Our approach and Celebrants' fees
As either a registered celebrant or officiant of Humanism in Scotland, we provide a non-religious approach to life’s rites of passage, including weddings, renewals of vows, baby/child namings, funerals and memorials etc.
There is no compulsion to join us as we are not a membership organisation.
We do not ask for subscriptions or membership fees...
AND
We NEVER commit to more than one ceremony per day. Your day is our day, guaranteed!
Nor do we require any commitment other than your choosing our style and approach at such milestones in your lives.
The Humanist approach is non-religious - but not anti-religious - and our ceremonies are welcomed by everyone, offending no one. We offer the opportunity for personal reflection for those who may bring a faith perspective to the celebration and/or to the tribute for the lives or life of the much loved. At the first meeting or contact, we acquaint you with the Humanist ethos and life stance in order to offer awareness of what our beliefs and values are. Quite simply, Humanist ceremonies are about people. Our open-minded approach means that you can be comfortable with what follows – namely face-to-face exchange(s) at the appropriate time(s) that bring into focus everything relevant to your chosen event. We are a not-for-profit organisation with a transparent charitable outreach via which we commit to our supported beneficiaries.
Ceremony fee structure:
Ceremony Fee
Wedding £450 (this does not include registrars' fees**)
Renewal of vows £450 (see note below)
Naming Ceremony negotiable
Funeral / Memorial / Internment of Ashes £180 - £250*
Funeral - child or young person under 16 No Fee
Advance Funeral Directive (funeral wishes) No Fee
Exceptional mileage rate (if applicable) £0.45 pm
*Please note: Our funeral fee can vary as each ceremony may accumulate external additional costs. Fees are approximate and can be discussed further with your Celebrant. Typically, a 20-minute ceremony costs £200.
**For marriage in Scotland, you are required to register your marriage with the Registrars NEAREST to your venue. This provides you with the legal document you sign on your wedding day. There is a fee payable to the Registrar for your application. Your HinS Celebrant acts as your legal witness.
For wedding ceremonies and renewal of vows, couples can compose their script and choose their own vows. Personal declarations can be kept private until the day and read by you or your celebrant. This in itself brings meaningful reflection to the very basis of your decision to progress to legal marriage and its implicit life-long commitment.
Many couples choose one of the free wedding template sites as a way of bringing into focus everything for the wedding day, including the build-up, coordination and other arrangements. Our Celebrants are on hand to guide you through the creative process. We have our resources to help inspire you and offer as much assistance as required.
note: A renewal of vows often celebrates an anniversary or a marriage that may have happened privately. A vow renewal can emulate all the fun and fanfare of a 'real' wedding, the only part missing would be the paperwork. Our fee for a renewal of vows represents the time and creativity often required for such an occasion because it can be exactly like a wedding, however, if you have plans to celebrate with a more intimate ceremony, we can discuss the fee with you.
For funerals or memorials - our officiants feel such privilege in becoming temporarily immersed in a bereaved family’s life at a time of much distress and grief. We engage with a bereaved family or partner on a personal level, with essential care and empathy as a hallmark of good practice. Your recovery and healing from the loss of a loved one can begin to unfold through the process of talking, reflecting and spending time with us.
For namings of baby/child/young adult - the conferring of a name has been recognised since ancient times as a symbol of welcome, love and commitment. Parents or guardians choose the words, poetry and sentiments on how they wish to commit to their child, combined with readings from other friends & relatives, creating a memorable occasion/keep-safe for subsequent generations. Namings can even be combined with a wedding ceremony, if appropriate.
Bereavement Support
It might also be important to let you know that we also provide ongoing support to bereaved spouses, family and beyond. Not being clinicians, we don’t prescribe medication (but find that that is mostly not needed anyway.) Neither are we suggesting that you/your....define... hasn’t got the strength of mind and resilience to restore their well-being. The ongoing support from a dynamic family, along with a myriad of friends, can be highly significant for a positive outcome. Sadly, some are not as fortunate. We are here as independent supporters (non-relative, non -judgemental & non-confessional). We are active listeners, meaning we can engage with you and listen so that you know you are being heard and understood. We simply wish you well and we are here with kindness and compassion if you ever need our support.
For support and advice from other organisations, see here
CANCELLATIONS
Because we hold your date exclusively and incur immediate administrative costs, we are unable to offer refunds if you change your mind.
We understand that life can be unpredictable; therefore, exceptions may be made under compassionate circumstances, such as a bereavement involving the couple.
Please note that if a cancellation occurs within the final four weeks leading up to, or including the day of the ceremony, the full ceremony fee is non-refundable, except under these same exceptional circumstances.
