Your Wedding Officiant’s Function

Who is a wedding officiant?  First off, I don’t bite. I know you can never really tell  As a seminary ordained minister, I view my function this way:  I’m the one who will stand with you as the spiritual values you have take form through your legal commitment. I;m more than a religious figure, in fact, if you are looking for a religious figure, you probably won’t want me officiating you. Because what I bring to the occasion of your wedding is my experience leading ceremonies, and the spiritual understanding and faith, more than any religious presence. I’m in love… Read More »


Tip #7 — Your Winter Wedding Up North?

Awesome Winter Wedding from 2019 — Maire and Tyler Lajko won the Winter Wedding Giveaway! $32K worth of services. Here’s a few pics of their wedding: Northwestern Michigan is the one of the most beautiful places on the planet. It’s no wonder people love to come here to get married. Beach weddings in the Grand Traverse, Emmet, Leelanau and the surrounding areas are spectacular. But so are weddings with blue spruce and cedar heavy with snow. They too, are a beautiful backdrop for a northern winter wedding. There’s a coziness and closeness that comes with a winter wedding. Consider Having… Read More »


Tip #6 — Writing Wedding Vows to Reflect Your Commitment

What you will remember most about your Northern Michigan wedding ceremony, even more than the wedding dress, the weather, or anything in the wedding address is the vows you and your partner exchange. Whether traditional or contemporary, the vows you pick contain the words that express how you will give your heart and mind and soul to each other in the lifetime ahead of you. So you must choose your vows wisely. If you are considering writing wedding vows, remember they set the tone for the quality of your commitment. Over the last few years, I have noticed many couples… Read More »


Tip #5 — Stress Relief When There’s Too Much To Do

You and your fiancé have been planning your wedding day for a long time. When the reality of all that had to be done hit you, most likely you divided up the jobs between you and your most trusted friends and family members. Each of you took on making sure certain details would be taken care of. Maybe you are good at handling stress, and maybe you aren’t. It is what it is. But it can take the joy out of the moment. Having too much to do doesn’t HAVE to stress you out. Part of the stress may be… Read More »


Tip #4 — What Price You Pay

Many of the couples whose Northern Michigan wedding ceremony I have conducted consider themselves more spiritual than religious, and a majority of them are dog lovers, just as I am. As such, they generally do not have deeply conditioned beliefs about a minister’s role, Even so, I am sometimes confronted with a more old fashioned notion which believes that because the minister trusts in God for his or her support, the minister should do their work for a very low fee, if any at all. So here are some things to consider as you prepare to hire the officiant who… Read More »


Outdoor Wedding Needs Plan B

No one wants to think their outdoor wedding needs Plan B. In fact, I am asked to pray more for the weather than for the couple! You understandably have high hopes and have often payed a high price in order to have your wedding outside. But Mother Nature has a lot to manage, and sometimes it may seem she forgot your wedding was important. So having a Plan B can save a lot of grief and also give you a more complete peace of mind as your wedding day approaches. I’ve been part of of weddings where a Plan B would have come… Read More »


Tip #2: Beach Wedding Considerations

A Michigan Beach Wedding Where I live in Northwest Michigan, people love to get married on the beach. And I love to accommodate them, because I love to be outside, and even more, I love to be out on a Traverse City or Sleeping Bear Dunes beach when I am outside. So count me in for your beach wedding. When you are planning your wedding on the beach, especially if it is at a public beach that you enjoy but does not belong to a formal venue like the The Homestead, The Parkshore Resort, or the Grand Traverse Resort, keep… Read More »


Tip # 1 — Wedding Rehearsal or No?

Melissa and Haven had a limited budget to dedicate to hiring an officiant for their Traverse City wedding ceremony. They chose not to have a wedding rehearsal even though they had quite a few attendants and additions to their ceremony. Her parents were spending $3,000 on the golf course venue, and another $15,000 on the 100 person reception and decorations. Traditionally the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. However, Haven’s parents were lucky. Because there was no rehearsal, there was no rehearsal dinner to pay for!


Website Design and Development by Pro Web Marketing
© images provided by Dan Stewart of danstewartphotography.com