So what’s so special about a humanist wedding?

If you had been to one then you should know already. But if you haven’t here are just 4 answers to be going on with.


1 Each ceremony is individual. There has never been another like it. It is written by the couple and myself (and occasionally with friends of the couple) and because of this is very personal.


2 The wedding can be anywhere you choose. I have officiated at ceremonies in 16th Century Barns, in a house, on a beach, in the garden, in the woods, in France and atop a fell in the Lake District and many many more locations.


3 At the time you choose too! You don’t want to start at 12am and go through till 12pm? Then you don’t have too. A wedding as the dawn rises – great! Midnight – Fantastic.


4 It’s a ceremony where people say what they mean and mean what they say. There are no parts that one believes a bit, or a part that one disbelieves in but is saying it to keep Auntie Maude happy. If you can't be truthful on this day of days then when can you?


When I get back from France I will be writing about some of the memorable ceremonies I have conducted.

Baby Namings, Weddings and Funerals

I have been a humanist celebrant for 9 years now. I fit it in around my work as a writer/storyteller. People often ask why do I do it? How can I do it? And assuming you are interested too, I'll tell you what the impetus was.

Well it all began at my Uncle Billy's funeral. I was never close to Billy but he was my mother's brother and she loved and cared for him so I felt I should show my respects. His funeral ceremony was conducted by a young vicar who ran through the usual service - mentioning God/Jesus or the Holy Spirit over 40 times and mentioning Billy twice (Though the vicar called him William). The only part of Billy's life mentioned was that he was a scaffolder and liked a drink. Billy deserved more than 30seconds at his own funeral! Billy was one hell of a character a life long atheist and former member of the communist party. A very popular man who in his hay day was one of the sharpest dressers in Liverpool.

The ceremony lasted 10 - 15 minutes, elongated by a half hearted rendition of a hymn that nobody had sang since they were at school. It was over before it was finished. This was no way to say goodbye to someone. I knew about humanism and once I stopped writing for TV I decided to train up as a celebrant thinking I could fit the occasional ceremony in around my writing/storytelling. Boy did I get that wrong!

I have written and conducted over 700 ceremonies mainly funerals but interspersed with the more joyful occasions of weddings and baby namings. Being a celebrant has taken over my life or should I say I have willingly let it take over my life. Every time I conduct a ceremony I feel privileged. I am let into the heart of a family at one of the most important occasions in their life. And they entrust in me the task of ensuring it is a success. A lot of pressure, it can be difficult, but it is unbelievably rewarding..

My aim is to ensure that every funeral be a celebration of the life that has ended, every wedding to be unique and unforgettable and every baby naming to be joyous and memorable.

This blog will be a record of some of those occasions. Names will usually be changed to ensure privacy of course.