Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
One of the greatest determiners of your happiness in life is the person you chose to marry. This magical, spiritual and love-filled choice of forever partner should be reflected in your wedding ceremony.
This means, that the special individual who conducts your wedding, who sets the tone, who provides caring oversight to the cadence of the flow, who officiates your ceremony is of prime importance.
After all, weddings are not simply a chance to celebrate the union of two lovers, but to give honor and thanks to the One who brought you together. Marriage is a deeply spiritual experience, and one that needs to be valued as such in ways that are comfortable, open and inclusive for your guests in celebration of what God has done in making two lives, one.
My name is Reverend Chris Yaw, ThM, MDiv. And my passion is bringing couples together in Christian marriage. In my 20 years of ordained ministry I’ve celebrated dozens of weddings domestically and internationally. I find few things as satisfying as bringing peace and calm to an admittedly stressful day, and allowing the light and joy of Christ to shine through two lovely people, enjoyed and celebrated.
I am happy to orchestrate themed weddings, same-gender weddings, and destination weddings. My services also include pre-marital counseling which helps deepen your relationship and offers the precious opportunity to create a bespoke ceremony weaving in your relationship story, family history, faith, and future dreams.
I truly love getting to know the couples that I have the privilege of marrying. Do not be surprised if we become longtime friends. This is more than a job for me, it is a vocation, a sacred calling to witness and to bless one of life's most sacred moments.
Please review my website for additional details, reviews, and rates. And if you sense that we are a good match, drop me a line, I would love to meet you and help you in your journey.
Reach out to get a customized quote from this undefined.
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Ceremony Types
Religious Ceremony
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Religious Affiliations
Christian
Catholic
Orthodox
Protestant
Quaker
Wedding Activities
Premarital Counseling
Wedding
Awards and Affiliations
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Meet the team
Fr. Chris Yaw
Owner
Weddings are a celebration of life's greatest relationships. If you want a joyful celebration where a couple is affirmed and blessed - by God, me, and all your guests - then you might like a wedding that I officiate. Before being ordained as an Episcopal priest some 20 years ago, I worked as a journalist. I have two Masters degrees in theology and enjoy telling the 'good news' of God through the love of newlyweds. I am married to the world's greatest wife, have 3 children, and am grateful our cat allows me to live under the same roof.
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Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0
23 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Fr. Chris Yaw received overwhelmingly positive reviews as a wedding officiant, with couples praising his warmth, humor, and ability to tailor ceremonies to their unique stories. Reviewers appreciated the personal touch he brought, blending traditional elements with personal touches that resonated with both the couples and guests. Fr. Chris was described as personable, knowledgeable, and thoughtful, with his guidance and presence adding a meaningful and memorable touch to wedding ceremonies. Couples highlighted his ability to create a ceremony that was spiritually meaningful, inclusive, and authentically reflected their beliefs and relationship.
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Megan H
5.0
4/09/2025
Fr. Chris is the BEST. We had the privilege of getting to know him for a while before wedding day and he is such a kind soul. He is relaxed, funny, charming and someone we genuinely enjoyed getting to know! He really took the time to get to know us and tailor our ceremony to our story. He helped bring peace to us during the stress of planning and my husband and I truly felt even more connected after speaking with him. He also improved my connection with God - I've always been Christian but life got crazy and I felt a bit lost for a while. I needed this to really build my relationship back up with God and find comfort through this whole process. Im excited to become more involved in church going forward thanks to Fr. Chris. Thank you for everything :)
Phoebe D
5.0
1/31/2025
Fr. Chris yaw is the absolute best! We thoroughly enjoyed our pre wedding sessions we had with him. They helped my husband and I grow even closer together. Fr. Chris is very personable and funny! Many laughs were shared at our wedding between my husband and I along with our guests. Everyone raved about him. You are very lucky if able to have Fr. Chris officiate your wedding! Best decision we made.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 01/31/2025
Phoebe!
I so enjoyed getting to know you and Jesse! And your family is absolutely terrific...
