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Top Note Ceremonies ‘at your service’
reviews (33) - leave a review
Available for
Countries Covered
Areas Covered
I travel Nationally & Internationally
Specialisms
Funerals & Celebration of Life including, masonic & military funerals. Couple and family ceremonies. Trumpet player, bugler and pianist. Relaxed professional service.
Affiliations
Academy of Modern Celebrancy
Hi, I'm Steve
A warm welcome, and thank you for visiting my profile.
Are you seeking a professional yet relaxed civil celebrant? Looking for something a bit different? Want a ceremony that involves your friends and family and creates lasting memories? Whether you’re getting married, bidding a sad farewell to a loved one, renewing your vows, or welcoming a new family member into your home, it would be an honor to share that journey with you and help create and deliver your story.
I am a friendly civil celebrant offering services for weddings, funerals, vow renewals, celebrations of life, adoption welcoming, pet funerals, scattering/interment of ashes, and naming ceremonies throughout Shropshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Mid/North Wales, and the West Midlands.
What's my ceremony style?
My ceremony style is warm, friendly, and relaxed, with a touch of humour. Each ceremony is personalized and crafted with care and attention to detail, ensuring it reflects your unique story and preferences. The focus is on creating a heartfelt and memorable experience for you and your guests.
I want your ceremony to feel upbeat from the start, I offer live piano or trumpet music. “Here Comes the Bride” is a popular choice for walking down the aisle, but if piano/organ music or slower romantic pieces aren’t your preference, consider your favourite pop song played on the piano or “Trumpet Voluntary,” often heard at Royal weddings.
For funerals, I can perform “The Last Post” on the bugle as a tribute to the deceased’s time in the military or emergency services. This piece is often played at military funerals to signify that the soldier has reached their final resting place.
Prices From
£60
Why choose Steve?
As a headteacher and musician, I was frequently invited to speak or perform at the weddings and funerals of friends and family. I have always enjoyed public speaking and performing. After 28 years in teaching, I decided it was time for a career change and took the plunge to become a celebrant—and I love it! I studied music at a music college and started my career as a professional musician, which led to performances at various venues, including many weddings and funerals.
What do I offer?
Weddings
No two wedding ceremonies are ever the same because they are all personalised and unique to you. It’s your day and it will be a very special, happy, joyful and light hearted day to remember for you and your guests.
Every ceremony is about you and so process will start with an initial conversation followed by a meeting to help us get to know each other and is more of a conversation about your requirements and wishes. As soon as you return the booking form and pay the deposit I will write the first draft of the ceremony in accordance with your wishes, visit the wedding venue and meet with the Wedding/Event coordinator. I offer unlimited meetings and conversations via email, phone, virtual, text or WhatsApp until you are happy with the finalised script before we get together closer to the day for a practice.
The Top Note Wedding Ceremony Package
Free initial consultation – face to face or via Zoom, Teams, Skype, or WhatsApp FaceTime
Additional follow-up meetings as required
WhatsApp communication as required
‘Getting to know you’ questionnaire
Special ritual materials
Writing the ceremony script
Support you writing your vows
Rehearsal
Officiating the ceremony
Perform live music on the keyboard or trumpet, if required
Framed Ceremony Certificate
From £600
Every ceremony is bespoke to your requirements and a total price will be given before any commitment is made.
Travel expenses (50p per mile after 30 miles) and hotel fees will be charged additionally if applicable.
Prices From
£600
Why choose Steve for your wedding?
If you are looking for something a bit different, bespoke, not the standard script, please reach out to me. It will be my pleasure to work with you to create a truly personalised, bespoke, memorable & unique occasion. Choosing me as your celebrant gives you freedom of choice to have whatever you wish – no rules, no limitations! You are not restricted to licenced venues; you can hold your ceremony wherever you wish – castle, barn, field, woodland, beach, hotel, boat, mountain top, to name a few. You may decide you would like to write your own vows, you may want your ceremony to include live music, a spiritual element, symbolic rituals, stories, poems, songs or readings. Maybe you would like to involve family and friends, children or grandchildren in the ceremony – you can! The ceremony is personalised for you. At no extra cost, you will get the opportunity to sign a commemorative certificate which will be framed.
Naming Ceremonies
If you are looking for naming ceremony that’s a bit different, bespoke, not ‘off the shelf’, please reach out. A Naming Ceremony is a non-religious alternative to a formal Christening and the perfect opportunity to celebrate and welcome a new family member in a way that truly reflects your family. But it’s more than just that….. Adoption Ceremony – Have you received the delightful news your adoption is finalised and you’d like to celebrate to officially welcome your child to your loving home and to their new life? Renaming Ceremony – Are you a member of the Transgender community and have finalised your transition? A transgender or renaming ceremony is a beautiful way to tell the most important people in your life that you wish to be known by your new chosen name and preferred pronoun. A transgender naming ceremony marks an important milestone in your life so why not shout from the rooftops.
Baby Naming, Adoption Welcoming, Transgender or Renaming Ceremonies
What you will get:
Free initial virtual consultation – face to face or via Zoom, Teams, or Face Time
Additional virtual follow-up meetings as required
WhatsApp or text communication as required
Getting to know you questionnaire
Special ritual materials
Writing the ceremony script
Rehearsal
Officiating the ceremony
Perform live music on the keyboard or trumpet, if required
Framed Ceremony Certificate
Prices From
£400
Why choose Steve for your naming ceremony?
