Wedding Officiant
Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois Regions
Travel area: Within 100 miles See details
Joan Fergus
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (8X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
'Ceremonies by Joan' is a wedding officiant service led by experienced officiant Joan Fergus, who has spent more than thirteen years creating personalized, inclusive wedding ceremonies for couples across Wisconsin.
Joan is known for her warm presence, thoughtful writing, and ability to craft ceremonies that reflect each couple’s story, values, and vision. She offers religious, spiritual, interfaith, and secular ceremonies, and proudly serves as an LGBTQ+‑friendly wedding officiant.
From intimate Wisconsin elopements to large ballroom celebrations, Joan brings professionalism, calm, and heartfelt care to every wedding. If you’re looking for a Milwaukee area wedding officiant who creates meaningful, stress‑free, custom ceremonies, Joan is honored to help you say “I do.”
Love is universal and inclusive with Joan.
Details
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Religious Affiliations
Christian
Interfaith
Secular
Spiritual
Wedding Activities
Wedding
Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Joan Fergus
Owner
Joan is passionate about officiating weddings and the connections she has with couples by helping them create their ideal wedding ceremony. Joan lives in Racine, Wisconsin and officiates weddings in the greater Milwaukee area, even traveling as far as Door County and Madison. Joan is certified as Master Celebrant through Celebrant Academy. She loves officiating a variety of weddings, from small elopements to large parties, traditional to nontraditional, religious to secular. Joan believes Love is Universal and welcomes the LBGTQ+ with open arms.
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.090 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Joan received glowing reviews as an officiant for weddings, with multiple reviewers praising her attention to detail, personalized approach, and heartfelt delivery of ceremonies. Reviewers appreciated her professionalism, the way she incorporated personal touches and family traditions, and her ability to create a warm and engaging atmosphere during ceremonies. Joan was commended for her guidance throughout the planning process, making couples feel at ease and ensuring a memorable and special day. Overall, Joan was highly recommended for her exceptional service in crafting meaningful and personalized ceremonies.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 7
Katie L
Highlighted review.
5.0
3/18/2024
My husband and I can't say enough amazing words about Joan! She was an amazing officiant and woman to work with developing our personalized ceremony. She truly made our wedding day...
special. Everyone was very moved by the ceremony and couldn't compliment her enough. We found her through The Knot and couldn't be happier with her support, communication, and coordination with our photographer, DJ, and wedding coordinator. She developed a personalized ceremony diving into how we met and our relationship. She created exactly the type of ceremony we were looking for. All of our friends and family were very moved by her words and loved the stories she shared of us. I would highly recommend Joan to anyone looking for a ceremony made just for you. She made our day special and we will be forever grateful for meeting her.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Hi Katie and Michael - thanks for the kind words. It turned out to be a beautiful day and...
Katie, you were a beautiful bride. Love was in the air and you both shared your love so beautifully that day. It all turned out perfectly.
Hope you have many more adventures to come, along with many long years of wedded bliss. You are an amazing couple!
Wishing you all the best,
Joan
Kimberly W
5.0
11/05/2025
Joan was absolutely amazing! My daughter wanted to do a hand fasting ceremony. When I first contacted Joan, she was actually in Scotland learning more about hand fasting traditions...
. She still responded to my messages and when she returned, we were able to chat on the phone. We knew Joan was the person we needed. What we didn’t know was how incredible she truly is. She was there for us every step of the way! She made us feel like family, not just a client. She made sure my daughter had the wedding of her dreams! I highly recommend Joan!!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 11/07/2025
Kim - a heartfelt thanks for your kind review. It was fate that brought us together when I...
responded to your inquiry while I was in Scotland. How cool it was to get your call at the time when I was learning about handfasting from Scottish Celebrants! And such a joy it was to spend the weekend with your family at Katie and Adam's wedding. Thanks for welcoming me into your fold! All the love and care you put into helping your daughter have the wedding of her dreams paid off. From creating an enchanting space to all the small details that made the day just perfect. You are amazing! I know we will stay in touch and our paths will cross again soon. Thanks again! Lovingly, Joan
Any questions?
Amanda D
5.0
10/30/2025
We absolutely loved working with Joan! From our very first phone call, we knew we had found the perfect fit — she was so warm, genuine, and easy to connect with. She came incredibl...
y prepared for our big day, taking the time to get to know us as a couple and understand what we wanted our ceremony to feel like. The result was absolutely perfect — heartfelt, personal, and beautifully delivered.
