Humanist Celebrant - Andrew Smithsimmons

13/04/2025

Scotland - Weddings in Nature

There are many things to love about Scotland but the fact couples are free to marry in the way that fits their own values and worldviews is something to treasure. It has allowed me to legally marry so many people in nature over the last ten years or so. On the water, in the mountains, on secret riverbanks and island beaches. It takes a couple to be a little bold, daring to do things their own way and it takes a little planning and expertise. It requires an authorised celebrant with experience, both in outdoor skills and in enabling such unique ceremonies to happen with safety, dignity, adventure and a whole world of natural atmosphere.

I love this landscape 💕

09/01/2025

Looking forward to 2025 with the memory of Vari & Phil's wedding, that closed my 2024 season, fresh in my mind with this feedback from them: "My husband and I contacted Drew after seeing him on his website and instantly knowing he would help make our day special. Some video calls and many e-mails later we arrived at our wedding day and although I was nervous and excited, the ceremony exceeded all my expectations. I had been told by so many to just enjoy it, to take courage from my future husband and to just be myself; I did all of this and it was the best day of my life. Our wedding was full of love and humour. Drew was professional, organised and above all, he helped us to relax and have fun together and with our guests. A humanist wedding allows for a unique element to be present throughout the ceremony and it allows personal and beautiful moments to shine through for all to bear witness to - Drew facilitated hugely in that shine and we will always be grateful".

drew@humanistwedding.org
www.humanistwedding.org

26/05/2024

Tying the knot, quite literally, with Sasha and Ewan last week at Eden Leisure Village. The weather could not have been better for being outside in such a peaceful location.

28/04/2024

Having fun with the wonderful Emma McNaughton and Alexander Brumm, in the moments before they became a married couple on 10th April this year at Dalziel House.

08/04/2024

The wonderful Mel & David married overlooking Loch Long nestled in the Arrochar Alps. Even the sun came out to celebrate!

26/08/2023

Outdoorsy couples - YES!

You are my people, I am your Celebrant.

I am delighted with the number of fantastic couples booking me who share a deep love of the outdoors with me and/or are planning to get married with nature as their venue.

Beaches, forests, riverbanks, mountainsides, or coming up with ways to bring the natural world into a venue, to bring your love of the outdoors into your ceremony, because it is important to you. Because, like me, it is a fundamental part of who you are.

Like you, I am unique. I do not fit in with the ranks of conventional wedding celebrants and I embrace that, wholeheartedly. I am an inventor for NASA, ex rock-climbing instructor, half-good trad climber in my day, long suffering trail runner, current RLSS open water lifeguard and cold exposure coach (www.wildswimadeventures.com) and keen to hear every idea you can come up with for how our outdoorsy community can celebrate love and relationships through the natural world that is part of our very souls.

www.humanistwedding.org

23/08/2023

Ideas for exchange of rings

A marriage ceremony really builds towards this moment, it is right at the heart of it, where you say the legal declarations (repeat after me, I [name], accept you [name] in marriage, and with this ring... And what happens immediately after that is the 'it gives me great pleasure to declare you married and pronounce you....' [uproar of cheers and clapping, there's a kiss and embrace, you can picture it, right?]

So to have the rings ready for that moment typically the Best Man or Chief Bridesmaid would re-join us. If there are children, it can be them that then bring the rings up (often the rings have been safely with the grandparents until that point!), I have also seen rings safely delivered by a trusty Labrador, tied to his collar. Today, the beautiful 19-year old owl named Bilbo and his handler Roy had the honour at Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course . The wedding couple, quite rightly, have a social media embargo until they post first when they feel ready but I will post some more about this fantastic ceremony after that point.
www.humanistwedding.org

15/08/2023

The remarkable wedding of Annejanette Dickson and Graeme Smith at the Brig O'Doon on the 10th August.

Behind us is a stone circle, made from precious stones placed by each and every guest. At our feet an adorned broomstick, carried and placed by the bride instead of a bouquet. Outside an ancient bridge over the river on which a great friend of the couple, in their words 'the Best Witch', Lorraine Jay, called on the ancestors and the elements as she performed a traditional handfasting.

