Humanist Weddings Scotland - Q&A with Claire the Humanist
Claire is a Registered Celebrant with the Humanist Society Scotland, living in Dumbarton, conveniently placed for Glasgow, Loch Lomond and the West Coast but she’ll go pretty much anywhere if there’s cake.
Hi, I’m Claire, the celebrant of the Wee Wild Wedding gang! I love weddings. I LOVE them. Big ones, wee ones, in the middle of nowhere with just you and some deer for company or in a big sparkly castle with more people than I have ever known in my whole life, I love them all. Check out my website here to find out more about Humanist Weddings Scotland!
What celebranty stuff is included in the package? Are there any add ons you can choose?
One of the many brilliant things about getting married in Scotland is that you can choose a type of ceremony that properly reflects how you think about life. That might be religious, civil or (and this is where me and my colleagues come in), Humanist. Humanist weddings are ace, legally binding (helpful), completely bespoke ceremonies all about you. What’s not to love?
Every ceremony is different. Some are quite involved, with guests doing readings or being involved in symbolic gestures like drinking from a quaich or a handfasting. Others are really simple and focus almost exclusively on the relationship between the people getting married. We work with you to find the ceremony that is perfect for you. It’s very rewarding and also hugely exciting- how often do people create something completely unique to you?
I don’t really have any add ons except for Rubiks cube solving demos and extreme donut eating, both of which are more for my benefit than yours.
Now that you’ve worked at a few micro weddings, what are the benefits of a Wee Wild Wedding for your ceremony compared to a “normal” wedding?
Easy. Less stress. You entrust all the thinking to a team of industry experts, happily working together to make your day as brilliant as possible without you having to stress about it. We love working with each other and it’s reflected in the vibe throughout your planning and on your actual little Big Day.
If you’ve been through planning a big wedding that’s been cancelled and you can’t face trying to do it again, book Wee Wild Wedding and it’s done. By someone else!
As a couple, what other things should you think about in terms of the ceremony that you don’t normally for weddings – wording, timings, light, location, logistics etc?
Ceremonies for wee weddings tend to be a lot less formal than you might expect. I always think of them more as a conversation between us all; something meaningful, emotional and a unique opportunity to be open and say exactly what you want to say to the person you love the most.
And, in the future, when people ask you about your wedding, you’ll say, ‘Oh yeah, we eloped, just the two of us and it was magical’. Because it really will have been.
What are the some of the favourite details you’ve seen at micro weddings so far?
Sexy lunches. Dream Jeanie brings the goods! I love that you can go pure indulgence and have the best of everything because you don’t need to share with 100 people. Just your new husband or wife and me. Cos I like a wee snack or two.
The more you spoil yourselves, the better: beautiful flowers, gorgeous pampering, post lunch naps, all these things make your day truly memorable.
Any tips for couples planning a micro wedding?
Firstly, are you eloping or is it a micro-wedding? Guests or no guests? If you’re eloping, think what makes you both happy and do that. If you’ve got guests, involve them. Makes them feel special.
If you want to share your ceremony, livestream it. You’ll forget everyone’s watching after the initial weird waving that everyone does but your ‘guests’ will LOVE it. Hats and sparkles and champagne and party poppers are obligatory for the full immersive experience.
And read your vows to each other again. When your ceremony is over, take a minute when you’re having your photographs taken, and re-read your vows. Trust me, it’s the best.
Have you noticed any micro wedding trends – colours, locations, set up options etc?
Getting ready together. I’m a big fan of couples getting ready together and walking to their ceremony together. It’s so chill but doesn’t detract from the excitement, you share the anticipation together. What a luxury!
What opportunities does a micro wedding give that a normal wedding doesn’t?
It’s a much more flexible approach to a wedding, something that’s proved invaluable over the last year.
If you’re deeply unhappy about standing in front of 100 people, this is the way to go. Get married without the worry.
It’s unbelievably exciting to be on a grand adventure with the only person you want to adventure with. Enjoy the excitement. Enjoy the journey, the one that started with, ‘You know what we should do? We should just elope…. ‘ and ends up in the two of you, dressed up nice, surrounded by glorious Scottishness, telling each other that you really do mean it, you want to be married and today’s a good day to do it.
Follow the links to see more of Claire’s work
Website – clairethehumanist.com
Facebook – clairethehumanist
Instagram – @clairethehumanist