. Thank you for allowing me into this most intimate circle of friends - and of course your ceremony. I look forward to seeing you soon!
Any questions?
Shawn V
5.0
1/03/2025
Fr. Chris was absolutely amazing as our wedding officiant! He’s not only incredibly personable and easy to connect with, but he also went above and beyond to help us create a meaningful, blended-faith ceremony. His thoughtfulness and consideration truly stood out as he worked closely with us, dedicating so much time to understand us as a couple and sharing wisdom about marriage in general. His guidance and warmth made the entire experience so special, and he’s someone we truly admire. We couldn’t recommend him more highly!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 01/03/2025
Shawn and Anushka - This was one of the most incredible weddings I've ever been blessed to...
be a part of! I will never forget your creativity, attention to detail - and the wondrous blending of your families! I still wear the hat your dad gave me Shawn and look forward to getting together with you guys when you come to town. You are an amazing couple
Jonah W
5.0
10/21/2024
Fr. Yaw was a dream to work with throughout our time together. He officiated our wedding with great care and was eager to accommodate however he could to make our day as special as possible, I would happily hire him again!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/21/2024
Jonah you are too kind! You and your bride were a complete joy to be with - it was such an...
authentic ceremony and theme - I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to play this role in your lives!
Emily T
5.0
10/07/2024
Chris was a warm, intuitive and thoughtful officiant. He understood our relationship quickly and helped us navigate our marital journey.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/08/2024
Thank you so much Emily. It was a delight working with you and Bob, you're a sensational c...
ouple.
Matt K
5.0
10/07/2024
Fr. Chris Yaw was absolutely phenomenal as our wedding officiant! He was incredibly personable, making us and our guests feel warmly welcomed, and his touch of humor added just the right amount of lightheartedness to our ceremony. We couldn’t have asked for a more engaging and genuine presence to lead our special day!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/08/2024
Aw, Matt, thank's so much - you guys are an amazing couple - so talented and generous. I w...
ish you years of delight!
Carey K
5.0
10/07/2024
Fr. Chris Yaw was truly incredible and made our ceremony really special! His 1:1 workshops with us beforehand did a great job of preparing us for our big day and married life ahead. He is knowledgeable, passionate, and has a great sense of humor that makes you feel like you've known him your whole life. Thanks for making our day so amazing, Fr. Chris!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/08/2024
Carey, what can I say - you guys are such a natural couple - and your wedding was filled w...
ith love and delight before I was ever involved - a real joy to be with you in that special place!
Madison M
5.0
8/31/2024
Ft. Chris was everything that we imagined- relatable, trusting, wise and funny! Our wedding wouldn't have been the same without him.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/08/2024
Madison! Thank you so much for the kind words - you guys are a sensational couple and what...
a privilege to do this work with you. Thank YOU!
Samantha G
5.0
8/20/2024
Working with Fr. Chris was so wonderful! Not having a church in the area, we wanted to find an officiant that made us comfortable & help us take the next steps in our relationship. Fr. Chris was so kind & helpful. Our meetings with him made us feel so positive & excited for our big day! All of our family & guests also loved his personality & his attendance as our officiant at our wedding. He truly helped make our day perfect!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 08/23/2024
You guys are the best - what a blessed time we had at this fabulous venue - the only thing...
more beautiful was God's gift of love between you two.
Collin S
5.0
2/25/2024
Father Chris elevated our wedding ceremony to an unforgettable experience. His warm and charismatic presence immediately put everyone at ease, creating an atmosphere of joy and love. Father Chris seamlessly blended traditional elements with personal touches, crafting a ceremony that felt uniquely tailored to us as a couple. His eloquent words and genuine enthusiasm for our marriage resonated with both us and our guests, leaving a lasting impression. We are incredibly grateful to have had Father Chris as our officiant, making our wedding day not only beautiful but also spiritually meaningful.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 02/26/2024
Collin and Savanah - Thank you for such wonderful words! You guys are an amazing couple an...
d God is using you in invaluable and irreplaceable ways - I am so thankful to have met you and be in touch! Thanks for the opportunity!
