Candice Dillen - Humanist Celebrant

Name: Candice Dillen - Humanist Celebrant
Address: Edinburgh, GB
Telephone: +447540643545

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Candice Dillen - Humanist Celebrant

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Humanist Society Scotland Celebrant in Edinburgh. Weddings / Funerals / Namings / Civil Partnerships

20/09/2026

R&H came from Canada to marry in a Scottish castle. A very beautiful pink one at that!

They gave me a very clear brief - a romantic and timeless ceremony, which was traditional yet personal and which acknowledged that their marriage would be held in the love of a wider circle.

It included a handfasting, rings delivered by Dalhousie’s beautiful owl and a lovely Celtic well wishing to take them into their married life.

I was very touched when they sent me these gorgeous photos by the fantastic Mark Quinn and these incredibly kind words:

“When we first read the final version, it took our breath away. She had created something that felt timeless, personal, meaningful, and completely true to us as a couple.

On the day itself, Candice delivered everything beautifully. Her words, her pacing, and the warmth in her delivery held everyone’s attention. There were moments when you could have heard a pin drop in the room. She carried the ceremony with such grace and sincerity that it became one of the most memorable parts of our wedding.

Her kindness, professionalism, responsiveness, and talent exceeded every expectation we had. We feel very fortunate that she was the one who married us.”

❤️

19/09/2026

When S&G married, they wanted to fuse their heritage into a completely unique ceremony.

Their Hindu wedding took place first, which was fascinating, full of meaning and incredibly beautiful. And then, I led their humanist ceremony - completely different but just as joyful.

They included a handfasting as they made their very personal vows; we reflected upon their relationship which began all the way back in high school and, to the delight of all their guests, they chose their surprise witnesses during the ceremony, each drawing a name out of a box to reveal who they would be!

It all ended with a big collective vow from all the guests to promise to make sure they had the best day of their lives. And as you can see by these beautiful photos by the fantastic Chanelle, they absolutely did!

Edinburgh Wedding Photographer

16/09/2026

This was a very special wedding.

Set in the courtyard of the exquisite Penicuik Estate on a gloriously sunny day, C & H brought loved ones all the way from America, to witness their lifelong commitment to each other.

The day was planned to absolute perfection by the lovely Amanda COORIE and their ceremony was full of joy and meaning.

C is yang to H’s yin and their harmonic balance and equal partnership has given them the ability to cope with everything life has thrown their way. She loves his compassion, generosity, loyalty and calm demeanour. He says that she is his ‘sunshine queen’ - her energy and sparkle makes every day a sunny one.

We also gave a shout out to their beloved cats - 3 indoor ones and 6 outdoor ones, no less!

The story of Penicuik Estate began in the 17th Century and it is a place where beauty and utility coexist. A unique and very beautiful setting, it was such a treat to celebrate such a wonderful occasion there, with such good people.

Congratulations C&H, may those sunny days remain with you always. ☀️

📸 Emma Lawson 🙌🏼

05/09/2026

I don’t often post about funerals but this week I conducted the funeral of a remarkable man.

An internationalist and anti-facist to the core of his being, he was profoundly committed and fearless in his activism. From the age of 16 he was driven to act against exploitation and injustice and had a deep hatred of racism.

Deeply involved in the Anti-Nazi League during the 70s & the miners’ strike of the 80s, whatever the activity was - the heady victories and devastating defeats - he was in the thick of it.

He wrote prolifically - climate change, anti-militarism, and anti-racism were just some of the subjects he covered.

As a Jewish socialist he fought anti semitism and Zionism passionately, a difficult position to take, which took great political courage. A Palestinian scarf draped his coffin at the crematorium.

He exuded wonder at nature and wildlife, passing it on to his children and grandchildren. He loved opera and classical music, the sciences and art. He was warm, good fun and the best conversationalist. He was deeply loved for his generosity, determination and acerbic wit.

And he never gave up.

At the very end of his life, whilst in hospital, he quoted a verse from Shelley’s Masque of Anarchy:

“Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few.”

At a time when we are seeing a rise in racism, populism, bigotry and corruption, it is easy to despair. But we must remember those words.

What a purposeful, admirable, courageous and compassionate life he had.

Rest in peace. Rest in power ✊🏼

06/08/2026

Officiating at a vow renewal is not new to me. Officiating at 3 vow renewals, in one giant love and happiness filled ceremony of sheer joy, is!

3 couples, all wonderful friends of many years, first brought together by music, came all the way from California to renew their vows in the stunning Abbotsford House.

P & J renewed their beautiful vows holding a heart shaped oathing stone they found earlier that day by the river, after 34 years of marriage. They included the very fitting poem Like a River (Whitney Hanson) which I’ve heard many times before but which held so much extra meaning today.

