Celebrate your Relationships

Ways We Can Work Together

Weddings, Vow Renewals, Commitment Ceremonies

Typically when I work with a couple, there are many things they may not have considered. After all, many have not planned a wedding, vow renewal or commitment ceremony before, but I have. To that end, there are multiple details we discuss when we get together. After we have, we both have more clarity about what type of ceremony they wish to have, how they want to celebrate their day and what my involvement in it will look like.

My help with a typical wedding may include:

Meetings and all communications with a couple to identify what a couple's vision for their ceremony may be;
A custom-written ceremony about the two of you, your love story, what you believe and what you want your ceremony to say to your guests;
Leading a dress rehearsal either the night before or morning of the ceremony;
Offering a prayer (say grace) at the rehearsal dinner;
Performing the ceremony in person at the agreed-upon location;
Completion of the marriage certificate and filing it with the appropriate governmental agency afterward;
Participation in any photos or videos the couple has requested;
Follow-up with the couple regarding obtaining certified copies of their marriage certificate; and
Downloadable information on how to go about changing one's name and notifying others who request notification of status changes following the ceremony.
Couples for whom I have personally performed the ceremony also receive an elegant decorative marriage certificate suitable for framing (with original signatures of your witnesses and officiant) after your ceremony.

There are other considerations that may affect the investment such as:

Offering a prayer (say grace) at the reception;
Travel to/from your location;
Any overnight stays needed;
The inclusion of holy communion for the couple and/or attendees; and
Personally filing the marriage certificate to expedite the ability to obtain certified copies.

Vow renewals, affirmation of vows and commitment ceremonies are sometimes thought to be simpler than a regular wedding. The size of your guest list or bridal party, for instance, may be substantially smaller yet the elements of your ceremony may be almost identical to a regular wedding. Let’s chat about your desire to create any of these special celebrations and what they can look like.

Let’s chat about your special day and whether I might be a good fit for
you!

"Rev. Ronnie was such a special part of our day. From the beginning, we relied on her for guidance. When planning got stressful in other areas, she was always so helpful and reassuring. It was so nice knowing she was there for us. She is incredibly reliable, organized, and caring. Our ceremony was absolutely beautiful, and it was perfectly tailored to our relationship and our wishes. Our friends and family were so impressed by her organization and leadership during our rehearsal and throughout our wedding day. Rev. Ronnie is the absolute best! :) <3" - Melissa D, bride

Officiant Coaching

Do you have a friend or family member you’d like to have perform your ceremony but they’ve never done it before? Are they a bit nervous about saying yes because they don’t know what they’ll say or what to do? Maybe you’re a bit nervous about that too?

I have the answer! I can custom-write your ceremony, and coach your person so that your ceremony can be as meaningful and look as professional as you’ve always dreamed.

What might this look like?

I work with you to create and write a personalized ceremony that reflects you, your love story, your beliefs and what you want your ceremony to say about the two of you and to your guests;
Provide your chosen person with information regarding how to perform specific traditions included in your ceremony such as unity candles, sand ceremonies, hand fasting, lasso traditions, etc.;
Teach your chosen person how to lead your wedding rehearsal;
Provide insider information to your person on how to make your ceremony look professional;
A review of your marriage certificate to assure proper completion before it's filed;
Provide guidance to your person on how to file the paperwork properly once reviewed;
Follow-up with the bride and groom on how to obtain certified copies of your marriage certificate afterward; and
How to go about any name changes and updating marital status with the myriad of agencies, companies and others who require notice once a couple is married.

Interested in talking more about your vision for your special day and whether this may be answer to your prayers/concerns?

"Thank you so much for being such a wonderful officiant for our wedding! You were truly a great blessing for us and our family to have! I greatly appreciated when you took us aside to get us back in the right mindset for the big day. Thanks so much for doing such a great job! Much love and thanks." - April & Amarjit, bride and groom

F.A.Q.

Do you require us to live separately before you’ll marry us?

No.

Do you require us to go through some sort of premarital education classes before you’ll marry us?

No. With that said, statistics prove that couples who do complete premarital education have a 30% increase in overall marital satisfaction rates and a decline in divorce rates after 5 years. We invest heavily both with money and years in our education for our jobs that may change several times over the years, but hope that the deepest, most important relationship we have will last a lifetime without any investment of money or time. What if you could invest a few weeks to assure a lifetime of happiness? Would you? Let’s chat about premarital education!

What is premarital education?

Premarital education is an opportunity for a couple to understand the commitment they’re about to make; identify their strengths both individually and as a couple, and learn how to use them for their mutual benefit. It’s an opportunity to learn and practice new skills to communicate, prevent and resolve conflict, and so much more. It’s taught from a scientific vantage point, not a religious one. For more information, please see the page dedicated to Premarital Education.

How much do you charge?

I’m sometimes sent an email or text message that simply reads “We’re looking for an officiant. How much do you charge?” I wish I could just type in a number and that be it! But until we get to know each other and I have a better sense of what my involvement in your special day will be, I can’t answer this. The best way to answer this question specifically for you is for us to chat and talk about your vision for your special day and how I may fit into those plans. By the end of that conversation, I will be able to answer this question more accurately.

When do I pay for the services you’re going to provide?

