After I get your initial contact we will usually have some emails and a chat (usually via video or phone, unless you are local) to find out if we are good match because you need to be comfortable with me being a major part of your special day. I will then ask you to complete a booking form so I have all your details and a summary of your requirements. A £100 deposit will secure the date for you.
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe”
John Muir
YOUR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CEREMONIES ANSWERED
CEREMONIES FOR LOVE
Will our wedding be legally recognised?
Yes, if you follow the relevant application process with The Registrar General of Scotland my affiliation with the OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation allows me to hold a legally valid marriage ceremony, for both opposite and same sex couples, in Scotland. A legal wedding ceremony can be spiritual, or religious, or humanist, or non-religious.
This application must be made between 3 months and 29 days before the date of your wedding, to the registry office which covers the postcode of your wedding location. In addition to the application form supporting paperwork and an administration fee (currently £70) will need to be submitted. Once approved a document called a 'Marriage Schedule' will need to be collected in person during the 7 days before the wedding (usually a weekday). As part of the ceremony, specific wording needs to be incorporated to cover the legal aspect of the wedding, which then allows me to pronounce you married, followed by signing the paperwork along with two legal witnesses.
Please note that if you are not resident in the UK further documentation and visas are required.
Where can we have our ceremony?
In Scotland wedding ceremonies (including legal ceremonies) can literally be held anywhere indoors or outdoors. This opens up a vast array of wonderful opportunities in the great outdoors, from woodlands, beaches and mountains to gardens and more or less every indoor location you can imagine, including private homes, hotels or other holiday accommodation. If you want to get married on or in a private property you will need the permission of the owner.
With the permission of the relevant church leader I will also be very happy to hold a wedding ceremony in a church building or private church.
How far in advance should we get in touch?
The more notice the better because this ensures I can reserve a date for you!
Can you help us with a wedding ceremony or elopement at very short notice?
For any non-legal ceremonies like vow renewal, commitment ceremonies or handfasting ceremonies I will do my best to accommodate you even at short notice.
However, if you are looking for a legally binding ceremony then the administrative process imposes some deadlines. There is a minimum notice period of 29 days to submit all the relevant paperwork to apply for a legal marriage to the registry office that is responsible for the postcode area of your wedding location. Therefore you will need to allow at least this period to plan ahead. If you do not hold UK passports and require visas or other immigration papers then the time needed will be a lot longer.
How much does it cost?
My fees for the planning and personalisation of tailor-made wedding and civil partnership ceremonies, commitment ceremonies and renewal of vows ceremonies are in the region of £400-600. Costs can be higher depending on the complexity of requirements (of the ceremony, or time to travel to and access very remote locations).
Fees typically include an original, personalised and tailor made ceremony, based on unlimited email, phone, and video meetings; support with selecting ceremony options, rituals and symbolic exchanges, readings and vows; local travel expenses and a final digital copy of the wedding ceremony. The ceremony is conducted and the marriage solemnised without further charge and not for profit or gain, as part of my role as an Interfaith Minister.
The fees for simple handfasting ceremonies, with limited personalisation, start from £200, with extra costs incurred for remote locations or added customisation.
How far do you travel?
I am located in the North-West Highlands of Scotland but will be happy to discuss travel to any other Highland and Island location as well as Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Highland Perthshire.
How will you create our ceremony?
If you book a long time in advance we will just discuss your main ideas and I will then get in touch again 4-5 months before the event with some further info and guidance, followed by a more in-depth meeting about your wishes and ideas and as many follow up conversations or emails we need to finetune them. I will then write your ceremony and share a first version approximately 6 weeks before the wedding date. You can then feedback and input and we will go back and forth making changes until it's right. Some couples prefer a lighter touch involvement whilst others like to really focus on the details - we will discuss this and get a feeling for it in the earlier stages. There is no one size-fits-all approach because I pride myself in a very personal service.
What rituals and symbols can be part of the ceremony?
As part of developing a tailor-made and personal ceremony I exploring a variety of possible rituals and symbols with couples. Some are more traditionally Scottish, like handfasting, quaich or oathing stone, whilst others are popular among couples everywhere. Sand ceremonies, unity candles, or ring warming are just a few examples. There will also be plenty of opportunity to discuss the creation of new and totally personal rituals. It's this creative part of ceremony I love most!
Can you conduct a ceremony on the peak of a mountain?
I'll be happy to explore scenic locations around the mountains of the NW Highlands with you, or even some way up, but unfortunately due to a recent knee injury I cannot offer ceremonies on top of mountains at the moment.