ASK
The Celebrant Angel
YOUR
Ceremony Questions
GENERAL FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of ceremonies do you perform?
I create Wedding ceremonies, Commitments, Baby Blessings and Vow Renewals Ceremonies.
You can read about some of my ceremonies on the Love stories page
Do I need to pay a deposit?
Yes, you will need to pay half of my fee when confirming your booking
Do you perform LGBTQ ceremonies?
Yes I do
Love is love in my eyes.
I support the LGBTQ community and would be honoured to officiate your wedding, regardless of who you love.
What happens if you get sick?
I am a member of a lovely wee family of celebrants that have each other's backs.
So if I were to get sick on your wedding day one of my colleagues would step in to deliver your ceremony.
They would use the script that you and I prepare, but they would deliver the ceremony.
But I promise I don't get sick very often!
How much contact do we have with you?
This can be as little or as much as you want. Some couples like to chat regularly, others don’t.
We will have our regular meetings whilst i gather the details so that I can create your ceremony.
How do we choose the best celebrant?
When you search for a celebrant, choose a couple to talk to that you think might suit you.
You can read a blog here about how to choose the right celebrant for you.
Give them a call in the first instance; see how you fit together.
Do you gel with them on that call?
Make sure you choose someone that you are comfortable with. This is your day, and everything, including your Celebrant, needs to fit with you.
When you find the perfect Celebrant, the next step is to arrange a face to face meeting with them.
Get to know them a bit better, ask them any questions you may have.
What happens once we book you?
I will keep in touch with you until six months before your wedding date; then we start our regular meetings
These meetings help me gather the information I need to create your wedding ceremony.
There may be some homework for you to do via email in the lead-up to your ceremony, but not much.
They don't have to take a lot of your time, but they help me get to know you both better, to enable me to personalise your ceremony.
Is My Ceremony Legal?
The good news is yes it is.
I am a Celebrant who is authorised by the Registrar General to officiate legal marriages in Scotland.
How long does a ceremony last?
My ceremonies can usually take from ½ hour to 45mins depending on what you want to include in your ceremony. If you are including Rituals and readings then probably 45 mins, but I don't put a time limit on your ceremony.
Why book a celebrant?
A celebrant can create a ceremony that's very personal to you both, bringing your personality into the ceremony.
Forget Formality and tradition; you dictate how your ceremony goes; let your commitment to each other take centre stage that day.
Do you charge extra if we wanted to add any rituals to the ceremony?
No not at all, my cost includes everything except any special implements you wanted to use in say a handfasting or special candles for a unity candle ritual.
Most couples like to buy or make their own hand fasting ties for instance.
What is included when you book me as your Celebrant?
- I am an experienced Celebrant, fully authorised by the Registrar General (Scotland) to conduct legal marriage ceremonies within Scotland. I am committed to creating and uniquely delivering your ceremony, making your day as memorable as possible.
- If you want to include Symbolic Actions in your ceremony, I will work with you to create the right Symbolic Ritual. You can read about some of the Symbolic Rituals here.
- I can help choose music and readings; we can work together to include any family you want at your ceremony, such as children or pets.
- Vow writing can be daunting; let me help you with that by either coaching you to write your own or compiling them.
- As many revisions of your script as required, from my initial taking of your notes to the final script for the day. You will receive a high quality copy of the script to keep after the event.
- If you so desire, a rehearsal at the venue helps you both prepare for the big day.
- Delivery of your ceremony will be on your chosen date at your venue.
- A Celebrant as excited as you are who loves creating unique Ceremonies, thus giving you a day to remember.
How do I confirm a booking?
Once you have both agreed that I'm the right Celebrant for you, then drop me an email, or give me a call and let's get your date in the diary.
Once you confirm your booking, I will then send you a contract to sign and ask for a deposit to secure your date in my diary.
I only do one wedding a day, so timings don't matter yet, we can confirm those details nearer the time.
The date will be yours and yours alone.
WEDDINGS
Questions about Wedding Ceremonies
How far in advance should I book you?
The earlier you can book me, the better. I am usually taking bookings for one and two years ahead. But have been known to have a month's notice.
I work on a first-come, first-served basis and only book one wedding per day.
So the sooner you book my services, the better.
Can we meet other celebrants before confirming with you?
Absolutely. That is why we have the initial meeting so that you can see if we have the right connection.
There is a blog here that will help you find the right celebrant for you.
There are many celebrants out there but only one right for every couple, so by all means meet a few and see who fits perfectly with you as a couple.
Is a celebrant wedding religious?
Choosing me to conduct your ceremony means that your ceremony can include any thing you like.
