What is your approach to being a Wedding Officiant and Celebrant?

I believe that ceremonies should be fully personalized to celebrate each couple’s unique love story and journey together. Whether your vision is of a traditional or alternative wedding, I will work closely with you to custom design a beautiful ceremony that is meaningful to you and to those you invite to share in this momentous occasion.

I will advise, coach and support you every step of the way as we create your ceremony together. You will have the final say on every word and action performed, so that your love and commitment are fully reflected at your wedding ceremony.

I joyfully and enthusiastically work with couples of all cultures, orientations, and beliefs. Short and simple, serious or fun, with family customs, rituals, music and readings — the possibilities are endless! Your ceremony will be original, inclusive and full of love!

I’ve never heard of a Celebrant. What makes a Celebrant different?

A Celebrant is a trained specialist in ceremonies who serves everyone. As a professional Certified Life Cycle Celebrant, I design, write and officiate ceremonies that are inclusive of all cultures, beliefs and perspectives. My job is to craft a meaningful and memorable ceremony for you without any prescriptions for what “should” be included.

For more information about Celebrants, visit the Celebrant Foundation and Institute. CFI is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to helping families personalize celebrations that mark life’s milestones. Since CFI’s founding more than thirty years ago, its graduates have performed over one million weddings worldwide.

What are your fees and what’s included?

My fees are based upon the nature and complexity of the ceremony. Some couples want a simple elopement; others have big events that require more time, preparation, direction and management. After discussing your vision, I will provide a quote for my services.

My fee includes the time it takes to create, write and craft your custom ceremony, including revisions, emails and phone calls, rehearsal and travel time to/from your venue. I will collaborate with your wedding planner/venue coordinator, photographer and musicians/DJ to ensure a well-choreographed ceremony. I will arrive early on your wedding day to ensure adequate time for you to sign your marriage certificate and for me to coordinate with the other professionals involved in your ceremony. Finally, my fee includes filing your signed legal marriage documents with the appropriate authorities so you will receive your marriage certificate promptly. As a bonus, a beautiful keepsake copy of your ceremony is included.

How do we find out if you are the right Officiant for us?

When you contact me by phone or email, I’ll respond to you ASAP. I’ll need your date, time, and location. I will then ask you a few questions about the two of you, and what kind of ceremony you are envisioning.

If you are in NYC, I suggest we meet for a face-to-face complimentary meeting after our initial contact. I will meet you for about 30-45 minutes at a mutually convenient location so we can get to know each other and you can decide if I am the right Wedding Officiant for you.

If you are outside of NYC and coming here for your destination wedding or are looking for an Officiant who travels, let’s communicate by email, phone, or Skype to talk more in detail about your NYC wedding plans.

Call me at 347-247-3009, email me at or fill out the contact form, and we can arrange a complimentary in-person meeting.

Once we agree to work together, what happens next?

If you choose to hire me, I’ll request a 50% deposit in order to book your wedding date and time. The remaining 50% is due by the time of the rehearsal. I will ask you to sign a written agreement to make sure that we are clear about the terms of our relationship. We will also finalize the date and time for the rehearsal.

Then we will begin to design your ceremony. To start, I will send you a questionnaire so that I can learn more about more about you to enable me to craft a personalized ceremony.

Approximately three months before the wedding, I will send you a ceremony draft with ideas for you to consider and over the next few weeks we will revise the ceremony until it is exactly what you want. I will provide unlimited email and phone support leading up to your wedding day.

How far in advance of our ceremony should we contact you?

As soon as you have a date planned, you should contact me to see if I am available. I like to allow plenty of time to design a personalized and unique ceremony. Most couples contact me six months or more in advance, but many reach out to me even if it is less time.

Can we write our own vows?

Definitely! Your ceremony is all about the two of you and your journey together. You have the opportunity to reflect on and express your love and devotion to each other now and for the future. If you’d like help writing your vows, please let me know. If you prefer not to write your own vows, I can supply you with plenty of options and ideas.

Can children, friends and family take part in our ceremony?

Yes. Including close family members or friends in your wedding ceremony is a wonderful way to make the ceremony a richer experience for everyone. Children make it especially sweet. I can give you ideas for how to include others in your ceremony without taking the focus away from you!

How long should a wedding ceremony be?

The length of your ceremony depends on what you decide to include. In general, my custom ceremonies last 15-25 minutes. This includes the entrance/processional, ceremony and recessional. More important than the length of the ceremony is that it is crafted in a way that keeps you and your guests comfortable and truly present.

What happens at a wedding rehearsal?

I strongly encourage all couples to have a rehearsal, if possible. This does not mean that you have to have a big rehearsal dinner or party, though some people do. Some people have an informal meal or no gathering at all. The rehearsal itself should take no more than 45 minutes.

The rehearsal gives everyone an opportunity to get comfortable with the logistics of the ceremony. It gives your readers an opportunity to practice with the hand held microphone. It gives you two a chance to feel out how you want to recite your vows.

Your rehearsal is a wonderful time to begin building the sense of community and support that will carry over to the actual ceremony when we all gather together to witness you taking this significant step in your lives.

It is also the moment that I ask you to let go of the details and trust your community to follow through on what needs to be done. Everyone leaves the rehearsal feeling a lot more comfortable, confident and relaxed and thus able to be more fully present on the day of your ceremony.

Do you travel outside of NYC?

Yes! If you are having a destination wedding outside of NYC I am happy to travel. If you live elsewhere and your destination wedding is in NYC, let’s communicate by email, phone, or Skype to talk more in detail about your NYC wedding plans.

On the wedding day, what time will you arrive and leave?

I will arrive on the day of the wedding approximately one hour before the ceremony to make sure that everything is ready. I will coordinate with your photographer, musicians or DJ and the venue staff, to make sure that we are all on the same page. I provide music and photographer cue sheets and describe what will take place in order to help the photographer plan what shots to take. I typically do not attend the wedding reception.

Do you perform same-sex ceremonies?

Absolutely! I am truly honored to celebrate the triumphant love stories of ALL couples who want to declare their commitment to spend their lives together as a married couple. I am happy to welcome gay couples from around the country and the world that choose to marry in New York.

Now that Marriage Equality is legal in New York, are weddings here recognized in states that do not offer same-sex marriage?

Right now same-sex marriage laws vary state by state. Your marriage in New York may or may not come with associated rights and privileges in your home state. I am steadfast in my hope that your New York State Certificate of Marriage, and Marriage Equality, will be recognized soon in your home state, every one of the United States, and around the world.

How do we get our Marriage License?

You must both apply for a license at the town or city clerk’s office in the state in which you intend to be wed. I will go over the details at our initial interview so that you are clear about your responsibilities. It is important to get these requirements handled in advance of your wedding day to insure that your marriage is legal.

Here are some helpful links for New York State and NYC:
New York State Marriage License
The City of New York Marriage Bureau

What if I want to change my name?

In many states, including New York, you must choose what name you will use before you apply for the marriage license and record that name on the license. At the wedding, you must use that same name to sign the license.

After the wedding day, you will use your marriage certificate to change your name for Social Security, driver’s license, bank accounts and credit cards.

What is the best way to contact you?

I appreciate your consideration. For further information, to check my availability or inquire about fees, please send me an email, call me, or fill out the contact form with additional information about your ceremony!


347-247-3009