I haven’t been posting much about weddings recently because I’ve been very busy organising the Humanist Society of Scotland’s third series of alternative Thought for the Day podcasts, Thought for the World. It’s part of a long-running campaign to persuade the BBC to open up their Thought for the Day slot on Radio 4 to … Continue Reading
Author Archives
Tim Maguire

Jen and Brian’s Humanist Wedding at Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle is a splendidly Baronial Pile by Bonnyrigg on the outskirts of Edinburgh, big enough to hold the hordes of English people who flocked to celebrate the wedding of Jennifer & Brian. It was a lovely ceremony; Jennifer looked fantastic in her dress and Brian cut a splendid dash in a Morning Suit – … Continue Reading

Amani & Dan’s Humanist Wedding at Mavis Hall Park
As you can see, this wedding was a real hoot! Dan and Amani put a lot of thought into their big day, and their first good idea was to hold it out at Mavis Hall Park, a real working farm at the foot of the Lammermuir Hills. Juliet has been there several times and she’d … Continue Reading
A Christmas Message from Ricky Gervais
New Humanist Magazine has come up with a great idea: an advent calendar of podcasts by well known commentators and comedians. Today’s comes from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant The devil may have the best tunes, but the humanists have the best jokes.
How to get in touch
I’ve had this blog for a while now but it’s taken until today for someone to point out (very kindly, I may add) that they couldn’t find out how to contact me. It’s very simple: just click on the ‘view my complete profile’ link, under the heading ‘ABOUT ME’, in the right hand column and … Continue Reading
Credit Crunch Weddings
As the economy plunges screaming over the cliff, it would be reasonable to expect people to postpone their wedding plans indefinitely in the hope that “things can only get better”. Oddly enough, that doesn’t seem to be happening and hardly a day goes by when I don’t get a call or an email from couples … Continue Reading
Claire & Peter’s Humanist Wedding at Prestonfield House
Some of the most touching ceremonies I do are those with only a handful of guests, like this evening wedding at Prestonfield House for Peter and Claire. We wrote the ceremony together as always, but they both prepared secret readings for one other, which they gave before they exchanged their vows. It takes a lot … Continue Reading
Love and Proposition 8: Keith Obermann’s moving plea
“If you voted for this proposition, I have some questions for you,” begins Keith Obermann on MSNBC and he goes on to say all that needs to be said about the right of gay people to marry in the USA: much of it applies here in the UK too. I recently interviewed former Bishop Richard … Continue Reading
Deborah & Brian’s Humanist Wedding at Edinburgh Castle
Every so often a large attachment hits my inbox – if I’m lucky, it’s from a couple I married months before sending me some shots from their wedding. Back in freezing cold, wet January, Deborah and Brian chose to come here all the way from Cheshire and Connecticut to marry in the historic setting of … Continue Reading

Jane & David’s Humanist Wedding in the garden of Haddington House
One of the things that surprises me most about the ceremonies I have the privilege of conducting is that they are all genuinely unique. Every couple’s journey is different and they way in which they tell their story is too. Jane and David’s approach was intimate, open and honest and they chose a lovely spot, … Continue Reading