I don’t often get to tell a tale of teenage love at first sight, but Jason and Debbie met in 3rd year at Bo’ness Academy, so their story was a long and winding one. It took in a few serious lows (like Jason breaking his back in a rock-climbing fall) along with some … Continue Reading
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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

Donna & Jonas’s Humanist Wedding at Kirknewton Stables
Some days go perfectly and Jonas and Donna’s was one. We had ideal weather, and they created a textbook example of how informal yet moving a humanist wedding can be. Donna and Jonas wanted to start the ceremony by spending time with their friends, and they were waiting for me at the door when I … Continue Reading

Caroline and David’s Humanist Wedding at Dalmahoy Country Club
I want you to imagine the man on the right, wearing a naval uniform while taking his clothes off for money… Yes, that’s what David was doing when Caroline first saw David. OK it was to raise money for charity, but I have to admit its one of the more unusual stories I’ve heard on … Continue Reading
Can you read what it says on this card?
I find that many couples now want to speak their vows directly to one another rather than repeat them after me, which I think is great, and the ultimate expression of what you are doing on the day. You can write them by hand of course, which is more personal, but if you want to … Continue Reading

Keren & Woody’s Humanist Wedding at Pollockshields Burgh Hall
There was a lot to love about this wedding, not least the way it started, when Woody came in with his mum and dad on each arm. In a traditional ceremony, the groom’s parents are just two more guests; this is a subtle way of saying, “I’ve got a family too, and they’re … Continue Reading

Jo & Tosh’s Humanist Wedding at Broxmouth Park
reading the ceremony reminded me of all the ways in which a humanist wedding can be made uniquely personal.

Jennifer & Mo’s Humanist Wedding at The Vu
I was really pleased that Jennifer & Mo sent me a link to this video of their wedding this morning. Not because it shows my best feature – the back of my head – but because it reminded me how moving it was to see and hear them speaking their vows to one another. The short … Continue Reading

Heather & Stephen’s Humanist wedding at Cambo House, St Andrews
There’s something inherently dramatic about the idea of marrying in a winter wonderland, but this is the first year for a long time that the weather in Scotland has made that possible over the Festive Season. Sadly for more than one couple, that led to last-minute postponements, but by the time Stephen and Heather’s big … Continue Reading
Step by Step Guide to a Humanist Wedding no. 8 – The Vows – Official Guidance
One of the many attractions of a humanist ceremony is that in your wedding vows you are free to choose what you promise. The wording of the legal declaration, however is another matter. As it says on the Registrar General of Scotland’s website, “There is no legally prescribed form of words to be used in … Continue Reading