Celebration Ceremonies at Knockinaam Lodge
There are occasions in everyone’s life that require more than just a celebration, they need to be marked by a ceremony; something with meaning that marks the importance of an event. That could be a ceremony with traditional religious meaning or something different.
Knockinaam Lodge has hosted many significant milestones in people’s lives, including weddings and vow-renewal for couples to reaffirm their commitment to one another. Looking for alternative venues to hold a wedding ceremony is something many couples seek for these days and the stunning backdrop of this historic Victorian former hunting lodge with its private cove delivers an amazing place to say ‘I do’. It’s not just destination weddings though, these days more and more couples are looking for alternative ways to celebrate and commentate the naming of a new-born.
A wedding ceremony your way
Lindsey Mason-Ross, Celebrant with the Humanist Society Scotland is based not far from Knockinaam Lodge and she is passionate about making your celebration special. She has a soft spot for Knockinaam with its romantic backdrop: “Conducting weddings at Knockinaam is extra special. Its secluded location and private beach make it ideal for smaller, intimate weddings. With its lovely beachside location, Knockinaam lends itself very well to outdoor ceremonies too.”
Lindsey’s relaxed, informal style is popular with couples who are looking for a wedding with a difference, and she takes great care to make sure each ceremony is exactly what the couple want. She explains: “It is important that couples choose the celebrant that’s right for them, so I try to arrange a face to face meeting, which gives us time to talk through what they would like for their wedding day and just as important, what they definitely don’t like! Sometimes distance can be a challenge, so I rely on video calling which works very well when a face to face meeting isn’t possible initially.”
As Lindsey says, no two weddings are the same and she works with the couple to craft a wedding ceremony that’s unique to them, including symbolic gestures like handfasting, which Lindsey explains: “The couple literally ‘tie the knot’ while their hands are lightly bound with fabric of their choosing – or a bandwarming where their wedding rings are passed round friends and family before the vows part of the ceremony, and everyone holds them for a few seconds and ‘warms’ them with their love and good wishes for their future together.”
It’s important to have the couple’s personalities running through their ceremony so Lindsey ensures that every wedding ceremony is written from scratch, to give the couple a day to remember.
Baby naming ceremonies at Knockinaam Lodge
Weddings aren’t the only life event that can be celebrated in a Humanist Ceremony. Lindsey also conduct Naming or Welcoming Days for additions to the family – either a newborn or an older or adopted child, or anyone celebrating a name change for whatever reason. Lindsey describes these special events: “These are special, fun occasions where the parents can appoint ‘guideparents’ to make commitments to the child to promise to support them as they grow up. Naming Days can include symbolic gestures too – sandblending is popular – each family member pours a coloured sand into a pretty jar or bottle to represent the joining together of family members.”
Couples looking for a special place to mark the birth of a new child or welcome someone into the family can do so exclusively with friends and family to share the happiness of the event at Knockninaam Lodge. Like a wedding, the occasion of a naming ceremony can be religious or non-religious. It is about personal choice and Knockinaam welcomes your ceremony choice for weddings, vow renewals and naming ceremonies.
Email us if you would like to find out more about celebrations at Knockinaam and why not follow Lindsey on her Facebook or Instagram pages to learn more about her style of ceremony.
