Your wedding ceremony, your way!
I will travel ! Let’s talk about your destination dreams.
Service area
Rachel Reiss
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Located in Woodstock, NY, Custom Weddings by Rachel is a wedding officiant who creates personalized, one-of-a-kind ceremonies for nearlyweds in the Hudson Valley and beyond. She crafts scripts with each couple's unique preferences, personality, and love story in mind. Rachel works closely with to-be-weds, ensuring that every element of their ceremony does justice to the magic of their love. Ask about day-of wedding coordination services, too!
To build ceremony scripts that genuinely reflect their character, Rachel pays special attention to her relationship with her clients. She offers a complimentary initial consultation where couples can establish their needs, ask questions, and get to know this warm and professional officiant. This personal connection allows Rachel to better understand nearlyweds' relationships, and she tailors every script to incorporate personal details and other special touches.
Depending on your preferences, the first consultation can occur either in person or online. Once Rachel builds the ceremony, couples have a chance to review and edit the script to ensure perfection in every word. Whatever your vision for your ceremony, Custom Weddings by Rachel will work to create an event that's as special as you are.
Ask me about script-only services and pricing if you’re planning to be married by a loved one and need some help with the ceremony how-to’s.
Need help with day-of the ceremony organization? Want to be worry free and just enjoy your day? Ask me how I can help take all the stress out of your day. Day-of-wedding coordination is one of my specialties!
Woman-owned Business
7+ years in business
Details
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Religious Affiliations
Christian
Interfaith
Jewish
Secular
Spiritual
Wedding Activities
Wedding
Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Rachel Reiss
Owner
With over 25 years of book publishing experience, words mean everything to me. When I got married in the midst of COVID lockdown, I didn’t stop to think about the importance of “who” married us. I missed an opportunity to make a very special moment in my life even more memorable and personal, and that regret led me to creating Custom Weddings. I love to celebrate couples, and to give them the special experience they deserve as they begin their life together is an honor.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.08 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
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Alexa A
5.0
11/15/2024
Hiring Rachel was the best decision we made for our wedding ceremony! At first I was unsure if I would need a coordinator for the day, and looking back I am so happy I connected wi...
th Rachel. From our very first meeting, she was organized, attentive, and truly invested in making our day everything we dreamed of. I honestly only needed to hire someone to coordinate at my church, as the reception was mostly taken care of by my venue. It was shockingly difficult to find someone to only work a half-day but Rachel was more than happy to take on the job. One of the primary things I needed her to do was to take down some large decorations like a floral arch and make sure that it was put in the correct car of someone who would take it to the reception venue and the original plan was for some of the smaller decore to be taken down by me the follow week when I returned from our wedding- however, it wasn’t until the day before our wedding I learned there was a funeral scheduled immediately following our ceremony and the priest wanted every bit of wedding decor removed. I told Rachel this and she immediately pivoted from our original plan and the second our ceremony was over she quickly and efficiently took down and packed up EVERYTHING we had set up in the church. Absolute lifesaver!
She helped guests upon arrival, made sure they were seated and had a ceremony program. She even handled the arrival of a food truck during our ceremony. Needless to say there were a lot of moving parts during the ceremony and Rachel made sure that I was able to just enjoy my wedding and not have to worry about these things. Which ultimately really is what you want from your wedding day. Rachel was kind, helpful, very professional, and met all my needs. Would recommend! :)
raquel w
5.0
4/23/2024
Rachel is the best friend, mom, sister and sound board you want on your side when the wedding planning gets heavy , she will help any time of the day
One of Rachel's most remarka...
ble qualities is her ability to truly connect with the couples she works with. From our very first meeting, she took the time to get to know us as individuals and as a couple, listening attentively to our love story, our values, and our vision for our wedding day. This personal touch made all the difference, as Rachel was able to tailor every aspect of our ceremony to reflect who we are and what we cherish most about our relationship.