C & T also found an oathing stone and renewed their vows…for the 33rd time! They have done every year, in the most amazing places - a wrestling ring in Tijuana, a submarine off the coast of Catalina and at the legendary Music Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama!

J & P celebrated 26 years of marriage by renewing their vows for the very first time. They did so whilst hand fasted, using ribbons they had covered in graffiti and words of love.

We ended the ceremony with each sharing a drink from their own Quaich and then everyone joined in a Celtic blessing for them.

3 enduring partnerships
3 unique stories
1 shared belief

That love is something to be cherished, nurtured and importantly chosen, every single day ♥️

I cannot think of a better way to spend a Thursday evening 💕

03/07/2026

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to beautiful Macy.

She has been my companion for 21 years - the vet said that made her nearly 110 in human years!
She has been by my side through the death of my dad, meeting and marrying Ali, having our children, career changes, house moves, illness and celebrations.
She has put the fear in many of my friends over the years with her fierceness and feistiness.
And has given us all a lot of love (…in between her swiping!)

Fare thee well Macy and thank you for being the challenging wee madam you always were ♥️

15/06/2026

Some couples meet online, others at work or in a bar or nightclub. V & I met at Kung Fu school!

V had made a new year’s resolution to try something new and Kung Fu was it! At her first class she was very focused on the new moves and didn’t notice much else. He however immediately spotted the very cool, gorgeous, glamorous looking new student, who he was in no way cool or confident enough to talk to.

Thankfully they did eventually get talking, became friends and then a coffee was arranged. He turned up in his least worst jumper, covid haircut and straggly and messy beard; she turned up looking elegant and stunning. They had great fun and saw a lot of each other after that but ambivalent about starting a new relationship at that stage of her life, V called an urgent meeting with her best friends . The wise advice was to give him a chance!

She did, and their elegant wedding ceremony at beautiful Melville Castle was such a delight. Their guests warmed their wedding rings, they were handfasted as a friend shared a beautiful reading and then they drank homemade apple mead from their quaich.

It was a pleasure to share their love story, one which also proves that NY resolutions are not always a waste of time!

Photos: SCOTLAND Wedding & Elopement
Venue: Melville Castle

18/05/2026

A couple who don’t take themselves too seriously, are utterly lovely and just SO MUCH FUN!

I absolutely loved C&R, who married at one of Edinburgh’s newest venues Theirs was a relaxed ceremony of joy and laughter and I was so glad to be their celebrant. They send me these lovely photos by and some very kind words:

“We can’t thank you enough for making our ceremony so perfect. I can’t tell you how many of our guests commented on our ceremony and you, specifically. Everyone was blown away by how much you made the ceremony what it was, it was totally perfect and it was all down to you. The way you spoke, how you guided us and the bridal party through the ceremony, the ceremony that you produced for us was so unbelievably “us”, we couldn’t quite believe how you managed to do that.

Everyone that we heard from commented on how good you are, how well you spoke and just how brilliant you were. It was just perfect, Candice and we honestly from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much.”

♥️

03/05/2026

When C&D made their vows, they chose to do so with an oathing stone. Promises, not in hope of what might be, but in recognition of what already is.

Every new year, in Loch Lomond, they take a stone, write a message or a wish, and throw it into the loch.
D’s parents found their oathing stone there, a meaningful place to the whole family and a reminder of not just the love that they share, but their connection to those who came before them.

C&D have already built a life and beautiful family together: cheering each other on, finding patience when it’s hard and unity when the world feels overwhelming.

I have no doubt that the promises they made at their beautiful wedding are forever set in stone. ♥️

📸
📹 .films

31/03/2026

Z & L read this beautiful poem to each other during their ceremony. And spoke their heartfelt promises whilst handfasted with exquisite fabric.

As two talented writers, there could be nowhere more fitting to marry, than surrounded by books in the stunning new library at the Royal College of Physicians, the first of which was donated in 1682.

A gorgeous wedding for two beautiful brides, who captured their love in every gesture and word that was spoken. ♥️

An absolute joy, and in the marvellous company of at the always stunning

I take
your body where love takes place
I take
your mouth where my life takes shape
I take
your breath which makes my space
I take
you as you are for good
I take
you with open arms to have
I take
you to have
and to hold but not to hold
too hard
I take
you for farther for closer
for sooner for later
till till death tries to get us
and we laugh and we stall
and we tell it to call some other
fine day because we are busy today
taking our tea with buttered
hope and
I take
thee
I take
thee.

(I Take Thee - Imtiaz Dharker)

Address

Edinburgh

Telephone

+447540643545

Website

https://candicedillen.wixsite.com/edinburghhumanist

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