Dorset Celebrant, Steve Richards

Hello, I am Steve Richards, an independent funeral celebrant based in Corfe Mullen. I am honoured to conduct funeral services and other ceremonies in and around Broadstone, Poole, Wimborne, Bournemouth, and the surrounding villages of West Dorset, such as Dorchester and Weymouth, among many others. As a celebrant, my role is to celebrate something - be it a life, a wedding, or the birth of a child.

In 1973, the Australian government recognised a decline in church attendances and decided to give people a choice in how and where to hold their ceremonies. This marked the beginning of celebrants, initially for marriages, but later expanded to include 'Celebration of Life' services and 'Baby Naming Ceremonies'. Here in the UK, I am a professionally trained and accredited member of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants. I offer individually tailored services that can be either religious, wholly non-religious, or a blend of both, in line with your personal beliefs or spirituality. I work closely with you to create a personal and unique ceremony that will be remembered for a long time.

My Story as a Funeral Celebrant

I have been a funeral celebrant since 2015, with three years of experience as an in-house celebrant and funeral arranger for Tapper Funeral Service based at Harbour View Woodland Burial Ground and Crematorium, Poole, Dorset. My journey to becoming a celebrant began in 2014 when my friend Chris passed away unexpectedly at the age of 44. As neither he nor his father was religious, we decided to have a non-traditional funeral service. I volunteered to do a reading and accompanied Chris's father to meet the Funeral Director to discuss arrangements. The Funeral Director suggested using a celebrant to officiate the service, a concept unfamiliar to us. He explained that a celebrant could create and deliver a personalised and inspiring funeral service that reflected the personality, lifestyle, and beliefs of the deceased.

The Funeral Director learned that I was a confident public speaker, an award-winning speechwriter with Toastmasters International, and had previous experience in the funeral business. Impressed, he asked whether I would consider conducting the entire funeral service, to which Chris's father agreed. I felt apprehensive but decided to go ahead. The day of the funeral was emotional, but the positive feedback I received afterwards was overwhelming. Since then, I have trained with the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants and am now a fully qualified and accredited Funeral Celebrant. I am grateful for this opportunity to impact people's lives positively.

Funerals: A Life Well Lived

After officiating a 'Celebration of Life' funeral service, I often hear two things. Firstly, people ask whether I knew the deceased, emphasising the personal touch I bring to my services. Secondly, they comment on how the service brought comfort and closure, acknowledging the deceased's life in a positive way that helped them mourn and celebrate their loved one's life. I believe that a life well lived is a life worth celebrating, and I am committed to creating a personal and meaningful ceremony that reflects the unique character and spirit of each individual.