Ideas and inspiration

Couples and celebrants share stories of non-religious weddings that resonate deeply, intertwining unique love stories with timeless human values.

What happens at a humanist naming ceremony?

Award-winning humanist celebrant Jane Blackman explains what happens at a humanist naming ceremony. Why hold a naming ceremony? The arrival of a new baby, adopted child, or stepchild into your...

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Name change | Naming ceremony for a teenager

Fifteen-year-old Emily made the decision to change her name to Billie. When she learnt about Humanism as part of looking at different worldviews, she became interested in the idea of...

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What is a humanist wedding?

In recent years, you might have found yourself hearing more and more about ‘humanist weddings’. But what are they? Why are they more popular than religious weddings in Scotland? And...

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What’s the most inclusive type of wedding ceremony?

Humanist weddings are on the rise. And it’s little wonder. People fall in love all over the world and despite our differences, love wins. Focusing the entire wedding day on...

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Humanist wedding | James and Amie’s garden wedding

A gorgeous garden wedding can include both spectacular daytime elements such as flowers, fragrance, and far-reaching views — and romantic mood lighting with twinkling lights and candles - and a...

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Five romantic poems for humanist weddings

A humanist wedding ceremony tells the personal love story of a couple, and so each one is unique. Some couples have favourite poems that they’d like to read or have...

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Handfasting at a humanist wedding

A Guide to Handfasting | Symbolic Acts at a Humanist Wedding

Handfasting is a symbolic act that takes place during a wedding ceremony, where the hands of the happy couple are bound together with ribbon or cord, to represent their commitment...

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Tying the knot in a humanist wedding ceremony

As part of our series on symbolic acts chosen by couples who’ve had humanist weddings, we’re looking at the act of ‘tying the knot’. To many people, the expression ‘tying...

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A Guide to Unity Candle Ceremonies | Symbolic Acts at a Humanist Wedding

Lighting a unity candle symbolises two becoming one. Bringing a moment of ritual into your wedding can add depth and emotion to the ceremony.

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Humanist wedding in a woodland

Symbolic Acts at a Humanist Wedding | The Cut-out Heart Race

With a humanist wedding from Humanist Ceremonies, you can have your wedding ceremony wherever you choose – even in a woodland glade. You can also write your own vows and...

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Humanist wedding

Wedding traditions | Confetti

Humanist wedding ceremonies are flexible and can incorporate a range of wedding traditions from around the world - and that includes the throwing of confetti.

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Fusion wedding - Humanist wedding

Humanist wedding | Jaspal and Lucy’s fusion wedding

Humanist ceremonies are a popular choice for couples planning a fusion wedding — a multicultural wedding ceremony marrying together elements of each of the couple’s cultures and traditions. If, like Jaspal...

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