Personalized, Hilarious, Professional Ceremonies
$800 starting price
NY
Service area
Christopher Shelley
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (13X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
I'm Chris Shelley. Illuminating Ceremonies is my wedding officiating business in New York City, NY. I also serve Cincinnati, Ohio, and travel around the country, thrilling wedding guests. Would you like your wedding ceremony to be personalized and fun? I aim to make your wedding ceremony the best one your guests have ever seen. The Rachael Ray Show producers asked me to create their Valentine's Day Weddings four years in a row! I love this work. My Book, 'Best. Ceremony. Ever.' (The Countryman Press, W.W. Norton) is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I've married over a thousand people to each other: will you and your partner be my next two?
Whether you're planning a big wedding with hundreds of guests or a micro wedding for only a handful, an experienced professional with a tremendous stage presence can electrify your ceremony. Reassure yourselves and give your guests something to talk about. I am a Celebrant, MC, and mood booster rolled into one vendor. My passion is connecting the joy of the wedding ceremony to the pleasure of the wedding celebration.
I'm also a speaker and a member of the National Speaker's Association. I work with students and employees to boost their confidence, speak better, and present themselves more dynamically in a fun session I call 'PEOPLE SKILLS LIVE.' I also talk to DJs at mastermind events, coaching them to improve their personalization game. My goal is to revolutionize how people view the Celebrant's role beyond the ceremony, to see us for the asset we are for the entire wedding celebration. Weddings are theater, and the ceremony is a play-within-the-play. A good celebrant can work with your planner and other vendors to unify the theme of the evening, find new and imaginative ways to connect guests and celebrate the couple. It's essential to hire a professional officiant. I'm biased, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. It's tempting, financially, to hire a friend to officiate, but the misconception is that this is the only way to have a personal wedding. Not true! A trained Celebrant like me makes ceremonies that are so personal your guests will assume I'm a friend of yours. It's a neat magic trick. Your guests will love you for hiring someone who makes them smile, laugh, and not cry too much. They'll thank you for hiring someone who knew what he was doing and how to make the event electric and entertaining while still having the class to match the elegance of any venue. Plus, I look good in a suit. (I make sure I never look better than the bride.) And I'm probably older than you are, which gives me a vaguely authoritative vibe, something that will reassure your parents.
Prices & packages
Simple Chris - for Elopers Only
$500 starting price
Simple Chris - for Elopers Only
$500 starting price
Contact for hours
Contact for hours
Adisement on Rituals/Etiquette
Adisement on Rituals/Etiquette
Coordination with other vendors
Coordination with other vendors
A simple, non-personalized ceremony
A simple, non-personalized ceremony
My travel to your venue and back
My travel to your venue and back
My signature on your license
My signature on your license
Most popular
.The Full Chris
$800 starting price
The Full Chris
$800 starting price
Contact for hours
Contact for hours
Writing your ceremony, including a full LOVE STORY
Writing your ceremony, including a full LOVE STORY
Advisement on Rituals
Advisement on Rituals
Processional/recessional planning
Processional/recessional planning
Coordination with the other vendors
Coordination with the other vendors
Multiple drafts of the ceremony
Multiple drafts of the ceremony
Rehearsal within 2 hours of the ceremony
Rehearsal within 2 hours of the ceremony
My signature on your license
My signature on your license
My travel to your venue and back
My travel to your venue and back
Showing slides 1 to 2 out of 2
- Simple Chris - for Elopers Only$500 starting priceSimple Chris - for Elopers Only$500 starting priceContact for hoursContact for hoursAdisement on Rituals/EtiquetteAdisement on Rituals/EtiquetteCoordination with other vendorsCoordination with other vendorsA simple, non-personalized ceremonyA simple, non-personalized ceremonyMy travel to your venue and backMy travel to your venue and backMy signature on your licenseMy signature on your license
- Most popular.The Full Chris$800 starting priceThe Full Chris$800 starting priceContact for hoursContact for hoursWriting your ceremony, including a full LOVE STORYWriting your ceremony, including a full LOVE STORYAdvisement on RitualsAdvisement on RitualsProcessional/recessional planningProcessional/recessional planningCoordination with the other vendorsCoordination with the other vendorsMultiple drafts of the ceremonyMultiple drafts of the ceremonyRehearsal within 2 hours of the ceremonyRehearsal within 2 hours of the ceremonyMy signature on your licenseMy signature on your licenseMy travel to your venue and backMy travel to your venue and back
- Starting prices may not include all fees a vendor may charge.
- Couples usually spend $1,100
Are you interested?
Reach out and share your wedding details.
Details
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Religious Affiliations
Interfaith
Spiritual
Wedding Activities
Wedding
Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Christopher Shelley
Owner
Chris Shelley knocks wedding ceremonies out of the park and blows guests' minds. He mixes personalization with expert writing and perfect timing. Chris has performed weddings all over the country and on The Rachael Ray Show. He is the only person who has Emceed a memorial service for Joan Rivers' dog on television, or anywhere. Chris is a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant, a member of the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO) and a Certified Professional Wedding Officiant (CPWO).
Availability
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0283 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.
Chris stands out as an exceptional wedding officiant, praised by various couples for creating personalized, engaging, and heartwarming ceremonies that beautifully capture their love stories. Both professional and personable, Chris impresses with his attention to detail, humor, and ability to connect with guests, making each ceremony unique and unforgettable. Couples appreciate his thorough questionnaire process, seamless coordination on the wedding day, and skill in blending humor and heartfelt messaging. Highly recommended for couples seeking a memorable, tailor-made ceremony that showcases their relationship with warmth and creativity.Review photos
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Taylor C
5.0
1/21/2025
I am so glad we had Chris officiate our ceremony. Beyond his questionnaire, he took the time to meet us in Manhattan to get to know us a bit better as a couple. He was able to understand what we wanted and didn’t in a ceremony. Chris’ script was personal, lighthearted, and really captured our story the way we wanted it conveyed. Chris collaborated with us to make sure we were on board with the script and that it covered everything we wanted. He even worked with us and our band to coordinate the Jeopardy song to give guests 30 seconds of photos before the unplugged ceremony kicked in. He also included some personal advice about married life for us in the ceremony (while planned in the script, the advice itself was kept as a nice surprise for us to hear at the altar). Our guests loved him too – we got a good number of compliments about Chris’ ceremony during cocktail hour and a few questions about how we know him. Guests assumed he was a long-time friend based on how personalized he made our ceremony. Chris truly did a great job of making our ceremony unique to us, fun, and heartfelt!
response 01/21/2025
Thank you Taylor! You really had the full experience with me, and I'm happy to hear that y...
ou enjoyed how it all paid off. It was a pleasure working with you and I wish you years of happiness!!!
