I have been a Wedding Celebrant and Officiant since 2015. I write and perform weddings in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. I love my job, which is to marry couples to each other and, more importantly, to celebrate why they are getting married. I am a creative writer who makes the most of my 15 to 25-minute ceremonies, making guests laugh, cry, and even, occasionally, think. Wedding ceremonies should be celebrations. Maybe I can help you with your wedding ceremony!
As an ordained non-denominational minister, I work with couples from across the spectrum, including religious, spiritual, and non-religious. Most of my couples identify as non-religious and are seeking a meaningful ceremony full of love. I received my Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Universal Brotherhood Movement, allowing me to legally wed couples in North Carolina and 48 other states.
It means I am a highly trained ceremony professional, extensively schooled by the Celebrant Foundation & Institute in the art of ceremony. The Celebrant Institute's gold standard, college-level coursework, means that all Celebrants begin their careers as master co-creators and performers of ceremonies that reflect their couples' needs, beliefs, and personalities. It also means your ceremony can be just as fun, creative, and joyful as you are – and that there are "no rules" or things we have to do – we truly get to make it all about you and your love!
Yes absolutely! You deserve to work with someone who fully accepts and celebrates who you are. I work with each of my couples to use language that feels right to them and reflects their beliefs. My modern, fresh, fun ceremonies embrace gender equality and fluidity.
After you book me for a Romantic Elopement or Microwedding, I will send you a mini-questionnaire to personalize your ceremony. Your ceremony will include sweet words of love and marriage, vows, ring exchange, and pronouncement. The process is straightforward; the main thing is that you show up with your marriage license.
We start with a video call or an in-person meeting to get to know each other. There is usually lots of laughter – it is so important that we feel comfortable together! Once you have signed your contract and paid your booking fee, I have homework for you – questionnaires that you fill out separately, telling me your love story, what you love about each other, and what this commitment means to you. I then take your answers and our conversation and create a personalized ceremony that includes your love story and fun rituals. You get to read it over and make unlimited edits, and I keep working on it until it feels perfect!
I recommend and gently insist on a rehearsal if you have a Custom Ceremony – that’s why it’s included in my fee! If your venue is not available for a rehearsal, don’t fret! We need a space to imagine a “front area” and practice walking down a mock aisle and standing in a line. I’ve rehearsed in city parks, living rooms, condo party rooms, and restaurants. We want to do everything possible to ensure everyone is as relaxed as possible on your wedding day. A rehearsal – anywhere – goes a long way towards that.
Yes, always! This is YOUR wedding, so you can do whatever you want! You can repeat a few lines after me, write and read your own vows, or just say your "I do's".
As a rule, I do not like to travel more than 50 miles from my home in Holly Springs.
This has never happened, but fortunately, I have a deep bench of several ordained and experienced colleagues who I know would knock your ceremony out of the park as well as I would. I will have already completely written your ceremony, and I would call on one of my colleagues to seamlessly step in and read and perform what you and I have created together.
Don’t sweat the small stuff – your attitude is the #1 determining factor of the experience you will have. I have seen couples get completely thrown off track by things going “wrong,” – and I have seen couples laugh and shrug off the same things. It is pretty much guaranteed that your wedding day will not go exactly to plan, and being able to let go of the small stuff and focus on what truly matters – this amazing human you get to explore life with – is all you can do. I like to think that your wedding day is an excellent example of what your marriage will be like. You can’t control the weather, other people, or so many little details, but you know that if you are with your person by your side; you can make it through anything. And that’s what matters.
You must apply for a marriage license from the Register of Deeds office in any county in North Carolina 60 days or less before your wedding date to get your marriage license. It costs $60, and both of you need to go, bringing your ID (driver's license, birth certificate, passport, etc.) and your social security cards (or W2 forms). The license is valid for 60 days. After your wedding, I will mail both copies back to the Register of Deeds office where you obtained the license, and it will be recorded. You can then request certified copies to show proof you are married. Some counties provide you with a copy of their required form to order copies. You can also download the necessary information and the form from the county where you obtain your license. You can find all North Carolina Register of Deeds offices here.
You need two witnesses, and your photographer can be one of them. Witnesses need to be at least 18 years of age. If you are not able to provide witnesses for your Simple or Romantic Elopement ceremony, I can provide them for an additional fee.
After you decide to hire me, I will prepare a contract and invoice. I will send them to you in an email with a link to an online payment portal. You can pay by credit card, Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. Your date is reserved once you have signed your contract and paid your invoice.
Have more questions? Reach out to me anytime. I'm always available to answer any questions.
Serving Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Wake Forest, Louisburg, Clayton, Smithfield, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Apex, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Pittsboro, Sanford, Wilson, Wake County, Durham County, Orange County, Johnston County, Lee County, Hartnett County, Chatham County, North Carolina and beyond.
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