Whatever 2024 brings, I hope all your dreams will come true.
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What happens at a Humanist Wedding?
Humanist weddings have been legal in Scotland since 2005. It took only ten years for them to become the second most popular form of marriage in the country, and – in Scotland at least – they’ve almost become ‘the new normal’. I meet lots of couples who’ve only ever been to humanist weddings, but – … Continue Reading
I want to let you into a secret…
A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from an old friend, Oskar. A wedding planner of more than ten year’s experience, he’s just set up a new business, The Wedding Guru and he asked me to give his followers some tips. Here’s my first: let me know what you think? You can follow … Continue Reading
WE DO! Your Wedding Your Way
It’s wonderfully informative, but so light hearted and easy to read.
Rehearsals without a Celebrant
If you don’t have the time for a formal rehearsal, here’s a useful checklist of things to think about as you prepare for the big day. What time is the ceremony? What time will the groom’s party arrive beforehand? Who’s going to help the guests find a seat? Who’s going to distribute the Orders of … Continue Reading
Step by Step Guide to a Humanist Wedding no. 13 – Blessings
Getting humanists to agree on anything is a good deal harder than you might imagine.
Step by Step Guide to a Humanist Wedding no. 3 – Involving Your Guests
In religious or civil weddings, the celebrant does most of the talking, and a couple of special guests are invited to give readings. In a Humanist ceremony, the celebrant generally welcomes the guests and makes the all-important legal declarations, but you’re more than welcome to involve your family and friends in delivering parts of the … Continue Reading
Step by Step Guide to a Humanist Wedding no. 2 – How do we stand?
One of the first things that you’ll notice when you go to a Humanist Wedding is the position of the bride and groom. Unless they’re really shy, they don’t stand with their backs to you, as they would do in a religious or civil ceremony, but stand on either side of the celebrant, looking at … Continue Reading
Step by Step Guide to a Humanist Wedding no. 1 – Making An Entrance
Over the six years I’ve conducted weddings, I’ve come to realise that there’s no such thing as ‘the traditional way’ to do anything. In truth there are lots of traditions, and you should feel free to draw on any or none of them! This is certainly true of the entrance of the wedding party. In … Continue Reading
Step by Step Guide to a Humanist Wedding no. 4 – The Exchange of Rings
The exchange of wedding rings between a man and a woman is still a comparatively new idea. Once upon a time, there was only one ring; the best man gave it to the groom, who gave it to the bride who wore it to her grave. The groom didn’t wear a ring at all, and … Continue Reading