Islay and Iain's Wedding at The Vu

Islay and Iain got married at The Vu in Bathgate on a crisp cold day in January. This venue is in a unique setting in the middle of Ballencrieff Reservoir with full height windows providing a beautiful backdrop. 

Islay and Iain are a classic case of ‘opposites attract’ - Iain is very studious, quiet, laidback and messy and Islay is a control freak who is tidy, obsessive and chatty! Both are very, very stubborn though - neither of them backs down in an argument and they are always bickering and disagreeing with each other, but of course, Islay insists she is always right!

For Islay and Iain, marriage means creating their own team - Team ‘I’ !  It is a statement to those around them that they have found love, friendship and support in each other and that they want to navigate through life’s ups and downs together. Marriage, for them, is spending the rest of their lives learning about one another and making memories together.  

Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.

A good marriage must be created

In the art of marriage the little things are the big things...

It is never being to old to hold hands

It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day

It is never going to sleep angry

It is at no time taking the other for granted;

The courtship should not end with the honeymoon, It should continue through all the years

It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives

It is standing together and facing the world

It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family

It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy

It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways

It is not looking for perfection in each other

It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour

It is having the capacity to forgive and forget

It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow

It is finding room for the things of the spirit

It is a common search for the good and the beautiful

It is establishing a relationship, in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal

It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner

It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.

(Wilferd Arlan Peterson)

Congratulations, Dr and Mrs Roy! Love this photo!

Islay and Iain, I really enjoyed working with you and thank you for sharing these fabulous shots by photographer Paul Gavin.

"Fiona, just wanted to say thank you very much for doing our wedding ceremony for us, it was great. Many of our guests had never been to a humanist ceremony and they were all so impressed by it! "

Jaclyn and Scott's Wedding at The Balmoral Hotel

Jaclyn and Scott wanted to get married at The Balmoral because they appreciate the finer things in life, and this iconic Edinburgh hotel is a beautiful venue. Having been together eleven years, their wedding day was so important, not only for Jaclyn and Scott, but also for their parents and they wanted to celebrate with their guests in style! 

Jaclyn and her Bridemaids looked absolutely stunning!
 

"Marriage is a promise, a potential made in the hearts of two people who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfil.”  

(Edmund O'Neill)

Today is a day you will always remember
the greatest in anyone’s life,
You’ll start off the day just two people in love
And end it as husband and wife.

It’s a brand new beginning, the start of a journey
With moments to cherish and treasure.
And although there’ll be times when you both disagree,
These will surely be outweighed by pleasure.

You’ll have heard many words of advice in the past
When the secrets of marriage were spoken,
But you know that the answers lie hidden inside
Where the bond of true love lies unbroken.

So live happy forever as lovers and friends,
It’s the dawn of a new life for you
As you stand there together with love in your eyes
From the moment you whisper “I do”.

And with luck, all your hopes, and your dreams can be real,
May success find its way to your hearts.
Tomorrow can bring you the greatest of joys
But today is the day it all starts.

Congratulations Jaclyn and Scott - wishing you all the very best for the future!

"Fiona, I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you so much for our lovely ceremony. It was exactly what we were after and have received numerous of comments from guests saying how much they enjoyed it - they really did seem to love it, and so did we.

I would certainly recommend you in the future to family and friends so thank you again - it was very much appreciated.  The rest of the day continued on as well as the lovely ceremony - we were two very happy people!"

First same sex marriage in Scotland

I was delighted to be invited to attend the marriage ceremony of Joe and Malx – the first same sex couple to be married in Scotland! 

The ceremony was conducted by HSS celebrant, Ross Wright in the Trades Hall of Glasgow at the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay.

The happy couple were joined by their families and friends, as well as guests including LGBTI equality campaigners. The poet Liz Lochhead and Scottish Government Minister Marco Biagi MSP acted as witnesses.

The Equality Network, Scotland’s national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) equality charity, who ran the Equal Marriage campaign in Scotland, attended the wedding and celebrated the occasion as a ‘milestone moment for Scotland’.

