Co-Creating the Heart of Your Marriage Ceremony
Not everyone wants nor is able to have a traditional, religious church marriage ceremony.
Are you looking for something different to the traditional approach to marriage ceremonies where your ideas and wishes will truly be heard and respected and your celebrant will not tell you what you can't have?
Do you want your ceremony to sound as if it directly relates to you and not one that could be about anyone?
Do you want your families and friends to leave your ceremony feeling uplifted and inspired by your union?
Do you want a ceremony that reflects your unique Love and your special vision for your relationship and marks the start of your shared life?
Many couples are now seeking meaningful and heart-felt, more spiritual wedding ceremonies, outside the restrictions of a particular denomination and as an alternative to civil weddings often devoid of spiritual content and celebration.
As a couple you perhaps have been imagining and thinking about your wedding day for some time. Having found each other and fallen in love, you probably know the time and place and have ideas for your ceremony and are now looking for a minister with whom you can co-create the Heart of your Wedding –so that all of your personal dreams, desires and traditions are woven into your marriage ceremony. Together we will create a ceremony that is yours alone, reflective of all you hold dear together, which will inspire your guests and remain in their memories for a lifetime.
Your ceremony can draw on your religious traditions, your spiritual beliefs, or be more humanist in approach. Equally it can be traditional or modern in style; any readings, blessings, prayers, poems, music, or anything else that is meaningful may be included. I invite you too, with guidance if necessary, to write your own marriage vows, which can be immensely strengthening for your relationship. To simply repeat standard vows used by countless others perhaps does not reflect what lies at the heart of your unique relationship.
As a full-time Interfaith Wedding Minister, Officiant and Non-Denominational Celebrant, I offer a highly personalised approach to the design and delivery of your marriage ceremony. I honour and respect people of all beliefs and traditions - religious, spiritual or secular. I was ordained in 2000 from the Interfaith Seminary UK since which time I have celebrated over 500 marriage ceremonies mostly in Spain and other European countries. I operate from my base in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders– and am willing to consider invitations to ceremonies in other locations provided all necessary travel and other expenses are agreed in advance and met by the couple. I can offer all my ceremonies in English, French, German and Spanish.
Options
Civil Ceremony only
If you wish only a civil ceremony or Civil Partnership Signing then this needs to be done through a registrar. Please see the website for the Registrar General for Scotland. Registrars and Humanist Celebrants do not allow any language or elements that would be defined as religious or spiritual.
Belief oriented ceremony with legal part – religious, spiritual, humanist or other
NB:- Religious Ministers of specific denominations might only be willing to hold a ceremony for you with a particular structure and content pertaining to that religion or only be happy to use their own church language and doctrine. I offer flexibility and choice to include in your ceremony only those elements that are personal and meaningful to you.
So, if you wish to have a marriage ceremony which reflects your beliefs, whatever they may be, and includes a legal signing of the Scottish marriage certificate then this is what I offer. Up to three months before the ceremony date, I apply to the Scottish Registrar General in Edinburgh for a license to be your minister. You in the meantime apply to the Registrar of the area which includes the venue for your ceremony for your paperwork. You will find much practical guidance at the official website of the General Register Office for Scotland.
Marriage blessing ceremony
Some couples complete their legal ceremony and then later have a blessing ceremony. This applies particularly to couples who have the legal ceremony in their own country but wish nonetheless to come to Scotland to have their own blessing ceremony. Or it may apply to couples in Scotland who have the small legal ceremony with a local registrar, but then later, want a more celebratory style marriage blessing. Please contact me if this is your wish.
Same gender ceremony
For same-gender couples The Civil Partnership Act , UK, 2005 gives you the right to have your relationship legally recognised through a formal and legal procedure in which you must undergo a Civil Partnership Signing held by a Registrar and the Civil Partnership Signing part of your union must be held in a Registry Office or a Registered Premises by a Registrar.
