Jackie Grant Humanist Celebrant

20/05/2024

Photo of the bride and groom Aimee and Sean with their son Alfie. My apologies that this photo became detached from my post about their lovely wedding on Saturday.

20/05/2024

The wedding of Aimee and Sean yesterday was a real community affair as they were surrounded by friends and relatives. And Mayfield Community Hall was transformed as a beautiful and elegant wedding venue. The couple had their own specially embroidered handfasting ribbons used to ‘tie the knot’. But besides our happy couple, the other star of the show was their son Alfie aged 5. He presented his mum and dad with a beautiful white satin cushion from which they took the rings as they made their vows. A lovely event. Wishing Mr and Mrs Knight every happiness.

16/10/2023

Ariene ( see previous post) has sent me this happy photo taken by a guest at the wedding. I am trying to get Ariene and Chris to adjust their hand hold ready for the handfast whilst explaining to the guests that the three of us have never actually met in person until now so we have had no chance to practice! The laughter and the warmth of the occasion is evident in our smiles.

14/10/2023

Ariene and Chris came from Minnesota to holiday in Edinburgh ‘last fall’, got engaged and decided to return with over 60 friends to get married yesterday at the Scotsman Hotel. Quite a party!
For the ceremony, there were candles in memory of their mothers, and they did a handfast with a beautiful scarf that Chris’ late mother had brought from India.
They chose two readings by John O’Donohue which reference Anam Cara, this an old Celtic concept for Soul Friend and very meaningful to this lovely couple.

06/08/2023

Having been together for 20 years, Lianne and Gavin were very clear what they wanted in their wedding ceremony. And so it was: totally informal, legally exact and primarily full of fun and laughter. Children scattered rose petals, blew bubbles and handed over the wedding rings. There was a reading with the words from Led Zeppelin, handfasting with a black scarf and a friend playing guitar during the signing. All this in the back garden and the rain holding off till we were done. A good example that Humanist ceremonies can be very diverse to reflect your wishes… but at the centre there should always be love and laughter. And may this continue for many more years to come for Lianne and Gavin.

24/07/2023

Beautiful! Combines my love of geology especially on the beach and art. Very skilled.

Watch out, there's a tiger on the beach!

Incredible work by Beach4Art, who created this tiger using stones on a beach in Devon!

22/07/2023

Hannah and Mark chose Dynamic Earth for their ceremony, enjoying the dramatic setting adjacent to Holyrood Park. We had that lovely reading from Captain Correlli’s Mandolin. Friends and family from across the UK and beyond particularly enjoyed the Scottish/ Celtic elements in the ceremony, the Robbie Burns poem, the Celtic blessing and particularly the handfasting. Wishing Hannah and Mark every happiness.

17/07/2023

A truly lovely wedding for Megan and Daniele at old Dr Bells baths in Leith. Daniele had the extra pleasure that many of his Italian family had come for the ceremony. Megan and Daniele spoke a lot about their values. Their secret is to be curious and never loose a sense of wonder and thrive on the belief that only true acts of kindness bring people together. They each wrote their own thoughtful vows which they kept secret from each other until the ceremony. And Daniele had crafted two poems which were read by Megan’s sisters. All this with music played by Edinburgh String Ensemble. Wonderful. Wishing them every happiness.

22/05/2023

Peggy and Chris got their wish of an outdoor wedding under the giant cedar tree at the beautiful historic venue of Broxmouth Courtyard near Dunbar. The weather was kind with so many friends and family there to wish them well, with lovely music provided by Edinburgh String Ensemble. A joyous occasion.

13/11/2022

Miriam and Callum had a magical early date in Edinburgh at the Balmoral, so it was the obvious choice of venue for their wedding. Miriam looked very beautiful and Callum splendid in his regimental uniform.
The mothers read two lovely poems: one by Pablo Neruda and one by Edward Monkton and we ended with Anne Sexton’s ‘you make me feel like home’.
But what impressed me… when I explained to the couple that the Registrar General requires that the marriage schedule is signed with black permanent ink from a fountain pen, they asked if they could bring their own! Now that was a first for me!

