Will our Ceremony be legal?
Yes, if that’s what you want! As the founder of Rites and Rituals Scotland and an authorised Celebrant, I can legally conduct marriage ceremonies anywhere in Scotland.
FAQs
Rites and Rituals Scotland is a place where people can come together to explore Spirituality through Ceremony & Ritual. Spirituality is often difficult to define but for our collective, Spirituality is about living a life of authenticity, while knowing we are connected to something bigger than ourselves. It’s not something we can always put into words or understand through our every day sensory experience, but it’s a powerful, sacred force that seems to flow through everything around us, from the tallest trees to the smallest rocks. Some people call this force God, others might use terms like the Universe, the Sacred or the Divine, or just describe it as a deep, unexplainable connection.
At Rites and Rituals Scotland, we believe that when you step into ceremony, you are stepping into something sacred and powerful. This belief infuses our work with a sense of reverence and trust, recognising that the rituals and ceremonies we create are not just human-made but are also supported by a greater, guiding force. We celebrate this sense of connection by hosting ceremonies for anyone who feels drawn to our work, regardless of their background. Whether you identify as religious, non-religious, spiritual, or somewhere in between, our ceremonies are designed to honour and explore these deep, shared experiences. We provide a welcoming space for people from all walks of life to connect with that sacred, unexplainable force, in a way that resonates personally with them.
So, what do I believe?
I was brought up to believe that God was a man, or at least had the form of a man, who lived in a paradise called Heaven which seemed to be somewhere above the sky. But he wasn’t just an ordinary man. He was an all-powerful, omnipotent man, who could at any moment heal you or hurt you, save you or make you suffer. A man who worked in “mysterious ways” so that he could give a wee baby cancer or just stand by as thousands of innocent people were killed by hunger and famine, and you just had to accept that he knew what he was doing. It was all part of his “big plan”. And then there were the rules… most of which seemed to benefit men, and oppress women… and he gave power to other men (ministers, priests etc) to be custodians of these rules, and these men told children like me that God was always watching, and that if you misbehaved he would see you, and you would get punished in some way… maybe one of your family would become ill…. and that would be your fault, your punishment. Not only that but everything seemed to be a sin…..and you were warned that if you didn’t repent for all your sins you wouldn’t get into Heaven… but instead you would go to Hell (or maybe you would be lucky and would just go to purgatory and only have years of suffering instead of an eternity… yeah!) There was also the praying, and the fear of what would happen if you didn’t pray. So that if someone in your family was suffering illness or hardship, and didn’t get better, well you obviously didn’t pray hard enough. And don’t even get me started on ceremonies…. weddings where the ceremony is centred around God instead of the 2 people making the commitment, funerals where the person who has died is hardly even mentioned. Oh, and let’s not even get into the judgement around same-sex ceremonies.
But I have found God over the course of my journey, and it has been the most wonderful discovery. Because what I’ve discovered is that God is not a man… or a woman for that matter. God has no gender and no form. God is just God….an ever-present awareness, an energy that surrounds us and works through us. Something bigger than ourselves. A central symbol of meaning. Something mysterious and magical, powerful and good. I can and do believe in that God. But most of all, I believe in Love.
Are you a Humanist?
No, and this is an important distinction to make, because while I do hold many of the principles found in Humanism (the value of human life, and the importance of living a good life), I’m also a very spiritual person and I try to live my life from an Animist set of values. This means that I believe that everything in the natural world has its own life force. So, just as people, animals, insects, fish and birds have a life energy, so do plants, flowers, trees, stones, rocks, rivers, streams and mountains. Humanism doesn’t believe in a universal life force, or a life beyond this one or any other type of spirituality or supernatural phenomena.
Do you believe in God?
That all depends on how you define God. I don’t believe in a God who has form, or an all knowing and vengeful male, or a God who sits on a cloud watching and judging everybody. I don’t believe in a God who sits back and lets people suffer. I don’t believe in a God who says it’s wrong to fall in love with someone of the same gender. I don’t believe in literal resurrections or virgin births. I don’t believe in the eternal fires of hell. I don’t believe any of the holy scriptures are divine. I don’t believe ministers, priests, imams, rabbi, or any other type of clergy are able to have any more of a direct relationship with God than any other person. In short, I don’t believe or support any of the man-made nonsense that exists in organised religion and has been the cause of so much pain & suffering in the world, and I think we should be speaking out against it at every opportunity.