Brittany P
5.0
1/19/2025
We found Chris on YouTube while searching for an officiant who could make our DC wedding in November 2024 truly special—and he exceeded all our expectations! From the start, Chris was an expert partner in helping us bring our ceremony vision to life.
He guided us through a fun and insightful couples questionnaire, including some secret questions that added a personal and unexpected touch. His insights, humor, and charisma shone through in every interaction, making the planning process smooth and enjoyable.
On the big day, Chris delivered a ceremony that was everything we dreamed of: intimate, special, and light-hearted. It was the perfect blend of tears, laughter, and joy—a true reflection of our relationship and the love we share.
We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant and would wholeheartedly recommend Chris to any couple looking for someone who can beautifully balance professionalism, warmth, and creativity. Thank you, Chris, for making our wedding day unforgettable!
response 02/10/2025
Thank you Brittnay! I'm so glad that all of the work paid off. It was lovely to work with ...
both of you and such a treat to do a DC wedding. Best of luck to both of you!
Any questions?
Alexis C
5.0
12/09/2024
We are so lucky to have had Chris officiate our wedding in July! Throughout the wedding process Chris took the time to get to know us and our story, and he incorporated special bits about our relationship into his story telling. It felt like we were being married by a family friend—so special and authentic. We would recommend Chris to anyone who is looking for a special officiant who really cares about his couples. Thank you, Chris, for making our day so special!
response 02/10/2025
Thank you, Alexis! I'm so glad that the process I had with you worked out so well. For me,...
by the time the wedding arrives, I feel like I'm a family friend, not just a hired person. It was wonderful to work with you both and I wish you a long, happy marriage.
Anthony D
5.0
11/04/2024
Chris was absolutely sensational!! We are so happy we found Chris! His attention to detail was incredible. Perfect balance of story telling, humor and professionalism. He connected with crowd extremely well! Our guests even requested him to renew their vows! Which he did. Chris made our day so special and so luckily he was available. 10/10 and 6 Stars!!!! Highly recommend!
response 02/10/2025
Thank you Anthony! Yes, I did end up doing a vow renewal ceremony for two of your guests, ...
at their home, which was an incredible honor. Thank you for these kind words, and best of luck to you both!
Allison M
5.0
11/01/2024
we are SO lucky to have found chris and to have used him for our wedding on october 11, 2024! my husband and i had so much fun filling out his questionnaire which really helps him to understand the couple and their love story on a deeper level. he then takes the questionnaire to create a cohesive, beautiful script which you can edit to your liking, and then you can offer feedback and he will execute any adjustments you'd like. we also met chris for coffee one morning which helped him to get to know us even better! our love story is incredibly special to us and chris absolutely NAILED it on our wedding day. we had multiple people approach us throughout the night saying it was the best ceremony they had ever been to, and let me tell you, it really WAS!! hiring a professional officiant truly makes such a difference. he helps with rehearsal and the flow of the ceremony, and handles everything with your marriage license too! the ceremony was such a highlight of our wedding day. THANK YOU CHRIS :)
response 02/10/2025
Thank you Allison! The process really works! Essentially, we could define the process as '...
Couples Make a New Friend Who Happens to be a Wedding Professional'. By the time the wedding day arrives, I am 100% psyched and committed to making the ceremony great for you because you feel like friends to me. Anyway - thank you so much for your kind words!
Lindsay K
5.0
10/28/2024
We highly recommend hiring Chris as your officiant. All of our guests raved about his ceremony being one of the best they have ever heard. Chris blends humor with heartfelt, personal messaging that truly spoke to us a couple. He got to know our love story and beautifully shared it with our guests. If you are looking for an officiant, look no further!
response 02/10/2025
Thank you so much, Lindsay! Your wedding was beautiful. I love remembering that fine Octob...
er night. Your family and friends were so welcoming to me and I will always appreciate being a part of your wedding. Good luck to both of you always!
Maddie C
5.0
7/24/2024
Chris was incredible to work with! He put together the most beautiful, personal ceremony for my husband and I, and really helped us both to feel at ease on the day of our wedding. Strongly recommend hiring him to officiate your ceremony!
response 07/24/2024
Thank you very much, Maddie!
Lily L
5.0
7/03/2024
I cannot say enough amazing things about Chris!! He came super highly recommended by our planner so we felt lucky to be able to book him for our date. From the first meeting, Chris was engaging and fun, yet professional and had a clear process that he explained to us. That process, included questions that dove deep into our relationship and love story and was extremely fun for us to complete. As I look back, his process feels like a super special part of the planning process. The came wedding day…. Chris was phenomenal!!! The ceremony was so fun and exactly our vibe. He involved our guests the perfect amount and the ceremony felt so special and exactly what we wanted. Multiple guests raved about him, but beyond that, told me they got a chance to talk with him afterwards which I thought was so special that he stayed and engaged with guests. I would rate him more than five stars if I could, book Chris Shelley!!!
response 07/03/2024
Wow, thank you Lily! Your wedding team was extraordinary, the venue was gorgeous and the v...
iew was incredible. What a great night. I loved engaging with your guests at cocktail hour! That's so fun for me. It's like doing roving crowd work and it's so fun. And I got to eat sushi at the same time. Thank you so much and best wishes to you both!
Shelby M
5.0
7/03/2024
If Chris is available on your big day, look no further and just book him. We were so unsure of where to turn as we are not religious so we didn't have a preacher but also didn't have any family or friends we could visualize to do our ceremony, which so many people do now (Hire the pro!). I'm so so glad we found him! Chris is great because he does a great non-religious ceremony, under 30 minutes (what we wanted), and is so engaging, funny and easy to work with. Our guests loved our ceremony so much and wondered how we knew him (spoiler alert: we didn't know each other before we booked him for our wedding) because he made our ceremony so personal and told our beautiful love story so masterfully. After speaking with Chris my now husband and I both immediately wanted to move forward with him. After booking we got a somewhat long questionnaire, parts were for both of us to fill out together and we each had other parts that we filled out individually telling our version of our love story in our own words which made for a quite fun ceremony. While the questionnaire was long it was necessary to have the personalized ceremony we both wanted. We were able to meet with him in person when he was in Cincinnati, he also works in NYC, for another wedding and he is such a joy to be around. Once he was done with our ceremony he sent us a draft and we made a few small adjustments but it was PERFECT. Chris also ran our rehearsal and he did amazing organizing everyone and making sure that people knew what they needed to do. The ceremony couldn't have been more perfect on our wedding day, he has great timing, he is funny, engaging and had about 75% of our guests crying by the end. The video of our ceremony gets me misty every time. Thank you again Chris!
response 02/10/2025
Thank you, Shelby! I love this review. I laughed at 'somewhat long questionnaire' - believ...
e me, I need to know most of what I ask! I am always trying to trim that questionnaire down, but it's much better for me to have more information than less. I'm so happy that you enjoyed working with me because I certainly enjoyed working with you. Your wedding was great fun. Your venue was lovely. I can't wait to go back to the Lytle Park Hotel again. Just a great experience all around. Good luck to both of you ad infinitum!!!