We received so many compliments from our guests about how touching and seamless the ceremony was, and that’s all thanks to her. She made our day so special and we’ll always be grateful for the care, attention, and love she put into every detail.
Beth N
5.0
9/13/2025
Joan was professional and organized. Our first meeting with her was via zoom, and then again at the wedding. The ceremony was flawless because of Joan! Thanks so much for making ...
our special day perfect!
Peyton S
5.0
9/05/2025
From our very first phone call, we knew Joan was the right officiant for us. She has such a calming, cultured, and confident presence - much like a respected family member - and t...
his put us at ease. Throughout the planning process, Joan was a steady source of support and guidance.
It was important to us that our ceremony blend meaningful religious elements, cultural accents (my husband's Ukrainian heritage), and our love story. Joan did all of this beautifully! She created a thoughtful, detailed ceremony that truly represented us as a couple and incorporated unfamiliar traditions with respect and care. Couples should also be prepared to put in work on their end - answering questionnaires, documenting their story, reading through different vows and ceremony elements - but it's worth it, because the more you share and have input on, the more personal and meaningful Joan can make your ceremony.
One note of feedback: clarify expectations around rehearsal attendance. Joan had initially indicated she does not normally attend, but instead sends the prepared ceremony to the wedding planner. Even though her plans changed, and she ultimately joined us for the rehearsal, we got the impression that there was additional compensation that she was expecting for that particular service. This is probably something that would be best discussed ahead of time, particularly if having her present at your rehearsal is important for you.
That said, we are so thankful we had Joan as our wedding officiant. She delivered a heartfelt, memorable ceremony that we and our guests will cherish forever. We highly recommend her to couples seeking a meaningful, personal, and beautifully written ceremony.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 09/05/2025
Hi Peyton and Vlad - thank you for your kind words and reflection on working together. I ...
am so glad that you liked the ceremony. You have a beautiful love story and it was so much fun to share that with your loved ones. I love all the care that you took to make sure you had a wedding day that represents your love and commitment to each other. It was a beautiful day!
Wishing you all the best on your journey ahead. You are a wonderful couple and I am so glad that you found each other years ago!
Lovingly,
Joan
Megan P
5.0
8/13/2025
We couldn’t have asked for anyone better for our wedding. Joan truly helped make the process go so smoothly and came with experience and professionalism, while also being a warm pr...
esence on our wedding day. We are so grateful!
Karie W
5.0
7/20/2025
Joan did an amazing job officiating our wedding. We met with her a couple of times to discuss what we wanted. Joan provided many examples to help us choose readings, vows, etc. She...
got to know us and our love story to create a beautiful ceremony. Joan also works with your other vendors to make sure the day goes seamlessly.
Michael K
5.0
7/13/2025
Excellent ceremony June 8th,and Joan added a special touch.
5 stars
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/21/2025
Thanks for taking time to write a review, Michael. It was a beautiful day, even with a fe...
w rain drops. I wish you both all the happiness in the world.
Most Sincerely,
Joan
Katrina L
5.0
7/07/2025
Joan was a wonderful officiant for our wedding. We had a joy chatting with her and she wove together a beautiful ceremony. It was intimate, included inside jokes, and was inclusive...
for our families. We highly recommend Joan for your special day.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/21/2025
Hi Katrina - thanks so much for taking the time to write a review. I loved your whimsical...
wedding in the beautiful Gardens. You looked beautiful. It was a perfect day and your love for each other filled the air! I was so honored to be a part of it. I really enjoyed getting to know you and Chris, what a lovely couple and heartfelt love story.
May all your dreams come true as you enjoy all your adventures together..
All the Best,
Joan
Payton B
5.0
7/02/2025
Joan was a wonderful officiant. Our ceremony was great and one of my wife and I's favorite memories from our wedding. Joan's delivery of our ceremony stood out, she was good at dir...
ecting us with ques and is a very good speaker. We'd recommend Joan to anyone.
Mark M
5.0
6/04/2025
Joan has an absolute gift for crafting thoughtful ceremonies. She wrote our story perfectly and led our ceremony with grace and excellent timing. We were quite nervous and her calm...
and lighthearted demeanor was so helpful. Everyone complimented our ceremony and how well Joan conducted it. Highly recommend Joan as your celebrant!
