Pattullo, David

My background and experience
I became a celebrant in 2004 and conduct some 100 ceremonies per year. As well as this work I help run a studio/gallery, Platform 22, with my wife, Emma, specialising in ceramics.

I have had the good fortune to have never had a proper career! Over the years I’ve done a variety of jobs including being a landscape architect, graphic artist, chimney sweep, pig keeper and the owner of a backpackers’ hostel.

Outside of work my main interests are rowing, motorbikes and astronomy. I also do a fair bit storytelling and as such my main area of interest is in Classical, Celtic and Norse mythology; from these tales I often draw inspiration for my writing and for my ceremonies.

You can download sample scripts and find out more about my ceremonies by visiting my ceremonies web pages, click here.

What humanism means to me
As all the beliefs and mores that were instilled in me as a child have faded in the light of adult experience I have been left with a blank sheet of paper on which to create my own principles for living and that is humanism, freedom.

Funerals

Most of my work involves funerals. Since I became a celebrant in 2004 I have conducted over 350 funerals as compared to around 20 weddings and four baby namings. People, whatever their beliefs, seem to appreciate a humanist ceremony as we talk about the deceased rather that about gods and an afterlife. We also emphasise the idea of celebrating a life rather than mourning a loss.

Namings

Baby namings are something of a rarity for me. In four years I have conducted only four namings and two of these were combined naming/weddings. Nevertheless a baby naming is a great way to welcome a child into its family and community and these ceremonies can be both great fun and very moving. A major reason for choosing a humanist ceremony is that it does not commit the child to a particular belief system and leaves them free to make any such choice later in life once they have lived a little.

You can download a sample naming script, and find out more about myself and my ceremonies, by visiting my ceremonies web pages, click here.

Affirmations

As yet I have not had any requests to conduct an affirmation, however, I would welcome any approaches to do so!

You can find out more about myself and my ceremonies, by visiting my ceremonies web pages, click here.

How I feel about being a wedding Celebrant
Bemused. I’m always taken aback to find myself in a position of responsibility as I have a deep seated mistrust of authority and I worry that I’ve ‘sold out’ to get here! However, I enjoy the work and people seem to like what I do so I’ll stick with it!

My approach to weddings
To start with I normally send prospective couple some sample scripts. I also advise them to consider the elements they want to include in the ceremony i.e. people, music, rituals, vows. Once they’ve had time to think things over I will meet the couple to start composing the ceremony. The draft ceremony then goes back and forth between the couple and myself, usually by email, as we resolve the final details. At all times I am here to help and guide couple though I always advise that the vows in particular should be drafted by the couple as they are so specific to the couple and their relationship to each other.

Although it is nice to meet couple before they marry it is quite possible to produce a ceremony via phone calls and email; and for couple living out with Aberdeenshire this is sometimes the only option.

Depending on the availability/proximity of the principal players, and the venue, I am happy to do a rehearsal as part of the wedding package.

What I love most about conducting weddings
The smiles on people’s faces and a glass of champagne after the event!

My advice to you
Try to involve everyone in the ceremony in some way but don’t ‘over-egg the pudding’ as guests will get restless after about 30 minutes! Make sure everyone, guests, musicians, caterers, etc, knows where, and when, the wedding is going to be! Keep the engagement short.

My favourite piece of wedding poetry
‘No Mistake’ by Martha Sims

I know that you were made for me
And I was made for you
A wise old owl up in a tree
Told me this was true
I asked him only yesterday
If I should marry you
He answered – ‘I can safely say
You’re not a twit to woo.’

My favourite piece of wedding music
To begin ceremony: Finlandia - Jean Sibelius
To sing: ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ - Traditional
To dance: ‘Kung Fu Fighting’- Carl Douglas

My most unusual location for a wedding to date
Outdoor locations are probably the more unusual locations and I have conducted ceremonies at a stone circle and on a beach. I look forward to my first Munro wedding, anvil wedding (I have my own anvil!) and biker wedding.