M K
5.0
6/22/2024
Chris was fantastic--all of our guests were effusive about him after the ceremony and we were still getting rave reviews from our guests about him weeks later. He is incredibly thoughtful and diligent in preparing the speech for the ceremony and everyone felt like he really knew us and captured our relationship.
response 06/25/2024
Thank you so much! Your wedding was one of the best ones I ever did. And your families and...
friends are so nice!
Karli C
5.0
5/29/2024
We recently had the pleasure of having Chris as our wedding officiant, and we couldn’t be happier with our choice. From start to finish, he was exactly what we needed. Chris was incredibly easy to work with, making the entire process simple and stress-free for us.
Chris is not only a consummate professional but also a genuinely great person. His warmth and charisma shone through during our ceremony, which was perfect in every way. We couldn't have asked for more or less; it was just right.
Our guests have been raving about Chris ever since the wedding, and we completely understand why. His ability to connect with everyone and make the ceremony so special was truly remarkable.
If you are looking for an officiant who will make your wedding day unforgettable, look no further than Chris. We highly recommend him!
response 05/29/2024
Thank you, Karli! What a fun night that was. I'm so glad that all of the hard work paid o...
ff!
Robert D
5.0
5/13/2024
Christopher Shelley was the best. Every wedding should have an officiant like Christopher Shelley.
He asks you a bunch of questions and incorporates this into your wedding vows. This so key for him to weave this great story about you and your partner.
He will make people Laugh and Cry as he weaves your love story.
There just is not enough praise I can give to Chris.
He made something that some people might consider stressful though wonderful, fun and wonderful.
response 05/13/2024
Thank you so much Robert! It was a wonderful evening and I'm so glad that I got to be a pa...
rt of it. Best of luck to both of you!
Dean C
5.0
5/12/2024
Choosing Chris as our officiant was one of the most extraordinary decisions we made for our wedding. From the outset, his comprehensive questionnaire made it clear that he was dedicated to understanding each of us and our love story in depth. Chris crafted a ceremony that was not only deeply personal but also incredibly engaging, striking the perfect balance between humor and heartfelt emotion. He honored our cultural traditions with such grace and respect, making the ceremony uniquely ours. Our guests were enchanted, with many remarking on how Chris seemed to know us intimately, capturing the essence of our relationship flawlessly. His ceremony script was exquisite, and his delivery was nothing short of captivating. If you are seeking an officiant who will create a ceremony that is profoundly moving, unforgettable, and tailored to your unique love story, look no further than Chris. He is the gold standard in officiating and will undoubtedly bring your wedding vision to life and then some, your ceremony will feel like something out of a movie. Highly recommended for couples who want nothing but the best for their special day!
response 05/12/2024
Dean, I'm almost crying reading this review. Thank you. I put so much work into these cere...
monies and I'm so glad the work is paying off. You were both wonderful to work with, true gems of collaborators, and this is an exceptionally collaborative process. Thank you so much for choosing me and letting me be a part of your big day. You both have a wonderful life ahead of you.
Ameena K
5.0
4/24/2024
Chris was our officiant for our March 2024 wedding, and we were very impressed with him! From the start, he was prompt and professional in his email responses. The couples questionnaire he sends you to get to know the couple was very thorough and the script is very detailed. On the day-of, he arrived promptly and coordinated with the other vendors. During our ceremony, he rolled with unexpected wind and red fireworks, making the ceremony seamless. Several of our guests told us they were impressed with Chris. Could not have asked for a better officiant.
response 04/24/2024
Thank you so much, Ameena!!! It was an honor to be your officiant and I hope the rest of t...
he wedding went well. Best of luck to you and Nick!
Tiff H
5.0
2/27/2024
Chris was amazing! He officiated our wedding in January 2024. He was very well spoken and easy to work with. He made the whole process smooth and easy. We appreciated how flexible he was with us regarding our busy work schedules and really tried to get to know us. He made sure we were all on the same page with regards to what will be said. Our friends and family gave many compliments for Chris. We highly recommend Chris!
Elina B
5.0
2/21/2024
Chris officiated our 1/20/24 wedding. He did a fantastic job, people laughed, people cried, and everyone asked about him afterwards. He came highly recommended on just about every website I found him on, and for good reason! His process is great, he's asks the right questions and wants feedback about what he will say. He wanted to make sure our ceremony had the vibe we wanted. He arrived early, was flexible with the plan making sure everyone knew what they were doing. Would highly recommend his services.
response 02/21/2024
Thank you so much, Elina! Your wedding was a gem, a bright spot in a cold cold winter. Con...
gratulations and thank you again for letting me be a part of your day.
Kory S
5.0
1/20/2024
Chris was absolutely amazing! We didn't have anyone specific in mind to officiate our wedding and we were a bit worried about going with someone "random." Chris put our minds at ease when we first met with him. His process makes it feel like he has known you for a long time and that was reflected in our ceremony. He did a great job of balancing humor while still maintaining the importance of the moment we were in. So many of our guests came up to us asking who he was and how we knew him saying he did a great job. He is absolutely worth hiring and we are so glad we did!
Brandon B
5.0
1/16/2024
Fan Favorite!
Chris was absolutely the best! My wife and I got married in September and had no idea who we were going to have officiate our wedding. After doing some research I found Chris with glowing reviews, and he delivered. After not having time to connect with my wife and I prior to the wedding (our schedule was impossible) he had everyone in attendance thinking we've known him for years. His process was perfection and delivered a speech that brought tears, laughter and love to the room. He has been a topic of conversation since our wedding and was truly a hit!
