When you want to mark life's milestones in your own unique way - whatever your religious or spiritual beliefs, personality, gender, race or ability - I can help you celebrate your story, the way you wish.
All ceremonies are written and delivered with love and celebration as the central theme. My goal is to ensure that each ceremony is a true reflection of the people involved.
My name is Steve Jarvis. I'm a qualified independent celebrant. I trained to officiate at weddings, funerals, and naming ceremonies, with the Academy of Modern Celebrancy, a world-leading provider of celebrant training. As an independent celebrant there are no restrictions on what I can include in your ceremony.
Before training as a celebrant I was an outdoor pursuit instructor for over 20 years, so am suitably experienced to conduct adventurous ceremonies outdoors - up a mountain, in a cave, on a lake - wherever your imagination takes you!
I also have many years experience of working at festivals all over the UK, as a DJ and compere, and would love to help you with your festival-based or circus-themed ceremony. In addition, I'm able to signpost all the extras, such as venue selection, marquee hire, decor and lighting, DJ and sound system, catering etc, even horse-drawn transport.
Celebrant-led services and ceremonies offer something truly personal and deeply meaningful.
A celebrant-led wedding is a deeply personal and meaningful way to celebrate your love story. Unlike traditional ceremonies, celebrant weddings are completely tailored to you - your values, your journey, and the moments that matter most to you.
MOREA celebrant-led naming ceremony is a beautiful way to formally welcome a child into their family and community. It offers a meaningful alternative or complement to religious christenings, allowing parents to create a personalised celebration.
MOREA celebrant-led funeral offers a truly personal way to honour a life. Rather than following a fixed religious format, the ceremony is shaped around the individual, their values, beliefs, and story. A celebrant works closely with family and friends to create a meaningful service.
MORERecently, I was asked if I'd heard about 'living funerals'. It was new to me but, as an independent celebrant, I wanted to know more. It turns out a living funeral is a celebration of a person's life before death, especially for people facing a terminal illness or perhaps in old age, with time drawing near.
It's an opportunity for the person to say goodbye to loved ones on their own terms and for loved ones, in return, to share memories and express their love and appreciation while the person is there. Living funerals empower individuals to take control of their end-of-life arrangements and be actively involved in planning the event.
Whatever you're planning, if you've got a special celebration in mind and you need a celebrant to help you make it a day to remember, contact me. I'd love to help you!
No two events are ever the same, except for one thing... it's all about Love!
I was delighted to be contacted by Oscar, who I've known since he was 4 years old. He had met, and fallen in love with, a girl from Zambia. After a most romantic proposal, they were busy planning a massive wedding party in a 13th century castle down near Bristol and would I be their celebrant.
A truly international gathering assembled with guests from Zambia, south Africa, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Scotland and England taking their places in the grand ballroom that was originally built for musicians to play for 200-300 capacity dances, so the acoustics were excellent and no microphone was needed to be heard by all the guests.
The feasting and speeches passed with much merriment followed by the most enthusiastic dancefloor I think I've ever experienced.
This was my first outdoor wedding and on arriving at the showground on the outskirts of Shipley, the wind was whipping the canvas of the huge teepee and skirts and hairdos were being ruined left, right and centre. The forecast was for rain , so imagine everybody's joy when the sun came with the arrival of the antique bridal Rolls Royce.
I was very glad we'd set up a public address system, and a microphone, to help with getting my voice heard. More importantly, the crowd could hear the couple's vows being spoken. It was a very enthusiastic crowd that joined in, with hearty cheers and applause, when asked to participate. The ceremony passed perfectly and the whole 250 crowd was happy to get inside and eat, drink, laugh and cry and join in fully with the games and activities that were conducted at the dining tables.
When Jim passed away unexpectedly, the family were in deep shock and grief. Jim wasn't the type to go to church and never spoke about religion.
He was an old farmer type who loved fixing engines, driving his tractors and spending time working on the land. He had mentioned where he wanted to be buried but not much else. The family decided to keep things simple and just needed someone to lead the ceremony.
It was my first funeral as a celebrant. The family had already arranged the burial site so my role was simply to hold space on the day and read the words the family had prepared.
