Jackie Grant Humanist Celebrant

02/12/2024

This is a photo of a tapestry ceated with 16 amateur tapestry weaving friends during Lockdown THe tapestry Golden Threads Reawakened uses golden threads that were collected by a refugee after she fled Germany in 1941. The threads did not see the light of day for some 70 years until they were given to me by her grandaughter in January 2021. We used the hreads to make this modern secular tapestry with a continuing concern for refugees and all victims of conflict and a theme of building brigdes and breaking through barriers in the hope of making the world a better place.
Courtesy of the Jigsaw Art Foundation, the tapestry is curently on show at the Jigsaw shop, 48 George St, Edinburgh. We continue to show the tapestry because whilst the world is increasingly troubled and cruel, it is important to hold on to that hope.

10/11/2024

Today it was an honour to be representing the Humanist Society Scotland at Edinburgh’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
I accompanied Robbie Sharpe, a Royal Air Force veteran, who was part of the Lord Provost’s party laying a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance at the City Chamers.
It was good to be there to remember and pay our respects, but also to have recognition here of Scotland’s majority secular population.

01/11/2024

The confidence of Laura and Kelda was well rewarded when today 1stNovember they had their dream wedding here on Blackford Hill… it wasn’t too windy and the rain held off till after the ceremony and photos on the hillside. From the chosen spot, guest could see a spectacular view of Edinburgh beyond us whilst enjoying the ceremony. We had a ring-warming and readings from friends and from both of their children, and shared emotional vows that they had kept secret from each other until the ceremony.
And Kelda’s uncle was on hand to play the bagpipes. A very relaxed ceremony with lots of fun and laughter. Wishing you Kelda, Laura and family, much happiness for your future.

07/10/2024

It was a very relaxed and joyous wedding for Sarah and Nic at Bellfield Portobello. The ceremony started with a ring warming so that when they exchanged rings these carried the best wishes and blessings of their guests. Both their mothers read lovely poems and Sarah and Nic shared their story. Both horticulturalists who love nature and the great outdoors, Nic proposed in their beloved camper van under the stars on a favourite beach. This happy couple were unfazed by the blustery weather as they posed for photos on Porty prom. And that same camper van stood waiting to take them away for more celebrations.

18/09/2024

Lisa and Lydia travelled with close friends and family from Hull to Balmule House in Fife for their wedding yesterday, and they brought with them this wonderful weather so that we were able to celebrate their marriage in the beautiful grounds of this hide-away venue.
This was a very personal ceremony with Lydia’s brother James and Lisa’s friend Tanya both reading lesser known but powerful poems by Mary Oliver and Naomi Shibab Nye.
Lydia and Lisa wrote their own vows but kept them secret from each other until the ceremony- very moving, not a dry eye in the place!
And there was a handfasting with yellow and green ribbons handed to me by young Theo. Everyone delighted by the successful ‘tying of the knot’ (we had had no opportunity to practice until the day!).
Altogether a joyful event!

08/09/2024

Lovely wedding yesterday for Cara and Lewis at Seton Collegiate Church, an atmospheric mist just adding to the beauty of this historic building and its grounds.
The guests were greeted with harp music played by a friend and then we started the ceremony with a ring-warming, the rings being passed around and held briefly by the guests so that when the couple exchanged the rings, they knew they held all their best wishes and blessings.
Cara and Lewis were happy to tell their story, from sweethearts at secondary school sharing their first kiss on the Meadows with the background of Festival fireworks. And Lewis proposing on a dream trip to Japan.
The mothers were witnesses to the signing of the schedule in the side sacristry. Then Cara and Lewis exited the church to so many bubbles. Cara was able to show off the beautiful dress she had made with a twirl for the photographer.
And then off they went to the reception ahead of their guests in the VW van all decked up for the event complete with dangling shoes and cans. They have all our best wishes in a Celtic well wishing.

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.