Kristin M
2.0
5/05/2025
My husband and I debated even leaving a review as we normally just don't say anything if it is not a positive experience, and it has been many months since we got married and worke...
d with Joan, but after now having spoken with most of our wedding party we decided to leave an honest review. Our experience with Joan was the only negative part of our wedding. After initially meeting her and having a strong initial interaction, we decided to move forward with Joan, but the wedding ceremony was significantly below expectations. Joan showed up in a somewhat aggressive and crabby mood to our rehearsal, was very rude to the Gage staff that was trying to help coordinate the rehearsal, snapped at our wedding party, and worst of all changed parts of the ceremony. We had met with her and emailed with her in advance to finalize what parts we wanted included/reword things we did not like, and she ended up using the pre-edited version. There were specific parts we wanted cut that were leaning somewhat religious and she added them back in which greatly offended our grandparents. She also spaced us awkwardly apart during the ceremony, so the pictures look horrible. Lastly, I had repeatedly told her I did not want to have any portions of our ceremony where we are facing the audience instead of each other, and she still did this on the day of during the ceremony when we had one of our friends reading, I was so uncomfortable the entire time. We heard from multiple people in our wedding party about how Joan made them feel disrespected, treating them like children. If we could go back, we would choose to work with someone else. We know she had strong other reviews, so not sure if we caught her on an off day.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 06/01/2025
Kristin and Chris -
Thank you for your feedback. I’m sorry my service didn’t meet your...
expectations.
At the time, my sister was critically ill, and I now realize that the stress affected my focus more than I anticipated.
I care deeply about creating meaningful ceremonies and regret that your experience didn’t reflect that. I hope your wedding day was filled with love and joy, and I wish you both the very best.
Kindest regards,
Joan
Bob
5.0
3/31/2025
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect officiant for our wedding! Joan was absolutely amazing—she brought warmth, sincerity, and just the right touch of personalization to our c...
eremony. From the moment we first met her, she took the time to understand our story, our values, and what we wanted in our special moment.
Her delivery was heartfelt and engaging, making every word feel meaningful. She created a ceremony that was both intimate and beautifully crafted, leaving not just us, but also our guests, deeply moved. We received so many compliments on how wonderful and memorable the ceremony was!
If you’re looking for someone who is professional, kind, and truly passionate about making your wedding day special, we highly recommend Joan. She made our day unforgettable!
Thank you again, Joan, for everything—you are truly amazing!
patricia f
5.0
11/10/2024
Joan was wonderful officiant for my daughter's wedding! She was very professional and helped guide the couple to create such a beautiful and memorable ceremony! I would highly reco...
mmend her to anyone looking for a wedding officiant!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Patty - thanks for finding me on The Knot and starting the relationship I had with Eleanor...
and Joe! It was a beautiful wedding that you both worked so hard to put together. Couldn't have been more perfect! Now you can talk about other things!!!!
Wishing you all the best and thanks again!!!
Lovingly,
Joan
Valerie H
5.0
8/26/2024
As a wedding planner with the Simply Elegant Group, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Joan on two of my clients' weddings. Joan is truly exceptional and an absolute del...
ight to work with. I highly recommend selecting Joan as your officiant for your wedding. She brings a personalized touch to every ceremony, working closely with each couple to create a unique and intimate experience. Joan will exceed your expectations! I would love to work with Joan again in the future!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Valerie - thanks for the kind review. I loved working with you, as you make it easy and c...
omfortable by your calmness and attention to details. I hope we can work together next season. Enjoy some down time and thanks again!
Kindly,
Joan
Alexis Y
4.0
8/19/2024
Joan was great she was very professional and had great communication.
Kailah B
5.0
8/05/2024
Joan was great! Her leadership was so refreshing. I felt as ease knowing Joan knows best...and she did so wonderful writing our personalized vows and ceremony. Highly recommend.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Hi Kailah - thanks for the kind words. Your wedding turned out beautiful thanks to all yo...
ur hard work and attention to details. It was a pleasure to be there with you and Joshua and the kids. What a great family you have!!! And you both couldn't be happier getting married! May your married life be filled with love and laughter throughout the years.
Thanks!
With love,
Joan
Stephen G
5.0
7/25/2024
She did an amazing job officiating and making sure the day went extremely smooth!
Keegan C
5.0
5/14/2024
Joan was wonderful and lovely to get to know. She helped run our rehearsal dinner and guided us through the whole process. Our family and friends loved or personalized ceremony! So...
glad we went with Joan!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Hi Keegan and Michael - what a lovely wedding you had! Thanks for your kind words and I a...
m so glad you went with me, too! I had the pleasure of getting to know you and having fun putting together your ceremony. Wishing you many long years of wedded bliss. Thanks again!
