Humanist Celebrant
Ceremonies
Weddings
Your wedding is one of the biggest events in your life and a day which you will never forget. It is important that your ceremony reflects you as a couple, your likes and dislikes and of course the things you love about each other.
Working together to create your bespoke ceremony will be an exciting experience and you can be as creative as you like. You may wish to write your own vows, involve your guests (and pets!), choose symbolic gestures and include readings, poetry and music.
This may sound a little overwhelming but I can guide you through the process. Usually, we meet for a coffee and a chat at the time of booking and although meeting in person is preferable, Zoom or FaceTime has been proving a good alternative in recent months.
Given everything that goes into arranging your special day it is important to know that you have some protection against unforeseen events. All HSS Registered Celebrants are covered by the HSS Ceremony Promise therefore if a celebrant is unable to conduct your ceremony, there is a network of over 100 celebrants who can step in at short notice.
Your wedding day is a day of celebration and fun. By choosing a humanist ceremony you are choosing a ceremony that will be unique, personal and memorable.
If you are thinking about having a humanist wedding ceremony and would like to discuss your plans, please contact me. You can also view photographs and posts on my Instagram and Facebook by clicking the icons below.
Naming Ceremonies
A humanist naming ceremony is a wonderful way to welcome a new child into your family regardless of age. Naming ceremonies allow parents and guide parents the opportunity to make formal vows and pledges in the presence of their family and friends.
Whether you are planning to have your ceremony at your home, a hotel, a clubhouse, outdoors or somewhere else I can help you create a ceremony to suit your requirements. You may wish to include symbolic gestures such as candle lighting or a sand ceremony (children love this!) and there are many other ways to involve your family and guests too. I can provide you with ideas on poetry and readings or you may wish to write your own. You can be as creative as your imagination allows but always expect the unexpected, children have a habit of doing exactly the opposite of what you want them to do!
It is entirely up to you how formal or informal you would like the ceremony to be and who you wish to involve, each ceremony is unique.
If you are thinking about having a Naming Ceremony and would like to discuss your plans, please contact me.
Funerals
Arranging a funeral for a loved one is not something anyone looks forward to but it is something that many of us will have to do at some point in our lives. It is important that family and friends are involved in the preparation of the ceremony if possible and it is my role to gather their input and create a meaningful and personal tribute that truly reflects the life of their loved one. You may also wish to include readings, poems and music.
When I meet with families, they are often apprehensive as they are unsure of what to expect. Sharing personal and sometimes sensitive information with a complete stranger at such an emotional time can be difficult. However, afterwards families often say to me that they found comfort in talking about their memories, sharing stories and although almost certainly there are tears, there are sometimes smiles and laughter too.
Once I have written a draft ceremony, I email it to you to check that everything is correct. It is important you are happy with the ceremony and I work closely with you and the funeral director to make sure everything is the way you want it.
If you would like further information about a humanist funeral, please contact me.
Humanism
‘People who share the values of science and rational enquiry and who seek to live an ethical and fulfilling life based on reason and compassion are humanists.’
-Humanist Society Scotland
To find out more about humanism and the Humanist Society Scotland click here.
