Capital Ceremonies

d and easy to work with.

eautiful ceremony based on our requests. As a multicultural, same sex couple we wanted just the right energy to deliver our ceremony and searched for quite some time. We knew AC was the one for us immediately! While we thought our requests may have been a challenge to weave into a cohesive ceremony, she somehow managed to do it effortlessly and delivered our ceremony with light and grace. Our family and friends were truly moved by her delivery and warm energy. We highly recommend her. Look no further.

sed by her vast knowledge of different types of rituals and readings and also her keen interest in our families and our love story. We weren't sure exactly what type of ceremony we wanted to have, so having many options and ideas laid out was helpful for us. We exchanged around 5 drafts or so of the ceremony. A.C. revised each draft as necessary based on our input and also discussed with us her suggestions. She also always responded promptly to emails. Our ceremony was perfect and everything went according to plan. We have received many compliments on how beautiful and personalized it was. We can't recommend A.C. highly enough!

reme circumstances leading up to our big day made it hard for us to focus on writing vows and choosing ceremony passages. In our first meeting, A.C. said many of her couples and guests tell her that her ceremonies are the best they’ve ever witnessed and she did not oversell. Several of our guests commented to us that our ceremony was one of the most unique, personal and best ceremonies they’ve ever attended. A.C. can be forceful about things that matter like wrangling groups in the rehearsal and pushing us to write our own vows despite my fear that I wouldn’t be able to get the words out. I’m very thankful for that advice as that can be hard to come by wedding planning. Our ceremony was so special and the words and stories A.C. helped us share really made it that way.

ficiate our wedding which took place on Nov. 5, 2017. She took charge and ensured that everyone knew where to go and what to do during the ceremony, but also listened to our hopes and dreams and applied what she learned to our ceremony. She was quick to respond to emails and was incredibly timely to everything. She understood what we really wanted to occur during our ceremony and worked to incorporate all of our plans.

up with a personal, meaningful, and customized ceremony that was not only beautiful and engaging, but also organized and professional. A.C.'s wide knowledge of various traditions as well as her knowledge and acceptance of non-traditional ceremony elements made it easy and comfortable to assemble a ceremony that fit my wife and I perfectly. When I read A.C.'s first draft of our ceremony, it was so beautiful I was literally moved to tears of happiness. A.C. not only helped keep my wife and I on track, she also kept our attendants in line at the rehearsal so that everyone knew what to do on the big day. A.C.'s patience and experience was very calming! When it came time for the big event, everything was scripted out to run smoothly, easily, professionally, and relatively stress-free! -Ahh! Wonderful! Even surprise technical difficulties (from a different vendor) were handled in stride with grace and professionalism so as to minimize the disruption. -I was so impressed! If you want a beautiful and memorable wedding ceremony that is personal, easy, and stress-free and if you dislike impersonal and awkward ceremonies, then talk to A.C. Warden at Capital Ceremonies! My wife and I could not be any happier with our experience from start to finish!

fic traditions we wanted incorporated into the wedding. Our only request was that we wanted something specific to us and AC absolutely delivered. Several of our guest commented on how perfect she was in our ceremony. It was not too long nor too short but was very personalized. Our bridal party was a little rowdy and distracted at our rehearsal. AC was able to control the group professionally and explain the entire ceremony thoroughly. She was also punctual which I deeply appreciated (especially considering DC traffic can be unpredictable). The entire ceremony flowed flawlessly. Additionally, she offered numerous options for us incorporate readings and other traditions should we choose. I chose to read "Chaos of Stars" and many guests commented on how beautiful it was. I would not have known of the reading or the many others had it not been for AC. When we went to get our marriage license, the court representative saw AC's name in the database of officiants and mentioned how several couples use her and adore her. You cannot go wrong.