Rachel's professionalism and attention to detail are amazing! She guided us through every step of the ceremony planning process with grace and expertise, offering invaluable advice and suggestions along the way. Her calm and reassuring presence helped alleviate any pre-wedding jitters, allowing us to fully relax and enjoy our special day knowing that we were in capable hands.
During the ceremony itself, Rachel's passion for her craft shone through in every word she spoke. Her eloquent delivery and heartfelt sincerity brought tears to our eyes and warmth to our hearts. She seamlessly blended traditional elements with personalized touches, creating a ceremony that was both timeless and uniquely ours.
What truly sets Rachel apart, however, is her genuine warmth and kindness. She approaches her role not just as a job but as a privilege, and her genuine love for what she does is evident in every interaction. Rachel doesn't just officiate weddings; she helps create magical moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.
In conclusion, Rachel is more than just a great officiant; she is a true gem who has a gift for turning dreams into reality. Her passion, professionalism, and personal touch make her an absolute joy to work with, and we feel incredibly grateful to have had her be a part of our special day. If you're looking for an officiant who will exceed your expectations and create a ceremony that is truly unforgettable, look no further than Rachel. She is, without a doubt, one of the best in the business.
Any questions?
Heather F
5.0
1/26/2023
My husband and I always pictured a friend officiating our wedding: someone who got us as humans, could weave together the details of our story & speak eloquently with a warm energy...
. From the moment we reached out to Rachel, we knew she was the right pick. She's all of the above and more.
She took the time to learn about how Tom and I met and made sure the ceremony truly felt like a reflection of us. She’s patient and quick to respond when we had questions, and she’s clearly passionate about her work.
We couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful officiant on our wedding day. We are so grateful to Rachel for her ability to listen and put together our story in such a beautiful way—she helped us create our dream ceremony!
Emily F
5.0
10/18/2022
Rachel went above and beyond for my husband and I when we found ourselves suddenly without an officiant 2.5 weeks before our wedding. She worked closely with us to design the cerem...
ony of our dreams and was meticulous about the details. We are so grateful that she took the stress out of the situation we were facing. We could not have had a better experience — I would highly recommend her!
Kosmas K
5.0
6/14/2022
My (now) wife and I wanted a procedural ceremony since we will be having a symbolic ceremony abroad. Rachel was very easy to work with, and managed to make the ceremony both meanin...
gful and straightforward. And she is genuinely good person! Highly recommended!
Kristi C
5.0
4/18/2022
Rachel of Custom Weddings is THE BEST!!! She was so responsive, kind, and made our day just wonderful and stress-free. We didn't even know that the structure of our ceremony would ...
make all the difference, though she seemed to understand exactly what we both wanted out of the day. She was also incredibly responsive and punctual. Rachel goes the extra mile in the little details and it shows. We HIGHLY recommend her services!
Andrea M
5.0
4/15/2022
We are so grateful that we found Rachel to marry us! My wife and I had very different ideas of how we wanted to get married, but one thing we did agree on was that we had our heart...
s set on an experience that was uniquely ‘us’. She took time to sit down with us and explore what our individual visions were and find places that blended perfectly. The result was a moving experience. We couldn’t have dreamed up something better. Her energy is infectious and her love of her work is clear. Do yourself a favor and book her!
David L
5.0
4/01/2022
We absolutely could not have been happier with Rachel and Custom Weddings. My wife and I had a decent idea what to expect when choosing a caterer, florist, etc., but we knew less ...
than nothing about creating our wedding ceremony. Rachel sat down with us and walked us through the process of designing a ceremony that was absolutely perfect for us. She presented us with so many options for all of the different sections of the ceremony that we felt as though the script had been written just for us. Not only that, but Rachel's delivery was flawless; she was professional and well-spoken, but also included just enough humor to calm our nerves. If you want an officiant who will work with you to make your wedding perfect, then look no further! Rachel was the perfect choice for our ceremony, and we can't recommend her highly enough.
Service area & Contact info
I will travel ! Let’s talk about your destination dreams.
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Custom Weddings by Rachel
Rachel Reiss
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Owner
Typically responds within 24h
Wedding vendors in Woodstock
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