Western Highlands Archives - Fuze Ceremonies

Margaret Soraya

May 11, 2026by Laura Widdop

Margaret Soraya, Celebrant

Margaret is available for Vow Renewals and Funeral Ceremonies

Margaret is based on the Isle of Harris and covers the Isle of Lewis & Harris. She would also consider conducting ceremonies in Glencoe, Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye and Western Highlands, but only on prior agreement.

Margaret began her journey as a wedding photographer almost 22 years ago, when her youngest son was born. Since then, she has photographed nearly 900 weddings across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, capturing love stories in some of the most beautiful and remote places in Scotland. Three years ago, she made her home on the Isle of Harris after many years of travelling across the Scottish islands to photograph intimate elopements and beach weddings. Although she fell in love with many places along the way, Harris always felt especially close to her heart.

Warm, calm, and deeply empathetic, Margaret has a natural gift for putting people at ease and understanding what matters most to them. She believes a wedding day should be a true reflection of the couple; their love, their values, and the things that bring them joy. Her love of the outdoors and meaningful moments, has made her especially drawn to intimate ceremonies by the sea.

As well as being a photographer, Margaret is also a writer and she has always loved listening to people’s stories and finding beautiful ways to express them. Becoming a celebrant felt like a very natural step and a way to bring together her creativity, compassion, and love of human connection. When she is not involved in weddings, she spends her time painting, writing poetry, and creating work that brings a sense of calm and comfort to others. She believes deeply in mindfulness, in the healing power of nature, and in the joy that creativity can bring. Margaret lives in Geocrab on the east side of Harris, where she runs her own gallery, and she is often happiest walking on the beach or on her croft, with her whippet by her side.

You can contact Margaret on margaretsoraya@fuzeceremonies.co.uk

Brian Baxter

July 6, 2014by Fuze Admin

Brian Baxter, Celebrant

“Let me take your ceremony to the next level!”

Brian is available to conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Brian (AKA The Highland Celebrant) has served as a Wedding Toastmaster/MC for well over 1000 wedding ceremonies across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. He is a highly skilled public speaker and has a gift for Robert Burns recitals. He has an impressive Master of Ceremonies CV.

He takes great joy and pride in witnessing the freedom a Humanist Ceremony gives his clients, making the occasion even more memorable for the newlyweds, family and guests. He is passionate about creating and delivering dignified and meaningful funeral ceremonies too. In 2021, Brian became a Humanist Celebrant with the Fuze Foundation and Fuze Ceremonies. Delivering his first ever legal wedding ceremony in September 2020.

When not delivering weddings, vow renewals, or baby naming and funeral services, Brian and his wife Val like to take exotic Cruise Ship holidays.

Brian's main working life was in the military, with a staggering 42+ years service to the country. At age 40, he took some time out from the military, ran a pub for a spell and worked in the Chamber of Commerce, Dundee, as a manager delivering learning & development to clients in a variety of age groups. He also spent three years working for Local Government, as Team Leader of an Anti-Social Behaviour Team. He returned to full-time military service in 2010 and fully retired from the army in July 2023.

These past experiences and life skills have helped him develop his consulting, listening, and toned communication skills, ensuring that he always listens to his clients & guides them in aspiring to create a unique, special, unforgettable, dignified ceremony touched with fun, witty banter and true personality.

For the years 2027 and 2028, Brian will travel from his home in Scone to conduct your ceremony anywhere in Scotland, and he means anywhere! For the year 2029 and beyond, Brian will reduce his "area of operations" to conduct ceremonies a wee bit closer to his home in Scone. He is not totally ruling out all of Scotland but only if agreed upon via a consultation before you commit to booking. Please be aware, however, that this may involve additional fuel, accommodation and/ or travel costs. Just ask.

You can contact Brian on brianbaxter@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Brian on Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok

Chris Alexander

May 5, 2014by Fuze Admin

Chris Alexander, Celebrant

Chris is available to blether for and conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

As an actor Chris has found himself travelling the world. A passion for folk and their stories and the connections, long or short that immeasurably inspire us all our days.

It’s crucial to Chris that your ceremony is your story. In joy or grief.

As a person it was a saunter on El Camino Santiago that ignited a want to aid people. “We share stories all the time. A simple hello could have a million possibilities.” As an outdoor lover, a pal to nature and Munro bagger, Chris is happy to do any ceremony, wherever you want. Mountains, beauty spots of Scotland(What a country) to jumping in the sea(After we’ve checked for sharks). Or the local hall! Nothing is off limits. Mother Nature is a wonderful sculptor.