With love,
Joan
Cassidy C
5.0
4/25/2024
After my first call with Joan, I knew she was just what we'd been searching for in an officiant. After speaking with two other contenders, my conversation with Joan was a breathe o...
f fresh air. She was interested in my fiancé and I's story and truly cared about the little details. I found that with other officiants, this was not the case and could tell they had a generic script and wanted us to fit within that box without adding additional personalization, etc. After we hired Joan, she kept surprising me with her attention to detail, warmth, and commitment to getting things right! Her detailed questionnaire helped my fiancé and I reflect and was a great way for her to get all of the important details about us for the ceremony. After two meetings with Joan, we were ready for the big day. Our ceremony was so heartfelt and 100% us. I loved every single moment and so did our guests. I was approached non-stop during and after the wedding about how special our ceremony was. Joan even went out of her way to print our ceremony and give it to us with a sweet card on the day of the wedding. A keepsake we will always cherish. If you're serious about ensuring that your ceremony sounds and feels like you and your partner, Joan is the perfect person for you. Why do what everyone else is doing when your story is unique and deserves to be shared!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Cassidy and Ty - I'm blown away by your review. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Y...
ou are an amazing, loving couple that I loved having the pleasure to be a part of your special day. What joy and love you have for each other. I hope you are enjoying married life. Please stay in touch. Thank you!!!
With love,
Joan
Hannah R
4.0
4/22/2024
Joan was very prompt on communication and has great questions to ask the couple to better get to know them. She was very pleasant to work with and performed the ceremony with ease....
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Hi Hannah - you planned a beautiful, intimate wedding a the Domes. I really enjoyed being...
a part of your celebration. Thank you for your review.
Wishing you all the happiness in the world and a long and happy life together.
Thanks again!
Joan
Ethan W
5.0
3/16/2024
Joan was very personable and professional throughout the entire planning process, as well as the day of the ceremony. She met with us ahead of time and asked thoughtful questions a...
bout our relationship and what we were looking for in our wedding and in our marriage. She helped prompt great discussion between us and wove our personality into the way that she delivered the ceremony.
We felt like our guests really enjoyed the way that the ceremony was delivered (and we did too!). Joan helped us think through and craft each section of the ceremony, leading the process and sharing recommendations from her experience, but really allowing us to make it right for us. We especially enjoyed and appreciated the suggestion of having the two of us stand together, rather than having Joan between us during the ceremony.
She was an excellent officiant. Her passion and experience shine through every step of the way. We would highly recommend her!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Hi Ethan and Nicole - Thank you for your kind words and great testimonial. I really enjoy...
ed getting to know you and your families. You had a beautiful wedding and I was so honored to be a part of it. What a great way to celebrate New Years!!!! I hope you are having fun in your married life. Wishing you many long years of happiness.
Thanks again!
Kindly,
Joan
Laura S
5.0
2/02/2024
Joan was such a strong leader through our daughter's wedding ceremony. She knew the couple well after meeting with them and listened to all of their revisions and input. She had a ...
sense of humor at the ceremony when their child started crying and got a laugh that loosen every one up! She prepared the betrothed well and we are in her debt! The wedding went perfectly!!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/06/2024
Laura - thank you for your kind words. We have been on a journey together and it was very...
heartwarming with such a loving family. Everything turned out perfectly.
Wishing your whole family all the best!
Thanks again!
Joan
Emily K
5.0
1/14/2024
Joan was incredible to work with; so kind, attentive to all the fine details, and truly a master at ceremonies. We wanted something a bit more low-key at our home, and she worked w...
ith us to ensure it was special & perfect for us. Thank you very much for a lovely experience, we appreciate it and you greatly!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 01/14/2024
Emily = thanks for sharing your experience and the kind words. I loved the beauty of your...
home and the atmosphere that you created with just your parents and two adorable dogs to share your expereince. You have such a loving relationship with Adam. I was so glad and honored to be there on your special day. Wishing you all the best!
Sincerely,
Joan
Roger M
5.0
12/26/2023
My wife a I used Joan Fergus for both a Commitment Ceremony and a Wedding. She was absolutely wonderful to work with! We were thrilled that she took the time to meet with us and u...
nderstand our love story and journey together. The results were very personalized and heart felt ceremonies that were elegantly delivered. If you are looking for a very personal touch to make exceptional I would highly recommend Joan.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/27/2023
Thanks so much, Roger, for your kind review. I really loved being there with both of you ...
on your journey...from a committal ceremony to the actual marriage. It was great to share your journey with your story an integral part of your ceremony; and see the love grow strong. You are a wonderful couple!
