So you’ve booked me: now what?

First things first: welcome. I’m really glad you’re here, and even more glad you’ve chosen me to help you shape one of the most important moments of your lives. Thank you.

Now that you’ve registered with Humanist Society Scotland and booked me as your celebrant, that’s our mutual commitment made. No deposits, no scrambling for invoices at the very start: just a shared understanding that we’re doing this together.

This page is here to explain what happens next, how we’ll work together, and what you can expect from me (and what I’ll quietly expect from you). Think of it as my friendly, human version of a contract - clear, calm, and designed to keep everything running smoothly so we can focus on what really matters: your ceremony.

My role (and my promise)

My job is to create a ceremony that feels true to you, beautifully written, thoughtfully structured, and delivered with warmth, confidence, and professionalism.

I don’t do off-the-shelf scripts or copy-and-paste love stories. Your ceremony will be written from scratch, shaped around your values, your voices, and the life you’re choosing together.

Everything below exists to protect that process - and you.

How we’ll work together

Now that we've had our initial conversation, you should be looking out for my Wedding Ceremony Questionnaire, which I will send to you approximately four months before your wedding date. The Wedding Ceremony Questionnaire is the cornerstone of your ceremony. It gives me the raw material - the memories, the tone, the important people, the things that matter - from which I craft your story. Thoughtful answers really do make a difference, so take your time and give me as much detail, stories, anecdotes, embarrassing moments etc. as you're comfortable sharing. I'll need it back within two weeks to give me time to write the first draft of your ceremony.

(Note: You may want to keep part of your ceremony a surprise for each other - your own vows, say, or what you really love about your other half. If that's the case, just let me know when you return your completed questionnaire to me.)

Writing your ceremony

Once I’ve received your completed questionnaire, I will send you your first draft ceremony three months before your wedding date, along with an invoice for 50% of my fee and a nagging email to remind you that it's time to apply to the registrar closest to your venue for your all-important marriage license. Remember: no license, no marriage! So it's absolutely vital that you get your application to them in a timely manner and bring the paperwork to your ceremony. Honestly, I can't emphasise this enough. If I could triple-underline it, I would.

After you’ve shared feedback and amendments to the draft, your second draft will follow within two weeks. We’ll then refine together until it feels right: natural, personal, and unmistakably yours.

To keep everything calm and seamless, we should aim to agree the final version of your ceremony no later than one month before your wedding, at which point I'll send you a final invoice for the balance due to me ( the remaining 50% of my fee plus any agreed expenses). Any last-minute changes such as music, vows, readings, or who’s involved should be shared with at least one week’s notice wherever possible. Because this is a collaborative process, timely replies really help keep everything flowing and avoid last-minute pressure.

In case you need it, here's a reminder of what everything costs.

Here's what our journey looks like

I know: there's a lot to take in. So here's a simple illustration to summarise it all:

Travel & practicalities

I charge mileage at 45p per mile. I’m very happy to travel across Scotland - and occasionally further afield - though bear in mind that I'm only licensed to conduct legal marriages in Scotland, so if you want me to fly out to Barbados to conduct your ceremony on Crane Beach, I'm happy to do that (I love Crane Beach) - but you'll need the services of a local registrar for the legal bit.

For venues more than 100 miles away, I strongly recommend an overnight stay nearby to avoid any risk of delays. While I always allow contingency time, I can’t be held responsible for lateness caused by traffic, weather, or other circumstances beyond my control. Let's talk this through if you have any concerns or questions.

If plans change

If you need to reschedule, I’ll always make every reasonable effort to find a mutually agreeable alternative date. And in the extremely unlikely event that I’m unable to conduct your ceremony due to exceptional circumstances, Humanist Society Scotland will arrange for another experienced and trusted celebrant to step in, ensuring all your ceremony details are passed on with care and clarity - this is part of our promise to you. You will not be left unsupported.

The important bit

All of this exists so that, when your day arrives, you don’t have to think about logistics, wording, timing, or structure. You get to stand there, take a breath, look at each other, and trust that the ceremony is being held with care, intention, and skill.

If questions pop up (and they will), or if you find yourselves thinking “Can we do this…?” ... the answer is almost always let’s talk about it.

I’m really looking forward to creating something meaningful with you.

Now then — shall we begin? 💛