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Smurthwaite, Alan

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Location: Muir of Ord
Region: North of Scotland
Covering areas: The Highlands and Islands and Moray
Phone: 01463 870 537
Mobile: 07775 758 968
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Me

My background and experience
We first worked together when we were asked to run a training course for our employers in Inverness. We found that our double act worked well and when we had both qualified to conduct weddings decided to continue this double act in the ceremonies rather than compete for business. The rising demand for ceremonies is great and the only down side is we don’t get too much opportunity to do ceremonies together now. Delivering ceremonies is an extension of training giving us the chance to further develop our writing and delivery skills while helping people to have the type of ceremony they wish.

What humanism means to me
Alan
In the most basic terms helping people when they need help and being considerate and tolerant with people and their beliefs.
Sylvia
I didn’t know I was a humanist till someone told me what it was and I thought..That’s it that’s what I am! I try to live a good life because it’s the right thing to do not because I’ll be punished for not doing so. I want to live in a world where everyone’s views are respected and my colour, race or gender is not a barrier. People died defending the freedoms I enjoy I want to preserve them for future generations.

Funerals

Namings

Same Sex Affirmations

Weddings

How I feel about being a wedding Celebrant
Sylvia
I love it! It’s great to be involved in such a special and important day.
Alan
Much the same as Sylvia really and I enjoy the balance between fun and dignity in the ceremony.

My approach to weddings
It’s your day. We want to make it the best day possible so we will support and encourage you to make your ceremony as individual and personal as you want it to be.

What I love most about conducting weddings
Alan
The opportunity to include different elements like hand-fasting, the Quaich, exchange of gifts and the symbolism of candles.
Sylvia
Alan’s stolen all the things I wanted to say!! But also I enjoy the experience of sharing something so special.

My advice to you
Trust your celebrant! We do this because we know how good it can be and we want you to look back and say – it was great.

My favourite piece of wedding poetry
Alan
My favourite words are in fact prose and I find our words relating to the Quaich very moving and I can get quite emotional when saying them.

Sylvia
I love this poem by Josef Dirnbeck, it’s a translation from the original in German and both versions were read at the wedding of a German couple

Our Yes

Our Yes is a yes.
Our yes is not an all right.
Our yes is not a perhaps,
Not a maybe,
Not an experiment.
Our yes is not a “well, ok”.
Our yes
Is a yes to us,
As we are
And as we can become

My favourite piece of wedding music
Alan
Mairi’s wedding with Mairi being amended to the brides name
Sylvia
I love Pachabel’s Cannon – it gives me shivers..in a good way.

My most unusual location for a wedding to date
Alan
Part one was held in the Ardeche region in the South of France and part two in a back garden in Elgin.
Sylvia
The coast at Rieff, opposite the Summer Isles. The couple married in their wet suits and after we finished they jumped into the sea! It was spectacular.


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