We can't recommend him enough for making our day perfect!
response 01/16/2024
Thank you Brandon! I'll never forget when everyone in the wedding party jammed into your h...
otel suite with us to watch the pre-ceremony license-signing. Your family and friends were so cool, so kind and 200% committed to making the day awesome for you.. but they made it incredible for me too and I will always remember that. What a great night.
Natalie H
5.0
12/29/2023
Five stars doesn't begin to reflect how wonderful Chris was to work with. We are not a conventional couple; mature in years and young at heart, so we wanted an officiate that would help us plan a ceremony that reflects our personalities. From the very beginning we knew we had found the perfect match with Chris.
The communication from our first meeting to our last was amazing. The detailed questionnaire helped Chris to get to know us on a deeper level and was key to the ceremony that Chris wrote. It was OUR story, full of laughter, poignant moments, and pure joy. Chris listens to the bride and groom's ideas and gently guides them to create the perfect ceremony. We were able to review the script and tweak it until it was perfect. His idea to engage the guests and make them part of the ceremony was incredible and so memorable, from our flower "dude" to the one minute of selfies at the beginning of the ceremony, our guest knew this wasn’t going to be a traditional wedding.
We heard over and over from our guests, how did you find him? He was amazing. Even other vendors said that this was the best wedding they had ever been to. What a wonderful compliment. I know it is a day WE will always remember and thanks to Chris our guests will too.
Thank you, Chris, from the bottom of our hearts!
response 12/29/2023
Natalie! What a way to end the year - with a sublime review from my couple of the year. I'...
ve told so many people about your wedding, using it as an example of how to use personal touches, how to re-imagine the ceremony space, how to create clean visual lines and balance those poignant moments with humorous ones. Your wedding was a clinic in personalization, and the two of you were the perfect example of gracious hosts, not just for your guests but for your vendors. YOUR communication was tremendous from the beginning and all of us knew we were a part of something really special that day. Wedding of the year, 2023, hands down. I love you both. Thank you again and let's please stay in touch.
Chris Z
5.0
12/28/2023
Chris Shelley impressed everybody (my wife and me included) at the wedding. It was an amazing performance by him - with his voice, humor, and thoughtfulness - without taking the spotlight away from my wife and me. Chris has an excellent handle on every minutia of the ceremony, both the expected and the potentially unexpected. Apart from being very familiar with our venue (shown in a lot of his pictures), he did an excellent job coordinating with our harpest on the day of which was another highlight of his performance.
Chris crafted a detailed plan to ensure the ceremony would go smoothly which also made my wife and me at ease and enjoying the event. He sent us a detailed list of questions to understand our story and details of the event (to be filled out ~2 months prior to our wedding), and then worked with us over a number of iterations until we found the script perfect. Throughout the entire preparation process, Chris was generous with his time and met us in person a month ahead of our wedding to get to know us better, talk through any concerns/questions we had, and offered his encouragement as well as additional suggestions. Further, he was extremely reliable throughout our interaction and always early to our appointments.
Chris surely set the bar very high for officiants. A lot of our guests came to us asking how/where we could find such an exceptional officiant that made the event so touching and memorable right from the start. We were lucky to have had Chris referred to us by our friends who worked with him at their wedding, and we 1000% recommend him without any reservation.
Victoria C
5.0
12/08/2023
Chris was exceptional! The ceremony was absolutely perfect and our guests loved every minute of it. It was light-hearted, funny, and heart-warming. He took our journey together and transformed it into a beautiful (and comical) love story- good, bad, and awkward moments included. We are so grateful to him for sharing our love story with those nearest and dearest to us in a way we never could have. He made our day truly memorable.
Marissa C
5.0
11/30/2023
Chris was an amazing officiant for the best night of our lives. We can't thank him enough for making our ceremony such a memorable - and fun :D - experience for us and all of our guests. We would highly recommend his services to any couple who wants a personalized and well thought out ceremony with plenty of laughs included
response 11/30/2023
Thank you Marissa! It seemed like the build-up to your wedding was so long - and it was, o...
ver a year -- so to see it through to its beautiful realization was a sublime experience. I'm so happy that I got to officiate for you. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding.
Rebecca S
5.0
11/22/2023
We are so incredibly lucky that we came across Chris in our search for an officiant. Our ceremony was the highlight of our wedding and so special due to Chris’s creativity and inventive way of approaching ceremonies! He’s a beautiful writer that both wrote and narrated our love story for our guests. The ceremony was a perfect balance of laughter and more sentimental moments. So many of our guests remarked that our ceremony was one of the best ones they have ever been to and my husband and I can attest to that because it was hands down our favorite part of our wedding! We also had the opportunity to speak with Chris and meet him in person before the wedding. He was very open to the ideas we had and vision we had for the ceremony that were important to us. Chris has changed the game for how wedding ceremonies can be imagined and we couldn’t speak more highly of our experience working with him!
response 11/22/2023
Thank you so much, Rebecca! Your wedding was so interesting, culturally and by location - ...
not often you get to play with a wedding ceremony on a boat during a rainstorm! I loved being part of your wedding and I wish you much happiness.
Briana L
5.0
11/21/2023
We don't have enough good things to say about Chris. Not only was our ceremony fantastic, but he really did go out of his way to get to know us. He made our ceremony so personal, with a perfect mix of whit, humor, sincerity and charm. He made our guests laugh and cry. We got so many compliments - it will be a ceremony we'll remember for the rest of our lives.
response 11/21/2023
Thank you Briana! Your wedding was a gala five-star event and I'm so glad I got to be a pa...
rt of it. But the best part was you and Brendan sharing your story with me and then trusting me with it. I wish the best for both of you!
Tara P
5.0
11/01/2023
Highly recommend Chris!
Less than 20 days prior to the wedding, we received an email from our original officiant notifying us they could no longer perform our ceremony due to an emergency surgery. We were slightly panicked but life happens and we knew we would figure it out. We got extremely lucky because I found Illuminating Ceremonies and he was available. Chris was incredible to work with and kept everything running smoothly. Even our guests were raving about the ceremony and it was all thanks to Chris. He is truly incredible!
response 11/01/2023
Tara, I hope your original officiant is okay. None of us want to get jobs like this, but w...
e all know that we are human and things can happen to us. It was my pleasure to fill in and make a great ceremony for you on a tight schedule. Tight schedules make life exciting!
Amy K
5.0
10/12/2023
Chris Shelley absolutely crushed it at our wedding. We could not have asked for a better officiant. His process and professionalism from the start made us feel that we were in great hands.
He really takes the time to get to know you and your story in order to put together a truly custom ceremony that keeps your guests engaged and laughing. He is so considerate in taking feedback (although you probably won’t need to give him much — he basically nailed it on the first shot!).