May your marriage be forever blessed. Enjoy! And, stay in touch!
All the best,
Joan
Sheryl S
5.0
12/22/2023
Joan was a wonderful person to work with. We met with Joan on a few occasions before the "I Dos" and each of our conversations were easy, thoughtful, and productive. Joan guided us...
through the ceremony, offered advice and options, asked meaningful questions, and truly got us excited for the day. I felt like she really wanted to make the day special for us and boy did she! The ceremony turned out perfectly and our ten guests thought the same! Thank you Joan!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/27/2023
Sheryl - thanks for the beautiful review. Your ceremony was created with such intent that...
it turned out perfectly for you. Even though it was a little chilly, the warmth of your love made it comfortable. I enjoyed being there and meeting your Scottish family. May your marriage be forever blessed!
Lovingly,
Joan
May J
5.0
12/15/2023
We worked with Joan on our Vow Renewal ceremony. Not like some officiants who simply read pre-written scripts, she made sure to understand the couple and their love story. She will...
take the time to listen, understand the couple and host the ceremony in that way. She has good work ethic and pays attention to details. We had a really heartfelt ceremony. I would recommend Joan to anyone who is looking for a ceremony that is tailored to yourself!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/15/2023
May and Ryan - it was wonderful working together to create your beautiful vow renewal cere...
mony on November 17th. I could tell from your emotions that it was a special day for you both and you were so happy to express your love for each other in front of your family and close friends. You got to have the wedding (vow renewal) of your dreams!
Thank you for your review and sharing your experience. I was so honored to be a part of your special day. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.
Warm regards,
Joan
Jacob S
5.0
10/13/2023
It is clear to us that Joan truly is a master at what she does and is passionate and driven to give couples and all those that use her services the most personalized services and k...
ind words. She was attentive to details and let us go through the ceremony several times, fine tuning and adjusting to fit the day while maintaining our personal style. She elegantly incorporated wedding advice from our parents and told our personal couple story, which was expertly stitched together from our anecdotes.
Joan, you have truly found your calling. Thank you so much for being a part of our ceremony and helping to make it meaningful and memorable. Thanks again for all your effort!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 10/14/2023
Hi Jacob and Jeremy - your review brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your kindest of...
words. It was such a pleasure working together on your ceremony and getting to know you as a couple. You planned a beautiful wedding (so glad the weather cooperated)! I wish you a lifetime of happiness...I'm glad you both found each other. I love how your personalities balance each other and how supportive you are of the other. I look forward to hearing about your adventures in the futures. Please keep me posted!!! Enjoy!
Lovingly,
Joan
Teagan W
5.0
9/16/2023
Joan was absolutely wonderful. She was very responsive from the get go and I appreciated that while trying to book all of our vendors. She was attentive to the timeline leading up ...
to our date and reached out to set up meetings accordingly. She really likes to spend time learning you and your partner as a couple and the story of how you met to where you are now going into marriage. She completely customizes and tailors a beautiful ceremony to your preferences. She provided all the needed guidance along the way. She was extremely helpful with running the rehearsal the night before the wedding and was on time and ready the day of. Our ceremony was a perfect representation of us and all of our guests commented on not only how much they enjoyed hearing our story and other beautiful sentiments but also on Joan's calm cadence in her delivery. We loved working with her! Thank you so much for officiating our wedding.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 09/17/2023
Oh my gosh, Teagan! What a great review and kind words!!! Thank you!
I loved getting ...
together with you both and planning was pretty easy because you knew what you wanted and it turned out perfectly!!! You are a fun, loving, wonderful couple. I'm was so honored to be a part of your special day and I hope that you had a wonderful summer as newlyweds.
Stay in touch!!!
With love,
Joan
Grant R
5.0
7/21/2023
Joan did an amazing job with our ceremony! We heard nothing but glowing compliments from family members about how wonderful the ceremony was. Joan was great to work with; she took ...
the time to meet with us several times before the ceremony to make sure it was perfect and to prepare us for the day-of. She is very detail-oriented which helped the ceremony run smoothly and exactly the way we wanted. She is highly talented and we would recommend her to anyone.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 01/30/2024
Grant - thank you for the kind review. I loved working together to create your ceremony. ...
You had an amazing wedding day! I wish you all the best in your life together...many new adventures!