ive in working with us to design our ceremony, and provided a ton of ideas for different elements of the ceremony reflecting our shared values. AC showed a lot of care in selecting options for readings and we truly enjoyed her idea of doing the sharing of the wine during the ceremony. Throughout the drafting of the ceremony, AC was quick to respond and incorporate any changes we desired. Many of our guests commented at how wonderful our ceremony was, which can really be attributed to AC.

we got exactly what we wanted. AC came to our first meeting equipped with a ton of options for ceremony structure, readings, and rituals for us to choose from, and she continued to be extremely responsive and helpful throughout the rest of the process. Our ceremony script was customized and felt very true to us. Many of our guests told us how beautiful they thought the ceremony was and how much they enjoyed AC's animated and sincere officiating. I can't recommend her enough!

s, and our values. Very responsive, easy to work with, a consummate professional.

ot of time getting to know us. We really wanted to make our ceremony reflect our story and our values, and she did a fantastic job at capturing the vibe that we wanted, going back and forth on drafts until the language was just right and it flowed seamlessly. We could never have done it without her! We also had some fairly non-traditional ideas about how we wanted the ceremony to go, and she was great at helping us think through our options and logistics for our set up (in the round, walking in together, with all of our guests surrounding us). We had our ceremony in the DC War Memorial on the National Mall, and AC was a huge help at helping us figure out how best to use that space. She gave us the idea to do a sort of reverse receiving line, where we greeted guests as they arrived; we absolutely loved how it worked out! Our guests, particularly our parents, all had lovely things to say about her. Highly recommended!

oignant quotes and give us a variety of ideas for traditional cultural practices based on our ancestry. We loved that it didn't sound like the traditional religious ceremonies we'd been to time and time again and that we were able to incorporate some unique and fun elements, like a wine box time capsule to be opened on our 5th anniversary (and hopefully not before!) and sharing a glass of wine to symbolize our union. ...we got married at a winery so the wine practices were fitting! She was really helpful and patient throughout the process, and we would highly recommend her to be a part of your most special day!

simple ceremony for us. We met her and she really guided us through what seemed a daunting task to us both. She created a ceremony that was personal and took into account our values as well as our backgrounds to really customize our wedding to fit us. We highly recommend her for her professional, warm and knowledgeable style!

Who she is and the outstanding creative qualities she brings to this profession she truly loves. The weeks prior to Ruth’s and my wedding were filled with unexpected twists and quirks – but absolutely nothing caught AC off-guard… her instinct for problem solving before they happen is uncanny, and that is only ONE of the many talents she has tucked away in her enviable bag of tricks! I could easily say heart-felt dittos to every word of praise in the reviews on this page. Instead, I will add one more quality I consider one of her finest: She opens her gifted inner-eye and finds the deepest essence of each couple she works with; then she paints that essence on a simple but perfectly expressed canvas of words that not only touches the two hearts whose joining she has designed, but also deeply moves those in attendance. I have officiated and attended uncounted weddings in my own career as a Celebrant. But Ruth’s and my ceremony was spiritually more powerful in its elegant simplicity than any wedding I ever witnessed -- I believe the word is ‘Perfect.’ Thank you AC, colleague, friend et célébrant par excellence Sarah and Ruth

gave rave reviews. We were not disappointed. We wanted a ceremony that was traditional but at the same time incorporated our own ethnic traditions and had an obvious modern and forward touch. After the ceremony, all our guests commented on how personable, down to earth and emotional it was. Thanks to A.C., we had the ceremony of our dreams.

ent back in forth in drafts to create the perfect version. The readings that AC presented us with were heartfelt and perfect. The amount of work she put in to find the perfect pieces of text and turn our own words into a cohesive ceremony was astonishing. On our wedding day I 100% felt like she had captured us and our guests could not stop talking about what an emotional and beautiful ceremony we had. I would recommend Capital Ceremonies in a heartbeat.