I require a 50% deposit and a signed Agreement in order to reserve myself to perform your ceremony. The balance will be due no later than one month before your ceremony is to take place. If you are asking me to create a custom-written ceremony and coach a family member or friend in how to perform it, I ask that compensation be paid in full before I begin writing the ceremony. This usually takes place about 6-8 weeks before the ceremony so there’s enough time to work with your person to perform it.

Can someone else pay for your services on our behalf?

Most certainly! If you have a parent or someone who is happy to cover my expenses, great! If payment is made by someone other than the couple I’m marrying, it is understood by all that my relationship and responsibility is with/to that couple, and not to the party making payment. The party making payment cannot make changes to anything agreed to by the couple without the couple’s direct approval either verbally or in writing to me.

Is it customary to tip ministers/officiants?

Much like others who provide a service to you such as hair/makeup artists, photographers, wait staff, etc., gratuities are greatly appreciated if you have been happy with the service that’s been provided.

Do you travel?

Yes! I absolutely LOVE to travel! There are some additional considerations when I do.

Overnight accommodations. If I travel more than 2 hours from my home, I do ask that overnight accommodations are made for me. These can be at a hotel, AirBnB, Bed and Breakfast or with a family member. If choosing a hotel, I do require that it be a 3.5-4.0 start hotel or better, on the level of a Hampton Inn, Country Inn and Suites, or AmericInn to assure my safety. I also prefer to stay within 10 miles of your venue if at all possible. In the alternative, I can make my own travel plans and invoice you accordingly. These fees would need to be reimbursed before I travel.

Long distance travel. I am happy to fly wherever your ceremony is going to be located! Any expenses such as airline tickets, taxis, meals, rental cars, etc. are additional expenses to be covered by you. I am happy to work with you to minimize these expenses as much as possible, or to create an all-inclusive travel price for you to help you budget accordingly.

Do you obtain our marriage license for us?

No. You are responsible for applying for and providing to me a valid marriage license before I can legally and/or spiritually marry you. If you have questions on how to obtain this, I am happy to help guide you.

What if we need to reschedule our wedding date?

I’m happy to work with you! In the event you need to reschedule your wedding date due to circumstances beyond your control such as an Act of God or governmental restrictions due to public health concerns, contact me in writing as soon as possible, giving as much notice as you can. We agree to work together to find a new date, time and location that works for both you and me. A new Agreement will be signed at that time, listing the new date(s), time(s) and location(s). The deposit will be applied toward the new date(s), time(s) and location(s). Additional fees may be incurred if the new location requires additional travel expenditures or there has been an increase in services desired. In the event a new mutually agreeable date and time cannot be found, I will attempt to fill the date/time being vacated by you with another similar ceremony. If I can, your deposit will be refunded. If I cannot, the non-refundable deposit will be kept. You are encouraged to help find another couple to fill the vacated time slot so that your can get your deposit back.

What if we need to cancel our event?

If you choose to cancel for any reason, the deposit paid is non-refundable, unless I am able to book a similar event on the same date/time. In the event I am unable to perform your ceremony on your given date and time, and the parties are unable to reschedule, I will attempt to assist you in finding another wedding officiant. Any fees paid by the parties to me regarding the performance of your ceremony will be refunded.

What if you get sick or can’t show up?

I do what I can to keep myself healthy! With that said, we’re all human and sometimes we do get sick, our cars break down, etc. I will do everything I can to find a replacement! As the co-President of the Chippewa Valley Wedding and Event Professionals and a graduate of a seminary, I have a significant number of formally ordained ministers I can reach out to in times such as this. Plus I often email your ceremony to myself so that if something should happen on the way to your ceremony, I can email it to another officiant to perform with a minute’s notice.

What happens after you marry us?

Our relationship does not need to end! Hearts Unlimited LLC is an organization dedicated to not only helping couples get married, but helping them to stay happily married for many years to come. We do this by offering relationship check-ups, couples getaway experiences, group retreats, relationship education, mediation, and fun events. In addition, you are always welcome to request that I baptize your children, help you renew your vows, and work with your family or friends on their hearts’ journeys too.

Happy Clients

"Ronnie, you are so sweet! Thank you again — we were truly blessed to have you as the officiant! You did an amazing job! You are a very special person!"

- Mary Jean P., mother of the bride

"Dear Rev. Ronnie, Thank you so much for making our wedding so wonderful. You captured us perfectly and made the ceremony so meaningful to us. We really appreciate all of your time and effort, and the certificate. With gratitude, Dan & Charissa"

"Thank you so much for officiating our wedding. I knew the message would be thought-provoking & poignant. So nice that you tuned into "us" when we met. Thanks again for the best wedding of our lives."

- Vici & Bill G., bride and groom

"You are very good at what you do. You were calm and relaxed which helped me anyway feel less stressed. It was a wonderful ceremony. Thank you so much for everything." - Ronette L., mother of the bride

"Rev. Ronnie you did an amazing job officiating! Your smile, gentleness, and deliverance of a beautiful message were heaven sent!! If your ever in San Antonio, look me up!!" - Bonnie M., aunt of the bride

"Ronnie customized our wedding ceremony to fit both of our faiths and our relationship. She was very easy to contact and work with. All of our wedding guests were raving about her and how beautiful and unique our ceremony was. I would highly recommend her for your ceremony!" - Shannon Z., bride