Civil Marriage and Blessing Ceremonies in Scotland

Kathy and Stu
The Wedding of Katy and
Stu at Tikitano,
September 2007
with thanks to
www.jeremystandley.com
 

IMPORTANT NOTICE   - I am relocating to Scotland and shall only be available for ceremonies in Spain up to 23rd November.  Thereafter I am avalable in Scotland only.

 

If you are looking for a celebrant who will offer you flexibilty and choice in how your marriage blessing ceremony will be then you have come to the right place. I uniquely tailor my ceremonies to each couple's specific wishes and don't use standard time worn ceremonies. Only in Scotland do I perform the Civil Ceremony; in Spain I offer marriage blessings.

Many denominational Ministers, Priests, and other celebrants may offer you little choice or say in the design of what is probably the most important ceremony in your life.

So if you are looking for a celebrant who will listen to your ideas and use these to create the ceremony of your choice, then please contact me.

It is important that you set out to plan for something that fits your needs and wishes - and not settle for second best. For example you may wish to have a ceremony which is more spiritual, religious, inter-faith, or indeed humanist (ie no mention of religion) in nature and you may be looking for something that looks quite traditional or something more informal and contemporary. I work with you to create what you desire.

When you book your ceremony with me, you will receive:

  • An introductory letter summarising the range of possibilities for your ceremony and how to confirm your booking
  • A questionnaire, outlining all the information I will need from you to help me design a ceremony specific to your wishes

 

Other complimentary documents are also available after you have confirmed your booking 

 

  • A selection of vows and suggestions on how to create your own
  • A selection of readings
  • Information on different rituals used by couples
  • Tips on speaking in public - too many ceremonies in my view are spoiled by speakers who cannot be heard!
  • Marriage blessing etiquette
  • A planning rundown for your ceremony - things to think about and put in place

 

Many couples increasingly choose to have a very small, private legal ceremony in a registrar's office (or equivalent) and later the same day or a few days later, a wedding blessing ceremony which to them and their guests is the moment to really celebrate and bless their union without restriction often placed by traditional priests and ministers.

Many feel uncomfortable with traditional approaches to marriage and seek more flexibilty to take account of their wishes and circumstances.

Family
 
  • Registry Office weddings are often time-bound and allow very little opportunity for creativity and freedom of expression. They also do not allow any mention of anything religious or spiritual, nor readings nor rituals.
  • Church weddings often conform to quite a rigid pattern, usually only allowing their own religion to be mentioned, and many priests and ministers are reluctant to marry anyone other than regular church-goers. They are also quite restrictive when it comes to which hymns, songs, and readings you may choose, if allowing them at all.

 

There are those couples also who do not wish to or cannot commit to a legal ceremony but somehow want their relationship honoured and blessed in front of family and friends.

Whatever your situation, it would be my great pleasure to help you create the ceremony that is just right for you that honours your background, your religion and faith if any, your beliefs and values and circumstances.

IMPORTANT

Please note that from 2011 you may be offered one of our associate ministers.

If you want to book me as your celebrant, please check my availability BEFORE you book the hotel, flights, and other requirements.

 

 

In Scotland, recognition was granted in 2004/5 to inter-faith ministers, ordained as I was, to also conduct the legal ceremony. With regard to Spain, only catholic and civil weddings are accepted as valid under Spanish Law, and recognized as such in the rest of Europe and USA. Click here for a list of documents needed to marry legally in Spain

I strongly encourage my clients who wish to marry in Spain, most of whom are from different European countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, to have their legal/civil ceremony conducted in their own country or in the case of British people there is also the option of the civil ceremony in Gibraltar though appointments there are currently difficlt to make.These Civil Ceremonies usually last between five and ten minutes but are only legal ceremonies and do not allow any religious or spiritual content or flexibility.

If you still wish a Spanish ceremony then a Wedding Blessing is what I offer. This can be held anywhere of your choosing; on beaches, in parks, in hotels, private villas, and with agreement, in some churches. I work closely with you to determine the style, form and content of the blessing ceremony as this is a chance for you to really create a ceremony that is truly memorable and unique.flexibility.
 
 

For some, I find they want something that looks like a traditional wedding of their own faith, others wish something less religious and more spiritual and they perhaps would include readings, songs, dance, poetry, from various religious or spiritual background.

Same gender couples in the UK can have their partnership legally recognised. For more information go to http://www.gro.gov.uk/

Others ask me to prepare a ceremony that has no religious or spiritual aspect to it; they may have a wish for a more earth oriented or humanitarian approach.

In Spain same gender couples can get married in a legal ceremony but which carries no religious or spiritual context.

The important thing is that we work well together to create the ceremony that YOU want, not one that someone else tells you to have. Click here for a sample outline of a marriage blessing ceremony.

I offer such couples a beautiful blessing ceremony according to their wishes. E-mail me here.

Please note that as from 25th November 2010 I shall be leaving Spain and no longer able to offer cermonies in Spain. 

 

Please see our links page for details of wedding planners and social events organisers throughout Andalucia as well as links for photographers and florists.

Planners can help you through the maze of paperwork and also organise every detail of your special day.

We don't have to meet before hand; very often geography precludes this especially since most couples live far away from my hometown, mostly in other countries. If you wish to visit with me, only in my home town of La Herradura (see fees page), then that can be arranged. However the whole blessing ceremony can be arranged between us by e-mail and telephone.

Please go to my website calendar to check to see if the date you have in mind is available.

Or submit your details to confirm my availability