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My Services

Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies

Whether you want a romantic, fun filled marriage ceremony, one with rituals, a surprise wedding, or a simple no fuss marriage ceremony, you have came to the right place.

Not sure yet which type of ceremony to choose?

No worries, we will explore all the possibilities and come up with a plan that will be totally right for you.

Why should you choose me?

Plain and simple, I love my job, I am relaxed and capable, and making your wedding ceremony amazingly wonderful and perfect for both of you, and your guests, is at the heart of all I do.

Unique

Personalised Ceremonies

Let's meet

Are we a match?

I prefer to see my couples in person for a no obligation chat to see if I am the right fit for them. Following that we can arrange to meet to plan your ceremony in detail.

Bespoke

Ceremony Writing

I will prepare a draft ceremony to see if we are on the right page and work closely with you to create your perfect ceremony.

Customised

Symbolic Rituals

Music special to you both, personalised vows with modern or ancient rituals or a simple no fuss ceremony.

Just for you

Whatever you choose, it will be right for you.

Your ceremony - Your way

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Kind words

Colin and Nicola 28th September 2024

"Can’t speak highly enough of Jean. Would recommend her in a heartbeat. Funny, genuine, sincere. Genuinely a wonderful person."

Symbolic Rituals

Handfasting

(Tying the knot) An ancient Celtic/Medieval custom, especially common in Scotland and Ireland, in which a couple come together to declare that they intend to marry. It’s become popular in modern day ceremonies due to the ‘tying the knot’ symbolism and because it was shown on Game of Thrones. While facing each other, the couple will join hands while a cloth is tied around their hands in a knot. The symbolic act typically involves fastening a couples hands together with cording, ribbon, twine, or silk sash while I as the celebrant say some meaningful words (and prayers if wished) as the cords are wrapped around the couples hands.

Sand
Ceremony

A Sand Ceremony or Blending of the Sand is a unique way to symbolize two lives becoming one in a wedding ceremony.

It usually follows the exchange of rings. The ceremony involves the celebrant introducing the ceremony and presenting the couple with separate containers of sand.

The Celebrant pours her sand first into the display bottle, followed by the groom and then the bride follows and pours her sand in and then the couple pour their sand in together until finished. This is a great way to include family members or children in the ceremony

Quaich

The Quaich is a traditional drinking cup with two handles, unique to Scotland. Drinking from a Quaich is part of a long established tradition of hospitality. If you share a cup like this with somebody, you can’t do harm or injury to the other. The bride and groom each hold the quaich handles for the other to drink from its contents. This symbolises togetherness and trust. The contents are left to individual tastes, though a fine single malt whisky would be the traditional choice – symbolic of happiness, joy, hope, peace, love and delight. Someone of the couples choosing is invited to fill the cup, usually the grooms father. If either bride or groom does not drink alcohol then a soft drink could be substituted for the spirit. Our other National drink Iron Bru perhaps

Jumping the broom

This ancient tradition of jumping of the broom as it’s called in England or besom as we call it in Scotland is used in modern day to end wedding ceremonies.
The broom was chosen because it has been the symbol of the home for many different cultures, throughout history and represents the threshold between past and present, a symbol of new beginnings.
By jumping the broom they are signifying their crossing of a threshold into a new relationship as husband and wife.
As our happy couple jump, they physically and spiritually cross the threshold into the land of matrimony.

Other services

Vow Renewal

What type of vow renewal ceremony are you looking to plan? Whether it is a Small and intimate vow renewal or a big celebration of marriage or commitment renewal give me a call to schedule an appointment and see what I can do for you.

The ceremony broadly echoes the marriage or commitment ceremony in structure. You can reaffirm those vows or exchange new vows that reflect the maturity of your relationship. If you have children you may wish to involve them in the ceremony. Whatever your thoughts are I will be more than happy to make your dream vow renewal a reality to say 'I still do'. and affirm your choice was a good one and you are sticking with it. Let me help make it extra special.

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Naming Ceremony

Being a mum, a nana and a great grandmother I Just love baby naming ceremonies. Baby naming ceremonies are a wonderful way to introduce your new addition to your family and friends and to communicate your commitment to the child, to their welfare and their future happiness. There are many different elements that you can introduce into your ceremony to make it unique, personal, meaningful and symbolic of the love and dedication that goes into raising your child. Children of any age can have a ceremony and you can include whoever you choose to take part in the ceremony. It can include a ritual or rituals within it if you so wish, such as a rose petal shower, remembrance candles, unity candles, sand ceremony, jar full of wishes, blessing stones or time capsules, the list is endless.

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Funeral Services

I offer a bespoke service offering guidance and advice to create the perfect funeral ceremony.

Every life is unique therefore so is every death. I am able to offer ceremonies to reflect the wishes and beliefs of the family be it Non religious, spiritual or religious. Where your loved one did not have a strong religious belief, you may wish to include some spiritual elements to be woven into the ceremony.

Amidst the grief it is often hard to know what you or your loved one wants for the funeral service. I will take the time to sit down with you and help guide you through making some of those difficult decisions. Please visit my other website to find out more.

Enquire here

Vow renewal service

Naming services

Funeral services

Frequently asked questions

You can include whatever is meaningful to you as a couple. There is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to structure your ceremony but it does have to be ‘right’ for you. You must include the legal declaration to confirm that you accept each other in marriage and you both must sign the marriage schedule along with the officiant and two witnesses over sixteen. The rest of the elements of the wedding is up to you. You might include you love story telling your guests what you mean to each other, readings and poems, songs, your vows, the ring exchange and symbolic rituals such as handfasting, ring blessing, or drinking from the quaich. There are numerous symbolic gestures. Whatever you choose has got to be right for you.'

Costs start at £500 for legal weddings and renewal of vows ceremonies. Additional costs are incurred if you choose bespoke ritual items or choose to retain ritual items used in the ceremony.

Up to 50 miles return journey from my home in Helensburgh to the venue is included. I will discuss and agree that with you in advance. Dependant upon the distance, accommodation costs may be incurred. There are no hidden costs. I’ll give you a clear cost in advance so that there are no surprises.

No matter who your chosen officiant is you will also have to pay the Registrar’s statutory fees directly when you apply for your marriage licence. This is currently £100.

I am a member of and a Minister with the Open Sanctuary. I don't minister in the conventional sense in a physical church or parish. My parish is an invisible parish as I serve the spiritual needs of all beliefs and none. One of the blessings we receive as Ministers in the Open Sanctuary is when we are invited to honour the key points in life by creating and delivering weddings, funerals, baby naming and other rites of passages.

Rachel Cunningham Veale

"Thank you so much for making our ceremony so special and memorable."

Lewis and Jenna

"Thank you very much for a lovely ceremony. Everyone was saying how great it was and personal. It was a wonderful ceremony. Thank you."

Elliot Cunningham Veale

"We had the most wonderful time and the ceremony you performed for us was incredibly special."

My Services

Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies

Unique

Are we a match?

Ceremony Writing

Symbolic Rituals

Kind words

Symbolic Rituals

Handfasting

Sand
Ceremony

Quaich

Jumping the broom

Other services

Vow Renewal

Naming Ceremony

Funeral Services

Frequently asked questions

What can I include in my ceremony?

How much does it all cost?

When will it all need to be paid by?

Which organisation do you belong to?

Do we need to have the same beliefs as you?

Can we write our own vows?

Can you help with our vows?

Contact me