Steven Howe-Bull from Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds, on his newly-launched business as an independent celebrant

A former Bury St Edmunds registrar has launched his own business as an independent celebrant to give couples the special day they have dreamed of.

Steven Howe-Bull, 59, got his job with Bury St Edmunds Registration Office in 2020 the day before the first coronavirus lockdown came in, but went independent in October last year to offer couples a more tailor-made and personal service.

Catching up with the backlog caused by the pandemic saw Steven conduct, sometimes, 30 to 40 weddings a month, which he said was 'exhausting'.

Explaining why he launched Steven Howe-Bull Ceremonies, he said: “I really enjoyed the two-and-a-half years that I did that [registrar/ceremony officer], but based upon the feedback that I was getting from those weddings made me wonder whether I could become an independent celebrant and offer more than I could have done as a registration officer.

"You are limited as a registration officer; you can't do anything religious, you can't do symbolic actions, you can't do heritage stories or family stories - things that couples seem to want to make their day a bit special."

Steven, who did 220 ceremonies last year with the registration service, added: "I would like to earn a bit more and work a bit less!"

As an independent celebrant, Steven is able to offer longer ceremonies and people can get married in places like a beach or wood or venues that are not licensed for weddings.

He explained that couples still need to do the legal part - the declaration and the contractual words - with a registrar, but they could save the rest, 'all the nice things you would expect from a wedding', for the big day with Steven as the celebrant.

Steven, who is qualified, is also able to offer naming ceremonies and vow renewals. "It is going well", he added.

Previously based in Milton Keynes, where he managed adult learning programmes at Milton Keynes College, Steven moved to Suffolk after finding love again following the death of his husband Keith Phillip, whom he lost to cancer after they were together for 30 years.

Steven met his current partner Eamonn, who works in Boots in Bury St Edmunds town centre, online and decided to settle in the area.

The couple were married at the Athenaeum in 2019 and the following year Steven, who lives in Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds, began marrying people at the same venue.

"From what was a really sad and difficult period became a new life and new career," said Steven.

For Steven's website see www.stevenhowebull-ceremonies.com and see here for his Instagram page.

Steven described his work, particularly being an independent celebrant, 'as the best job I have ever had without a shadow of a doubt'.

"I like meeting couples and finding out their back story, their love story, but most of all I do like to dress up, I do wear snazzy stuff and a bit of jewellery, and I do love delivering that ceremony and watching their faces," he said.

Steven, who now gets to go abroad for work (he's just returned from a couple meeting in Canada), has 'fabulous' testimonials on his website. He's also on www.hitched.co.uk, which he said adds credibility to what he does.