare that I have more than one wedding in a day, and if I do both couples will be aware of the fact, but as a rule they will be several hours apart, so it should not put undue pressure on the 'first' couple of the day...however, I always encourage couples to be on time for their guests sake!

I always take photos after the ceremony, and add them to my collection, and like to show some of them on my blog too.

I hope this helps you get an idea of how I work, and I'd be very happy to answer any questions you have, so please just drop me a line.

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

Like all our ceremonies our Namings are written individually to suit each child and family, so it is not always easy to say what happens, but this should give you some ideas:
Namings can take place anywhere, and... at a time that will suit the baby or the family, or hopefully both!
Our website has some pages that might be useful, but I tend to go with the flow, and what the parents and families want to happen...
You should note that there will be no religious content at all, no hymns, prayers or bible readings.
There will be words of welcome and an outline of the day. Usually there will be poems or readings, and sometimes a song if there are talented guests or lots of older kids to get us going.
There will be a bit about the family and perhaps the pregnancy too.
Talking about the guide parents (if you're having any) and why you've chosen them can be nice…and what they might bring into the child’s life in years to come.
It can be fun to get them to say something too - about what they are looking forward to sharing with the wee one as they grow up...
The parents too might want to talk about their hopes for the future, and they may even choose to make pledges or vows to the child, or to the family as a whole.
And of course once you know a bit about the character of the wee one, it can be nice to talk about whom they are becoming, and their personality....
There are often toasts and symbolic gestures too, such as lighting candles, giving special gifts, or even planting a tree...you can even reverse the norm and have the child give gifts to the guests!
Including family and friends in the ceremony is something I would always encourage, and this can really add to the occasion, and make it just that bit more personal.
I always send a presentation copy of the ceremony after the day, so that it can be kept for the child themselves to enjoy in the future…but that can also be a good way of holding guideparents or guests to promises of babysitting that they made on the day!

Funeral Ceremonies

Much of my time is spent as a funeral celebrant, an aspect of my work I love, pulling together the life stories of those who are no longer with us for their families & friends to share, or at times spending time w...ith folk who want to make their own plans for end of life gatherings.
As with all of our ceremonies there are not always standard approaches, but most funeral ceremonies I conduct will have an introduction with some words on humanism, loss and how the ceremony will proceed, read by myself.
You should note that there will be no religious content at all, no hymns, prayers or bible readings.
The main part of the ceremony will be the tribute, which will be a mix of a biography and tribute to the life of the deceased.
This part of the ceremony is the most important and getting it right can be a balancing act: it is important that it contains biographical material on the person, but it is equally – or even more - important that it talks about who they were as well as what they did. So including stories and memories is just as important as making sure any dates are right.
Including family and friends in the ceremony is something I would always encourage, and this can really add to the occasion, and make it just that bit more personal. Sadly there are usually time restrictions on such occasions, so it may be that we cannot include as many speakers as are willing to speak, but I will always do my utmost to find the best way to fit things together.
The act of committal is the formal part of the ceremony, when we will say a formal farewell and when the coffin will be interred, or curtains will be closed.
It is usual at this point to take a few moments for quiet reflection, often with music playing.
Thankyous to those who have been there for the family and for the deceased themselves often follow, and this can be a nice opportunity to say thank you not just for the tough times, but for the good times too.
Though a funeral will always be a sad occasion, if there are good times to be remembered we should keep them in the front of our minds too.
Poetry is usually included in the ceremony at one or more points…and I particularly like to finish on a positive note. I have a full collection of materials, and can usually find something appropriate for the individual or for the family, if they do not have something in mind themselves.
I always send a presentation copy of the ceremony after the day, and although it may well sit in the box with the photo’s for a time, it may well be wanted in years to come, and may even be a source of stories and memories for grandchildren or great grandchildren not yet born as a way of finding out more about their family history.

Contact

• Website http://humanistweddingsperthshire.blogspot.co.uk/
• 07814 285223

I decided to train to become a Celebrant after I attended a friend's funeral and also my sister's wedding. Both ceremonies were incredibly personal, moving and appropriate and I felt it would be a real honour to provi...de this kind of service.

To say I thoroughly enjoy my work would be an understatement!