Most kindly,
Joan
Kristina M
5.0
7/06/2023
What a great experience! We contacted Joan with a rough idea of what we wanted and what our timeline was. We wanted something very low key--certificate signing only--in a relativel...
y short period of time still TBD. She was so flexible with us as we worked out what, where, when and how. When we last-minute decided to add vows and ring exchange, she was quick to offer ideas to help us find the right words. The day of, she made our parents--who were victims of a surprise wedding!--feel special by hosting a ceremony that was quick and private but still very us. She's also just fun and nice to work with, and we couldn't recommend her more.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/06/2023
Hi Kristina - thanks for taking the time to write a wonderful review. You were really fun...
to work with, too! I still chuckle about the 'surprise wedding'!!! Thanks for being open to my suggestions and inviting me into your home. It was a pleasure meeting you all and I wish you many more long years of happiness together.
Peace to you all,
Joan
Madelyn P
5.0
7/04/2023
Joan did a fantastic job at officiating our wedding! She is very responsive and easy to communicate with. I loved the pre marital forms we had to fill out, it was such a great way...
to bond over creating the ceremony. Our whole family loved the ceremony and were impressed by how personal it was. Joan also did a great job of rolling with things as they came up (issues with venue, guests arriving late, etc.) which helped take the pressure off us. I highly recommend Joan for a wedding ceremony!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/06/2023
Thanks Madelyn! You were awesome in that beautiful dress and the long sleeved gloves! Wh...
at a stunning bride you were!!
I had fun getting to know you and Josh and writing your ceremony. I love your story...how you met and grew and changed together. You have a timeless relationship! Wishing you all the happiness in the world. Thanks for sharing a review and your pictures. We can share Scotland stories soon!!!
Wishing you all the best!!!
Warm regards,
Joan
Joseph T
5.0
7/02/2023
Working with Joan was the best. My wife and I had no idea how to plan a wedding ceremony or where to start, even for a small one. Joan walked us through everything we should consid...
er, working with us and making sure the ceremony was how we wanted it. She got to know us and wrote an amazing ceremony that told our story.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/03/2023
Thanks, Joe, for the kind review. It was really fun planning your ceremony because you we...
re so open to suggestions. It was a beautiful, intimate outdoor wedding in a beautiful park setting. You are an amazing couple and I really enjoyed spending time together. Wishing you much happiness in all your adventures to come.
All the best,
Joan
Monika C
5.0
6/23/2023
Joan was fantastic to work with! She took the time to meet with my wife and I several times to get to know each other as well as review the ceremony plan for the big day! She paid...
attention to details and her ceremony was beautifully written to express our love story. We are super happy that we chose Joan as our officiant! My wife and I highly recommend Joan!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/03/2023
Hi Monika and Allyson - wow! you are finally married!!! So happy for you!!! Thanks for i...
ncluding me in your special day and it really was SPECIAL. Especially the love that you have for each other was contagious!!!
So glad we live in the same neighborhood and can see each other. Let's get our dogs together again!
Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together. Thanks for your kind words. I loved writing your ceremony.
Kind regards,
Joan
Dana D
5.0
6/23/2023
Joan was great! She is very personable and tried to make sure she really captured our love story the way we see it. She ensured our day ran smoothly and was very organized planning...
the ceremony. We had an amazing experience.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/03/2023
Hi Dana and James - thanks for your kind review. You had a beautiful wedding and the brid...
e looked stunning!!!! I really enjoyed getting to know you and put your story together. What a great story...I'm glad that James hung in there!!!! I wish you all the best together and please stay in touch. I want to hear about your adventures to come!
Warm wishes,
Joan
Meena N
5.0
5/18/2023
We found Joan looking for local officiants online. She spent the time to get to know us as a couple and create a wonderful and personalized ceremony that our friends and family all...
loved. She also had us complete a comprehensive form to get to know us individually and as a couple, and we had multiple calls with her to go over the details before our rehearsal. She helped us think through every aspect of our ceremony from vows to how best to arrange the seating. She also helped us incorporate our different cultures and traditions in a way that was very meaningful to us. I would recommend Joan to any couple looking for a unique and special ceremony!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 05/19/2023
Meena - thanks for the great review and kind words. You had a beautiful wedding, Plannin...
g from afar wasn't easy and you did a great job. It was fun to plan this with you, fitting in the Mexican wedding rituals, along with your readings! It was wonderful. So glad to get to know you and Chris!
Many blessings sent your way!
