Growing up in Roxbury, Wisconsin, I often would take long hikes on a former Native American lookout we fondly referred to as Frey’s Hill. I knew that, in times past, the Sauk Indian tribe roamed this very hill and the surrounding countryside. As a child, I liked to imagine that I was among them, foraging and hunting.
It felt natural for me to build little shrines out of loose rocks and fallen branches, and to ask for Spirit’s blessings upon the land. My humble ceremonies helped me feel connected to the noble legacy of the past. They helped me to cherish the abundant landscape around me. And they helped me feel a certain peaceful optimism about my life to come.
I feel this is the value of ceremony in our lives, and the reason I founded Ceremonies By Design – to honor the past, to cherish what we have, and to anticipate our lives to come.
The First Wedding I Performed
The first wedding ceremony I conducted in 2002 was an eclectic blend. It was important to the couple that we pay tribute to some of the faith traditions of the family elders while retaining a sense of light-heartedness. I created a ceremony that honored their journey to their wedding day as well as their personal beliefs.
After welcoming those in attendance, I spoke about several unique experiences the couple had shared and how those experiences got them to their wedding day. After their vows, I led the couple in performing “The Ceremony of the Roses” to commemorate their shared understanding of their commitment to each other and to honor their parents. They used a Unity Candle for their Unity Ceremony. The readings they selected reflected their beliefs and we closed by having everyone say The Lord’s Prayer together. The ceremony ended as I introduced the newly married couple and they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. I created a synergistic ceremony that reflected the couple’s values and life style.
That first ceremony was actually my own daughter’s wedding and I was honored and blessed to be able to conduct the ceremony for her and her husband. After conducting that ceremony, I was hooked! I knew that providing customized wedding ceremonies was my calling. I wanted to be able to provide each and every couple the opportunity to express their love and celebrate their relationship journey in a way that is unique and meaningful for them.
In the more than 600 weddings I’ve performed, there have never been two that are exactly the same. My strong feelings about the importance of ceremony in our lives is reflected in my delivery of a ceremony that represents the two of you – your relationship story, your values and your wishes. In that way, your wedding ceremony ultimately represents the start of your marriage journey and your lives as husband and wife.
A Brief Biography
I’ve always been an avid student of a wide variety of spiritual disciplines and received my ordination through the Universal Life Church in 1998. I believe there is a difference between spirituality and religion and that each of us is free to pursue our own personal spiritual beliefs, whatever they might be. If you want your ceremony to be completely secular, we can certainly do that. It is important to me that your ceremony is exactly how you want it and that it is a reflection of your relationship and your beliefs.
It may also interest you to know that I am a Reiki Master Teacher and have a practice in complementary and alternative medicine. I offer a holistic approach to wellness through the synergy of combining Reiki and Craniosacral Therapy. I also provide Raindrop Technique sessions, ear candling and Angel Card readings. I have combined the best-of-the-best in therapeutic healing practices and offer these services for wellness of the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
My ministerial work is a great joy and passion in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve so many wonderful couples and I look forward to partnering with you to design your soulful wedding ceremony.
Awards and Recognition
Feel free to read reviews on The Wedding Wire and on The Knot.