I'm a very down-to-earth person and In my spare time can normally be found outdoors. I enjoy riding my horse and it's also something I can also do with my daughter.

You can see what ceremonies I've been doing by clicking on the following links:

Website: www.melanieleckie.co.uk
Facebook: Melanie Leckie Humanist Celebrant
Instagram: @melanieleckiehumanist

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

Playing such an important role in any couple's marriage is a real honour. It's fun to spend time discussing the requirements and no two weddings are the same!

Whether you want something formal or informal, seri...ous or light-hearted, I'm more than happy to work with you to get it the way you want.

Funeral Ceremonies

Being asked to conduct a funeral ceremony which is personally fitting to a loved one is, to me, a real privilege.

Contact

• 01324 617967
• 07710 778657
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/melanieleckie.co.uk/?eid=ARDshnvCiawj1NPufGoq4eF2oLzD6zYgn1_80hyxP9cFMFeamHRZn11ggWTYz2RcVr5KPzZuACV2oywC

Hi - thanks for checking out my profile and I look forward to working with you. Helping to create, craft and deliver unique and personal ceremonies is a joy and it is such a privilege and a gift to be able to assist ...and guide you and your family through the whole process.

I live in Newburgh, Fife and so ceremonies anywhere in Fife, Tayside, Angus, Kinross and Edinburgh are close - although I am often asked to venture further afield.

Over the years I have travelled extensively and have had a varied career in the law, in theatre, in sociology, in travel and in the environmental movement. I have been a Celebrant since 2009 and Celebrant work is undoubtedly among the most enjoyable and rewarding work I have ever done. In 2015 I became President of the European Humanist Professionals based in Antwerp.

My wife, Tricia, and I have been happily married for decades! (40 years and counting!) … and we have 2 fab grown-up sons....I conducted my elder sons's wedding in September 2017... such fun. My passions and hobbies include music, renovating old houses, organic gardening, walking, travelling, cooking (and eating!) environmental studies, writing and reading.

What humanism means to me ...
For me, humanism is integral to who I am and my place in the wider world/cosmos and is a positive approach to making sense of day to day living and about trying to live a congruent and ethical life. Respecting the environment and my fellow human travellers regardless of who they are or what they believe is an important part of my humanism. For me humanism is about what helps bring us together, what we share and what we hope for – it is not about walls and flags and tribalism and divisions. As a Humanist Celebrant it is a real gift and a privilege to be in a position to help and guide so many people through some of the most challenging/exciting/ daunting/uplifting events of their lives ; see some testimonials below…

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

WEDDINGS

I love being part of what is one of the most joyful and important days in a person’s life…and it is such fun. I like the adventure of meeting and spending time with couples well in advance of the w...edding and helping them plan their own unique ceremony. We usually meet face to face but for people who live far afield we often have our first meeting on Skype.

I have been fortunate to have seen weddings from so many angles that I have become a sort of "wedding planner"! This experience allow me to guide couples on all of the positives and the politics and the pitfalls. I encourage couples to be fully involved in shaping and crafting the ceremony and, ideally, to write part of the story themselves. Having said that I find most couples are looking for templates and suggestions so after I have met with a couple I usually prepare a draft script which we then evolve and improve together by email. I am also strong on reminders and deadlines…on the day, don’t forget the Marriage Schedule!

People fascinate me and hearing the tales and stories of two people who are in love and fully committed to each other is always life affirming. I relish the challenge of turning those tales and stories into a fluent, personal, ceremony which expresses all the couple want to say on their wedding day… and I love a good laugh – I defy anyone not to have a good laugh (and often a wee weep) at a wedding. And together… we will produce and perform the most memorable wedding ceremony. As one of the guests at a recent wedding said to me “You turned it from being a ceremony into an experience”…

My initial advice to you ...

If it all seems a bit scary and your minds are a blank at this stage – don’t worry… when we meet we will go through everything in fine detail and together we can explore a host of various ways to craft the very best ceremony possible…and with phone calls and emails keeping us in touch we’ll all have a great time.

In my role as a Celebrant I have had more cards and emails of thanks than in all of my other careers put together!!...here are a selection of some recent ones –

“Hi Neil,

We just wanted to say thanks very much for such a personal and beautifully executed ceremony last weekend. We can’t thank you enough for delivering it so well and in a way which was personal to us.

