How I work with you

From our face-to-face and written interviews, I receive your ideas of what is important to you for the ceremony, the uniqueness of your relationship, and a sense of each of you individually. I also talk you through the traditional elements of a ceremony and determine with you what represents you and what doesn't. There are many choices of unity rituals, for example, like the unity candle, handfasting, a food or wine ceremony, a rose ceremony, a hand blessing, which can be used in the ceremony. Memorials for those who have died, family unity rituals for blended families, participation of family members in blessings or wishes may also be included. I also provide files with possible readings, vow samples, ring ceremony samples if that would be helpful. We discuss any cultural or religious traditions which you would like to see included and, when helpful, I give suggestions or research a tradition.

Always, your creativity, innovation, uniqueness is welcomed and elicited. New elements, new rituals can always spring up out of our interaction, my experience and training, and your sharing of your values and beliefs. You receive unlimited editing of your ceremony script. It is your ceremony and is finished when you say that it is.

My Philosophy and Background

I am devoting the golden years of my life to creating meaningful wedding ceremonies because I have firm confidence and delight in the creative experience of music, gesture, word and symbol to make life, individually and collectively, much more beautiful and fun. I am a hopeful romantic at heart, and I am deeply touched by the mystery and beauty of relationships.

My life took root in a traditional Polish Catholic family from whom I received a deep appreciation for the power of ritual. I knew the simple daily experiences of family structure, enjoyed ethnic celebrations, and was nurtured by the Roman Catholic liturgical cycle and its richness of gesture, symbol and song. From all of these influences, I have a deep appreciation for the power of ritual.

In my adolescence and adulthood, my attraction to ritual and rejection of dogmatism and rigidity led me beyond family and Catholicism to earth-based seasonal celebrations and interfaith experiences. In conjunction with my professional work as a teacher and counselor, I have been devoted to the ceremonial aspects of life for more than twenty years.

We are so happy with our personalized wedding ceremony! It was a wonderful celebration of our union, complete with the participation of friends and family. With your talents and rich experience, you took our interests into account and made the event fit our needs. Our guests told us our ceremony was meaningful for them as well. I appreciate the support, joy, and calming presence you brought to the process.   Thanks again for helping us create and celebrate our wedding, the memory of which we will treasure always!   Sincerely, Julia Johnson

I am a certified leader of Dances of Universal Peace, an interspiritual practice of group movement to the songs and chants of world spiritual traditions. Beside marriages, I also design and lead other couples' and family ceremonies (see other couple ceremonies).

I am also happily married to Hal Dessel, who shares the Dances of Universal Peace, seasonal celebrations, couple's therapy and interspiritual work with me, and acts as my assistant at many weddings. We belong to a mindfulness meditation sangha, enjoy our extended family, and look forward all year long to our annual trek to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

I have trained and am proudly affiliated with the Celebrant USA Foundation (www.celebrantusa.com) an alliance dedicated to servicing the human right to celebration. I am very grateful that my life journey has led me to such soulful work and enthusiastic colleagues.

I care deeply about the health of our planet and I choose goods and services for my work that are environmentally sustainable and carbon offsetting. If you are interested in green ideas for your wedding I highly recommend www.coopamerica.org/pubs/realmoney/articles/celebrations.cfm