Jasmine C
5.0
1/08/2024
Fr Yaw was personable, fun, and lively. He even helped us to think about how to approach milestones in the future while reminding us to be present. The day of the wedding he checked in and made sure both of us (bride & groom) had an understanding of the ceremony.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/08/2024
Jasmine - what a joy to be with you! I really enjoyed getting to know you and am looking f...
orward to hearing great things about the road ahead!
Priya K
5.0
12/18/2023
Father Chris did an amazing job with our ceremony! He really took the time to get to know us as a couple and as individuals. My husband and I were raised with two different faiths and are not necessarily the most religious. Father Chris gave our ceremony the best balance of traditional and non-traditional elements and it was beautifully personalized! We still have family members talking about how much they enjoyed the ceremony over a month later! Thank you Father Chris for the perfect wedding ceremony!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/08/2024
Priya - thank you for entrusting me with these truly sacred moments. I learned so much bei...
ng with you and will always remember your kindness and generosity.
Brittany G
5.0
12/01/2023
Preparing for our marriage and working with Chris to officiate our wedding was truly one of the best decisions we made throughout the wedding planning process! Fr Chris is the best - he's extremely knowledgable, kind, professional and helped make our wedding ceremony so special. We knew we wanted our wedding officiant to help make our marriage ceremony Christian faith-based, yet also personal and authentic to us. Chris did exactly that and more. Leading up to our wedding we met with Chris multiple times in person, even as an out-of-state couple! We met for multiple pre-marital sessions that were incredibly thought provoking, helpful and also allowed us time to all get to know eachother. Chris' homily day-of was a perfect blend of Christian teachings, personal to us and humor - exactly what we wanted. It was so special to us and we received countless compliments on our ceremony from our friends & family. I'd highly recommend working with Fr Chris to officiate your wedding!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 12/01/2023
Thanks so much Brittany! You and Connor are a delight and I look forward to staying in tou...
ch as your relationship continues to grow.
Monica & Marco C
5.0
10/09/2023
Marco and I cannot begin to express our respect and gratitude for Fr. Chris. His gentle, fun, and wise nature made us excited and comfortable as soon as we met. His blessings over us were so special because of who he is, not what he is. We enjoyed his company so much. Most importantly the most beautiful ceremony.. the one we dreamed of. Thank you Father Chris. I cannot wait to share the photos we have with you. We are blessed to have found you.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 12/01/2023
You guys are the best! I will never forget the great conversation - and the bread! Looking...
forward to keeping in touch.
Ellen B
5.0
10/08/2023
We are so grateful that Father Chris agreed to officiate our wedding. Father Chris was flexible and accommodating as we had a “surprise wedding” with 150 guests. The event was supposed to be a Couples Shower. Father Chris, was of course, in on the trick. An hour into this party, all were gathered around for a toast & a blessing. Then boom, the big reveal, this was actually the wedding! Father Chris helped ensure the wedding went smoothly, it was a beautiful ceremony. Father Chris has a great sense of humor and kept things moving along at a nice pace. So thrilled he officiated our wedding!! Mark and Ellen Buday
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 12/01/2023
What an amazing event this was! I've never seen such a surprise pulled off with such grace...
and elegance. You guys are the best! See you soon -
Maureen D
5.0
9/20/2023
Father Chris was wonderful! He married us 2 years ago and has periodically reached out over the past two years to check in. He is super genuine and we appreciated the role he played in our ceremony.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 12/01/2023
You are so kind. I really enjoyed getting to know you - and the ceremony was fantastic! Lo...
ok forward to cheering you on from the sidelines as your marriage grows!
Julie C
5.0
8/22/2023
Fr Chris is a MUST for your wedding day! He spent the time to get to know us and it came through in our ceremony!! He made sure it was a perfect day.
He not only created the perfect ceremony, but he provided guidance as we prepared for our lives together! Fr Chris is a gift!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 12/01/2023
Julie - thank you so much. It was an absolute delight to work with you guys through the un...
ique dynamics at play. I can't wait to toast you guys at Sylvan Table - and look forward to keeping in touch!