To say the task of ‘writing’ our own ceremony was daunting at first is an understatement. But you were absolutely fantastic from start to finish and made us feel so welcome and relaxed each time we were in your home (which is beautiful by the way).

The day itself could not have gone any smoother and we had simply the greatest day of both of our lives so far. You played a massive part in helping us to achieve that so thank you so very much for doing so.

As non religious people, humanism was our only option but we were still uncertain at first as to how it all worked, even after being at a humanist wedding last year. But you were simply amazing from the moment we first met with you and helped us to deliver and achieve exactly what we set out to in the beginning.

We will defiantly be recommending yourself to any family and/or friends who are considering having a humanist wedding in the future. Thanks again and I hope our paths cross again someday. All the best,

Scott & Amy” September 2019

“Hi Neil!

I just wanted to say a massive thank you for giving us a fantastic service at our wedding. Everyone was so impressed and loved it, especially us! Thank you much for travelling all the way to Fyvie too! We really enjoyed our day, it was over in a flash. As you know we are not overly lovey dovey people but you made us feel so relaxed.
Thanks again

Jenni and Scott” August 2019

“Good Afternoon Neil,

Chris & I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you for being our celebrant for our wedding! We have received so many compliments and comments on the ceremony and your delivery - everyone absolutely loved it! The personal theme of the script and vows really resonated with the guests! We loved it too; I felt so relaxed and calm throughout the whole ceremony! So thank you once again - it was an absolute pleasure to have you as part of our day. I've attached a couple of photos of the ceremony that the photographer sent through! All the best,

Chris & Frances” June 2019

Neil,

Thank you for conducting our wedding ceremony on 15 June. The ceremony was everything and more than we could have imagined and we are so grateful that you were able to make and be part of our wedding day. You gave us one of the best gifts we could have asked for by announcing us as Mr and Mrs!
Love
Fiona and Steven” June 2019

Dear Neil,

Thank you for conducting such a fantastic wedding ceremony for us. We loved our wedding and all of the personal touches that were included in the ceremony – thank you for all your help and inspiration. You made the whole process very easy and enjoyable. I have lost count of the number of people who said our ceremony was the most enjoyable, relaxed and personal one they had ever been to. Hopefully our paths will cross again in the future at someone else’s wedding. All the best

H and M” May 2019

“Hi Neil

Hope you are well. We are just getting round to emailing everyone now to say Thank you so much for conducting our wedding ceremony. You were absolutely perfect for the occasion and really got us! We have had so many lovely comments from our guests about how much they enjoyed the ceremony and the way you conducted it. (my Granny was asking if you also did funerals!!). Thank you also for keeping us right with all the forms. We are so glad that we chose you as our celebrant and thank you for contributing to our unforgettable day. All our best wishes

E & M” May 2019

“To Neil – We hope you are well! Thank you for ensuring that our ceremony was such a big success – it was entirely down to your guidance beforehand and steady hand on the day. Many people have, without prompt, said it was one of the best ceremonies they’d been to! With our warmest wishes

D and A” April 2019

“Hi Neil,

Thank you again for leading our ceremony, you did a fantastic job and we are still reliving all the happy moments – the tears, the laughs, the sunlight coming in, everyone looking so happy.

I keep remembering how it felt when I walked into the Granary, I could really feel the joy! And it just got better and better! And I knew I could just relax because you had everything under control. Many of our guests commented on your delivery and sense of humour, we are so grateful to have met you.

Your advice and guidance and support, your patience and kindness and enthusiasm, in creating the script was incredible. We are both so grateful for having created something so special together. Thank you again,

J and A” March 2019

“Dear Neil,

Thank you so much for being our celebrant. The ceremony was perfect and we did indeed have our guests both laughing and crying. In particular, our Irish friends and family said it was the most personally meaningful marriage service they’d ever experienced. Thank you for your support and guidance through the whole wedding planning process. With very best wishes

F and D”

“Good evening Neil,

Now that we're just about settled back into reality we just wanted to take the chance to get in touch and say thanks for all your help and work over the last 18 months and particularly on the day itself.
Between issues with the speakers, the microphones and E. managing to forget the marriage schedule (!) we threw just about every obstacle at you but you were great at keeping Ewan calm and keeping everything on track.
The ceremony itself was absolutely fantastic and we loved every minute of it. Having had our practice run in your front room and all the emails in between, we knew what to expect and there were no nerves. The ceremony is the part of our wedding day which we've had most compliments about over the last couple of weeks, it was such a big hit with family, friends and everyone else.
We really can't thank you enough for playing such a key part in our day.
Thanks again and take care. E. and B.”