Immediately after our wedding, we had so many people ask us where we found Chris Shelley. We received so many great comments about the ceremony. We highly suggest working with him, he will not disappoint.
response 10/12/2023
Amy, thank you so much for this enthusiastic review!!! I give this review 5 stars. You wer...
e a delight to work with and I wish you both abundant happiness.
Jessica D
5.0
10/05/2023
Chris was undoubtably the best officiant I couldve asked for. He absolutely crushed it. We received SO many compliments about him and the atmosphere he created. He really set the tone for our wedding; he was witty, funny, and heartfelt. He really took the time to get to know us and our guests could tell, we had a few people come up to us and ask us how long we've been friends for! He told our love story beautifully. He didnt miss one bit. 100/10 recommend, he is the best!! :)
response 10/05/2023
Thank you so much Jessica!!!
Kristen M
5.0
10/03/2023
Chris literally knocked it out of the park for both our rehearsal and our ceremony. My family has the attention span of a swarm of fruit flies. During my rehearsal, Chris sensed i was getting overwhelmed trying to corral them and he got everyone together and took the wheel which was exactly what I needed. The ceremony itself was everything Andy and I wanted. He took the time to get to know us and what was important. We wanted relaxed and authentic to our personalities and that was exactly what he delivered. After the ceremony everyone kept coming up to us raving about our officiant. Still 2 weeks later people are talking about Chris and how much they enjoyed our ceremony. I’m so happy that Chris was a part of our day.
Jolly P
5.0
10/02/2023
Chris was simply amazing. We were looking for an officiant on our wedding day and thankfully found him. My family in the Philippines were unable to attend my wedding and he made sure to include them in the wedding ceremony and used some tagalog words. He is a gem. All our guest were laughing and enjoyed the ceremony. Thank you Chris!!
response 10/02/2023
Thank you Jolly! Your wedding was so fun, and I love learning new languages (even just a s...
mall part of them) for weddings. Plus, I recently saw a musical called 'Here Lies Love' which had an all-Filipino cast. Best of luck to you and Joe!
Jody T
5.0
9/29/2023
Chris was simply the best! Professional, prompt and just fun to work with throughout the process. I felt he captured our love story perfectly and kept the tone of the ceremony both sentimental and light-hearted. People were laughing, crying, cheering and just having a great time, which is pretty rare for a wedding ceremony. He also was tremendously helpful to us in writing our own vows, which we were nervous about, but it went perfectly! His vast experience was evident and put us at ease that everything would go exactly as planned. I had so many guests come up to me at the reception saying that it was the best wedding ceremony they've ever been to, specifically complimenting Chris. I would say it is a no brainer to book him for your wedding. You will not regret it! :)
response 09/30/2023
Thank you Jody! I really appreciate your kind words and I hope I can provide all of my fut...
ure couples the same level of professional service. You and Jared were a delight to work with and I am grateful that you found me. Best of wishes to you both.
Alison T
5.0
8/15/2023
Chris was exactly what we wanted for our wedding and he executed it perfectly. He took the time to get to know us, asked all the right questions, and our ceremony was nothing short of amazing. He has the ideal mix of humor and sentimentality which was exactly what we wanted. When it came time for our ceremony, I had read Chris’ speech a few times before but I still thoroughly enjoyed being up there while he said the words out loud. He puts his own spin on things but still really captured us and our story. After the ceremony, so many of our guests came up to us specifically to say how much they enjoyed it and how great Chris was. I think if more of our friends weren’t already married they would hire him for their weddings, too! He puts so much life into what he does and you can tell that he genuinely loves doing it. Chris was ultimately the perfect choice for us and I can’t recommend him enough.
response 08/15/2023
Thank you Alison!!! Your wedding was a blast, and I'll never forget those beautiful surrou...
ndings next to the lake. Your guests were very kind to me and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of your wedding. Thank you so much!!!
Jenna A
5.0
7/24/2023
We stumbled upon Chris' website in our search for an officiant, and boy, did we get lucky! Chris' ceremony was unqiue, touching, and funny. Our guests couldn't stop raving about how wonderful it was, and some even asked if Chris was a friend of ours because he seemed to know us so well. That's the magic of working with Chris - he will personalize your love story and create a ceremony that fits who you are as a couple. Your guests may even learn things about you they didn't know before - ours did! Highly recommend Chris - 10/10 would do it again!
response 07/24/2023
Thank you Jenna! I knew from our first phone call that we would get along just fine. Thank...
you for letting me be a part of your wedding day. It was great fun.
Carissa M
5.0
7/17/2023
Chris was a recommended vendor by our venue and we could not have been happier with our decision to use him as our officiant. His approach to officiating is very personalized - trust us when we say that your guests will think that he has known you and your partner for most of your life! He made the process very easy and stress free from the beginning. The day of our wedding, he coordinated with our photographers, musicians, and event coordinator to ensure the ceremony ran seamlessly. Our family and friends still talk about how enjoyable our wedding ceremony was, thanks to Chris!
response 07/17/2023
Thank you Carissa! Your wedding was so fun. And I've never seen a couple have more fun at ...
their own wedding. You're an inspiration!
Estefania A
5.0
7/17/2023
Working with Chris was a pleasure, he was professional and fun. He was recommended by our venue and hiring him was one of the best decisions we made while planning our day. To this day almost 2 months later, I still hear from someone who asks ‘How the heck did you find that guy!?’ Working with him up to the big day was stress free. He provided all the resources in order for him to get to know us well enough to seem like an old family friend. During the ceremony he struck a perfect balance between humor and sensitivity. Can’t say enough good things!
response 07/17/2023
Thank you so much, Andy!!! Your wedding was certainly one of the highlights of the year, a...
nd of course, I love your venue. I wish you both the best!
Jonathan H
5.0
7/14/2023
Chris was great to work with! We got multiple compliments on him and people were wondering where we knew him from. He gave us a great ceremony, wonderful humor, and a tailored story of our love.
response 07/15/2023
Thank you, Jonathan!
Matt S
5.0
7/13/2023
Chris has amazing humor and wit, while keeping the personal touch. Exceeded expectations and a truly memorable ceremony!
response 07/15/2023
Thank you Matt!
