Equal marriage

Gerrie and I are pulling together our final plans for 2 nights hence and are very excited!  We love this photo and can't wait to see more from our big day!  We really understand what it feels like from the other side now!

Wedding in Enterkine House for Louise and SImon

I got this lovely message yesterday from Louise

Hi Susan,

I hope you are well!

I am waiting on proper Thank you cards being made up with photos from the wedding but I wanted to send you a note to just say thank you so much for our Wedding.

Every single person I have spoken to since the wedding has made particular comment on the ceremony... how personal it was and how great you were!!  You put us both at ease (particularly me cause I was much more emotional than I had anticipated) and covered everything we wanted.  It was just the right tone and everything we had hoped for.

Il be sure to send you some pictures once I have them (hopefully not too long)

I remember you saying that you and your partner are getting married... was it on the 31st?  All the very best for the day I hope you have a wonderful day and wish you all the best in the future.

Thank you again,

Louise and Simon

xx

Equal Marriage

this blog is all about weddings I am involved in so I should of course mention that there is a special one coming up on 31 December 2014 - mine, ours!!!!  Gerrie and I are celebrating the new law as soon as it is possible on the first day.  We are delighted to be able to finally marry, celebrating our love of 17 (nearly 18) years together so watch this space!

Oh important things - the dress is bought (blue and sparkly against daughter No 1's wishes but I look bad in light colours Anne soo sorry!) and Ger has been measured up for a bespoke suit!

We haven't got round to writing our own ceremony yet - sound familiar anyone out there planning a wedding!

Two lovely gay men's wedding

Hi Susan,

Just wanted to thank you once again for making our day so wonderful. You got lots of compliments from our families and friends - particularly those who hadn’t been to a humanist ceremony before. For Ross and I it was just exactly what we wanted!

I have attached the photographs that Mark took of the three of us out on the balcony for your perusal/use as you see fit!

Heading out to catch a bit of the sunshine whilst it lasts, hope you’re having a good Monday

x

Iain (and Ross) McKinnon-Waddell

What can I say guys it was an honour!  And what a view of Edinburgh Castle!

Civil partnership celebration and family wedding

I worked in partnership with the Registrar on Nicky and Coral's big day.  They did the legal bit first and then had a humanist ceremony with me.  They have told me many times since that it was the happiest day of their lives and how much the ceremony meant to them.  I loved it too you two!

Of course from 31 December 2014 I will be honoured to be able to conduct legal same sex marriages and Civil Partnerships - same ceremony as before but including the criticial legal vows aka solemnisation!

On their wedding day Nicky and Coral looked fantastic in their bespoke suits and had a big reception the next night with over 100 friends.  A true celebration of love and commitment.

They are blessed with four lovely parents who clearly love them to bits and were there for them celebrating all weekend!  There was laughter and tears all round especially from Nicky and her mum! Super softies!

Here's what Coral and Nicky said:

We honestly can't thank Susan enough for making our special day just perfect! The ceremony was touching and very personal and brought to life with Susan's warmth and sense of humour. Our families loved it too and we wouldn't change a single thing. We can't recommend Susan enough! 

And photies!

Words of wisdom from Susan xXx

 Tying the knot!! Best day of my life xXx

and with their lovely parents 

Live music always goes down so well

Seton Collegite Church Longniddry

Amanda sent me these lovely words:
Everyone commented on how lovely our ceremony was - very poignant but light hearted at the same time. It really was the best part of the whole day for us (which I think should be a given but parties are always good fun too!).  Thank you for everything and for looking after Greg while he waited on me at the church ;)

Here's some amazing photos

Garfield House Hotel wedding

Had a lovely ceremony with Sharon and Paul - they light candles with Paul's daughter Rosie celebrating their coming together as a family - not a dry eye in the house.  There was also a Celtic Handfasting for the vows.  Here's a photo and some lovely words - thanks Sharon!

Hi Susan x just a wee text to say thank you sooo much for Saturday x everyone has been talking about how nice the ceremony was and Paul and I both agreed that it was our favourite part of the day x you really did a great job and had everyone in tears ... Even the people who usually don't shed a tear ha ha xx thanks again Susan it was amazing love Sharon & Paul xxx

Nicole and Jimmy invited everyone to a birthday party and I was the surprise guest at 9pm!