“Dear Neil,

“Just wanted to say a huge ‘Thank you’ for all your help and support at our wedding. The ceremony was perfect!. It was so nice we managed to keep everything local too – we greatly appreciated your flexibility – and calmness!! Best wishes, J. and J.” .

“Dear Neil,

I never got the chance to thank you on Saturday. As the proud parents of the groom both V. and I thought your ceremony was absolutely perfect. It summed up Jess and Craig so well and was delivered in such a lovely way. Thank you also for putting us and all the participants at such ease before speaking. We received no end of compliments on what a perfect ceremony it was, and it just set the whole day up so well to be the triumphant success it was. Thank you. Kind Regards. G and V”.

“Dear Neil,

Just a quick email from the new Mr. and Mrs. S to say thank you again (so, so much!) for helping to shape (and deliver with aplomb!) such a wonderfully unique and intimate wedding ceremony! Everyone present thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience - the words "amazing" and "emotional" were in common parlance! 🙂 The ceremony really did set the tone for the type of weekend we we're aiming for. It was everything we hoped for and more! The marriage schedule is back with the registrar, the wedding cards are on the sideboard and the cat is blissfully uninterested in his basket!
Thank you! Warmest regards and best wishes, M and H”.

“Neil – We just want to say a huge thank you for all your help! From our initial meeting to the final ceremony, we couldn’t have asked for more. We had SO many compliments on the ceremony from our guests, who loved the relaxed and personal style that you gave it! Thank you so much for all your knowledge, advice and support throughout the process and for keeping us calm on the day. Love Hugh and Rachel”

To Neil – Just a wee note to say a HUGE thank you for giving us the most perfect ceremony! I think almost all of the guests said it was the best ceremony they have ever been at. There were so many laughs, all the way through, along with tears and lots of love. It really was the most amazing start to the best day. We have watched it over and over on the video and I’m sure we will continue to for years to come. Thanks again for everything. Sarah and Bill xx”

“Neil – We wanted to send you a heartfelt thank you for making our ceremony so amazing and personal. It was relaxed just as we wanted and with laughs thrown in, it was just perfect. We received so many compliments as some guests hadn’t been to a wedding like it and loved how personal it was to us. From our first point of contact you were friendly, helpful and provided much guidance to help us have the ceremony we hoped for and will remember fondly. Again, many thanks. Mr and Mrs J.!” .

“Hi Neil,
Just want to say thank you for Saturday. The ceremony was amazing. There were loads of compliments and everyone was really impressed with you and how you conducted the ceremony. Thank you again. Shona”

Hello Neil,
Hope you are well, and still keeping busy with all the weddings! We are back in Shanghai now and back to normality again. The wedding seems like such a long time ago, but we do have so many fantastic memories from the day! Just wanted to say, a massive thank you for making our special day unbelievable! We loved every moment of the day, wish it could've gone slower LOL. We are both so pleased with the preparation and organisation from your side, especially doing it all from Shanghai/Scotland, we couldn't have asked for anything more. All of our family and guests had a fabulous time during the ceremony, you made it serious, yet light hearted and kept everything flowing so smoothly! You have a special talent for this, thanks for all your energy, passion and calmness, we were certainly freaking out inside, when the big moment was happening LOL. Hope to see you again soon, next time we visit Scotland. Much love Chum & Claire

Dearest Neil,
Many, many thanks for making our special day a truly memorable event. Your ceremony was beautiful and we will carry that memory and treasure it for the rest of our lives together. All the best and hoping to meet you again soon. David and Camille”

Dear Neil
Just a note to say thank you again for making our ceremony so special and memorable. It really was just perfect and was everything we wanted it to be. Thank you also for keeping us right on the run up to the big day with all the paperwork etc.…we wouldn’t have had a clue. All the best, Louise and Jamie.

