Douglas-Scott, Gerrie

My background and experience      
I’ve been a Celebrant for about 5 years and conducted hundreds of ceremonies now – marriages, funerals, same-sex weddings, child namings. I live between Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow and would love to do more ceremonies in the South-West as well as in the city. 

I managed to escape working at the Scottish Executive 4 years ago where I advised the Health Minister on ‘involving people’. I am now a ‘consultant’ on the same topic, which means I can have a posh freelance job title (lol) and be flexible to do what I really want to do – celebrate life and love!

I speak fluent Spanish and passable french which comes in handy in ceremonies quite often.

What humanism means to me     
Being human and all that that means – caring, compassionate, listening, sharing, being as kind to the earth as I can be, truly embracing diversity and ‘difference’, challenging barriers to inclusion

Conducting funerals is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.  To be there for people, to really listen and try to understand how I can do my part to remember their loved one's life. I believe everyone has the right to be remembered, even celebrated, no matter what they have chosen as their life's path. 

When people say 'it's like you knew her' or 'He would have loved that', then I feel that I have done the best I can do to let the healing begin. 

Welcome wee one into the world.....

I love helping parents and significant others choose what they want to say to their child or young person in their family.  It's not just about 'naming' to me, it's about welcoming and preparing the ground where the young person or baby will live.  I like to present the script nicely so that the young person can read it in the future.

What can I say?  This is one of the most amazing and fulfilling parts of my work as a celebrant. I truly believe in people's right and wish to celebrate their love whatever form that might take.  I really wish we could perform legal civil partnerships - that's a big gap for me in this work, but we'll keep trying!

My partner and I campaigned for Civil Partnership for over 10 years and the fight continues!  Our 5 children took part in our Affirmation ceremony in 2004 - magic!

My approach to weddings     
Whatever works best for you! I always send samples of real weddings where couples have said they would be happy to share their vows and words. We can meet to discuss and decide what you would like. I often draft the ceremony, but sometimes people like to ‘cut and paste’ bits from other ceremonies and do it all by email – and I’ll make sure the legal bit is in. From my perspective, the most important thing is that you have the ceremony that best reflects your love – whatever that means to you. I love to include guests or family in expressing their wishes for you too and if you have children, we can give them a special role.

What I love most about conducting weddings     
Helping ensure that you have the most memorable day ever. I love picturing the day, 40 years down the line, when you are sitting in front of the fire, your tartan rug over your knees, and saying to each other…”That was some day, eh?” I also love it when people phone me and before they tell me who they are, they say “Are you funny?” (You’ll need to phone me to see what my reply is!)

My advice to you    
Love and be loved – it’s all there is really! Don’t listen (too much) to the world – cherish each other.

My favourite piece of wedding poetry     
“…But let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.” (Gibran, On Marriage)

My favourite piece of wedding music     
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba especially when it is played when the couple are making their grand exit!

My most unusual location for a wedding to date     
See the photo above. We were in the roofless Nunnery in Iona – mud up to the ankles of the bride’s red satin shoes, her dress doing an impression of Marilyn Munro’s. We all just laughed the whole day (except when we were shedding a wee tear at the vows!)

I have a blog where you can see more photos and see some answers to questions a lot of people ask.

http://humanistweddingssouthandwestscotland.blogspot.com/