Welcome
Personal, thoughtful ceremonies. Scotland wide since 2009.
We are uniquely different from other Humanist organisations as we provide greater flexibility in content. We aim to deliver unique ceremonies, the heart of which is your wishes.
Latest News
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE APRIL 2021
An update for couples regarding the ongoing worry of the Coronavirus situation and it's impact on your big day. Obviously everybody's main concern is the health and well being of friends and family, but we're also sure that if possible, you still want a special ceremony on your planned wedding day.
WEDDING CEREMONIES CAN STILL PROCEED WITH LIMITED NUMBERS AND OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING. ONLY 5 PEOPLE CAN ATTEND (COUPLE, 2 WITNESSES ANS CELEBRANT (PLUS INTERPRETER IF REQUIRED)) AS OF APRIL 26TH ALL WEDDINGS IN SCOTLAND CAN HAVE 50 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE. SPECIFICS REGADING INCLUSIONS SHOULD BE PUBLISHED BY GOVERNMENT SHORTLY. IN THE CASE OF INDOOR CEREMONIES, FACE COVERINGS ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL GUESTS UNLESS MEDICALLY EXEMPT. THE COUPLE AND CELEBRANT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.
ALL CELEBRANTS ARE STILL WORKING AND AVAILABLE ALTHOUGH INITIAL MEETINGS DURING CURRENT RESTRICTIONS WILL NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT VIA PHONE CALLS/EMAILS/SKYPE/WHATSAPP/FACETIME ETC
IF YOU NEED TO RESCHEDULE YOUR WEDDING PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR CELEBRANT REGARDING THEIR AVAILABILITY. HAVING OVER 30 CELEBRANTS MEANS THAT IF THEY CANNOT COVER YOUR DATE, ANOTHER IHC CELEBRANT SHOULD BE ABLE TO COVER YOU AND YOU WON'T LOSE ANY DEPOSIT.
Please be reassured that IHC Celebrants are still available and happy to conduct your legal wedding ceremony.
You may however decide to scale things back and have a smaller more intimate wedding, at either the original venue, or at another location. Should you decide to change time or venue, providing that it is still on the same date, the Registrar should be notified at the earliest possible opportunity.
If you change venue, the Registrar covering the new location should be notified ASAP.
We are liaising with the Registrar and they have staff in place ready to accommodate your changes wherever possible.
IHC also has procedures in place that mean, should a Celebrant have to self isolate at any time, a colleague will cover your wedding and deliver the script that you have worked on together. On very busy days, a slight delay may occur, but you will be covered.
Should either of you need to self isolate and the ceremony cannot go ahead on the original date, then your Celebrant will be happy to conduct your wedding on a rescheduled date, providing that they are free. They would not charge anything more than the agreed fee for the original date unless significant further travel is necessary to a different venue, meaning that the couple won't be out of pocket should this occur.
THE HOME OF SCOTLANDS BEST CELEBRANTS 2020
Congratulations to this years winner, Sheila Lawtie and runner up Norrie Flowers.
No fewer than 7 of the 10 shortlisted Celebrants nominated for
Celebrant of the Year were from IHC.
Our organisation annually donates to support Scottish charities. 'Kirsty's Gift' is dedicated to the memory of Celebrant Kirsty Harvey who dedicated herself to fundraising for, and raising awareness of organ donation and Cystic Fibrosis among other worthy causes.
In 2019 we donated £1500 to SAMH, Scotland's mental health charity.
In 2018 we donated £1500 to Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.
In 2017 we donated £1500 to Butterfly Trust which supports children and their families affected by Cystic Fibrosis.
For further information about these charities please click on the links above.
PRICES
Wedding/Civil partnership: £425
Funeral: £180
Naming Ceremony: £200
Renewal of vows/Affirmation: £300
SAME SEX MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Same sex marriages can be legally conducted by our Celebrants anywhere in Scotland. We welcome this legislation for equality and look forward to helping create your perfect marriage ceremony.
SERVICES IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
Independent Humanist Ceremonies provide funeral services for children, and work with partners to provide legal marriages to those facing a terminal illness completely free of charge.
About Us
Providing Humanist Services across Scotland.
Whether you need a Humanist Wedding Ceremony, Civil Partnership, Baby Naming or Funeral Service, we prepare and deliver a personal, professional and thoughtful ceremony in the way you want.
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View video footage from
some of our Celebrants:
Our Principles
Independent Humanist Ceremonies work on behalf of those who seek to live ethical lives on the basis of reason and humanity. We promote Humanism, a secular state, and equal treatment of everyone regardless of religion, belief, gender or sexuality. We encourage people to think for themselves about what is right and wrong, based on reason and respect for others to find meaning, beauty and joy in the life we have because we believe people can use empathy and compassion to make the world a better place for everyone.
Independent Humanist Ceremonies trains and accredits celebrants to conduct wedding celebrations, funerals and memorials, and naming ceremonies.
"Independent Humanist Ceremonies is a Scottish organisation promoting a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities."
Costs include a home visit and a total of 100 miles of travel for your Celebrant. No membership fee is required for any ceremonies we conduct. In the case of legal marriages/civil partnerships a £35 fee is payable by each party to the Registrar when submitting your legal paperwork. Except in the case of funerals, a £75 deposit is payable only after you have met your Celebrant and are happy to proceed. This is deducted from your final bill which is normally due two weeks before the ceremony. IHC Celebrants contribute a proportion of their fee to help us promote Humanism and to provide funeral services for children free of charge. Wedding fees are expressly for the preparation, planning, guidance and personalisation of the script prior to the ceremony. The ceremony is conducted and marriage solemnised without further charge and not for profit or gain. All IHC Celebrants are fully insured.
Booking a Celebrant
Each of our Celebrants dedicates their entire day to their client. When receiving a request a Celebrant is usually allocated according to availability and geographic location. If you have a preference, then we will endeavor to get your preferred Celebrant if they are available. All of our Celebrants are fully trained to meet both the standards of Independent Humanist Ceremonies and those of the General Registrar for Scotland in the case of weddings.
Contact us
Friendly and professional advice.
If you are interested in booking a Celebrant, or have questions that are not answered here. We have vast experience to draw upon and we can help provide answers and plan your personal event.
Independent Humanist Ceremonies (IHC) comply with General Data Protection Regulation. Your email and contact details are retained by IHC and your Celebrant only for the purposes of maintaining contact with you. This is necessary to provide our service and no details are shared with third parties. You have the right to have us remove your data at any time, however in doing so before the conclusion of your contract (i.e. conducting your ceremony) IHC and your Celebrant will be unable to fulfil their obligations to you.
Tel: 0800 014 8342
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