“Hi Neil
Just wanted to say a massive thank you for a wonderful ceremony. You were very calming and professional and delivered the service with humour and emotion. We couldn’t have asked for any better. It was so special and you received so many compliments from the guests. Thank you so much again. Louise and Shaun

“To Neil
Thank you so much for composing and carrying out our beautiful ceremony. It was everything we dreamed of and more. Many of our guests had never been to a humanist wedding before and they loved how personal it was, we did too. Thank you for everything you did on the day and for making us feel relaxed, we were so nervous. Everything was perfect. Thank you. Lots of love. Mr and Mrs McIntosh.

“To Neil
We just wanted to say a huge thank you for being our celebrant at our wedding. You immediately put the room at ease and provided us with a relaxed ceremony which made it truly memorable. Many of our guests complimented us on it and how much it related to us. Thank you for making it so special
Christine and Robbie”

“To Neil,
Can’t thank you enough”. You have taken us on a brilliant journey – from looking at your profile; to choosing you to be our celebrant; to meeting you at your splendid home, planning our wedding; giving us homework; and finally conducting our ceremony. We had so many comments regarding the excellent quality of the ceremony. Thanks for keeping us right throughout. Kareen and Brendan.

“Hi Neil, myself and Claire would just like to thank you for the perfect ceremony! We are so delighted we chose you and couldn't be happier. We have your card and 110% will be recommending you. Everyone couldn't believe how good the ceremony was. When our photos arrive we will send some down to you. Thank you again for everything and all the best for the future. Scott and Claire

“Dear Neil,
Thank you very much for all of your time and skills in being our Celebrant for our wedding. We both enjoyed the ceremony SO much and feel that you understood us and our humour to a T. So many of our guests came up to us later and said it was the best ceremony they had ever been to – many of them never having been to a humanist ceremony before. Mums and Dads both enjoyed it too. We really cannot thank you enough for being such an important part of our special day.
Best wishes Stuart and Shonagh

“Good afternoon Neil,
I just wanted to thank you so much for the marvellous wedding ceremony you conducted for our daughter Hayley and Richie last Friday. It was very personal, moving and also amusing and so many of our guests have commented on how much they enjoyed it. We were all delighted to see them so happy and relaxed. I know that the father and brother of the bride also really appreciated your guidance about the music and running order too. Thanks again.
With best wishes
Alyson”

“Neil,
Thank you so very much for being our celebrant for our wedding. We cannot thank you enough for helping us to have our perfect ceremony, which would not have happened without your guidance, patience and support. THANK YOU! We wish you the very best and brightest of futures – keep in touch.
Jo and Stefan”

“To Neil
Thank you very much for conducting our ceremony at the wedding – it went so quickly, but we thought it was perfect and exactly how we had hoped! Everyone commented on how good it was and loved how personal it was. We had a really great day and hope you enjoyed the ceremony too.
Thanks again for giving us a great start in our married life – we are very excited about our future together!
All the best
Sohyla and Alasdair”

“Dear Neil,
Hamish and I want to thank you for being our celebrant. You really made our ceremony so special. It was so personal and really brought out who Hamish and I really are. We could not have been happier with how it all went.
From our first meeting on Skype to you welcoming us in your home – you made us feel so special and comfortable.
Our wedding was perfect and our ceremony magical and wonderful. Thank you for being a part of it and for everything you did to make it so lovely.
All the best xx
Kristen and Hamish”

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

Naming or Welcoming Ceremonies are such fun! Kids running about – some of them aged over 40 – friends getting together, families congregating >>> big or small, a Naming Ceremony is a fantastic opportunit...y to bring people together to celebrate a new birth, a growing family, an adoption, or, even a change of name.

One of my very favourite things about a Naming Ceremony is the chance it gives to be creative, even wacky, and to involve some or all of the guests in art, music or just plain laughing.

There is no strict format to follow and so this allows the freedom to involve others, whether they be grandparents, siblings, guide parents or even the entire guest list...

Readings, poetry, sand mixing, singing, music, tree planting, handprints, wish lists - there are so many things you can do to make your child's Ceremony meaningful and memorable and unique.

