I'm Lewis Docherty.
Celebrant, storyteller, listener.
I'm a Scottish celebrant based in Angus, working with people and families across Scotland.
I've spent much of my working life in roles where listening matters. I've worked with people through some incredibly difficult moments, as well as some very ordinary ones, and I've learned that everyone has a story worth hearing.
That's probably why celebrancy feels like such a natural fit.
I get to meet people at some of the most significant moments of their lives and help them put those moments into words.
And I don't take that lightly.
I'm a husband, a dad of two, and a just a simple Scottish guy who loves wearing a good suit.
Family is a huge part of my life. Being a husband has taught me plenty about partnership, compromise and the importance of actually listening to the person standing in front of you. Being a dad has taught me that time moves far too quickly.
It has given me a real appreciation for those moments when we stop and mark what's happening.
The arrival of a child. A wedding. A milestone. Saying goodbye to someone who has shaped your life.
These moments can pass remarkably quickly. A ceremony gives us a chance to pause.
Who am I?
Before becoming a celebrant, much of my working life was spent working with people.
I've worked across mental health, healthcare, adult social care, emergency response and frontline support, including roles where people were often meeting you at some of the most difficult points in their lives.
I've supported people in crisis. I've worked alongside families and professionals. I've spent a lot of time listening to people when they weren't necessarily sure what they needed to say.
And I've learned something from all of it:
People don't always need you to have the perfect words. Sometimes they just need you to listen properly.
That's something I bring with me into celebrancy.
A funeral family doesn't need a performance from their celebrant. A couple doesn't need somebody to take over their wedding. A family welcoming a new child doesn't need someone telling them what their ceremony should look like.
They need someone who will listen, understand and help them make sense of what they want to say.
That's the kind of celebrant I aim to be.
People, stories and the things that matter
I've always been fascinated by people.
What makes us who we are. The relationships we build. The stories we tell about ourselves. The tiny details that somehow become the stories a family remembers for decades.
And perhaps that's why I love the process of creating a ceremony.
Because somewhere between the big milestones and the little details, there's usually a story.
Sometimes it's hilarious.
Sometimes it's heartbreaking.
Usually it's a bit of both.
Those are the stories worth telling.
And yes, I'm still me...
I'm not going to pretend I suddenly became a perfectly polished, deeply serious celebrant the moment I started training. I'm still Lewis.
I'm still a husband and dad, I have strong opinions about music, I love a good deep philosophical discussions and sometimes I ask far too many questions.
I'm just fortunate that I've found a job where asking questions, telling stories, listening to people and wearing good suits can all be considered part of the job.
And, yes, I do own more waistcoats than any sensible person needs. I'm working on it. (I'm not!)
I don't think ceremonies should come off a shelf.
There are plenty of established ways of doing things and sometimes those traditions are exactly what people want. But a ceremony doesn't have to follow a particular formula simply because that's how it's always been done.
I'll listen to your story, understand what matters to you and help you decide what belongs in the ceremony. That might be religious, spiritual, secular, traditional or unconventional. It can even be a mixture of all of them.
The important thing is that it feels right for you.
I like real stories.
I come from a family that has lots of stories. Funny ones, embarrassing ones or stories that are shared at gatherings again and again.
These are the stories that matter, that nobody thinks are important until someone asks about them. Those are often the things that make a person, a relationship or a family what it is.
Those are the things I want to hear.
What you can expect from me
You'll get me. Not a sales team or a ceremony pulled from a template.
You'll have a person serving you and your family who listens, asks questions, writes carefully and takes responsibility for getting the details right.
I'll be professional when professionalism matters, relaxed when it helps, and occasionally inappropriate enough to make everyone laugh when the moment calls for it.
Because ceremonies are important. But they should still feel human.
What’s Next?
Wherever you are, we can start there.
You might be planning a wedding months or years ahead. You might be welcoming a new arrival. Or you might have found yourself having to arrange a farewell for someone you love, with very little time to think about what comes next.
You don't need to know exactly what you want, and you don't need to have all the answers.
Get in touch, tell me what's happening, and we'll take it one step at a time.
Call 01241 676012 | Email lewis@celtictree.co.uk | Or use the button below to complete a contact form
All enquiries will be answered within 24 Hours