relationship. We didn’t know what we wanted out of a ceremony when we found AC, but she helped craft something that was intimate and personal. She had us each fill out a long questionnaire about our relationship and interviewed several friends and family members for their views on our relationship. This was not only useful for incorporation into the ceremony, but it was a great way to bring our focus back to why we were getting married in the first place. With all of the details of planning a wedding, it’s easy to forget sometimes that the marriage is the most important part. In our first meeting, AC sat and talked with us for a couple of hours to really get to know us and the kind of ceremony that would fit us. She helpfully made several suggestions for incorporating traditional and non-traditional rituals and elements in the ceremony that reflected our backgrounds and beliefs. She put together the core structure with several options and recommendations and guided us through the process of finalizing it. She helped us find ways to involve several family members in the ceremony, in addition to incorporating quotes from friends who had been interviewed. The result was a ceremony that told the story of us, that celebrated our marriage and not just the concept of marriage. Our friends and family still tell us that it was the most sincere, unique ceremony they have ever witnessed. We could not recommend AC more highly.

d learned about us as a couple in order to create a beautiful ceremony. Correspondence was always prompt, and AC was extremely flexible in discussing what we wanted in the ceremony and making changes as needed. Our ceremony felt so deeply personalized and meaningful, and so many of our guests told us how much they enjoyed it. I feel that sometimes the importance of the ceremony gets lost in wedding planning, and working with AC is a fantastic way to ensure that your ceremony is beautiful and meaningful and really highlights the significance of your wedding day.

seemed like an honest, kind, and genuine person. We felt very at ease with her, and had a good feeling about her. We spoke to other celebrants and did not receive the same feeling from them as we did with AC. AC's fees were less than others and the payment methods were easy to accommodate. Throughout the entire process, AC was prompt whether by phone or in person. The services she provided were absolutely what we hoped to find. Being out of state, she handled everything for us. She sent us the required forms and once we returned them to her, she filed them at the courthouse for us. She conducted a prenuptial phone interview to discuss our spiritual backgrounds and ceremony expectations. From this conversation, she sent us suggested prayers, scriptures, and poems from which we could choose to include in the ceremony. She recommended and provided websites for several locations throughout the Washington, DC area where the ceremony could be held. AC is a very calm, unhurried, and articulate person..... the epitome of what a spiritual person is! Her smile and the way she looked at us during the ceremony demonstrated her sincere thoughts were with us and in the moment. The entire process went so smoothly we cannot thank her enough for helping us through the legalities and ceremonial preparations. It was truly gratifying to have her with us for the consecration of our wedding vows. We would absolutely recommend AC for weddings and/or any other spiritual events.

that was our own, something that reflected our personalities, our family's traditions, our slightly wacky nature, all of it. AC was a perfect choice to help us do that and still have a ceremony that was thoughtful and emotional and meaningful. She has a wonderful presence and added gravitas to our ceremony, along with a great sense of humor, and an ability to roll with the punches. Three things I loved about working with her. 1) She was always a calming presence and took every question thoughtfully. And we had a lot of questions. 2) She put us first. Our ideas, language, and selections for readings were always taken seriously and used in the crafting of our ceremony. She told us many times that this was our day, and whatever we decided was the right choice. And last, she was always honest and clear with us. If she needed something, she asked. If we were late on something from our timeline, she let us know. But always with a professional, soft touch. My wife and I appreciated knowing exactly what was expected and when. That clarity was a blessing in a sea of moving logistics. Basically folks, AC was meant to do this. And she's a really warm wonderful person too. Congrats on your engagement and good luck with your planning! Brett and Kelsey

e looking for the perfect wedding officiant.....look no further

ceremony was. She took the time to customize our ceremony – interviewing our friends, incorporating surveys that we took, and listening to what we wanted to include. She has a lot of experience officiating weddings of all types and it shows through in her ability to deliver! She was able to keep our large wedding party and guests in order throughout the ceremony. We would highly recommend A.C. to anyone and everyone planning a wedding particularly if you are looking for a highly personal ceremony.

