My name is Andrew Smithsimmons and I am Humanist wedding celebrant, authorised by the Registrar General to conduct legal marriages in Scotland. To be a part of a couple's wedding or civil partnership, one of the most significant and memorable days of their lives, is an incredible privilege. My aim as a wedding celebrant is to help you create a ceremony that is unique and authentic, geniune and warm and most importantly a true reflection of your personalities. Whether you would prefer the ceremony to be full of fun and laughter or be more traditional in its formal elegance I will work closely with you, providing guidance and support, to both create a ceremony that is exactly how you want it to be and also make the whole experience enjoyable and stress free. I am based in the West of Scotland near Glasgow giving easy access to the wide variety of stunning venues both within the town and cities and the beautiful surrounding countryside. Naming ceremonies are a meaningful way to formally welcome a new person with both authenticity and warmth. They are important ceremonies for both welcoming new children into families, children of all ages and origins, or perhaps recognising a transgender transition of identity for adolescents and adults. In both, a naming ceremony is a genuine and powerful event for recognising the importance of the relationships we have with each other, celebrating those human qualities that bring us together, and usually having a lot of smiles and a few tears while we do so. With children, a naming ceremony also provides a heartfelt opportunity for vows and pledges to be made to the new child by parents and guide-parents in the heart of their community of family and friends. In choosing me to help you design and officiate your naming ceremony, I would meet with you and work closely with you to consider all aspects of the ceremony. You have a huge range of flexibility with a Humanist ceremony from the venue (gardens, local pubs and hotels, village halls etc) to the music and content and any and all people you would want to have a role in the heart of the ceremony itself, particularly close relatives, friends and guide-parents for children. As with all ceremonies you can be fully involved in the design of the ceremony, will receive excellent guidance and support throughout, will receive a draft of the ceremony beforehand to comment on and re-shape as you wish, and a very high-quality printed version, and electronic (PDF) copy, of the final version of the ceremony afterwards for safekeeping and sharing with your family and friends. I look forward to hearing from you about your ceremony welcoming a new person into your lives.
