Humanist Ceremonies: Weddings & Civil Partnerships

Congratulations, we’re delighted that you’re thinking about a humanist ceremony to celebrate your love and life together.

We believe that marriage and civil partnerships are based on mutual love and respect.  We also know that every couple is different and that is why our ceremonies are unique and personal.  Humanist ceremonies can take place indoors or outdoors, they can be simple or elaborate, traditional or contemporary.  They usually include readings, music and an exchange of rings but can also include symbolic gestures, like hand fasting.

Whatever you want to do the choice is yours.  It’s your love, your life together and your ceremony.

Whatever you decide on, your HSS Registered Celebrant will work with you to create your perfect ceremony.  One of the many benefits of a humanist ceremony is that you are involved in the writing of it.  That means that on your special day the ceremony is a true reflection of your commitment to each other.  Your celebrant will share your story and words with those celebrating with you; it really is as unique as the love you share.

Humanist Society Scotland was granted Prescribed Status by the Scottish Government in February 2017, which means our celebrants are permanently authorised to conduct legal marriages.

We are the largest and longest standing provider of humanist ceremonies in Scotland so you can be confident you’re in safe hands.  All our celebrants are trained, regularly reviewed and work to our standards for ceremonies.  We are also the only provider to offer the HSS Ceremony Promise.

Humanist Ceremonies Weddings Civil Partnership

Our fees

HSS Registered Celebrants are all self employed and therefore, you are advised to confirm fees with them directly.

The fee you are charged will reflect the time to arrange your ceremony, a meeting to discuss it, and its preparation which includes all correspondence and communication, and of course its delivery on the day.  We are a Registered Charity and Celebrants contribute part of their fee to the HSS to allow us to continue to invest in the development of humanist ceremonies and develop our campaigns and charitable work.

As a guide you can expect to pay around £410 for a wedding in 2018 and possibly slightly more for future years.  There may also be additional expenses such as travel costs; your celebrant will be able to advise you.

We also ask that you join the HSS or your national humanist organisation if you live outwith Scotland.  HSS membership is currently £43 for a couple.  Membership of the HSS gives you access to the members area of our website, lets you keep up to date with all our campaigns and good work, and our local groups are a great way to meet people with similar beliefs.  You can join or find out more here.

The HSS Ceremony Promise

Your humanist ceremony will be to mark one of life’s most important events.  That is why we take your booking seriously.  As the longest standing provider of humanist ceremonies in Scotland we support and co-ordinate our nation’s largest and best known group of Humanist Celebrants.  Every year our celebrants conduct thousands of ceremonies and we’re committed to ensuring that every one is unique and of a consistently high quality.  To demonstrate our commitment to you and your ceremony we are the only provider to offer the HSS Ceremony Promise; all HSS Registered Celebrants are covered by our Promise as are all their ceremonies.

1. Be Assured, We’re Insured
We are delighted to have a reputation for providing high quality ceremonies and service.  Although it is only occasionally (only about 0.5% and we conduct around 7000 ceremonies each year!) that problems arise with our ceremonies you can be assured if you book an HSS Registered Celebrant they are covered by our Public Liability Insurance.

2. We’ve Got it Covered
It is very rare that the celebrant you have booked is unable to conduct your ceremony; and this would only be in extreme circumstances such as serious illness.  However, as the largest provider of humanist ceremonies in Scotland we have the network to find you a replacement, even at very short notice.  We have office staff available to ensure we can respond quickly to any emergency with minimal stress to you.  Although unlikely to happen, always ask your chosen organisation how they provide cover in emergencies.

3. Developing Skills to Give You the Best
All HSS Registered Celebrants must complete intensive training and mentoring programmes before they are registered to conduct any type of ceremony.  Our celebrants are regularly reviewed and also participate in ongoing practice development opportunities.

4. Setting the Standard
All our celebrants work to a set of standards to ensure that your experience is the best it can be.  Our celebrants are also subject to a complaints and grievance process.  If, in the unlikely event you have any concerns about your ceremony please raise these with your celebrant directly in the first instance.  If this proves difficult please email ceremonies@humanism.scot and we will do all we can to resolve the matter.

5. Best of All, We’re a Charity!
The Humanist Society Scotland is a Registered Scottish Charity and you can read about us here; our accounts are published annually. As a charity we campaign for a fairer Society; provide humanist ceremonies, including funerals for those under 16 at no charge.  We’re also really proud to be the Humanist organisation that worked hard for legal humanist marriage in Scotland.