I also enjoy preparing a certificate of the event to be signed by the parents and also, if appropriate guide parents… and while the ceremony should be fun and relaxed there is an element of gravitas at the point where all of the guests join in the official naming of the wee one/s… yes, you can have a double ceremony and even combine a Naming Ceremony with a Wedding Ceremony…all up to you!

If you are considering a Naming Ceremony the best way forward is to drop me an email or give me a ring and we can talk things through and then arrange to meet up either at my home or yours or somewhere in between!

Some recent testimonials –

“Just want to say thank you so much for Emily’s naming day ceremony Neil. We were all very relaxed and had a lovely day – just what we wanted. Thank you. A, K and Emily.” August 2018

Funeral Ceremonies

Conducting a funeral is a real privilege and a huge responsibility. It is such a rewarding thing to be able to do and, paradoxically, it is life affirming. Every time I am asked to help a family through what is often ...a really difficult time I feel honoured to be invited into their lives.



Given that I seldom know the families I am helping in advance it is crucial that I put people at their ease as much as possible and so I usually travel to visit the family at their home – where they feel most relaxed. In helping the family plan the funeral and also come to terms with all that entails my approach is to listen, ask questions, empathise and to respond to the family’s needs in ways with which we all feel comfortable. We are celebrating a life and so as well dealing with the sadness of loss it is important we don’t lose sight of the happy and amusing memories and stories.

Helping you to grieve in your own way and to begin to say goodbye in a way that feels right for you is my aim - and if I get it right for you then that is almost reward enough. If I can make you and your fellow mourners smile and even laugh that is a bonus – it all helps in the grieving process.

The period before the funeral can be an emotional roller coaster – and so it is often best to stay busy and occupied; there is a lot to do and think about and I always make myself available to families so that they can call me if they have any queries or worries in the lead up to the ceremony. It’s a great cliché that life is not a dress rehearsal and this is certainly the case for a funeral and so it is vital to have the ceremony you really want for your loved one – you only get one chance to say a formal goodbye, so together we have to make it special.



Some recent testimonials…

“Neil – now it is over I wanted to thank you again. What you did you did brilliantly. Everyone felt he had a respectful and lovely send off. You are brilliant at this difficult and stressful event. The pitch and what you said was just right and helped me a great deal. Truly grateful Thank you Neil. John”

“Dear Neil,
My Dad and I want to thank you for conducting my Mum’s funeral service last week. After meeting you, we felt reassured that her service would be in safe hands. And it really was. You gave us the dignified and personal tribute we had hoped for and you pitched it absolutely right for my Mum.
We are sincerely grateful for your calm and gentle expertise and the comfort we gained from the service being done so well.

With heartfelt thanks
Susan and Bert”

“Dear Neil
On behalf of my Mum, S., D., A. and myself we would like to offer thanks for conducting such a beautiful tribute to our Dad/Husband and brother on Friday. As difficult as it was we took such comfort in the service which was such a wonderful celebration of his life. We would also like to thank you for taking the time to spend with us getting to know our wonderful Dad. We are all in agreement that had Dad met you we think you two would have got on really well. Many thanks again. Wendy”

“Hi Neil
The script is perfect – you have captured Mum’s character and personality perfectly. There are no changes to be made whatsoever. It really is beautiful. The poem you have chosen is also very touching. We can’t thank you enough. It really is beautiful. Thank you so much. Sara”

“Dear Neil,
I just wanted to send you a quick email on behalf of my mum and all the family to thank you for all you done yesterday at my dad’s service. We all appreciate your kind words about my dad and he would have been very proud. Thank you again.

Kind regards
Ashley”

“Neil,
Please accept the heartfelt thanks of S. and myself for the thoughtful and very professional way in which you prepared for and conducted R’s funeral. You have made a frankly unimaginable time a bit more bearable.
With best wishes.
P.”

Contact

• Twitter https://twitter.com/nwpanderson
• 01337 842 577
• 077 144 114 15
• neil.anderson@humanism.scot

Thanks for looking in ...
Born in Dennistoun in Glasgow, I have lived in Fife, West Lothian and East Kilbride, during my working career, 27 years with HSBC Bank. These days, I live in a rural area in the Clyde ...Valley, with lots of space for my gorgeous Cocker Spaniels, Harris & Lewis to run around. I now concentrate solely on my Celebrant work through the Humanist Society of Scotland. This gives me the time to commit, to make sure I do the best job I can in supporting people, where I am able to help, and at a time that is convenient to them. Scroll down for more info ...