24/10/2022

Megan and Euan had to change the date of their wedding because of army manoeuvres but Melville Castle was able to accommodate them for a lovely Sunday wedding.
Euan and some of his guests were resplendent in their army uniforms... these last on public view when they played with the Regimental band at the funeral for the late queen.
Megan looked beautiful and brought tears to the eyes of her groom. This was a very happy big family event, Megan walked down the aisle by her dad and her mum reading ‘Today’, and lots of children joining in the fun.

16/10/2022

A delightful wedding for Rebecca and Richard at one of my favourite historic venues, Riddles Court, hiding behind Edinburgh’s Lawnmarket. Rebecca had a beautiful wedding dress adapted from the one worn by her mother at her wedding. Two great readings ( Seamus Heaney and Maya Angelou) and a gifted quaich with handles inlaid with heather-stem gems. And lots of fun for this fun-loving couple.

10/10/2022

Jade and Jordan had their wedding at Seton Garden… an almost secret garden just by Seto Collegiate Church and very close to where they both went to school.
As a couple they have been together for more than 10 years, so in many ways felt they were already married. Still this was a very nervous groom almost overcome by the beauty of his bride. All went well. The marquee was lovely, decorated with autumn leaves, and even the sun shone. And their much loved dog, a working cocker Skye, behaved impeccably throughout.

04/10/2022

Jordan and Ollie were married at the Edinburgh Grand Cheval, a New Town venue that has undergone sumptuous renovation. ( Just look at that central atrium!) But the ceremony itself was quite intimate with a focus to confirm uniting a family that includes their children Leo and Summer. Both were upfront and Leo, very clear that he was a part of the marriage, decided that he too should hold hands with his parents as they made their vows. Delightful!

02/10/2022

Following my last post, George sent me more photos of his wedding with Rebecca taken by their professional photographer. I just love the photo with me showing their guests the very special handfasting ribbons hand sewn by Rebecca.

11/09/2022

A lovely wedding for Rebecca and George at Prestonfield House. Both have a love of travel and adventure. Rebecca a scientist particularly likes cows ( yes cows) and has worked with them in Kenya and Uganda. Their handfasting ribbons were special, Rebecca’s made from African cloth and George’s love of travel represented in design with maps. Harp music supplied by Sophie Rocks ( yes that’s her name). And whilst of course I’m not superstitious (!) I thought it great that a black cat crossed in front of the wedding party as they assembled for photographs.

04/09/2022

The Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh was a natural choice of wedding venue for Shahzya and David…
a beautiful building where Shahzya is a member and her father was a fellow.
David and Shahzya met on Twitter… but in rather inauspicious start, when they met in person David’s reaction was ‘ugh… What happened to your hair?’ Shahzya no longer had long thick locks. She had shaved her head for a Luekemia charity challenge but had failed to change her Twitter photo! Still the relationship progressed.
The wedding ceremony had many references to their cultural differences, starting with his coming from Glasgow and her from Edinburgh. On a wider canvas they had symbolic gestures all about meeting, joining, love and sharing. They exchanged garlands from Bangladesh, then drank to each other from a quaich. And on exit there were Bhangra drummers playing with a Scottish piper. All very vibrant and full of fun.

14/08/2022

Congratulations to Damian and Beatriz who managed to arrange their wedding at the Village Hotel at very short notice and at the height of the Edinburgh Festival. Problems getting documentation from abroad also meant it was also a challenge to get the wedding schedule from the Registrar, got it in the nick of time. I loved all the large black and white photos on the walls of the hotel, especially the fountain pen, just what is needed for legal signatures on the schedule ( I always bring this!). And it was great the MikethePiper, Mike Turpie, made himself available to welcome the guests and pipe in the bridal party. So all well and a very happy occasion.

08/08/2022

It was great to arrive at the Naming Ceremony for Phoebe and to be greeted as a family friend… the guests all knew me as the celebrant who had conducted the wedding for Phoebe’s parents Megan and Ian and the naming for her older brother Toby. A wonderful ceremony in the garden of Megan’s sister; three great readings, the first based on quotes from Disney spelling out Phoebe’s name, the second ‘oh the places you will go’ by Dr Seuss and the third a song from Skippinish read by Ian’s mother. And in addition to the parent’s vows, there were promises made by 4 guide- parents, and all signed on a commemorative certificate hand-crafted by Ian. All so creative and memorable.