Warm regards,
Joan
Michelle K
5.0
4/04/2023
Luckily my sister had Joan as her officiant when she got married and when it was time to find an officiant for my now husband and I, we knew we just had to have Joan as our officia...
nt as well. Joan is the best. She provided guidance, knowledge, and ease to put together our ceremony. Joan takes the time to truly get to know you and your relationship and she turns it into a beautiful love story and ceremony that your audience will enjoy and comment on. One thing we loved working with Joan is that even though we didn’t get married in a church, despite my husband and I growing up Catholic, we were able to add religious elements to our ceremony. If you are trying to find an officiant for your wedding, look no further, Joan will not disappoint!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 05/19/2023
Hi Michelle - thanks so much for your kind words and great review. I had so much fun work...
ing together to create your ideal ceremony. You two are the best!!! You knew what you wanted to include in your ceremony. I love your love story, too! I enjoyed writing it, especially about meeting at the parking lot!
Hope you are having fun and enjoying married life. Keep in touch!!
Wishing you lots of love and laughter!!!
Warm regards,
Joan
Austin B
5.0
2/09/2023
An officiant is a crucial part of any wedding ceremony, and Joan helped make our day so, so special.
My wife and I come from different backgrounds, with her growing up a member of...
the Catholic Church and me without much religion in my early life. We wanted the ceremony to reflect our unique story and bring together our disparate upbringings. Joan not only took the time to learn more about each of us, but to capture the elements that meant the most to include.
From our first Zoom call meeting (we live long distance from Joan) to our very first in-person meeting at our rehearsal, Joan proved to be a fantastic listener, an interested party, and an empathetic voice to share our story on October 8th. She helped guide us through the process, providing documents and resources to make everything a little easier — a luxury in the stress of wedding planning!
What I appreciated most about Joan was her willingness to let us be us, to allow our individual personalities to shine through during our ceremony. That, plus her uncanny ability to synthesize our life stories into a 30-minute ceremony that left our guests tearful, thankful, and appreciative of our journey.
I would recommend Joan to anyone getting married in Wisconsin. She is a kind, thoughtful, and genuine soul who helped bring our wedding vision to life in a way that I’ll never forget.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 05/19/2023
Austin - thanks so much for sharing such a great story in your review! I knew I could cou...
nt on you to write an amazing post! I really enjoyed getting to know you and Meg. You had such a beautiful Door County wedding and I met so many wonderful people. Thanks for including me in your special day. You are an amazing couple.
Please stay in touch!!
Wishing you all the best!
Kind regards,
Joan
Georgia L
5.0
1/31/2023
Joan lead an intimate ceremony for a large wedding I photographed on New Year's Eve. Before the wedding, she went above and beyond by reaching out to me via email and introducing h...
erself + her plans for the ceremony time. She was very considerate day-of in asking if I needed anything from her, and being conscious of where she was standing in certain parts of the ceremony so I could get great shots of the couple. The ceremony was emotional and lovely! Would be happy to work with her again!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 07/03/2023
Hi Georgia - so sorry for the late response! I appreciate your review and it was great wo...
rking with you. Having a photographer that enjoys her work makes the day so much more fun. I look forward to working together in the future.
Have a great wedding season!
Kind regards,
Joan
Katie K
5.0
1/28/2023
We were looking for.just a simple license signing. Joan made even the most simple of scenarios feel special. She put us at ease and made us feel very comfortable, which allowed u...
s to soak in all the emotions of the day. She is experienced and makes the whole process very easy. We highly recommend!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 01/30/2024
Hi Katie - thanks for taking the time to write a kind review. I enjoyed meeting you and h...
elping to solidify your loving relationship. May your marriage be forever blessed. May your lives be filled with love and happiness.
Most kindly,
Joan
Zachary N
5.0
1/21/2023
Joan did a great job as our officiant. She made the process simple yet personal. We highly recommend Joan if you are looking for an officiant!
Sarah G
5.0
1/16/2023
Joan was an excellent celebrant who I would recommend to anyone. My husband and I had very specific requests for the cadence of the ceremony and Joan attended to those requests so ...
well. We appreciated her flexibility and guidance throughout the whole ceremony planning process. Our ceremony was personal, yet efficient (just what we wanted!).
Madeline F
5.0
1/10/2023
Joan was great to work with! She listened to what we wanted and provided advice/suggestions when we asked. Guests commented on how well she told our love story. Would definitely re...
commend for your wedding ceremony!
Catherine C
5.0
1/05/2023
Joan's tailored ceremony vows and structure were heart felt and exactly what my fiancee and I wanted. She was also very thoughtful and left us with a copy of our vows at the end ...
of the event. We highly recommend her as an officiant.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 01/05/2023
Thank you, Cathy and Mark, for taking the time to write a kind review. I enjoyed the inti...
macy of your wedding and sharing your loving story with your friends. Thank you for welcoming me into your home to share this special time with you all. Wishing you many more years of happiness.