What “Humanism” means to me:
It’s about respecting and caring for your fellow human being in all circumstances, and enjoying life to the full, without causing any hurt to others. I respect everyone’s right to have a religious belief, or not to. I once saw a quote which I love ... "Humanists do the right thing, even though they know no-one's watching" ... to me that sums it up in a nutshell.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

My approach to weddings:
The most important thing to me is that the Couple to be married are relaxed and comfortable in the knowledge that they have their own perfect ceremony planned in the way they want it to ...be and it that it will all work out the way they want it to on the day. Whatever that may be ! - I don’t do stress, and firmly believe that no-one should - at a wedding, it should be a relaxed and happy event.
Stressing out is never a good thing for us human beings, and certainly not on your wedding day!
I love the first meeting and chat, usually over a relaxed cup of coffee/tea, getting to know and understand them and what they will want in their ceremony. Discussing the many ideas they may have, and options they may not have thought about! And helping them to choose the words they will say in their vows to each other, or poetry, or symbolic gestures. I have lots of previous examples as a guide to start us off.
When I arrive on the day, I’d have a chat with the co-ordinator at your venue - I like to check everything is how you told me you wanted it to be (before you get there!) I’d have a chat your photographer/videographer to make sure that during the ceremony they will get access to the best pics for you. If you are having live musicians, I like to chat with them too, so we can have cues between us for when they are to start/finish their pieces, during the ceremony. Also catch up with any guests who may be reading a poem on the day and put them at their ease.
My aim is to be a final check for you that all is in place and all will go smoothly and look completely relaxed and unplanned in fact!

What I love about conducting weddings:
All of it !! From that first meeting, to in-between e-mails or phone chats. I love putting the whole thing together, and writing the script for your own personal ceremony with each one unique. I love hearing the story of your journey as a couple, and then enjoy weaving that story into your ceremony. Humanist ceremonies are such a joy as they are so personal. To the day itself - when I love seeing all the guests arrive in their finery - the Best Man, often jittering about his speech to come. The couple themselves looking amazing on their special day… Being reminded again, about what love is all about – when I see the couple look at each other and exchange their vows. The happy faces in the room – often the tears of joy ! Oh all of it… I love it all !!

My advice to you:
You two are the most important people - to each other (and not only on this day!) – so take time for each other. Plan a little bit of sneaky time into your day – where you two can just be together – away from the crowd.

My favourite wedding poetry:
Poetry is very personal and needs to be something you would like to hear, but also needs to be suited to the person reading it. If it’s a person with a sense of humour then humorous poetry works well – If it’s a serious or romantic type reading it, then it’s best if the poetry fits that personality.
I love both, so I’ve picked a little portion to quote from one humorous and one romantic…

O TELL ME THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE -
(by W H Auden)
Does it look like a pair of pyjamas,
Or the ham in a temperance hotel?
Does its odour remind one of llamas,
Or has it a comforting smell?
Is it prickly to touch as a hedge is,
Or soft as eiderdown fluff?
Is it sharp or quite round at the edges?
O tell me the truth about love.
When it comes, will it come without warning
- Just as I’m picking my nose?
Will it knock on my door in the morning,
Or tread in the bus on my toes?
Will it come like a change in the weather?
Will its greeting be courteous or rough?
Will it alter my life altogether?
O tell me the truth about love.

(this by an Unknown Author)
Finally, I have found a place into which I fit,
Perfectly, safely and securely, with no doubts, no fears, no sadness, no tears.
This place is filled with happiness and laughter,
Yet it is spacious enough to allow me to move around,
To live life and to be myself.
This wonderful place, which I never believed really existed,
I have found. Finally - in your arms, in your heart, in your love.