Mia D
5.0
3/14/2023
Fr. Chris was our wedding officiant for our October 2022 wedding. We originally had our wedding planned of August 2021 but COVID had other plans. Despite having to reschedule, Fr. Chris was incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the whole process. He went above and beyond to make our ceremony special and personalized to reflect our personal beliefs and us as a couple. I would definitely recommend having Fr. Chris be your wedding officiant. Thank you again, Chris!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 03/14/2023
Mia! Thank you for such kind words. You and Cameron are an amazing couple and are destined...
to do great things. What a privilege to officiate in such an iconic venue with such a loving crowd. What a gift it was to your mom and family!
Meghan J
5.0
11/06/2022
From our first meeting with his as a newly engaged couple we knew that he was the perfect person to marry us! He has a way with connecting with everyone in the room and makes everyone feel special and involved! So many friends and family have come up to us and have told us how beautiful the ceremony was and how personal it was to us as a couple. We are so grateful for Fr. Chris! Thank you for making our wedding day so special!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 11/14/2022
Thank you so much for the kind words Meghan! You guys are such a joy to be with - I was th...
e one blessed here.
Matt M
5.0
10/18/2022
Father Chris was awesome! Just a great guy through and through. Attentive, personable, caring, and insightful from the first day to the last. Chris worked with us extensively to ensure there was a personal touch to our wedding and not just a color-by-numbers, one size fits all approach. We couldn't be more grateful for the care and love that Father Chris showed us from the first time we walked through his door, to the final walk up the aisle!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/18/2022
Matt! What kind words. Marrying you and Julia was an unforgettable experience. The Packard...
Proving Ground reception was brilliant, but what else from such a creative couple? Looking forward to crossing paths again soon.
Christopher D
5.0
10/09/2022
From the moment we asked Fr Chris to marry us, to the “I now pronounce you Man and Wife” moment, we were thrilled with our decision to have him officiate our wedding.
Step One was counseling. We had planned on this as well and Fr Chris offered some do-at-home tasks in addition: Question and Answer games to entice deep conversations about real life situations. He made it fun and he made it meaningful. We continue learning about ourselves and each other today.
Step Two was the ceremony. Churches, temples and society all have traditional ideas of what the ceremony should be. Our ideas were different. Within those restraints, Fr Chris made our ceremony very personal and just a bit outside the box.
Step Three is follow-through. The several hours that fly by on wedding day are only a flash of what marriage is. The lessons learned prior, the inquisitive discussions later, and an always open ear make our relationship with each other a growing process. Fr Chris always shows interest in how we are doing as a couple and on our own.
I can’t say enough how thrilled we are that Fr. Chris personally took care of the spiritual, (and some of the legal) parts of our wedding.
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/18/2022
Chris - What amazing words here - thank you. As you know, I am such a fan of you and Ellie...
. You created such a unique and personable ceremony. I look forward to many more good times together!
Sara K
5.0
9/29/2022
My husband and I loved having Father Yaw as our officiant. He was the perfect blend of religious and laid back. He really got to know us and made us feel special. Everyone at our wedding raved about how good he was
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/18/2022
Thank you Sara! You and David were an absolute joy to work with. I can't wait to see what ...
God has in store for your marriage.
Devin N
5.0
9/29/2022
Fr. Chris was an incredible addition to our wedding planning process and wedding day. He went above and beyond to get to know my husband and I in the months leading up to the wedding. He was flexible, responsive, inclusive, caring, and genuine in his approach. We will remember Fr. Chris's homily for the rest of our lives - it was personalized and touching. I would wholeheartedly recommend any engaged couples work with Fr. Chris for their wedding!
Response from Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant on 10/18/2022
Aw! Such kind words. I will always remember this beautiful wedding - not to mention the te...
nnis court rehearsal! I know the good times will go on and on for you and Teddy.
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Fr. Chris Yaw, Wedding Officiant
Fr. Chris Yaw
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