It was a natural flow to combine the skills as an actor and place it in humanist ceremonies. I love working with people. Travelling is a passion. “It seemed to me, to continue meeting new folk, hearing stories and sharing those stories to the people they love the most, becoming a celebrant is a new bubble of joy. It’s an honour to give the journey of a life to people that love the person or people.”

A humanist ceremony is the perfect way to include anything you want. Let's have a blether.

Chris is based in Ayrshire and conducts ceremonies throughout Scotland.

Buen Camino!

You can contact Chris on chrisalexander@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Chris on Instagram

Jackie Jeffrey

May 5, 2014by Fuze Admin

Jackie Jeffrey, Celebrant

Jackie lives with her partner in the beautiful Perthshire countryside.

Known by family and friends as the Queen of organising, she really does love a list!

Having worked closely with people all her life, across different career paths, Jackie has always had a genuine interest in people and loves hearing all about their lives and experiences. She is a great people person, warm, funny, sincere, and has a natural talent to write and tell a story. Becoming a Celebrant was the next natural step for her, giving her the opportunity to continue learning people's stories, meet amazing people and share their life events.

It is important to Jackie that you have a ceremony as unique as you and one that reflects your hopes and dreams for the future or honours the life you have lived.

Jackie is a very optimistic person and it will be an honour and a privilege for her to conduct your ceremony with professionalism and integrity and she won't eat all the wedding cake!

Jackie is based in Perthshire and conducts ceremonies in Aberdeenshire & Moray, Ayrshire, Edinburgh & Lothian, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, Glencoe, Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye, North & South Lanarkshire, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Stirlingshire and Western Highlands.

You can contact Jackie on jackiejeffrey@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Jackie on Facebook and Instagram

Kay Falconer

April 8, 2014by Fuze Admin

Kay Falconer, Celebrant

Over the last 40 years, Kay has worked as a veterinary surgeon in a variety of places in Scotland, the north of England and in Northern Ireland. It may seem a strange progression from this to being a celebrant but in truth the roles do share certain properties. The job of a vet is not solely spent working with the animals themselves but is about working with the owners/carers of the animals, talking to them, and listening to their stories. Not dissimilar in fact to the job of a celebrant, finding out about the clients, piecing their stories together and leading to a uniquely personal service for them.

Kay has travelled throughout her life as a hopeful romantic and when she moved to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides she felt that she had come home. Having settled in this stunning part of the world it feels that there can be no better place to be involved in providing unique & meaningful ceremonies. The scenery is stunning with lochs and mountains, golden beaches and azure seas, though a little on the cold side.

Kay feels very strongly that ceremonies belong you and should be very much your choice, your ideas, and with some guidance from the celebrant, make the day an occasion that is uniquely and unforgettably yours.

Kay believes the name given to you as a baby is an important one, bestowed by your parents and by which you will be known for the rest of your life. This is not something to be done lightly and so it is right and fitting that a day be given to honour this among friends and family, to celebrate the uniqueness of the child and welcome them into the family.

At a time when we are devastated by the loss of a loved one it is equally important to focus on those aspects of their life that gave us pleasure and made them the person they were and this needs to be presented in a positive way, that is to be celebrated. Kay has had personal experience of this having performed the eulogies at the funerals of her own parents albeit two people she knew very well. It was when she attended the funeral of a much loved uncle, conducted at the graveside by a celebrant, and from whom she learned a great deal more than she had already known about him, that she realized the benefits of such a personal service.

Her celebration of his life that day made Kay feel that she wanted to be able to perform that service for other people, to present the loved one to them as an individual, each one of us special in our own way, and perhaps even to make them smile.You can contact Kay on kayfalconer@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Kay on Facebook

Paula Wilkinson

April 8, 2014by Fuze Admin

Paula Wilkinson, Celebrant

"No matter what your journey as a couple, it is a one of a kind love story".

Paula lives in the beautiful Highland village of Arisaig on the northwest coast near the Isle of Skye and qualified in 2018 as a Marriage Officer with Fuze Ceremonies.

Paula graduated with first class honours in English Literature and Journalism and she loves the creative element of writing and delivering wedding scripts. She firmly believes that no matter what your journey as a couple, it is a one of a kind love story and she is eager to tell the tale.

Paula is based in Arisaig and covers Arisaig, Salen, Fort William & Glencoe. She'd be delighted to chat about your ceremony, so just get in touch.

You can contact Paula on paulawilkinson@fuzeceremonies.co.uk

Julie-Anne Kinnear

April 8, 2014by Fuze Admin

Julie-Anne Kinnear

Julie-Anne is available to conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals & Funeral Ceremonies.

