Katrina + Rory | July 2024
“So many people said how fabulous you were and how special it was to have such a personal ceremony”
I was so touched when Katrina, the bride, first got in contact; she had been following me on Instagram and knew I didn’t share the exact same beliefs as my gorgeous husband. We partner, and parent, as two people who believe different things about the existence of God (and - although I’m aware this blog is about the bride and groom and not me - truth be told I’ve been going through a big faith deconstruction over the past few years).
Katrina told me that while she is a Christian her lovely man Rory is not, and she wanted a wedding where both their world views could be acknowledged and honoured. Interestingly, in Scotland, where their wedding was booked to be, humanist Scottish celebrants can do what we English celebrants aren’t yet allowed to: they have the power to perform legal marriages. But humanists will not mention religious beliefs in their ceremonies so Katrina asked me instead, as an independent celebrant, arranging to do their legal signing on a different day.
That arrangement indicated to me just how important the blend of their beliefs was for the ceremony, so I wrote a wedding script that included the “Love is patient, love is kind” Bible reading, prayers from her darling godmothers, and a poem by Christian spoken word artist Harry Baker, but their vows were personal and non-religious. I relish the challenge - and joy - of making a script that works for both partners, celebrating who they are and how they work together.
Photos by the wonderful Eilidh Robertson Photography
The wedding took place at rustic barn venue - with seasonal farm to table food - The Free Company in Balerno, outside Edinburgh. And it was a feeling of freedom all day long at The Free Company. Freedom of different beliefs, a free-flowing, rustic layout…and a free-and-easy attitude when the weather didn’t behave. Well I say “didn’t behave”…it behaved in a Scottish way. And I’m not sure this is the accolade Katrina and Rory were hoping for, but theirs was the wettest wedding I’ve done to date.
But we’ve all seen About Time, right? That deliciously soul-affirming Richard Curtis film with the windy, wet wedding bang in the middle? There’s something very cool about a couple so in tune with each other, and excited about being surrounded by their favourite people, that they couldn’t give a haggis if they get rained on. We persevered with the outdoor setting, brollies up, and it was part of the laid-back charm of the day.
Katrina at the bottom of the aisle with her stepdad and her father
There were other gorgeous moments in the ceremony too: Katrina had her stepdad walk her from the car to the bottom of the aisle, then her father walk her the rest of the way. And after the bride and groom had exchanged rings and had their first kiss, they were joined by their dog, Jazz, for a family photo. Although Jazz was very excited and had other - more exploratory, sniffing out the lay of the land - plans.
Wedding dresses and kilts were just MADE to ceilidh in
And guests were treated to lots of other Scottish elements too, from the father of the groom on bagpipes as everyone arrived, to a high-energy ceilidh to end the joyful day.
God is in the details, eh?
“Couldn’t have picked our celebrant better if we’d tried”