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Top Note Ceremonies ‘at your service’
reviews (17) - 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 looking for a professional yet relaxed civil celebrant? Do you want something a little different? Do you want a ceremony that your friends and family will be involved in and will remember for ever? Whether you are getting married, saying a sad farewell to a loved one, renewing your vows or welcoming a new family member into your loving home, it will be an honour to share that journey with you and work with you to create and deliver your story. I am a civil celebrant for weddings, funerals, celebration of life, adoption welcoming, pet funerals, scattering/interment of ashes and naming ceremonies throughout Shropshire, Cheshire, Mid/North Wales and the West Midlands.
What's my ceremony style?
If you would like your ceremony to feel upbeat right from the start, I provide live music on the trumpet or organ/piano. The most popular for walking down the aisle is “Here Comes the Bride” but, if the organ or the slower romantic pieces don’t take your fancy, what about Trumpet Voluntary, often heard at Royal weddings.
At funerals, I can perform The Last Post on the bugle as a nod to the deceased time in the military or emergency services. It is often sounded at military funerals to indicate that the soldier has gone to his final rest.
Prices From
£60
Why choose Steve?
As a headteacher and musician, I’d often been asked to speak or perform at weddings and funerals of friends and family. Public speaking and performing are something I thoroughly enjoy doing. After 28 years as a teacher, I decided it was time for a change of career and to take the plunge and become a celebrant. And I love it!
I studied music at music college, and I began my working life as a professional musician this led to me performing at many different 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 £550
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
£550
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 job as a civil celebrant. As a retired headteacher, I have vast experience working and supporting families. It gives me immense satisfaction to know that families trust me to help and support them through one of the most challenging periods in their lives and allow me to create a meaningful and beautiful farewell for their loved one.
As a former musician in the Territorial Army, former musical director of a police band and an active Freemason, its always a privilege when asked to officiate a military, emergency services or a Masonic funeral.
I would be honoured to perform The Last Post on the bugle as a nod to the deceased time in the military or emergency services. It is often sounded at military funerals to indicate that the soldier has gone to his final rest.
Each Celebration of Life Ceremony is bespoke ad can include religious or non- religious elements. A celebration of Life Ceremony can include music of any kind & readings.
I spend time with you your family to listen to you talk about your loved ones life story. I aim to get know your loved one through your eyes and I will then write a bespoke ceremony that is focussed on your loved one.
What you will get from me:
Initial consultation on the telephone
Face to face meeting with you and your family. This can also be done via Zoom, Teams, or Face Time
Additional virtual follow-up meetings/telephone calls as required
WhatsApp/text communication as required
Writing the personalised ceremony script
Conducting the ceremony
Perform the Last Post on bugle, if appropriate
Perform live music on the organ or trumpet, if required
Prices From
£215
Why choose Steve for your funeral?
I am committed to creating personalised ceremonies that help you celebrate the life of your loved one the way they deserve to be remembered. I am personable, professional and thoughtful; I have a warm and empathic nature, which includes a sense of humour.
As a former headteacher at a secondary school for children and young people with mental health issues, autism, or medical conditions, and because of my relevant experience, I understand what you are experiencing or feeling.
I have the necessary knowledge and experience to advise how to support children affected by the loss of a loved one.
Reviews for Top Note Ceremonies ‘at your service’
Total Reviews: 17
Average Rating: 5
reviews (17)
Professional and friendly – superb!
Helen and I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible job Steve did as our celebrant for our recent renewal of vows ceremony. Steve’s professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail truly made the occasion unforgettable for us and our guests.
From our initial meeting to discuss our vision for the ceremony, Steve was attentive and supportive, offering valuable suggestions to ensure that every aspect of the event reflected our love and commitment to each other. His flexibility and willingness to accommodate our requests, no matter how small, made the planning process seamless and stress-free.
During the ceremony itself, his presence was calming and reassuring, setting the perfect tone for the occasion. The delivery of the vows and readings was eloquent and heartfelt, capturing the essence of our relationship and the journey we’ve shared together.
Many of our guests commented on how beautifully Steve conducted the ceremony, striking the right balance between sincerity and celebration. His ability to engage the audience and create a sense of intimacy in a larger gathering was truly remarkable.
Overall, we could not have asked for a better celebrant to officiate our renewal of vows ceremony and certainly recommend Steve. He exceeded our expectations in every way, and we are grateful for the role he played in making our special day truly magical.
Remarkable and very special
Helen and I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for the incredible job Steve did as our celebrant for our recent renewal of vows ceremony. Steve’s professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail truly made the occasion unforgettable for us and our guests.
From our initial meeting to discuss our vision for the ceremony, Steve was attentive and supportive, offering valuable suggestions to ensure that every aspect of the event reflected our love and commitment to each other. His flexibility and willingness to accommodate our requests, no matter how small, made the planning process seamless and stress-free.
During the ceremony itself, his presence was calming and reassuring, setting the perfect tone for the occasion. The delivery of the vows and readings was eloquent and heartfelt, capturing the essence of our relationship and the journey we’ve shared together.
Many of our guests commented on how beautifully Steve conducted the ceremony, striking the right balance between sincerity and celebration. His ability to engage the audience and create a sense of intimacy in a larger gathering was truly remarkable.
Overall, we could not have asked for a better celebrant to officiate our renewal of vows ceremony and certainly recommend Steve. He exceeded our expectations in every way, and we are grateful for the role he played in making our special day truly magical.
An outstanding service
Thank you immensely for providing such an outstanding service today. Everyone has expressed how extraordinary it was and how you truly brought xxxx to life. You truly made us all proud! Thank you!