Madison G
5.0
7/10/2023
We weren't quit sure where to start or what to expect when searching for an officiant. Chris was exactly what we needed for our ceremony! He immediately took the stress off and made it so much fun for both of us. Everything from prepping vows, sharing our story, walking through it at the rehearsal, and more, he made the entire process very easy. He worked so well with the rest of our vendors and planner so the entire day felt seamless. After the ceremony, we received many compliments from our guests about Chris specifically. His professionalism combined with his fun personality is the perfect combo for an amazing and unforgettable ceremony! Stop the search and book Chris now!
response 07/10/2023
Wow! Thank you Madison! You and your family made me feel right at home and I'll never forg...
et how lovely your wedding party was too. I'm so glad that so many nice people all found each other. Congratulations again!
Gregory K
5.0
7/06/2023
From start to finish, our experience working with Chris was absolutely fantastic. His preparation leading up to the ceremony was extraordinary. He takes so much pride in his work and made every effort to ensure that every detail throughout the ceremony went to plan. His stage presence is unmatched. Chris had our guests laughing, crying and had everyones adrenaline pumping with excitement to be there on our wedding day. We can't thank him enough for taking the reins on such an important part of our day and absolutely delivering on every level. Thanks so much!! -Stacie & Greg
response 07/07/2023
Thank you Gregory! Your were both a pleasure to work with from start to finish, so I also ...
give you five stars. I'm so lucky to have been on your vendor team that day and I hope we all did you proud.
Kate A
5.0
7/05/2023
Chris was so great! All of our guests were raving about the ceremony. He created a super personalized ceremony that took the pressure off of us and kept everyone laughing and engaged. Highly reccomend Chris as a wedding officiant!!
response 07/05/2023
Thank you Kate! I'm so glad I got to be a part of your big day.
Ashley M
5.0
7/04/2023
Best decision we made was hiring Chris to be our officiant! Our ceremony was filled with so much laughter and he ensured everyone was entertained the entire time while also still explaining our love story. He delivered the ceremony as if he was a family friend of ours who knew us for years. We received so many compliments from our guests saying that was the best ceremony they’ve ever been to! Truly a spectacular officiant and can’t recommend him enough!
response 07/05/2023
Thank you Ashley! What made your wedding that much more meaningful for me was how far in a...
dvance you hired me - I looked it up - over a year before your wedding. That gave us so much time to go over details, get to know each other, make sure everything was how you wanted it to be. You were my ideal couple. 5 stars to you too!
Taj G
5.0
5/18/2023
Chris Shelley is a fantastic wedding celebrant! He made our marriage ceremony engaging, welcoming and exactly what we wanted for the occasion. He's a deeply professional and calming representative of a guide who takes the ideas of nuptials seriously, while keeping things energetic and full of personalization. We can't recommend him enough for your special day. He will bring smiles to everyone's faces and make the celebration one not to be forgotten.
response 05/20/2023
Thank you Taj! It was an honor to have the honor of honoring your marriage. I also appreci...
ated the trust you put in me to Emcee your dinner gathering afterwards. You certainly put all of my performance skills to the test. I think the only thing I didn't do was juggle. I wish you and Laura a long happy marriage!
Ilissa T
5.0
5/04/2023
Best part of the wedding if we HAD to pick! Chris delivers just as he promised and our guests could not get over how awesome our ceremony was. He works with the couple to make the ceremony beyond personal, yet funny. You’ll receive drafts of the ceremony which makes it easier and comforting as you stand up in front of 150 people. Chris is an expert at words and included details we wouldn’t have even thought of. He often tells his couple “people will ask how I know the couple” - we were asked that several times throughout the night as he listens and truly sounds like he’s known us for a long time. Could not recommend him enough!
response 05/05/2023
Thank you Ilissa! You and Randy were a dream to work with. Thank you for being responsive ...
and friendly and for sharing so much of yourselves with me. Here's to more happiness than you can keep track of!
Kate E
5.0
1/20/2023
Wow! Where to even begin....
I knew once I stumbled upon Chris while looking through officiants that he was going to be absolutely amazing but I had no idea HOW amazing until our wedding day. He made our ceremony everything we wanted it to be... funny, emotional, engaging, and most importantly very special. Our guests could not stop talking about him the rest of the night... everyone was absolutely obsessed. I cannot tell you how many people to this day (months later) ask for his name.
I cannot recommend Chris enough. Even before the big day arrived he was so helpful in preparing us for the actual ceremony and making us feel confident in our vows before we got to the alter.
He is absolutely the best, look no more, he is the one!
response 01/20/2023
Awww, thank you Kate! Yours was one of the wedding highlights of the year - the three of ...
us were so obviously on the same page from day one. I really appreciate your kind words!!!
Tori R
5.0
1/10/2023
Chris was an absolutely amazing officiant for our wedding! He met with us while we were in the planning process to talk about his way of officiating and we made sure to book him as soon as we could! Chris has a questionnaire that he has both people in the couple fill out so he can learn more about them. It was super fun to fill out and remember exactly how I met my partner. After we had finished filling out the questionnaire, my partner and I went on a date and read each others responses (which Chris recommended we do and I am so glad that he did). It was such a fun night to sit together and relive how we met. Chris also did our rehearsal and made everything run so smooth and also keep everyone entertained. Chris is definitely the MOST talked about part of our wedding from our guests. They LOVED him. He was able to keep the room entertained during the ceremony with his wonderfully written script. Our guests still talk about him to this day. If you are looking for an officiant, you should ABSOLUTELY book Chris!!
response 01/10/2023
Thank you Tori! I remember the day we three met and I remember having a great time with yo...
u and your people at rehearsal and on the wedding day. Thank you for being so easy to work with - I give you 5 stars!
Daniela B
5.0
1/10/2023
Chris was an amazing officiant. He made the most memorable ceremony I could have asked for. It was funny, intimate, Zen, and emotional all in one. After the ceremony I had multiple guest telling me that was by far the best ceremony they have ever been to. They were asking me who he was and how did I know or find him. It was a truly special moment that my husband and I will never forget. Chris really captures your whole love story and presents it in the most fairy tale way. Can't thank him enough! He is worth every penny!
response 01/10/2023
Thank you Daniela! Your families are wonderful - so far, this is my second wedding officia...
ted for your family members. Can we make it three? See you at the next one!
Nadya S
5.0
1/09/2023
Stop the search you’ve found your officiant! EVERY guest talked about how much they loved Chris and how they’ve never been to a wedding with such a good officiant. Even employees from our venue and our photographer said that Chris is the best in the business. Without upstaging us, he was the star of the show.