umor. She suggested a diverse number of readings, recommended elements of the ceremony that spoke to both our backgrounds (we went with a memorial candle lighting, ring blessing from our guests, and wine sharing -- all of which were so moving!), and she helped us organize the ceremony to have the right flow. On the day, she executed the ceremony perfectly and with such grace. Every single guest commented after about how much they loved being a part of something so special. We couldn't agree more! The ceremony was so memorable -- still tearing up days later! Thank you so much, AC!

h choosing what we wanted for our wedding ceremony, and A.C. was there to guide us every step of the way. She is extremely knowledgeable about different wedding customs and traditions, which we found invaluable. More importantly, she really took the time to get to know us and what we envisioned for our ceremony and offered suggestions accordingly. This was not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it was obvious that our wedding ceremony would be anything but cookie-cutter. In fact, A.C. really tailors her ceremonies to each bride and groom and captures their unique love story. As a result, the final product is an intensely personal, meaningful, and joyous ceremony unlike no other. Our guests agreed! We received countless compliments from our wedding guests about A.C. and the beautiful ceremony she created for us. We are so grateful to A.C. for making our wedding ceremony so special and cannot recommend her enough!

ery knowledgeable, and gave us a lot of ideas and suggestions to make our ceremony personal and unique. Our ceremony was beautiful; all of our guest loved it. We are so happy AC Warden was part of our special day.

pectful of our desire to keep religious elements out of the ceremony. She suggested several meaningful elements that we thought were really interesting, and we asked her to include them in our ceremony. Some of them also had a benefit of having an aspect that would let all the guests participate in the ceremony. AC wrote a beautiful ceremony for us - she said we could go back and forth and edit the ceremony as many times as we had to, but it was so amazing the first time that very few edits were necessary. AC also did a great job of helping us (me) keep calm during the rehearsal and the wedding. It was great to have that kind of calming presence right before the wedding. The guests all agreed that the ceremony was one of the most special and most memorable ceremonies they had ever seen, and we had a great time. To sum up - I wouldn't recommend anyone except AC to do your wedding!

important and meaningful words two people can say to each other. Her approach to creating a personalized ceremony is fantastic and she made the process very easy for us. I received many, many compliments from guests on how personal and moving the ceremony was, I would highly recommend AC.

means. We wanted a ceremony that had symbolism in it, too - I'm quite big on ritual and its importance. When we met, A.C. went through with us ideas that we could encorporate and heard some of the ideas we had. She quickly understood the tenor of what would suit us. This is a great skill she has - and was underscored when we saw the first draft of our wedding ceremony. She had channeled the atmosphere and what we wanted! She had encorporated the ideas we'd talked about so that they were natural and had the desired effect. Not at all an easy task! On the day, she conducted the ceremony with poise, warmth, humor and gravitas. I had many of our guests tell me that it was the best wedding ceremony they'd attended and many complemented A.C. herself. One friend told me that I'd restored his faith in non-liturgical wedding ceremonies. I think that sums up A.C.'s top qualityness very nicely.

making. She has wedding music that I initially had to walk down the aisle and we just used it for the processional and the recessional. I was so pleased with her coming prepared even though we didn't have a DJ at the last minute. She was able to still do our ceremony that we planned to use, but wasn't able to do on part. It didn't matter at that point because I was so happy that she was able to pull together the rest of our ceremony. She is truly a wonderful person and really worked out at the end. I would definitely recommend her to anyone. She's great!!!

ant and handled almost all of the change over details. We could not be happier with the ceremony, though. Her writing was wonderful, and she truly created a wedding that was meaningful. I highly recommend AC Warden if you are looking for someone who can talk to you just a few times, and really pull out the core of what you are looking for in a ceremony.

ce the group and addressing our families/parents in the beginning really added to the personal feel and helped to create the intimate atmosphere we were hoping for. Thanks again for everything; we couldn't have asked for a better more memorable ceremony! Josh and Jennifer Rothenberg