It was a truly special occasion, with a procession of 20 or so vintage tractors and the great and the good of the local farming community showing up in great numbers. Everyone gathered was able to say goodbye to their dad, grandad, brother and friend in the way they - and he - wanted.
When a dear friend passed away and his family arranged a private funeral, many friends were left feeling bereft as they hadn't been able to say goodbye.
So, a collective of us arranged a gathering at the Nia centre in Manchester and I was asked to officiate. It was an all day affair with bands and musicians wanting to play, many diverse people wanting to speak, we had all of Beaker's records there and a sound system and people were invited to choose, and play, a record. There was food and laughter and a free bar and tears.
One special memory for me was when I casually asked why Nigel was commonly known as Beaker. An old, old man made his way from the balcony, he was the caretaker from Nigel's school and remembered a little girl commenting, one day, how much Nigel looked like Beaker from the Muppet show. It was such an honour , a privilege and a pleasure to be a part of a very special goodbye ceremony.
"Steve held the memorial ceremony for our dear friend after he passed. He skillfully helped us celebrate a life without losing the depth of the loss. He welcomed many folks to speak that day and I would not have felt comfortable to share my words had it been someone more 'officious' holding the space... He was the ideal celebrant for us!"
"Steve was simply fantastic as a celebrant and absolutely nailed the speech intuitively. In the run-up to the wedding, Steve was very proactive in reaching out and getting to know us. We met with him just once in person before the wedding, everything felt very informal and relaxed. We sat down, had a proper chat, and told him our love story and more about ourselves. It was a comfortable, safe space, and he made that possible from the start."
"Steve did a brilliant job of combining what we asked for by incorporating both Christian and non-Christian elements into the ceremony and speeches. We had asked for a careful balance between the two, and he absolutely nailed it. He was also very timely and thorough with his emails and messages throughout the planning process, including having us complete a detailed form to help shape the ceremony."
"On the day itself, Steve was outstanding. He brought an impeccable vibe, delivered a powerful speech, and led a beautiful ceremony that was a perfect mix of sincerity, warmth, personality, and meaning. The cadence and tone were spot-on for the occasion. We couldn’t have asked for a better celebrant. It was a truly special experience, and we can’t recommend him highly enough."
"Steve was just the right person for our family. He holds the space with a calm confidence. He's so kind and compassionate that my mum and family felt at ease. After putting a plan together with Steve we didn't have to worry. We would highly recommend Steve. He was professional, calm and kind with an amazing ability to find the energy level needed to take you through the event."
In England and Wales, celebrant ceremonies are not legally binding on their own; couples must complete the legal paperwork in a separate, brief ceremony at a register office. This contrasts with Scotland, where some celebrants are authorised to conduct legal marriages.
Registrars are local authority employees who perform legal, often scripted, ceremonies in licensed venues. Independent celebrants are self-employed professionals who create highly personalised, non-legal ceremonies that can be held almost anywhere.
Ceremonies can be held at any location, including unlicensed venues like beaches, gardens, or private homes, as long as you have the landowner's permission.
You would typically have as much input as you desire. Following a chat, to find out more about the people involved, I will provide a draft script for your approval with unlimited revisions to ensure satisfaction.
Yes, you are encouraged to write your own vows. I can provide guidance and examples, or even write them for you.
Yes, absolutely, I'm happy to incorporate religious content, songs, or prayers upon request.
Yes, children and pets are welcome! I can even offer creative ideas on how to include them.
These are meaningful rituals that can be added to a ceremony to symbolize unity or commitment. I can suggest various options or you can incorporate your own ideas.
Fees vary based on the type of ceremony and location. The fee generally covers consultations, bespoke script writing, a rehearsal, delivery of the ceremony on the day, and a presentation copy of the script.
Besides weddings, I can officiate at vow renewals, baby naming ceremonies, commitment ceremonies, and funerals or memorials. I'm also open to whatever you may have in mind.
If you would prefer a ceremony that is entirely secular and focused solely on your personal story and values, I would be honoured to craft that for you. The 'rulebook' is yours to write!
Contact me if you have any questions, or you'd like to discuss an event or celebration that I can help you with. I'm based in North West England but happy to travel to wherever in the world you're holding your event! If you prefer to talk, call me on +44 (0)7967 248130.