Top Note Ceremonies blog
with Steve Pritchard-Jones
Adoption Welcoming Ceremony
Have you received the joyous news that your adoption has been finalised and are now eager to celebrate and formally welcome your child into your loving home and their new life?
An adoption welcoming ceremony is a special occasion designed to formally celebrate and honour the adoption of a child into a family. It signifies the official integration of the child into the family unit and provides a moment for everyone to come together and recognise the significance of this journey. The ceremony can be an intimate gathering with just you and your children or a larger celebration with family and friends.
You can choose to hold the ceremony at any indoor or outdoor venue that suits your preferences, whether it’s at home, a hotel, a hall, or any favourite location you have in mind. It’s your special day, and you have complete freedom to decide when and where to host this meaningful celebration.
Direct Cremation and a Private Memorial Service
Direct cremation is a process where the body is cremated shortly after death, without a formal service or ceremony at the crematorium. This option is often chosen for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, as it bypasses traditional funeral procedures. The focus is on a respectful and dignified handling of the body, with the cremation taking place privately.
Funeral Photography
Although funerals and celebration of life services unquestionably carry a weight of sadness, they can also be emotional rewarding and uplifting with many heart-warming moments. A specialist funeral photographer will capture these moments, discreetly and from a distance, ensuring the genuine emotions of the day remain unbroken. The photographs will show the love, shared memories and compassion of the mourners present who have assembled to bid a fond and heartfelt farewell to a family member, friend or colleague.
Baby Naming
The birth of a child is a time of happiness and celebration for the parents, and the majority of parents want to share that joy with their family and friends.
In modern times, many parents do not necessarily want a traditional religious
christening, either because they do not hold any religious beliefs or because they may want their child to be able to choose their own beliefs later in life.
A celebrant led baby naming ceremony offers a meaningful and beautiful alternative, giving parents the chance to welcome their child and confirm their commitments and love to their child surrounded by their family and friends.
As a celebrant I’m asked to conduct ceremonies for married couples, unmarried parents, single parents, adoptive parents, parents who are of different religions and cultures, and same sex parents.
Funeral Poems
Many families like to include one or two poems or readings at a funeral service or celebration of life because it helps to provide a beautiful and emotional addition to the service.
You may already know which poem you would like; perhaps the person had a favourite poet or author. But if you need a little inspiration, I have put together a selection of poems that may inspire you.
Scattering or Interment of Ashes
The great thing about the scattering of the ashes ceremony is that it is entirely up to you, a special occasion to remember the life of a loved one. The short ceremony to scatter their ashes, will be memorable, heartfelt, meaningful, and dignified. It is a most fitting and brilliant opportunity to give your loved one the final send-off they would have wished for.
Adoption Welcoming
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?
The adoption welcoming ceremony could be a quiet and intimate occasion for just you and the children or maybe, you want to celebrate and involve family and friends.
Your ceremony can be held at an indoor or outdoor venue of your choice and on a day of your choice. Venues can include at home, hotel, hall or at a favourite venue of your choosing. It’s your day and you have total freedom when and where to hold this special celebration.
Special Ritual Options
There are many things associated with traditional weddings that everyone knows about and include without even having to think about it. For example, wedding flowers, wedding dress and veil, top hat and tails, bridesmaid dresses, exchange of vows, kiss the bride etc. Some of these wedding traditions date back centuries but many other elements can be included in a wedding officiated by a celebrant.
Masonic Funerals & The Graveside Address
The Masonic Funeral Service and the Graveside Address are beautiful pieces of literature. It’s simple and straight forward and will touch the hearts of everyone present, Masons and non-Masons.
A Masonic funeral is an option for Freemasons at any of the three levels in a Masonic Lodge – Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason.
Direct Cremation and Saying Goodbye: You Still Have Options
In recent months, I’ve spoken with many families who chose a direct cremation for their loved one.
For some, it felt like the perfect choice — simple, affordable, and in keeping with what their loved one wanted. But for others, there was something missing. Not regret about the cremation itself, but regret that they never had the chance to gather, to say goodbye, and to mark the moment together.
And that’s the part many families don’t realise: choosing a direct cremation doesn’t mean you lose the opportunity for ceremony. You still can — and perhaps should — create that space to honour a life.
💬 Thinking about hiring a celebrant? Here’s what you need to know!
As a celebrant I get asked these questions all the time — so here’s a quick guide to the most common ones:
1️⃣ What is a celebrant?
A celebrant designs and leads personalised ceremonies for weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies, vow renewals, and more — telling your story, your way.
2️⃣ Celebrant vs Registrar – what’s the difference?
This is the current situation, but it may change in the future. Registrars’ services can also vary, so it’s always best to check with your local registrar’s office for the most up-to-date information.
Celebrant: Personalised, flexible, any venue, any style. (In England & Wales, you still need a separate legal registration.)
Registrar: Legal marriage in a licensed venue, following a set script — no religious/spiritual content allowed.
Brighten Your Mindset & Boost Well-being When Planning a Family Celebration
Let’s face it: planning a family celebration can be a joyful adventure—or a total stress-fest. Between juggling logistics, managing expectations, and trying not to lose your cool when someone suggests another WhatsApp group, it’s easy to forget this is meant to be fun.
But with the right mindset (and a few well-being boosters), you can actually enjoy the process as much as the party.
✨Am I inclusive of all couples? ✨
The short answer: Absolutely. Always.
Am I inclusive of all couples? As a celebrant, it’s not just my job—but my privilege—to stand alongside people as they mark the most meaningful moments of their lives. And that means all people.
How to Support Your Mental Health Through Grief
Grief affects every part of us — our hearts, our bodies, and most certainly, our minds. It’s not just about sadness; it’s about disorientation, exhaustion, anger, fear, even numbness. At Top Note Ceremonies, we often meet people at one of the hardest points in their lives. As celebrants, we know that while we can’t take…
Beyond the Beers: Memorable Stag & Hen Party Ideas That Hit the Right Note
Let’s face it—there’s only so many bar crawls and “L-plates” you can take before it all starts to blur into one. If you’re planning a stag or hen party and want something meaningful, active, or just plain different, you’re in good company. Whether the nearlyweds are teetotal, outdoorsy, or just up for something original, there are brilliant ways to mark the occasion without drowning in shots.
Here are some unforgettable alternatives that go far beyond the beers… and still hit all the right notes.
Choosing the Perfect Venue for Your Celebrant Led Ceremony: Freedom, Meaning, and Magic
When it comes to planning a special life event—whether it’s a wedding, vow renewal, baby naming, or even a memorial—there’s one question that always comes up first:
Where should we hold it?
The beauty of a celebrant-led ceremony is that the answer can be absolutely anywhere.
Unlike a legal wedding, which must take place in a licensed venue or registry office, a celebrant-led ceremony gives you complete freedom to choose a location that holds real meaning for you. Whether it’s a garden where you spent your childhood, a windswept beach where you got engaged, or even your own back garden—if it’s special to you, it can be your venue.
Your Guide to Officiants in the UK: Making the Right Choice
ENGLAND AND WALES When it comes to getting married in England and Wales, the law currently allows for marriages to be sanctified only by registrars in a civil ceremony or by nominated religious officials in a religious ceremony. However, many couples – and families – are increasingly choosing to hold non-legally binding ceremonies to celebrate…
The Oathing Stone Ritual
The Oathing Stone is a cherished Celtic wedding tradition that symbolises the strength and lasting nature of a couple’s vows. This heartfelt ritual adds a special and personal touch to celebrant led ceremonies, including weddings, vow renewals, and commitment ceremonies.