25/07/2022

Lisa and Tim chose the sumptuous Caledonian Hotel, a real Edinburgh institution at the end of Princes St for their wedding. They have often enjoyed a drink and listening to music in the Peacock Bar, but also liked the fact that the Caledonian was previously a railway station and this wedding was the start of their honeymoon … a rail trip around Europe.
The wedding ceremony involved lots of family and friends, with a handfasting and drinking from a quaich. Many happy memories which will stay with Lisa and Tim for a lifetime.

10/07/2022

Laura and James met at agricultural college… a love of the landscape close to the sea made Fenton Tower the perfect venue for their wedding. They brought friends and family… and their dogs.
On cue Hengy came down the aisle with their wedding rings. This marriage cemented their love and celebrated their unity as a family with their precious daughter Ottilie. Beautiful ribbons for all three, embroidered by Laura, were joined in a handfast... a lovely keepsake.

05/07/2022

George Heriots school was the perfect venue for Catriona and Paul’ wedding… a fabulous location where Catriona and two of her siblings and her grandfather were all former pupils. Indeed Grandfather Drummond did a great reading with pertinent recollections of Catriona’s childhood… and a perfect handfast was executed with Elliot and Campbell tartan ribbons. Very lovely.

01/07/2022

At the wedding of Lindsay and Scott at the Murrayfield Hotel, Scott awaited the arrival of his bride not only with his best man Jamie but also with his son Lucas and with Stanley, their golden retriever. Lindsay came down the aisle with her son Spencer and later Lucas and Spencer tied knots into the handfasting scarf which joined the wrists of our happy couple.
And Stanley behaved perfectly throughout. Great!

19/06/2022

Brittany and Jack took all their guests to Wedderlie House, a beautiful rural retreat hidden down in the Scottish Borders. We had a lovely ceremony in the walled rose garden, with sceptical poems ( ‘Marriage is Madness’ & Pam Ayers ‘Ido, I do, I do!’) followed by very emotional vows that they had kept secret. As I left I found the two peacocks guarding the exit. I’m sure happy memories of this day wil stay with Brittany and Jack for many years to come.

11/06/2022

Sarah and Oliver had an international guest list but had chosen the fabulous Winton Castle in East Lothian for their wedding as it is very close to Sarah’s childhood home in Tranent.
And they told their guest that their story was not one of making things as easy as possible… rather the reverse. They got together just as Oliver had accepted a job in Seattle and for a year had to conduct a long- distance relationship. But then the pandemic, difficult for everyone, proved positive for them, allowing them to live together and confirming a commitment for life. So the wedding was a joyous occasion in which they exchanged lovely personal vows. A privilege to be their celebrant.

05/06/2022

Eve and Phil organised everything beautifully for their wedding but what everyone kept asking: ‘Who organised the weather?!’ A magnificent hot sunny day! Perfect to enjoy the magnificent grounds of Colstoun House. A very personal ceremony in the poly tunnel for a lovely couple. A pleasure to conduct this ceremony.

16/04/2022

There was never any doubt about where Pam and Adam would have their wedding… at their ‘forever home’ in rural East Lothian with its fairy garden and water features. Adam proposed in the poly tunnel they had built and this is where, in front of their guests, they now exchanged emotional vows… handkies at the ready. Lots of small children playing. All very beautiful and quite idyllic.

11/04/2022

Donna has one of the biggest loveliest smiles and looked radiant as she entered the room at the Kings Manor to marry Keith. They knew each other as teenagers but back then she wasn’t much interested in his ‘wee smart-arse punk attitude’.
Having met again as adults, her motto is now ‘Never judge a book by its cover’. She is his happiness, he is her rock… ‘a special love of Yin and Yang’. Great!

02/04/2022

Alison and Simon’s wedding at the Bruntsfield Hotel united not just a loving couple but brought together 2 sets of siblings in one big new family. The youngest child recreated the happy family in Lego … a great topping on the cake!
A lovely wedding on a cold but bright Spring day.

13/03/2022

Delightful wedding yesterday for Pippa and Paul. They flew in from Jersey for a wedding on a boat… but what a boat, Fingal moored in Leith Docks. This was a very happy celebration but Pippa and Paul generously wanted to acknowledge the world context, so before we started, we spent a short time giving our thoughts to those suffering in Ukraine.
The ceremony itself was fun and focused on the joy of a ‘blended’ family. Wishing you every happiness.