Here’s the link to the full story on the HSS website:

http://www.humanism-scotland.org.uk/blogs/in_the_news/

Congratulations Joe and Malx !

First day of the new marriage law in Scotland

The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 came into effect today and this means that any couple of the same sex can either convert their civil partnership to a marriage or they can give the requisite 15 days notice of intention to get married. The first ceremonies will take place on 31st December this year.

I was delighted to be asked to be Stacey's and Georgie's celebrant for their marriage ceremony on the 31st December and I met them this morning at the registrar's office in Leith to submit their Marriage Notices!

Cathy and Callum's Wedding at The Georgian House

Callum and Cathy knew that planning their wedding would be fun and relaxed. They wanted to make sure it really reflected who they are with films, music, food, wine and style. They are both unique people who like what they like and don't bother about what others think! 

I adore The Georgian House in Charlotte Square - a Robert Adam masterpiece and the perfect setting for an intimate and sophisticated wedding. The house has been magnificently restored to show a typical Edinburgh New Town House with a fine collection of period furniture and ornaments.

Cathy and Callum had a great story to tell and I enjoyed sharing it - there wasn't a dry eye in the room!

“Marriage means safety. It means that, like the Tim Minchin song, wherever you are and whatever you face, these are the people who'll make you feel safe in this world."

Callum proposed to Cathy in New York, one  of Cathy’s favourite places in the world. They were in Char No.4, a restaurant in Brooklyn that Cathy had booked months in advance, on the recommendation (not personal) of Adam Richman from Man v Food. It was also Callum's birthday.

They were sitting at the bar drinking cocktails when Callum got down on one knee. Cathy had no idea it was coming at that precise moment and she immediately burst into tears. Callum doesn't really remember what he said and it was all a bit of a blur, but he remembers her saying “yes” and everyone in the restaurant cheering and being brought the Champagne he had sneakily ordered earlier. Cathy was told “let the tears flow!” by an enthusiastic New Yorker!

Callum's friend Stephen reads the lyrics from  ‘House Where Nobody Lives’ by Tom Waits.

Thank you, Cathy and Callum for sharing your wonderful wedding photos, taken by friend Jillian Paton.

"Fiona, thanks again for all your efforts in the build up and on the day itself. You did a fantastic job and were a huge part of an amazing day."

Date set for first Same Sex Marriages

I'm delighted to see that the first Same Sex Marriages in Scotland are set to take place from 31st December. 

See the following links for the full story and Scottish Government video featuring our very own HSS celebrant Ross Wright!

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Set-the-date-for-first-Same-Sex-Marriages-1149.aspx

Michelle and Ian's Wedding at Lochhouses Farm, Tyninghame

Michelle and Ian's wedding took place in May on a stunning beach in Tyninghame near Dunbar. The relaxed 'holiday' feeling of the wedding was perfect for this laid-back couple.

They kicked off their shoes and joined their families and friends for a weekend of celebrations, staying in the Safari Tents on Lochhouses Farm, right next to the beach. 

The melody of the pipes floated across the sand dunes, adding to the sound of the crashing waves as Michelle made her entrance with her dad, Michael and Bridesmaids Amanda and Lisa. 

Michelle and Ian's ceremony was unique and very personal, with every detail reflecting their personalities.

On this day,

I give you my heart,

My promise,

That I will walk with you,

Hand in hand,

Wherever our journey leads us,

Supporting each other,

Together,

Forever.

And now, Mr and Mrs McIntosh, it's time to celebrate! Back to the fabulous marquee for drinks, nibbles and a wee heat!

I would like to thank Michelle and Ian for a memorable afternoon on the beach, and for sharing their lovely photos, taken by photographer Peter Sandground.

"Fiona, we just wanted to drop you a quick message to say a massive thank you for the ceremony on Saturday! Everyone has been raving about it and we couldn't have dreamed for a better celebrant."