5.0
Verified reviews from real couples
Max Swartout
Your NE Ohio Wedding, Officiated Your Way
Northeast Ohio and Beyond
Service area
Max was everything that we were looking for in a wedding officiant. We came searching for an officiant on The Knot and quickly found him. After our first phone call with him we decided to book our wedding date. You can tell from working with him that his whole process is very well thought out. We appreciated all the questions he asked and how he truly took the time to get to know us and our relationship, so that he could put together a great ceremony. Him attending our rehearsal was great and it was a wonderful experience on the wedding day. We could not recommend him more!
We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding officiant than Max! From the very beginning, Max made the entire process feel personal, easy, and meaningful. The ceremony was beautifully written, heartfelt, and perfectly captured our relationship. His calm, warm presence helped us feel relaxed and truly present in the moment. So many of our guests commented on how wonderful and genuine the ceremony was. Thank you, Max, for helping make our wedding day unforgettable — we highly recommend you to any couple looking for someone who truly cares about making their ceremony special!
About this vendor
Max Swartout
WEDDING OFFICIANT
Max Swartout is a Lakewood, OH-based wedding officiant.
Your wedding ceremony is the heart of your special day—the moment when everything becomes official, your promises are spoken, and the joy you’ve imagined becomes real. At Marry Me Cleveland, I create ceremonies that are warm, sincere, and tailored to reflect your unique love story. Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or an intimate elopement, my goal is to make your ceremony personal, meaningful, and memorable.
I’m Max Swartout, a professional wedding officiant serving Northeast Ohio and beyond. I believe the ceremony should feel authentic—never cookie-cutter. That’s why I take the time to listen to your vision, learn about your relationship, and understand the tone you want, whether that’s romantic, lighthearted, traditional, modern, or something entirely your own.
From the moment you reach out, the process is simple and stress-free. We’ll first connect with a no-commitment consultation by phone, video call, or text/email—whichever works best for you—to discuss your ideas and to ask each other questions. Once you decide to move forward, I’ll send you a short questionnaire to learn more about you as a couple. Your answers guide the first draft of your wedding script, which we’ll revise together until it’s exactly right. On the big day, I arrive prepared, professional, and ready to guide you through a ceremony that feels natural and heartfelt.
I officiate:
Civil and non-religious weddings
Christian and interfaith ceremonies
Elopements and vow renewals
Micro-weddings and large celebrations
Outdoor ceremonies at parks, gardens, and waterfronts
Unique and themed weddings
Northeast Ohio offers beautiful locations—from Cleveland’s lakefront and cultural gardens to charming small-town squares and nature preserves—and I love helping couples make the most of them. I’ve officiated ceremonies in backyards, banquet halls, courthouses, beaches, and even at Squire’s Castle. No matter the setting, the focus is on you and your commitment to each other.
I’m honored every time a couple trusts me with this milestone in their lives. My approach blends professionalism with warmth—keeping the ceremony organized and legal while creating an atmosphere where everyone can relax and enjoy the moment. Many couples tell me their ceremony felt like it was led by a longtime friend.
Whether you’re planning months in advance or looking for an officiant on short notice, I’m here to help make your day unforgettable. Let’s create a ceremony that feels true to you, celebrates your love, and leaves you smiling every time you remember it.
📍 Serving Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and all of Northeast Ohio
Meet the team
Max Swartout
Wedding Officiant
Born and raised in Ravenna Township, Ohio, I grew up in a close-knit community where family and faith were central. I attended St. Patrick School, where I was raised Catholic, before graduating from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent. My love of music and education led me to Ohio University in Athens, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in music education.
Today, I teach at Walls Elementary in Kent, Ohio, and in 2024 I completed my Master of Arts in the Cultural Foundations of Education at Kent State University. Always eager to keep learning, I now study law part-time at the University of Akron. Alongside my career in education and law studies, I’ve found a true joy in my work as a wedding officiant.
While I’m Catholic, I joyfully officiate all kinds of weddings—religious, spiritual, secular, or somewhere in between. I’m happy to incorporate any faith traditions, combine multiple traditions, or create a ceremony with no religious elements at all. I am an open and affirming officiant who welcomes and celebrates all couples, without discrimination based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, race, or ability.
I love getting to know each couple—hearing their stories, understanding their vision, and working together to create a ceremony script that feels authentic and personal. From our first conversation to the final “I do,” I’m committed to warm, clear communication and making sure the ceremony reflects exactly what the couple envisions.
I’ve officiated everything from intimate elopements in home kitchens with just the couple and me, to grand celebrations in wedding halls filled with family and friends. No matter the size or style, my approach is always the same: to make the moment meaningful, memorable, and stress-free.
As one of five siblings and an uncle to eight wonderful nieces and nephews, I value connection, warmth, and laughter—qualities I bring to every ceremony. I currently live in Cleveland, but I officiate weddings throughout
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Max Swartout
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Wedding Officiant
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