SICA member David Devenney

David Devenney‘s biography

Hello there! I’m David. You could say I’ve had a bit of a career hopping journey over the years. I spent many years in the Royal Marines and Royal Navy, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. After that, I worked in the charities sector. I’m also a licensed minister of the Church of Scotland, with over 13 years of experience creating unique ceremonies for couples both at home and abroad.

But life took me down a different path, and I left established religion behind. I then trained to become an independent celebrant.

I live in Central Scotland with my wife and two dogs. You can find me most weekends on a long-distance walk or up a hillside. They say that mountains are holy places, and I believe that being on mountain trails ‘altitude’ positively affects ‘attitude’. Being in nature also gives you a chance to find some much-needed solitude.

I try to balance my work as the Director of a military veterans drop-in centre with my celebrancy. I’m a great public speaker, and I even presented a BBC television documentary. I’m an optimist by nature, and I believe that the best is yet to come.

Jess & Scott…

David recently conducted my wedding and I cannot recommend him highly enough. So many of our family and friends commented on how wonderful the ceremony was. He spent time during the planning stages understanding us and what we were looking for, he was supportive, flexible and offered invaluable guidance. The result was a ceremony that we were both really proud of and felt entirely like ‘us’. We were able to include our own vows and traditional Scottish customs.On the day he was calm, collected and steered us through the initial nerves of being stood in front of lots of people. He spoke beautifully, and delivered an inspired address. The memories of the day will stay with us forever.

Johanna and Christian…

Thank you so much for the beautiful ceremony – it was everything we wished for and more! Every single guest commented on how lovely it was and how well it reflected us as individuals but also as a couple.

We wish you all the best and perhaps our paths will cross again at some point in the future.

Best wishes,

Johanna & Christian, (Dusseldorf) (reaffirmation of wedding vows)

July 2024

Harry & Chloe…

We just wanted to say a massive thank you for everything you did for us both. We recently got our video back and have really enjoyed reliving the day! The ceremony was exactly what we had hoped, and we are so grateful that you persuaded us to personalise our vows.

James & Amanda…

Dear David,

James and I wanted to send the biggest thank you for carrying out our ceremony. You pieced together our story and all elements of the ceremony so beautifully and we enjoyed every minute of it. We’re so glad you encouraged us to write our own promises as well! So many of our guests complimented you and we definitely agree with the comments we heard – a few of the best:

“That was the best ceremony I’ve ever been to”

“I wish our ceremony had been more like that”

“Such a beautiful and personal ceremony”

We’ve really enjoyed getting to know you as well and appreciate that such a wonderful person was a huge part of our day!

Christine…

David did a wonderful job as a celebrant at my husband’s funeral. He met with the family beforehand to gather information and details about his life and was very courteous and respectful throughout. We also spoke on the phone, and he spoke to former colleagues to gather information which meant the service was very personal and truly reflected the man my husband was and the life he’d lived which meant everything to myself and the family. I was able to email him with things I later remembered and wanted included in the service and nothing was too much trouble. The service was a celebration of my husband’s life with a wee bit of humour included, which was exactly what my he would have liked. Several people remarked afterwards on the service David carried out and how it truly reflected my husband, what more could we have wanted. David is a very professional celebrant; he listened to my wishes, treated us with kindness and respect and articulated perfectly , everything I wished to say about my husband, in a dignified and respectful manner. 

Sue…

David conducted my fathers funeral…he was the thread that held us all together at a time when we were falling apart.