Do we write our vows?
Only if you want to.
And it's an area that couples worry about a lot.
You can write your own vows, or I can write them for you. If you are happy to write your own vows, that's great. But if you think you would struggle with this part of the ceremony, then I am on hand to help.
I can help you find vows that suit what you want to say to your partner or help you write your own.
Can we have an outdoor ceremony?
Of course you can.
Whether in your garden or on top of a mountain, you can hold a Celebrant wedding anywhere you want.
Can I include other people in my wedding ceremony?
Absolutely, if that's what you want, then we can arrange that.
Many couples use Symbolic Rituals or have readings as a way to include their friends and family.
But there are many lovely ways to include friends or family, and I can guide you through some of them during our meetings.
Why should we choose you?
I am a fully qualified celebrant, who loves a wedding, from a small intimate ceremony to a grander affair.
I work with couples to create personal, fun and emotional ceremonies. Creating a perfect blend of romance and fun.
I am very people orientated and put people at ease pretty quickly, its like speaking to a friend when we chat.
Can we meet with you before confirming our date?
Absolutely. We can set up a coffee date, or we can do a zoom call, where you get to meet me, and I you.
All our meetings are free of charge. Drop me an email here and I'll get straight back to you,
What kind of ceremonies do you perform?
I create Weddings, Commitment Baby Blessings and Vow Renewal Ceremonies.
What does a Celebrant do on the day?
A Question I am often asked is "what does the celebrant do on the day of the wedding"?
- I will be at your venue well before the allotted time for your ceremony. I like to ensure that everything is in place so that it all goes smoothly for you.
- I co-ordinate with your venue and wedding planner, if you are using one, and your photographer, ensuring that we all know where each other is meant to be.
- I make sure any music planned is set for being played and stopped at the appropriate times.
- Briefing anyone doing a reading, so that they are confident in when to come up and join the bridal party to do their part.
- I will deliver your ceremony, introduce the newlyweds to their family and friends, then be on my way.
That's the official job description for the day, but ultimately I end up doing lots of other things to ensure your day goes as well as you have planned.
Are there any restrictions on what time we have a ceremony?
No, absolutely not.
I can carry out ceremonies any time of the day, day of the week or month of the year.
I would love to perform a ceremony under a full moon, or at sunrise, if anyone's up for that.
Can I HAVE MY DOG AT MY WEDDING CEREMONY?
Absolutely, if that's what you want, then we can arrange that.
Being a mum to 3 dogs, I love to see you include your fur baby in the ceremony.
You can find out more here about how to do that and things to consider about including your dog in your ceremony
Got any questions I’ve not answered, then drop me a message or watsapp here and I’ll get right back to you.
NAMINGS
Questions about Naming Ceremonies
What happens at a naming ceremony?
There is no set format for a Naming Ceremony. Your celebrant will write a script specifically for your family and circumstances.
You can include readings, promises and commitments.
There will be a welcoming into the family and community to the child.
Do we still register the birth?
Yes, this has to be done through your local Registry office within 42 days of their birth (In Scotland).
How old does my child need to be to have a Naming Ceremony?
There is no set age for a Naming Ceremony; in fact, some adults have them if they have changed their name for any reason.
Each Ceremony is tailored to the age of the child or person involved.
I want to say why we chose our daughter's name. Can we do this?
Yes, and in fact, that's often a highlight of the occasion.
There is nearly always an interesting story about how the child's name came to be chosen, and it can be lovely to recount this.
The same goes for any middle names and, on occasion, surnames.
How long does a naming ceremony take?
Each Ceremony depends on what you want to include in it, but roughly about 20 to 40 mins for each child/person.
Are Naming Ceremonies only for newborns?
No, not at all.
You can have a naming ceremony for an older child, for an adopted child joining the family, changing their name by deed poll, or a transgender person changing their name.
Does a Naming Ceremony have Godparents?
Yes, but nowadays, you will hear them called guide parents, supporting adults or even sponsors.
These are adults chosen by the parents to play a significant role in the child's life.
How Many supporting adults do we need?
You can choose not to have supporting adults (otherwise known as god parents) for your child.
But if you choose to have them, there is no set number required; that's up to you to choose.
What do Supporting Adults do in the Ceremony?
They can make promises, do a reading or be involved in a Symbolic Ritual like the Unity Candle if you're having any.
Where can we hold a naming ceremony?
A Naming Ceremony has no legal status, so where you choose to hold your ceremony is entirely up to you.
They can be held indoors or outdoors, and you don't need to hire a venue; they can be in your home if that's what's you desire.