This gives you mostly the same rights as heterosexual couples and in the eyes of the law in the UK you are recognised as spouses but in most overseas countries at present your union is still not legally recognised.
If you wish to have a ceremony which celebrates your union and reflects any religious, spiritual or humanist beliefs that either of you hold then I advocate you consider and hold the Civil Partnership Signing with the registrar and the Civil Partnership Blessing Ceremony, perhaps with family and friends, as two separate events.
I would be delighted to be your minister or celebrant for whichever kind of ceremony seems appropriate but emphasise that I work only with couples who are willing to take seriously the commitment to marriage and honour its sacredness. I have in the past been present at ceremonies where it becomes clear that all is for show, the wedding is about the day and little thought given to a marriage that will last.
Other information & some personal recommendations
Venues
If you are looking for a good venue in the Scottish Borders, I am happy to recommend:-
Cardrona Hotel, Peebles
Kippilaw Estates, Melrose
Photography
You will want to keep the memories of your special day so a good photographer is necessary, especially one with whom you can get along well. I have pleasure in recommending:-
Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders
http://www.alanwatsonphotography.co.uk
The Scottish Borders
Videography
Stills photographs are good memories and I am often surprised at how creative photographers can be in their final products; a video can also help bring out the character in people and events.
Handmade wedding stationery
Gifts
Couples often ask me where they can get a beautiful knife for cutting their wedding cake; at last I have found the perect place. Go to:-
I am also often asked if I can recommend inexpensive, original, small craft mementoes for a couple (and indeed for occasions other than marriage eg baby naming ceremonies.) Have a look at this site by Alison Inglis, based in the Scottish Borders, to see her range of handmade, personalised, wooden hearts. You choose your message, your design, your ribbon, and leave the rest to Alison at www.heartoftheborders.co.uk
The bridal car
When it comes to choosing a bridal car, or other marriage transport, it's the little things that make the difference....the uniformed chauffeur, a complimentary bottle of bubbly, your favourite music playing; every detail is important. You may wish to consider Barry's Bridal Claassic Cars
All ceremonies can be offered in English, German, French or Spanish
Ich biete Zeremonien in den folgenden Sprachen an, Englisch, Französisch, Deutsch und Spanisch
Je fournis les cérémonies dans les langues suivantes , Anglais, Français, Allemand, et Espagnol
Todas las ceremonias se pueden ofrecer en Inglés, Alemán, Francés, o Español
Detail
This page is valid from 1 January 2011 to 30 December 2011
Bespoke services and ceremonies in Scotland if within 40 miles of Galashiels
| Marriage ceremony - legal and created according to your wishes | £375 |
| Marriage / partnership ceremony - legal, simple, standard | £250 |
| Marriage blessing ceremony - no legal element | £375 |
| Vow renewal ceremony – simple, standard | £200 |
| Vow renewal ceremony - created to your wishes | £300 |
| Baby naming ceremony - simple | £200 |
| Baby naming ceremony - created to your wishes | £275 |
A bespoke ceremony created to your specific wishes involves more time and correspondence – and the completion of a detailed questionnaire.
A simple, standard ceremony – I ask you to complete a basic information questionnaire and you leave the rest to me.
A deposit of £50 is to be paid to confirm the booking. The balance is to be paid two weeks before the ceremony. You may pay by PayPal (you do not need an account) or by bank transfer. Details will be given on request.
Any consultation meetings will be held in Galshiels, or if necessary, Edinburgh.
I will travel further afield for ceremonies, not for meetings, but additional charges are calculated as follows:-
Travel and time
Once I move beyond 40 miles from Galashiels, it means I spend more on time and travel costs and must charge for this. This then is reflected in additional fees which would be agreed beforehand. Edinburgh is included as part of my home area. But as an example, to cover additional fuel costs and travel time, the following additional costs would be incurred:-
| Aberdeen | £55 |
| Carlisle | £90 |
| Fort William | £85 |
| Inverness | £55 |
| Perth | £35 |