Chris was great to work with both professionally and personally as he guided us through the ceremony development process. His speech was a good combination of heartfelt and serious with some tasteful comedy. The ceremony was so personalized to us that people thought Chris was our friend. We couldn’t recommend him enough.
response 01/09/2023
Thank you Nadya! I appreciate this so much. I'm also touched to hear good things from your...
other vendors and believe me, the feeling is mutual. I wish you a long happy marriage!
Alyssa F
5.0
1/04/2023
Christopher was the perfect officiant for our wedding! We wanted someone who matched us, and he did this perfectly! His very first draft for us was absolutely perfect and we only needed the smallest things fixed. After the ceremony, we received nothing but compliments about our officiant and how perfectly he portrayed my husband and I! We cannot thank him enough!!
response 01/05/2023
Thank you Alyssa!!! Your wedding was such a beautiful event and I wish you decades of happ...
iness.
Molly S
5.0
1/04/2023
I don't think this box is big enough for the review I want to write for Chris. I found him through a podcast and after hearing him talk about the way he does things, I immediately felt I had to have him for our wedding. I had my husband listen to the episode and he was sold. I somehow got Chris on the phone and he agreed to fly from New York to Texas to officiate our wedding. My husband and I were so meticulous about each of our vendors because we just wanted to make sure that we felt really comfortable with everyone that we would be working with and that they meshed well with our personalities/our guests, and our other vendors to make for just a really loving, happy atmosphere. It was really important to me that the ceremony was not the boring part that people wanted to get through to get to the drinks and dancing and that is what Chris specializes in. The ceremony we created with him was so beautiful. There was story telling, audience interaction, he told our love story to our friends and family the way we have experienced it. He made everyone laugh. He was just amazing. For days after the wedding we had people complimenting him and asking us how we found him. My husband shared with me, days after the wedding, how supportive Chris was to him when there was a hiccup with my Father-in-law briefly being MIA and stressing my husband out. Chris really went above and beyond and I will forever recommend him to anyone I know getting married.
response 01/04/2023
Wow, thank you Molly! I'm so thankful that I got this opportunity to fly to Texas to do a ...
wedding. My wife and I had a fun weekend, we got to explore a city that was new to us, and I got to play a key role in a wedding for two delightful people. Thank you so much for being proactive in curating the vendor team you wanted. I loved working with your other vendors and I hope we all get to see each other again.
Priscilla D
5.0
12/23/2022
THE BEST OFFICIANT EVER! He crafted a BEAUTIFUL, personalized ceremony and helped us edit our vows - more than once! His ceremony was so funny, loving, heartwarming - everything you ask for and more. By the time of the ceremony he felt like family. We are truly so happy with Chris and we would ask him to marry us 100x over!
response 12/23/2022
Aww, Priscilla, thank you so much!!! I loved being among your families. Nights like that m...
ake me so happy with my career choice! Long happy life to you both.
Taylor F
5.0
12/12/2022
Our ceremony was the stuff dreams are made of and Chris elevated the entire experience for both my wife and I as well as our guests. We had so many people coming up to us during the reception asking where and how we got connected with Chris. The ceremony was lighthearted, fun, story driven, and highly inclusive of the guests in attendance. I could not have imagined the ceremony or the evening going better. Many have said it before, but Chris is seriously worth every penny and more. He was so involved and made sure to be conscious of our choices, personalities, interests, and families. He is so well spoken, came very prepared, and really knows how to keep the guests at your ceremony engaged all while ensuring the focus is on the bride and groom. In spite of the fact that we paid him to be there, it felt like he was there because he wanted to be there, and that was really important to us. We would highly recommend Chris to everyone! Thanks so much Chris!!
response 12/12/2022
I did want to be there! I mean, I also enjoyed being paid to be there, but I really did wa...
nt to be there! I have the best job in the world. I get to have fun with people on the happiest day of their lives (so far). What's not to like? So many people lately have said that I am worth every penny - so it's time to raise my prices!
Sam H
5.0
12/08/2022
Chris really did put together our Best Ceremony Ever. Our guests had nothing but compliments and praise about our ceremony and officiant. Our wedding was in September and we still have people telling us that they loved how engaging the ceremony was and asking us how we found him. Many people thought he had to have known us personally! It was not at all what anyone was expecting, and in a very positive way!
From the first call to the rehearsal, Chris was prompt, patient with our questions, and very proactive. He was able to create our perfect ceremony based off of our questionnaire and emails/chats in between — he is an amazing storyteller.
We highly recommend Chris to any engaged couple! Definitely hire him if you want your wedding ceremony to be personal to you as a couple and a celebration of your journey together!
Sam + Nate
response 12/08/2022
Thank you Sam and Nate! I loved being a part of your wedding. It was an honor.
Katelyn D
5.0
12/07/2022
There is a reason Chris has hundreds of 5 star reviews! Chris is truly the best of the best. Not just because he's professional, organized, helpful and a pleasure to be around but because he has that special, artful, gift that only a few people in this world have which allows him to effortlessly command an entire room and make them feel very emotion in his words. What a gift that is to have & what a gift that is to share with people on their wedding day. I actually struggle to come up with the words to express just how amazing our ceremony felt - not only to us as the bride and groom, but to our families and guests. Chris worked with us for hours on end preparing the perfect ceremony. He did such a fantastic job conveying our love story and the marriage rituals. The ceremony felt sacred and romantic, but also had elements of perfectly timed light hearted humor. He respected the religious elements we asked to include with readings/verbiage during vows. Chris and our ceremony has been our MOST commented/complimented/talked about element of all wedding day. Chris is worth every single penny and more - I would hire him again in a heart beat and I would be willing to pay 10x what his services cost us, that's how truly amazing he was. If there's one thing you should do, it's hire him as your officiant! We are so, so grateful for him.
response 12/07/2022
Katelyn, wow, I'm stunned with how amazing this review is. Christmas came early! Thank you...
so much and thank you for including me in your All-Star collection of wedding vendors. I am absolutely going to start charging 10x what I do now! Thank you and best of luck to you and Tyler.
Matthew C
5.0
11/03/2022
To put it simply….Chris was perfect.
Chris was recommended to my wife (thanks to Chris!) and myself by another officiant who we had originally reached out to, but was then unable to attend. As a young couple living in Scotland, having never visited New York City (never-mind arranging to be married there!), it was important for us to feel at ease with our officiant and be confident in their knowledge of not only the local area but their understanding of the marriage process. This was Chris.