Nicole and Jimmy sneaked away from the party at 8.30pm got changed, I arrived collected the legal papers from them and then Jimmy and I joined the party and awaited the arrival of the beautiful bride. Everyone was very excited and I think it was one of the liveliest ceremonies I have conducted!

This is the message Nicole sent me:

Hi Susan, just want to say thank u so much you did an amazing job. Just the way I wanted it to go. Laughter and tears. Perfect. If I hear of anybody looking for a humanist il be sure to recommend you. Thanks again 

Love Mr & Mrs Cardle (lol)

(Still can't get used to that) 

Xx

Here are their two older wee boys giving me the rings - so cute in their kilts to match dad's

Lovely message about my style thanks Gillian and Robert!

Hi Susan,

Thank you so much for the lovely ceremony you performed for us. We enjoyed every minute of it. Everyone commented on how great you were!! Even those with very strong religious beliefs said it was the best ceremony they had been to and loved that the children played a part in it too. 

Thanking you,

Gillian and Robert

Lee Ann and John's lovely message

Hi Susan,

Have been wanting to email you but was waiting until we got our pictures back from the photographer as I thought you might like to see yourself in action! 

Thank you so much for the wonderful job you made of our ceremony, it was so so special and personal and you delivered it beautifully- we couldn't have asked for more. In the weeks since the wedding we have been catching up with friends and relatives and everyone agrees that our ceremony was the best they've witnessed- even the old school ones who couldn't really see past a church wedding agreed it was beautiful and meaningful and that means so much to us. My dad especially loved it and keeps on talking about it - he's your new number one fan! 

I have the whole ceremony captured on dvd too and will watch it over and over in the years to come, and who knows, we may even require your services again if that twinkle in John's eye ever becomes the pitter patter of tiny feet! Will definitely be recommending you to all soon-to-be-married couples in the meantime. Thanks again Susan! 

Lee Ann x

Here's one of the photos she mentions and I think she's very happy that I have just pronounced her and John husband and wife!

Carnbooth with Gemma and Chris

Pronouncing the happy couple husband and wife is such a joy

thanks again to Stewart from White Balloon for the photo                   http://www.whiteballoonfilms.co.uk/ 

At last a video with me speaking!

view at http://vimeo.com/73101968 for a video of Jennie and Alan's wedding that I conducted last summer made by http://www.whiteballoonfilms.co.uk/glasgow-wedding-video-blog/
Here me in the middle reading the words they chose about the symbolism of their wedding rings
Susan x

Eglinton Arms wedding for Lee Ann and John

This was my last bit of work before my holiday - thanks Lee Ann and John I loved conducting your ceremony.  You can see me here getting all choked up over the lovely words on love they shared.

Then afterwards I was nearly greeting again as Lee Anne's dad and John's mum both said independently of each other that it was the best wedding ceremony they had ever been at!  What a lovely job I have!  

Big thanks to the delightful Stewart and Alina of  http://www.whiteballoonfilms.co.uk/glasgow-wedding-video-blog/ (the most accommodating videographers I work with) for access to this photo - video footage to follow so watch this space .........

PS yes my hair has changed and is now au natural!  Silver fox now ha ha

Panopticon Glasgow

The Britannia Music Hall in Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland is the oldest surviving music hall in the world. Built in 1857 by Thomas Gildard and H. M. McFarlane, it has hosted some of the biggest names on the Music hall circuit.  Now it can be used for weddings and Laura and Matthew had a fantastic fun time there making many happy memories.  Laura sent me this photo and message:

Hi Susan,

I hope that the new year is treating you well!

I've been meaning to send you this photo for some time- I can hardly believe that we've been married for over a year now! The range of facial expressions really makes me smile. 

We still talk about the wedding constantly! It was such a beautiful day, and the ceremony really captured the essence of us. Friends and family loved every minute if it.

married life has been exactly as I hoped it would be- that's to say, it's exactly the same as life before marriage! We are stronger together, and our marriage is just confirmation of what we already knew- we are meant to be together.

Thank you so much for everything you did for us, and for the memories you helped us to create. I can't begin to tell you how precious and valuable they are to us.

Lots of love,

Laura x