For all couples wanting to stand their ground and create a truly bespoke ceremony that wholeheartedly reflects their personalities and what they stand for, this is one of the finest examples I have ever had the privilege to help write and deliver. And we had so much fun!

Thank you Graeme and Annejanette. I wish you the very best for your future as a married couple and will always have a huge amount of affection in my heart for both of you, your lovely twins who spontaneously hugged my legs after delivering your rings, and your steadfast character in absolutely creating your ceremony exactly the way you wanted it to be. Because we do this now.

Graeme Smith Annejanette Dickson



www.humanistwedding.org

09/08/2023

After the Wedding #4 - Harvey the Dog

I love this dog. To an irrational degree. I know it is wrong but when I am leaving the house, leaving my wife and children, I often find Harvey's head cuddled into mine as I whisper 'I love you so much, you're the best one, I'll be back soon'. Shameful but dog-lovers will appreciate what I mean. He is eight now, half a spaniel and half a poodle, so continues to love massive runs in the hills and long swims in the lochs. In the village where I live there is a beautiful forest where Harvey and I will be found most mornings running loops around the various paths, me trying to keep up, him totally oblivious to the many deer that leap across the path ahead of him. Some of my happiest moments are camping way up in the far north west, in a tent near the sea backed by mountains with Harvey curled up and happily snoring next to me.

02/08/2023

Using nature as your wedding venue

If you are thinking about doing it, great, talk to me. In Scotland, you can legally get married in nature at a spot that may be challenging to access but incredibly meaningful for you two as a couple. You have to consider that you are required to give the exact location and then, come storm or snow, that has to be the spot we marry you and it has to be safe. So, yes, it takes a little planning but most challenges are overcome with having appropriate kit and thinking it through well in advance, I can help you do that.

It important to have a Celebrant who is used to operating in that environment and looking after people. I have been in the hills all my life, I am a RLSS qualified open water lifeguard and used to be a rock-climbing instructor before a career as a psychological therapist. I currently run a growing open water swimming group and with my sidekick, Patrick, also an RLSS lifeguard, we run trips for folk from the lowlands to swim in the higher colder mountains lochs and lochans. Planning the logistics for those trips, thinking through how to make it all happen, to access remote places for adventures and keep everyone safe, that is our speciality. You can read more about that at www.wildswimadventures.com.

But for now, if you are fantasising about eloping to a beach only accessible by boat (and swimming some of it) or marrying on the top of your favourite mountain or (low-grade) trad route, and everything in between, email me at drew@humanistwedding.org.

In Scotland, some of the most stunning venues imaginable have to be the landscape itself!

www.humanistwedding.org

26/07/2023

After the Wedding #3 - Hill Walking

I first went up Ben Nevis when I was 2. On my dad's shoulders I should say. I have been in the hills ever since. Before I had kids I wanted to be a mountaineering instructor, completed the SPA qualification and taught many many people to rock climb. I have run the West Highland Way and climbed a great deal of trad in the Highlands and bouldering and sport climbs in Europe (what my trad partner called 'not proper' climbing - it was fun though). I can still regularly be found on a high trail in the Trossachs running with my dog and, when I can, love to get up on higher ground to run the trails in the north west. I am not much of a Munro bagger, I am interested in the run-ability of the high passes and connecting routes but I am very interested in the Charlie Ramsay Round. I have run the main sections on many occasions but yet to be bold enough to take it on as a 24 hour challenge as it's meant to be. I do happen to know the chap who has set time records on that route but he is not quite mortal somehow... In a few weeks I will be marrying a lovely couple on the hillside in Glen Coe and I am delighted to make ceremonies like that happen. If you would to use the great outdoors as your venue, and get up somewhere high or remote, please get in touch. I would love to hear from you.

www.humanistwedding.org

14/07/2023

Crear Weddings

A big thank you to John Clark Photos for the mention as celebrant for this gorgeous Crear wedding. The photos are stunning and if you look closely you will spot my hands 😀.
I have done many weddings at Crear and absolutely love the beauty of this venue.
https://johnclarkphotos.co.uk/crear-autumn-wedding/

Crear Autumn Wedding - Fantasic wedding at Crear in Autumn David & Emma had over a 100 family and friends for their big day