Chris was everything we could have asked for – his candour, understanding and professionalism cannot be overstated. He spent a vast amount of time really drilling into us as people as well as our relationship and that effort really shone through during our ceremony. Each one of the guests in attendance remarked at how personable Chris was and were amazed that, as we had only met Chris in person once (2 days before the ceremony!), how much he was able to really convey our story in such a personable and intimate manner.
I think that the highest testament I could give to Chris isn't that he was able to advise us of (in our opinion) the most glorious setting for our ceremony, nor was it that he was able to bring a sense of calm to an otherwise stressful process…it's that our guests each took my wife and I aside separately and congratulated us on finding 'the best officiant in New York City'.
To be frank, there is simply nothing more that we could have asked of Chris. My wife and I truly cannot thank Chris highly enough and I don’t think we can ever properly express our gratitude to him.
There is no doubt in our minds that Chris is the best officiant in New York City! If you’re having doubts about which officiant to hire…DON’T…Chris is the man for you.
response 11/03/2022
Oh wow, thank you so much!!! This warms my heart, it really does. This is the rare busines...
s where the rewards are intensely human - to connect with you and Nicola a few days before your wedding was a pleasure, then to meet your entire family - friendly, decent, kind people all - with that glorious Scottish accent swirling all around me - was just a wonderful experience. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding. I hope everyone who reads this will follow your advice and hire me immediately!
Zoe B
5.0
11/02/2022
Chris was AMAZING ! He was always very kind and welcoming through the whole plan in process, he was very communicative and helpful on the day of with our rehearsal and ceremony. the ceremony was excellent. it was very funny but still serious, heartwarming, touching, memorable, just so wonderful. our guests raved about the ceremony to us and still are about a month later. Thank you chris ! - zoe and sam
response 11/02/2022
Thank you Zoe! It was an honor to stand in that beautiful gazebo next to that challenging ...
18th hole at that golf course to marry you and Sam. I hope you have many fabulous adventures together.
Robert L
5.0
11/02/2022
After we booked our venue, they provided a list of recommended vendors which contained EXACTLY ONE officiant: Chris Shelley. Having had the pleasure of Chris officiating our wedding and helping us celebrate, we can absolutely see why! Working with Chris was so great, he made the ceremony so personal, funny, and heartfelt. He helped guide us through the process, made suggestions without them feeling overwhelming or forced, and truly tailored the ceremony to our request. The one thing we heard throughout the night (and still hear from our guests) was how much they enjoyed the ceremony. Seriously, book this guy, it'll be the second best choice you make for your wedding (hopefully the first is whom you choose to marry!)
response 11/02/2022
Robert, thank you so much! Your venue is my favorite and you are my favorite kind of coupl...
e - everything harmonized beautifully. Thank you for your kind words, and thank you to all of your guests for being so complimentary about the ceremony. Almost made me blush! Best of health and happiness to you both.
Klara H
5.0
10/21/2022
Asking Chris to officiant our wedding was one of the best wedding decisions we made! More than just being organized, well-spoken, and reliable, he was like family! He was excited to learn and participate in our Slovakian traditions and even learned to say a couple of lines in Slovak for the ceremony. He knew how to draw people in, how to make people laugh and cry, and truly celebrate us. Everyone raved about him and wanted to book him for their event!
response 10/21/2022
Thank you Klara! It was an honor to officiate your wedding, and even more fun to Emcee the...
entire reception. By the end of that Slovak-fun-filled night, I gotta tell ya - I FELT like family! :) I'm so happy for you both, and I hope that we can stay in touch.
Courtney S
5.0
10/20/2022
Hiring Chris as our officiant was one of the best decisions we made while planning our wedding! We did not have high expectations for our ceremony initially, and were not even sure what to look for in an officiant. Luckily, Chris was recommended to us. He not only wrote a beautiful script, but tailored it so specifically to us that the impact it had on us and our guests was profound. The ceremony had humor and heart, and ended up as a major highlight of the day for everyone. We received endless compliments from our guests. Many of our family and friends said it was the best wedding ceremony they had ever attended!
Chris is kind, charismatic, and a pleasure to work with. He set the perfect tone to kick off our wedding. On a hectic day, Chris was a steady, guiding hand for us and our wedding party. We highly recommend him; it will be the best decision you make! Thank you for everything, Chris!
response 10/20/2022
Wow Courtney, thank you so much! Ceremonies set the tone for the whole wedding and that to...
ne can be a fun one. I try to bridge the entertainment aspects of weddings so the ceremony kicks things off in a joyous manner (I like to say I officiate like a DJ). The main thing is, you had a great night and you're a great couple and you have great families. All of those things are the main thing.
Amanda W
5.0
10/18/2022
Chris was an absolute pleasure to work with for our wedding. Not only did he make the entire process smooth, it stimulated discussions about old memories between my husband and I that brought us back 10 years! Luckily, 2 of our best friends had used Chris as their officiant before our wedding 3 years prior and when we got engaged, he was the first vendor to come to our minds! He made us and our guests laugh throughout the ceremony with some quick witted humor, reminded us of what it means to move through this new chapter as a married couple, but also brought such ease on a chaotic day! Our guests were raving about him which just re-iterated that it was our best decision as we planned the wedding. Chris even did a special shoutout to my family out of state who couldn’t make the wedding which made it even more special for us. Hands down, Illuminating Ceremonies with Christopher Shelley will not disappoint.
response 10/18/2022
Amanda! Thank you so much! I often look back at your wedding and the joy just bursting fro...
m all your guests. It was fun to be right next to the ocean, it was like a summer paradise. Thank you again for inviting me to be part of your wedding day.
Michelle B
5.0
10/09/2022
Chris was the single best decision we made for our wedding! Originally, we had no expectations for what we wanted during our ceremony and Chris made the ceremony the best part of the whole day (even though it started pouring rain). He was funny, sentimental, and the easiest vendor to work with. We had so many compliments from our guests!
response 10/09/2022
Thank you Michelle! I'm so glad you hired me. Your people could not have been kinder to me...
, and I loved working with the owners of your venue. It was a great night indeed.
Sarah I
5.0
9/28/2022
Chris was everything we wanted and more! If you're looking to add some charisma and charm to your ceremony - look no further. On our first call, it was obvious that Chris had the presence and energy to deliver a truly unique and engaging ceremony. He transformed our questionnaire responses into a sentimental yet humorous dialogue. Our guests were completely captivated! We received so many compliments about Chris's performance, and we couldn't have been more pleased. My husband and I will cherish our ceremony script forever. Thank you, Chris!
response 09/28/2022
Sarah, it was my pleasure! You were both fun to work with from our first video call to the...
wedding day itself. Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day!
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