Any questions?
You may still have a few questions, so I've tried to answer them below. If there's anything else that I haven't covered, please feel free to get in touch!
How much do you charge for your services?
For weddings based in Liverpool, I charge £650. For weddings outside of Liverpool, I may need to charge some additional travel or accommodation expenses, but we can talk more about that if it's relevant. Everything is built into the final quote I give you after we meet - there will be no hidden charges!
We have no idea where to start! Can you help?
Of course! Your ceremony should be an authentic reflection of you both, and I can help you to put together a ceremony that you feel is genuine, meaningful and fun! I'll try to be as helpful as possible to ensure that your ceremony isn't a source of stress for you.
Are you willing to travel for our wedding?
Abso-flipping-lutely! I'd love that! Let me know where you're thinking of having your wedding, and we can have a chat about how we can make that work.
Can we include any religious content in our ceremony?
Another slightly tricky one, but I'll try my best to answer it clearly! Humanism is a non-religious worldview. I, myself, am not a person of religious faith. I therefore wouldn't feel I'd be able to deliver any religious content from a place of sincerity, and I would probably have to politely decline any request to deliver any religious content at your service. If it's really important to you that your ceremony contains some mentions of religion or God, it may be that a Humanist ceremony isn't quite the right option for you. Have a think and a chat between yourselves to figure that out. I'm also very happy to discuss this with you. Having said that, there may be a case where perhaps you want to appease a family member with a small religious passage or prayer. Perhaps they could be the one to deliver it? I will try not to rule anything out at the beginning. Let's have a chat and see if there's a way we can make it work for you. Your wedding really should be done your way, and I will always put that at the forefront of my planning and suggestions.
What exactly do your services entail?
My main responsibility is to write a completely bespoke script for you, and deliver that ceremony for you. In more detail, though, here's a summary of my services: - We'll have an introductory chat (either in person if in Liverpool, or online if further afield), where we'd figure out whether I'm a good fit for you guys and your wedding. - We'd then have a more in-depth meeting where I'd get to know you and we could start planning your ceremony. - We'd have ongoing contact throughout your wedding planning to ensure you're comfortable with everything relating to your ceremony (and we'll go through as many edits as are needed to make it perfect). - I'll offer any help with choosing readings and writing vows, or anything else I can help with! - I will deliver your ceremony in front of your family and friends, just the way we planned it. - After I've performed your ceremony, I'll give you a beautiful presentation copy of your ceremony script, to look back on in years to come!
Do I need to be a Humanist in order to have a Humanist wedding?
No! You do need to be a human*, but you don't have to be a Humanist! A Humanist ceremony can be a perfect option for a lot of reasons. Perhaps there are different faiths either in your relationship or in your families? A Humanist wedding allows you to celebrate common values and include, where appropriate, symbolic actions that celebrate your cultures and beliefs. Perhaps you are non-religious, and just want something fun, personal and unique?! A Humanist wedding would be perfect for you! Of course, maybe you're a Humanist, but you don't actually know you're a Humanist yet?! Have a look at the 'About Humanism' page to find out if you are, in fact, a Humanist... *That's totally not true - if you want me to conduct a ceremony for your dogs or kitties, I'd be so bloody excited! Do get in touch with me if you want to marry your pets...(jokingnotjoking)
Are Humanist weddings legally binding?
So, this is a slightly complicated one...the short answer is not entirely. But the long answer is: In Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, yes, Humanist weddings are legally-binding. The rules differ slightly between nations, but I can tell you more about that if you are getting married in any of those areas. In England and Wales, Humanist weddings are currently not awarded legally-binding status. However, there are two significant things to note here: 1) Humanists UK are very actively campaigning to have the law change, and they are tantalisingly close! We hope to see non-religious couples in England and Wales enjoy the same right to celebrate their marriage as religious people in other parts of the UK very soon. 2) Just because they aren't currently legally-binding, that does not mean that you can't still have a wedding with just as much meaning, personality, significance and joy as a civil ceremony or religious ceremony. In fact, Humanist ceremonies offer a hell of a lot more scope than those other ceremonies for personality, heart, humour, quirkiness, fun and unique, unforgettable moments!
Do you do vow renewals?
Yes! The word 'wedding' might not necessarily suit you as a couple. Perhaps you want a commitment ceremony, or something else. Whatever you're thinking, I can be of help. Maybe you've both been together for a period of time and want to reaffirm your commitment to each other? I would love to facilitate that! If it's a celebration of love, I'm interested! As a dear friend of mine once said, "I love love!", so get in touch!
Do you work with LGBTQ+ couples?
1000% yes! I would be thrilled to work with any couple who wish to celebrate their love. I passionately believe in equality, which in this context means that every person, regardless of sexuality or gender identity, should be free to celebrate their love and relationship.