But I do believe in magic and mystery. I believe in parking angels & fairies, witches & wizards and I definitely believe in UFOs & Jedi Knights. I believe in something beyond this world that we don’t have words for, a feeling of something bigger than us that we just can’t explain, a presence that exists within and around us that we don’t have the language to describe, but that pulls us in and allows us to see the world, and humanity at its very best. And if you want to call it God, I’m absolutely okay with that. I also very much believe that marriage is a sacred commitment between two people and that they should be allowed to enter into this commitment in the presence of God, Spirit, Grace, Peace, Love or whichever word they want to give to the idea that they are not alone when making their Vows to each other, but rather they they do so in the presence of something greater than themselves.
Can we have an input into our ceremony, and include things like poems, readings and personal vows.
Yes, absolutely and I happily encourage this! My ceremonies are written to ensure I capture the essence of your relationship, and what this special day means to you both. You can choose to have a romantic service, a sentimental service, a lighthearted and funny ceremony, or you can have all these combined. Many couples choose to include friends and family as part of the ceremony, through readings, poems or even songs. Your ceremony should be the talking point for the rest of your day, and through my script writing experience and professional speaking skills, you can be sure friends and family will be talking about your ceremony for days and weeks to come.
Can we have a Civil Partnership?
Yes! Civil Partnerships are available for all couples in Scotland. Get in touch for more info!
Do you conduct Same-Sex Ceremonies?
Yes!.. yes….a thousand times….. YES! I LOVE Same-Sex Weddings! As far as I’m concerned ‘Love is Love’ and people should be free to marry whoever they choose, regardless of gender.
What is a Commitment Ceremony?
A Commitment Ceremony is very much like a wedding ceremony but it has no legal standing. Sometimes a couple will choose to have a Commitment Ceremony if one (or both) is still legally married, and going through a lengthy divorce but they want to make a spiritual commitment to their new partner.
Do you travel?
Yes! I’m happy to travel!
If we have children, can we include them in our Ceremony?
Yes! I love when children are part of a ceremony because they are so natural, and they bring a real sense of wonder and magic to events. And there are many different ways for children to be included… from Handfastings and Sand Ceremonies to delivering readings or including a fun game, your children can be a wonderful and memorable part of your day.
Can we have Religious/ Spiritual content within our Ceremony?
Absolutely! In fact, as a Rites and Rituals Celebrant, I think it’s hard to have a ceremony devoid of any sacred energy. It’s your day and you can whatever you want in your Ceremony. So, you can choose to have a prayer or a hymn, or you can include a spiritual ritual such as Handfasting or a Sand Ceremony. The most important thing is that it should reflect who you are as a couple, and I’m happy to incorporate whatever that might be.
Can we have a Non-Religious Ceremony?
You can certainly have a Ceremony without any obvious aspects of Religion or Faith (hymns/prayers/ etc). However, I believe a Marriage Ceremony is a sacred one, and that when two people come together in Ceremony to exchange Vows of marriage, they do so in the presence of a very powerful, sacred force. So, if by asking for a “non-religious” you mean you don’t believe your Ceremony is held by something sacred, then you should maybe think about having an Independent or Humanist Celebrant rather than a Rites and Rituals Celebrant.
Can we have a themed wedding?
Yes! You absolutely can! I love themed weddings. So far I’ve conducted ceremonies or services where I’ve been Batman, a Star Fleet Officer (Star Trek), a Scottish Ellen De Generes, and Princess Leah but I’m open to pretty much anything!
Why should I choose an Interfaith Minister?
Having a Celebrant to lead your wedding gives you the freedom to hold your ceremony wherever you like, and at any time of day and in accordance with your own philosophical beliefs. In addition to traditional wedding venues, I can conduct weddings in picturesque forests, breezy hilltops, stunning Scottish lochs, pubs, village halls and really anywhere else you can think of! You may choose a ‘non aspect of religion’ wedding, or you may want to have a bible reading or a hymn included.
You can include the traditional elements such as saying “Aye do!”, or you might want to write your own wedding vows or special words. You can choose your own music, readings and poems, and decide where in the ceremony these will be read. You might want to have a handfasting, or another symbolic ritual, or even create your own new tradition. You can choose to wear traditional dress, or you can dress up like Batman. It’s completely up to you. However, I have lots of ideas and am happy to help you create your own unique ceremony.