Most Romantic Location:
Inchmahome Priory – The guests were ferried on small boats (12 per crossing) across the lake to an island where the roofless priory stood. An open side faced the lake with a breathtaking view. The final boat brought the wedding party across to the edge of the island, where a piper waited, to pipe them ashore and into the Priory…

Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies

My approach to Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies:
The most important thing is for everyone to be relaxed and enjoy themselves on the day. This is a celebration of this wonderful new addition to your family. I lo...ve meeting the parents and finding out how special this wee one is to them, and how they fit in to their whole family circle, and all the special people in their little lives already.
Finding out why their name was chosen and all about the character they have already developed, sometimes in a very short space of time !
Chatting over all the many options that you could include in your ceremony – the many symbolic gestures you could choose, what sorts of things you would like to happen, and whether some other family members may want to be involved in reading a poem etc.
Finding out all about the person or people, you have chosen as mentor(s), guideparent(s) or whatever you prefer to call them – and why you feel these people would be good at that role.
We can choose together the promises that you, and those special people you chose, will want to make to the child and how you would like them said.

What I love about conducting Naming & Welcoming Ceremonies:
The challenge of occupying a lot of children, if you have lots of little guests on the day ! A good one is to fit in a sing song for them all to get involved in .... It’s amazing how much “The Wheels on the Bus”, or “If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands...” can keep them focused and cheer us all up!

My advice to you:
I really don’t need to tell YOU this.... but expect the unexpected.... Just go with the flow.
A Naming & Welcoming Ceremony will have a plan, but as we all know, as always, be prepared for your plan to be adaptable.... the actual timetable on the day may well be dictated by the star of the show!

Funeral Ceremonies

My approach to funerals:
Of course we mourn the death, but I would always want to “Celebrate the Life” too.
I would want to meet/talk to the close family, hopefully at your home, where you will be most... comfortable. Telephone some family or friends and work colleagues too, if you would like me to.
Gather as much information as possible to making a fitting, and very personal tribute to your loved one.
To make sure I know your wishes, their wishes, and give to you a copy of what I mean to say. So that we can talk about it and make sure it is what you want before we settle on the final words, for the ceremony.

What I find most rewarding about conducting Funeral Ceremonies:
It is such a privilege to conduct funeral ceremonies.
I really enjoy gathering information to fix a picture in my mind of the character of the person who’s life we are celebrating, so that I can do justice to the celebration of their life. Where they grew up, their childhood, and what they did in life, the people who were important to them.
I find this work extremely humbling and a real honour to be able to support families at such a difficult time for them.

Feedback I have had from families:
There is nothing better than seeing that families are being helped through the grieving process, and where they feel so much better for having achieved the personal ceremony they wished for their loved one, that they thank you afterwards:
“All of the family send their thanks for making Mum’s funeral all that we wanted it to be, I arrived home yesterday with a feeling of peace and closure, thanks to your help and understanding.”
“We wanted to thank you so much for your time and effort, care and attention in the ceremony for our brother.”
“Just passing on many thanks, from family and friends for all your trouble and a lovely send-off for ---. We all really appreciate your work and the professional way you took care of things.”

Contact

• 07890 264103
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SengaHumanistCelebrant
• Website http://humanistweddingsscotland.blogspot.co.uk

I think it is important that those who live their lives without religion should be able to have some help to celebrate the important events in their lives. That's why I am a celebrant.
I have been a celebrant fo...r 12 years now and still feel privileged to be part of the weddings and funeral ceremonies I'm involved in.
I was a community worker in Ayrshire for a number of years,then in West Dumbarton and subsequently retired after working with a charity supporting people with Acquired Brain Injury.

picture by Mark Archibald and permission of Morgan and Wil.

Wedding & Civil Partnership Ceremonies

I’m now in my 10th year of being a wedding celebrant and I've really enjoyed being part of all the weddings that I have been involved in. Whether it has been in a barn, a castle, a village hall, a back garden or a h...otel. From simple weddings with only 5 people, to grander affairs with 200, every one has been different and based on what the couple want for their day. I have been told by many couples that the ceremonies have been exactly what they wanted.

I'm not really much of a social media user, and don't have a comments page, or lots of pictures of me in action at Weddings. (I wouldn't post any anything without explicit permission anyway ).
If you would like to have a chat about a wedding just contact me.

Funeral Ceremonies

I have also been the celebrant at many funerals and have always tried to make sure that family and friends feel that the person they have lost is remembered in a way that is a reflection of their life and of their con...tribution to the lives of others.

At the moment other commitments are making it difficult to assist with many funerals, but please feel free to contact me.

Contact

• 01292 476251
• 07742812655