Boyle, Marbeth

I have been a celebrant since November 2008 and it has been an experience and a privilege.

I have met many people with such a variety of 'stories' and, being able to help them find the right way, for them, to celebrate or to grieve, is both humbling and rewarding.

My working experience, over many years, was with children with significant physical difficulties and I have some insight into the challenges they, and their families face.

The greatest lesson I learned was that these children and young adults were people first, with strengths and potential. Yes, they have problems, but they also have dreams and aspirations, we all have.

Our initial training is for funerals and I have met so many families who invite me to be part of their grieving and, really importantly, their celebration of the life of the loved one they have lost.

I have greatly enjoyed the stories of life, years ago, in the West of Scotland, I have been taken back to my roots.

A little flutter of anxiety is the 'dugs'. Hand on the front gate or doorbell and, what happens next?

Namings are fun. They never go to plan!

The baby needs fed, watered, changed at the critical time. Small cousins and friends think crisps and nibbles cannot be passed around without them and, that all these balloons floating about are for them to move about during the naming.

Some little person thinks he or she can make more noise than I can. Wrong!

And, after all of that the baby goes to sleep at the naming moment. So! A naming is a celebration of a new young life, a new family member.

I love them.

I am authorised by the Registrar General to conduct marriage from !st April 2010.

I already have a number of weddings booked and I am enjoying meeting couples and sharing their excitement.

Seeing their love and committment and guiding them through the process of making their wedding day perfect for them is so rewarding.