Marry in Scotland in the land of myth and fairytale castles

In the land of legend, myth and fairytale castles

You can have whatever wedding you want. We are so fortunate that in Scotland an authorised wedding celebrant, such as an interfaith minister like myself, can legally marry couples in any venue. Your can choose any style you like for your ceremony, from the very simple to the most elaborate, and you can choose to hold it in your favourite hotel, your granny’s parlour, a garden bower, or on the misty battlements of an ancient castle.

It gets really personal!

No two couples are alike. You are unique, and so is the vision you hold for your marriage. I have been marrying couples for over three years now and I specialize in personal, bespoke ceremonies that reflect your uniqueness in a handcrafted ceremony; from the very simplest to the elaborate. We begin with an informal discussion at my home, where we decide on what kind of ceremony you want. Then we dream it and design it together. You may already have some firm ideas, or you may have no idea at all. Either way is fine. I have all kinds of resources and ideas to help you with, including readings, musicians, blessings and rituals. I will be available to support and answer your queries, throughout the entire process.

Taking that vow

At the centre of a big wedding day is the ceremony. And at the centre of the ceremony is the vow taking – the heart of the matter. Those special promises that you will make to one another are what will anchor your vision for your married life together. They are also the only legal requirement.

Your vows will be based on your personal values and beliefs; the things you hold dear in life and in your relationship. You can return to these promises again and again on anniversaries, speaking them over quietly to one another, or even before witnesses at some future date in a vow renewal ceremony. I build my ceremonies around the vow taking, the body around the heart, so that the whole service, whatever elements it may contain, holds together as a seamless, flowing piece. And my special gift to you is a presentation copy of your ceremony, into which you can insert a few pictures, which will help you remember and cherish your special day.

It’s your beliefs and values that really matter

You are completely free to write your own vows if you wish, and I will help you with that. Or I can draft them out for you to amend. You are also free to choose how you will speak them: whether reading them from the wedding book, memorising them, speaking each one after me, or simply answering “I do”.

Your vows, and the whole ceremony, will reflect your beliefs and values. What matters most to you might be family, and the bringing of two families together. You may already have children that you want to include in the ceremony. Or you may have a shared passion such as Nature, or a sport you both love. If you have any religious or spiritual background and beliefs, these can be reflected too. Some of the ways in which we do this are in the choice of readings or poetry, music, and any rituals that we want to include. And of course, humour is definitely allowed!

What’s in a ritual

A ritual need not be anything complicated or mystical. It can be as simple as the lighting of a Unity Candle, or a candle to honour ancestors or family members who have passed. Mothers might be honoured by the giving of a rose; or fathers by the drinking of a toast. More elaborate rituals could include creating a sand ceremony – pouring coloured sands together to create a pattern in a keepsake vase, scattering flower petals, hand tying with ribbons, or a full hand-fasting with a specially made cord.

Whatever elements we choose to include, we will take care to make sure that they are symbolically meaningful to you, so that the whole ceremony is woven together into something that flows with grace and beauty; something that neither you, nor any of your guests, will ever forget.

To find out more

There is more information on my website (see the link near the top of the page). Or please feel free to contact me for an informal chat. I am here to help –and helping to make your wedding day unforgettable will be my pleasure and my joy.

Brief Testimonials:

……..such a beautiful and personal ceremony for our wedding. It really was so special to us as it revolved around us and our family and being able to involve them in such an important event in our lives was priceless.
Kirsty & Alasdair

A comment from one of our wedding guests says it all: "The nicest wedding I've been to!" Judith made our day really special and was incredibly accommodating and helpful right from our first contact. We couldn't have made a better choice!
Ute & Jamie

I'm the pianist from yesterday's wedding and I just want to tell you that I've done many weddings, but for a long time nobody has moved me so much as the marriage ceremony you conducted yesterday! It was very beautiful!
Lily Datony

I’m so relieved we found you. I think you’ve really understood us.
Max & Marsha

We really are so grateful to our wedding planner for putting us in touch with you. We were struggling to find someone who could bring both of our beliefs and backgrounds together and make a meaningful service that was personal to us and our families. We don't believe we could have found anyone else who could manage to create a service that was so fitting for us!
Eilidh & Harry

You have been so helpful from the start and really listened to what we wanted for our short but meaningful ceremony. We have had so many compliments on what a beautiful and moving ceremony it was, I don't think there was a dry eye in the house! I will highly recommend you to any couples who are getting married.
Michael & Meagan