Warm regards,
Joan
Rachel P
5.0
1/02/2023
Joan was such a wonderful addition to our wedding. She was able to guide us through the entire process of building a ceremony that felt personal to us. She was also effective in ma...
naging the crowd and wedding party for the rehearsal and day of. Our guests loved the ceremony as much as we did. We'd highly recommend Joan to any couple.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 01/02/2023
Hi Rachel and Matt - thanks for your review. You had an amazing wedding with picture perf...
ect weather and an absolutely stunning bride!!!! Everything was perfect! I was so happy to be there with you. What a wonderful story I got to tell...for a loving couple! Your families were awesome and so welcoming! Thank you!
I'm wishing you all the best and may your years be filled with health and happiness. You definitely are the perfect couple!
Warmest regards,
Joan
Sarah J
5.0
12/28/2022
We met Joan at a wedding expo prior to our wedding and KNEW we had to hire her! She was great throughout the entire process. She made sure our ceremony was special and exactly what...
we wanted! She really got to know us to ensure nothing was missed. I’ve had many friends and family members tell us that our ceremony was incredibly sincere. Our ceremony was extra special, and with Joan your ceremony can be extra special too!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/29/2022
Sarah and Brandon - your wedding was beautiful and I really enjoyed getting to know you bo...
th and spending time together to plan your ceremony. I wish you both all the best. Thank you for the kind review. I look forward to hearing about your adventures. Please stay in touch.
Warm regards,
Joan
Julia C
5.0
12/13/2022
Joan was amazing to work with! As a local wedding planner, I know the importance of working with good, quality vendors and Joan was so friendly, professional, and detail oriented....
She had amazing communication both beforehand and on the wedding day to make sure the ceremony ran smoothly. She also really tailored the ceremony to include the couple's love story and highlighted the unique aspects of their relationship which made the ceremony so personalized, fun, and interesting to listen to. She really gets to know the couple ahead of time which makes all the difference. I would highly recommend Joan and look forward to working with her again on future weddings!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/29/2022
Julia - thanks for the kind review. It was such a pleasure to work together at Casey and ...
Nick's wedding. You were detail oriented with a smile! I look forward to working with you again at another wedding. Kind regards! Joan
O & B Photo Co !
5.0
12/12/2022
We had such a lovely experience working with Joan! She officiated a wedding at The Legend at Bergamont in Oregon, WI and brought such joy to an already happy day! She reached out a...
head of time to introduce herself and to share her ceremony outline with us so we would know exactly what to expect. Her communication is amazing. Joan is detailed, kind, and such a warm soul. We cannot wait to work with her again!!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/12/2022
Olivia and Bryan - its so great to work with photographers that love what they do and brin...
g so much joy to the day. You were so much fun to work with at Shannon and Matt's wedding. Thank you for the kind words. You guys are amazing!!!!
Hope to work together again.
Warm regards,
Joan
Casey D
5.0
11/22/2022
We cannot say enough great things about Joan! She spent multiple sessions getting to know us and crafting and editing a ceremony that perfectly fit the kind of day we wanted to cre...
ate. Her ceremony was beautifully written - earnest, true to our personalities, and with some humor to keep it light. She was a great speaker and made us feel comfortable throughout. We were nervous but she was very good at cueing us and ensuring we didn’t miss a detail. We loved working with her and highly recommend her!
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/12/2022
Casey and Nick - you had the most amazing wedding! Paying attention to all the details.....
.making it feel 'homey' and intimate! It was all perfect! And what a wonderful story you had to tell. It was a delight and I was SO honored to be there with you both. I'm looking forward to staying in touch and finding out what life has in store for you both.
Warm regards,
Joan
Ambryn M
5.0
10/14/2022
Joan is truly a gift. She made our ceremony so personalized and heartfelt. Almost all of my guest commented about how Joan's words brought them to tears and how beautiful the cerem...
ony went. She really took the time to get to know us and walked us through the whole process. I could not be more thankful for her presence on our special day.
Response from Ceremonies by Joan on 12/29/2022
Ambryn and Collin - thanks for the kind review. You have a beautiful story to tell and an...
endearing love for each other. Your wedding day was perfect and Ambryn looked amazing. Love was in the air! Thank you for including me. It was truly an honor. I look forward to hearing about your adventures in the future.
Wishing you all the best!
Joan
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Ceremonies by Joan
Joan Fergus
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