Sam came in with both her parents, and she and Martin spoke their vows directly from cards.
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Are we mourning or celebrating?
I’ve been a celebrant for a dozen years now, and over that time, the character of funerals has undoubtedly changed. Two years ago, the BBC ran this story based on an ICM survey, in which it found that 54% of people wanted a ceremony that was ‘a celebration of life’. Almost as many wanted to … Continue Reading
Rosa and David’s Humanist Wedding at Seton Collegiate Church
Doing the homework was a fantastic way to reflect upon our relationship, and both of us really took a lot away from that experience.
Becky and Jim’s Humanist Wedding at The Caves
Jim and Becky are actors: it’s almost three years since I conducted their wedding at The Caves, and I’ve been itching to write about it ever since because the way they chose to open it was so original! First of all, they chose not to go up onto the stage, like everyone else. They wanted to marry … Continue Reading
Project Elpis: Giving Hope to Refugees
As the humanist chaplain at the University of Edinburgh, I get to meet some inspiring people and I was amazed to see what second-year students Alexandros Angelopoulos and Sam Kellerhals have made happen with their Project Elpis. The word elpis means ‘hope’ in Greek. These two environmental sciences undergraduates have created solar-powered mobile phone charging … Continue Reading
A Funeral for a Humanist
I know it sounds odd, but it’s not often I’m asked to conduct a funeral for a humanist. Lots of people want a humanist ceremony, but what they really want is, “something that’s not religious where we can talk about the person that we love”. We did that for Leslie too: his son Ian delivered a … Continue Reading
He Never Leaves The Seat Up Shock Horror Probe!
“Bloody ‘ell”is all I can say. Thanks David Barnett of The Guardian for the revelation.
Fiona & Phil’s Humanist Wedding at Prestonfield House
Rules are there to be broken. Most ceremonies last half an hour: Fiona and Phil’s took ten minutes. Most brides arrive with their dads. Phil and Fiona spent a happy half hour with all their guests before the ceremony. Most guests get to sit down: at Fiona and Phil’s, there was standing room only. Most couples take … Continue Reading
Ellie & Neil’s Humanist Wedding at The City Chambers, Edinburgh
This lovely thank you card reminded me why I’ll never forget Ellie and Neil’s wedding.Ellie’s mum Catrin gave a reading of a poem by Edward Lear that had been Ellie’s favourite as a child. It’s called the Quangle Wangle Quee, and what made it so special was that Catrin was actually wearing the Quangle Wangle Quee’s hat! Thanks Ellie and Neil … Continue Reading
A Lovely Love Story about David and Megan’s Humanist Wedding at The Lounge in Largs
When we want to talk about love, we tend to get tongue-tied. That’s when we turn for help to the poets, because they have the gift of expressing our thoughts and feelings better than we can ourselves. Few living poets do this better than Edward Monkton I first heard his poem, A Lovely Love Story, … Continue Reading