Whether a love-story or life-story, Julie-Anne will listen to you and work with you to create your unique ceremony. As a Humanist Celebrant she will guide and support you when exploring specifics such as personalised vows, how you want your love-story or the life-story of a loved one to be shared, the music, poetry or readings you want to include, how you want to involve others (people or pets!) in the ceremony, inclusion of symbolic gestures and any other quirks or details to make your ceremony personal and meaningful.

Reflecting the values of Humanism, Julie-Anne embraces life wholeheartedly, believing this helps us to mark and celebrate the important stages from birth to death with vim, vigour and vitality. Whilst her ceremonies are appropriately dignified and respectful of the nature of the circumstances, they are never dull or dark – they have energy, light, emotion and where appropriate incorporate laughter and joy.

Julie-Anne moved from Belfast to Scotland aged 20. She has met lots of diverse and interesting people on her journey, all of whom have enriched her life one way or another. This quote from Dolly Parton sums up her outlook on life - “Dream more, learn more, care more and be more”.

Julie-Anne is based in Angus and covers Aberdeenshire & Moray, Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Edinburgh & Lothian, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, Glencoe, Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye, North & South Lanarkshire, Outer Hebrides, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Scottish Borders, Stirlingshire and Western Highlands.

You can contact Julie-Anne on julie-annekinnear@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Julie-Anne on Facebook and Instagram

Alan Deeney

April 8, 2014by Fuze Admin

Alan Deeney

Alan is available to conduct Wedding, Civil Partnership, Vow Renewal, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Alan has been a community mental health nurse for 15 years and first discovered his interest in humanist ceremonies while working as a pro-am photographer. After witnessing the joy and individuality of small weddings and baby namings, he became passionate about helping couples and families create days that truly reflect who they are. This inspiration led him to complete the SQA Celebrant & Public Speaking Diploma.

Always drawn to people’s unique styles, Alan has a particular appreciation for fashion, especially when Dr. Martens are involved. His love for DMs is well known, and he proudly owns a pair for every occasion.

With extensive experience in end-of-life care, Alan is known for his compassion, warmth, and ability to bring gentle cheerfulness where appropriate. He believes every ceremony, whether joyful or heartfelt, should be shaped around the wishes and personalities of those it honours.

Outside his celebrant work, Alan embraces creativity in the community. Every December, he runs wreath-making workshops, encouraging people to craft their own decorations and reminding them that we can make our own Christmas—unique, personal, and full of heart.

Alan has been married to his wife, Lorna, for 14 years, and is a proud stepfather to a grown-up stepson and stepdaughter who supported him throughout his celebrant journey. Family time is incredibly important to him, especially moments spent with the light of his life, his 8-year-old grandson. His furry, feisty companion, Herbie the Cavapoo, is also never far from his side.

He spends much of his downtime at his second home, his beloved caravan in central Scotland, which acts as both his weekend retreat and his base when travelling across the country to conduct marriages.

Alan is based in Inverclyde and covers Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Edinburgh & Lothian, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, Glencoe, Isle of Skye, North & South Lanarkshire, Outer Hebrides, Perthshire, Fife & Angus, Scottish Borders, Stirlingshire and Western HighlandsYou can contact Alan on alandeeney@fuzeceremonies.co.uk and you can see more of Alan on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube

Hazel Dale

April 8, 2014by Fuze Admin

Hazel Dale

Hazel is available to conduct Weddings, Civil Partnerships, Vow Renewals, Baby Naming & Funeral Ceremonies.

Hazel first became aware of humanist ceremonies when she attended the funeral of a close friend. She was immediately struck with how personalised and uplifting the service was, and she decided to learn more about humanism. She quickly realised that Humanism had always been at the very heart of her core values and felt that along with her own individual skill set, she was particularly suited to become a Humanist Celebrant herself.

Hazel has a long-term background in Policing and since retirement has continued to build upon her people-focused skills by becoming a holistic therapist. This background brings with it an ability to listen empathetically, great communication skills, diplomacy, attention to detail, and quick thinking!

She is very much person-focused and feels that this is a particularly rewarding way to bring comfort and indeed happiness to people. Hazel is committed to providing unique, creative, bespoke ceremonies to suit the individual needs of each person who seeks her assistance.

Hazel has a bustling family life and a fantastic circle of friends so her leisure time is orientated very much around her three children and socialising.

Hazel is based in Erskine and covers Argyll & Bute, Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire, Glasgow City & East /West Dunbartonshire, Glencoe, Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye, Stirlingshire and Western Highlands.

You can contact Hazel on hazeldale@fuzeceremonies.co.uk or you can see more of Hazel on Facebook and Instagram