Independent Civil Celebrant
Ceremonies with heart, spoken smartly.
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Modern, heartfelt, and fully bespoke ceremonies created for families and couples across Dorset and Cornwall.
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From Poole, Bournemouth, Salisbury and Christchurch to Newquay, Bodmin, and Truro, I work closely with the people at the heart of each ceremony to create something personal, thoughtful, and true.
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My story
Hello, I’m Richard, the celebrant behind Smartly Said, and I'm often asked what types of ceremonies can a celebrant perform in the UK?
I am an independent celebrant based in Dorset, creating and leading bespoke ceremonies across the UK.
I work with families and couples to craft funerals, celebrations of life, weddings, vow renewals, and naming ceremonies that are personal, thoughtful, and true to the people at their heart.
Celebrant-led ceremonies are not bound by scripts or templates.
Each ceremony is written from scratch, shaped through thoughtful conversation, and delivered with warmth, calm, and care.
The focus is always on story, meaning, and connection, creating a ceremony that feels honest, grounded, and genuinely reflective of those it is for.
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Celebrant-led wedding ceremonies in England and Wales are not legally binding on their own, but offer complete freedom in wording, structure, and location.
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Services
Whether you're saying farewell, tying the knot, welcoming a child, remembering a beloved pet, I'll help you find the right words and create a ceremony that feels truly your own.
Funerals and celebrations of life
Beautifully written, personal farewells that honour your loved one with respect, compassion and authenticity.
Weddings and Vow Renewals
Whether formal, relaxed, joyful or romantic, let me craft a ceremony that truly reflects your story, your value, and your love.
Naming ceremonies
Welcoming a child, celebrating a new identity, or simply marking a new chapter, naming ceremonies are a joyful way to bring the people you love together.
Pet ceremonies
Gentle, heartfelt goodbyes for your furry family members, who leave more than paw prints on your heart.
A fresh alternative to templated ceremonies.
As a member of the Fellowship of Professional Celebrants, I offer a thoughtful alternative to templated ceremonies, ensuring each service is shaped around the people at its heart, not a fixed format.​
Whether you are looking for something traditional with a twist, completely unconventional, or quietly heartfelt, I will help you find the right words and strike the right tone, whether that is for a funeral ceremony or a celebrant-led wedding.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is a celebrant and how do celebrant-led ceremonies work?
A celebrant is a trained professional who creates and leads personalised ceremonies for life’s significant moments. Celebrant-led ceremonies are written from scratch, shaped through conversation, and centred on the people involved, rather than a fixed script or template.
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This approach allows ceremonies to be flexible, inclusive, and deeply personal, whether marking a farewell, a commitment, or a new beginning.
How personal is a celebrant-led ceremony?
Every ceremony I create is written from scratch and shaped through thoughtful conversation. The tone, structure, and content are guided by the people it is for, whether that feels reflective, celebratory, traditional with a twist, or completely unconventional.
Why choose a celebrant for a personalised ceremony?
Choosing a celebrant allows the ceremony to reflect the people at its heart. Rather than following a set format, the ceremony is shaped around personal stories, values, and relationships, creating a moment that feels meaningful and true.