Choosing me as your celebrant gives you freedom of choice to have whatever you wish – no rules, no limitations! You are not restricted to licenced venues; you can hold your ceremony wherever you wish – castle, barn, field, woodland, beach, hotel, boat, mountain top, at your home, to name a few.
A naming ceremony will provide happy memories for a lifetime and I can adapt my style in accordance with your wishes because I like to ensure my clients feel comfortable and supported throughout the process of planning, before, during and after the ceremony.
It will be my privilege to work with you to make this celebration very special and a day to remember forever and I will create a joyous ceremony that will be meaningful and filled with fun and laughter.
Your day, your way!
Renewal of Vows
A renewal of vows ceremony is for couples who are already married or in a civil partnership together and wish to reaffirm their commitment, to each other. A renewal of vows ceremony provides couples with an opportunity to say “I do” all over again! Maybe your got married abroad and wish to renew your vows in front of your family and friends. You might want to go for a big celebration akin to typical wedding day, or you might prefer something more low-key and intimate. Although a renewal of vows ceremony has no legal basis, it’s are a way for you to celebrate your marriage or civil partnership. You can choose to renew your vows in the presence of your family and friends, or you may decide to keep it intimate, between yourselves. The ceremony can be as imaginative and personal and unique and maybe enriched by including beautiful rituals i.e. Unity Candle, Ring Exchange, or Sand ritual, certificate signing.
Every ceremony is personalised and the process will start with an initial conversation followed by a meeting to help us get to know each other. The meeting is more of a conversation about your requirements. I will then write the first draft of the ceremony in accordance with your wishes. The process will include unlimited meetings and conversations via email, phone, virtual, text or WhatsApp until you are happy with the finalised script before we get together closer to the day for a practice, if required.
Prices From
£350
Why choose Steve for your renewal of vows?
Making it to a special anniversary is the perfect time to celebrate your love and I will bring special meaning to life’s important milestones by helping you to renew your wedding vows.
No two renewal of vows ceremony are ever the same because they are all bespoke and unique.
You did it before! Why not do it again?
Your love for each other has deepened over the years you’ve been together so you might want to renew your vows to celebrate your love for each other.
Together we can create a Renewal of Vows ceremony that is as unique & individual as you both are!
The beauty of having me as your celebrant is you can hold the ceremony wherever you want, however you want, and I can help you turn your vision into a reality! The world is your oyster!
Meaningful, Beautiful, Romantic, Bespoke
Funerals
I absolutely love my role as a civil celebrant. With my background as a retired headteacher, I bring years of experience in supporting families through difficult times. It’s truly fulfilling to know that families trust me to guide them through one of life’s toughest moments and to help create a meaningful and beautiful farewell for their loved one.
As a former musician in the Territorial Army, a director of music for The West Midlands Police Band, and an active Freemason, it’s always a privilege to be asked to officiate at military, emergency services, or Masonic funerals. I’m honoured to offer the personal touch of performing The Last Post on the bugle – a tribute often played at military funerals to signify a soldier’s final rest.
Every Celebration of Life ceremony I create is fully bespoke and can include both religious and non-religious elements, tailored to your wishes. The ceremony can incorporate any kind of music, readings, and special touches that reflect the life of your loved one.
I take the time to meet with you and your family, listen to your loved one’s life story, and get to know them through your memories. My goal is to craft a personalised ceremony that truly honours their life.
Here’s what I offer:
Initial consultation by phone
Face-to-face meeting with you and your family (also available via Zoom, Teams, or FaceTime)
Follow-up virtual meetings or phone calls as needed
Writing the personalised ceremony script
Leading and conducting the ceremony
Additionally, I can:
Perform The Last Post on the bugle, if appropriate
Provide live music on the organ or trumpet, if desired
Prices From
£240
Why choose Steve for your funeral?
I am dedicated to crafting personalised ceremonies that honour your loved one in a way that truly reflects their life and legacy. With a warm, empathetic, and personable approach, I balance professionalism with genuine care – and a touch of humour where appropriate.
As a former headteacher of a secondary school supporting children and young people with mental health challenges, autism, and medical conditions, I have a deep understanding of what you may be going through. My background and experience also enable me to offer guidance on supporting children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Reviews for Top Note Ceremonies ‘at your service’
Total Reviews: 33
Average Rating: 5
reviews (33)
Just Perfect
I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to Steve for the way he conducted my mother’s funeral on Thursday 14th November 2024 at The Telford Crematorium.
Being such a small funeral I wanted something simple and stylish but a very personal tribute to my mother. I spent quite some time selecting various pieces of music and poems which he delivered beautifully. The added commendations he added were perfect for the occasion, it was as if he knew her. Even the selection of the red rose, a token of love, on the screens with her name was a very elegant touch.
With only two of us present the service could have felt awkward and cold but it didn’t. Steve took control of the proceedings with care and dignity and I felt supported throughout. It was a warm and special service and everything I could have wished for as a fitting tribute to my mum.
An uplifting service
I just wanted to thank Steve leading my mother in laws funeral on Monday. We all thought that he pitched it just right and felt it was a fitting tribute to her long and active life.
Steve’s words at the beginning of the service along with the family eulogy truly reflected Audrey’s life and the photograph tribute brought a little tear to many eyes.
However, it was a day to celebrate a long a well lived life and listening to Status Quo at the end of the service really lifted the mood with lots of foot tapping at the end.
So thank you once again Steve.
A special service
Steve, thank you for making my Aunt Brenda’s funeral last Friday a special one! ❤️ We were thrilled with the service and especially opening poem & closing poem you wrote for the service. Thank you!
