23 years ago, I married my lovely wife, Carolyn. During the planning process, we discovered that it was not easy to find someone to officiate our wedding. At that time, professional officiants were less common, so most couples chose a pastor, church or courthouse for their ceremony. We were a little flustered as we found it challenging to find a wedding officiant that matched our preferences. We were not even sure there was such a thing at the time. The pastors and reverends we contacted (those willing to marry us) did not present alternative choices or ask for input. Ultimately, a Baptist minister agreed to perform our ceremony at an alternate location. While the minister conducted a formal ceremony, we had limited opportunity to contribute to its content and needed to request the inclusion of personal vows. It was a beautiful moment because of the meaning of joining our lives and families, but it wasn’t what we wanted to convey to our family and friends. 

Throughout the process, we questioned why there was limited flexibility, why couldn’t we have more influence in the ceremony content and control the religious context. Our families have different religious backgrounds, and we wanted it to be a bit more neutral. I looked into the process of being ordained in Illinois and discovered that it was quite simple. Just thoughts at the time and we moved forward, building our lives.

Over the years, my background in communications, theater, and radio led to occasional conversations about officiating weddings. When Carolyn asked me to officiate a friend's unique ceremony, I took the idea seriously researching, consulting professionals, completing courses, and getting certified. Soon, I was officiating 60-80 weddings annually. Initially, Carolyn supported me, but she quickly became invaluable to wedding couples and their families, enhancing every ceremony experience. Couples' families would always tell er she was like an aunt, but one who knew a lot about weddings.  

Our backgrounds seemed destined for the wedding industry. Besides, my experience in communications / theater/ marketing and public speaking–Carolyn has an extensive background in event planning / promotions / coordination and years of experience working in the wedding industry. She knows the ins and outs of venues, timelines, catering, and handles a wedding day calmly and professionally with a smile.  

For 15 years, we've delivered professional and caring service, crafting meaningful wedding ceremonies. I've officiated nearly 1,000 weddings, with Carolyn by my side for most. Our passion remains providing the kind of service we couldn't easily find 23 years ago. Contact us today to learn more about our services & availability. 

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Contact / 309-222-4290