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."

Ross and Julia's Wedding at The Caves

Ross and Julia's wedding took place in The Caves in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. 

I am always delighted when I am asked to conduct a ceremony here as the vaults that lie beneath the South Bridge, which were lost for over 100 years, provide an atmospheric, historic and truly unique setting for a marriage ceremony.

Julia and Ross are both from Scotland originally, but now live in Vancouver. And so their first reading, 'Apache Blessing', was a fitting choice from their adopted continent.

Now you will feel no rain,

for each of you will be shelter for the other.

Now you will feel no cold,

for each of you will be warmth to the other.

Now there will be no loneliness,

for each of you will be companion to the other.

Now you are two persons,

but there is only one life before you.

May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead

and through all the years,

May happiness be your companion

and your days together be good and long upon the earth.

Treat yourselves and each other with respect,

and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.

Give the highest priority to the tenderness,

gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves.

When frustration, difficulties and fear

assail your relationship,

as they threaten all relationships at one time or another,

remember to focus on what is right between you,

not only the part which seems wrong.

In this way, you can ride out the storms

when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives

remembering that even if you lose sight of it,

for a moment the sun is still there.

And if each of you takes responsibility

for the quality of your life together,

it will be marked by abundance and delight.

Their second reading, the charming 'A Lovely Love Story’ by Edward Monkton was chosen because when they first read it, it reminded them of each other!

One of the unique features of Julia and Ross's wedding was the Steel Drum Band playing on the balcony overlooking the main vault where the ceremony took place. It really is possible to bring some Caribbean sunshine into the candlelit Caves on a cold December day!

A big thank you to Julia and Ross for sharing these shots taken by their very talented brother-in-law Will Patterson at Luco Photography.
 

“ Fiona - a massive thanks for doing such an amazing job of the ceremony and helping to make our day so special. We have had so many comments about how much people enjoyed it. Even our parents, who had never been to a Humanist ceremony before said how much they loved it and how personal it was. You also made the run up to the wedding very easy for us, especially planning from afar in such a short space of time!"