Melissa Coe Ceremonies

I don't know what to say other than she is incredible, personable, wise, patient, funny. She worked with us so our ceremony personalized and unique to us. She's wonderful.

Melissa was recommended to us by our day of coordinator and we’re so glad that she was officiant for the big day. We knew when we met her that she would do a great job. She’s so friendly, thoughtful, and charismatic. She created a wonderful ceremony that was very custom to us as a couple and helped us craft vows which were very memorable and fun! She’s a great speaker and pulled the ceremony off flawlessly!

Every compliment from our guests began with how amazing our celebrant was. Melissa delivers a heartfelt personalized celebration of love and commitment that left everyone in tears and laughter. She is with you from day one to the day of “I Do” with the most calming presence one needs in the stressful times leading up to a wedding. She far exceeded our expectations and we couldn’t be more thankful she was part of our special day!

Melissa put a lot of effort into making our ceremony special and making it represent us as a couple. I had many guests tell me it was the best wedding ceremony they had ever seen. We laughed, we cried, and we celebrated love! I would highly recommend Melissa to any couple looking for an officiant who will support their vision for their ceremony and make it theirs.

She takes the time to make the ceremony special and all about you. She’s open minded and accepting of all different kinds of people and I recommend her to everyone who doesn’t want a cookie cutter ceremony. Thank you Melissa!

We met with several officiants but Melissa was the first, and my wife and I both walked out of that meeting thinking "these other people are going to have to perform actual miracles to impress us more than she just did." Melissa is an incredible officiant and a gem of a human being. When we started seriously planning our wedding, the first thing we knew was that the traditional Western ceremony with its tuxedo and white dress -though we have nothing at all against it- just wasn't for us. We opted to have an Indo-Western wedding, a celebration of not only our love of one another but of the Indian culture and their incredibly intricate, colorful, and joyous marriage traditions. The Hindu wedding celebration is very elaborate, usually spans several days, and incorporates numerous events leading up to the (equally elaborate) ceremony. We wanted to incorporate many of these into our ceremony while still retaining some of the elements from the Western tradition (personal vows, etc.) and Melissa was invaluable in helping us research and structure our ideal wedding. She worked with us both separately to craft our story that she told to our guests, building that all out of my wife and I's words in what was a funny, extremely personal, and deeply emotional ceremony. Melissa even invited us an our wedding party in to her home for our rehearsal. We've been told by so many of our guests that, not only was there not a dry eye in the house, but ours was easily the best wedding they'd ever attended. They also couldn't stop gushing about Melissa herself. She truly was a marvel, a conductor in her black and pearls, holding our guests in the palm of her hand and guiding them masterfully through their laughter and tears, all the while tending to my wife and I's needs as we made our way through all the elements of our ceremony doing our level best to keep ourselves together. As I waited to make my entrance, the pseudo panic and worry of all our guests waiting, remembering the steps of what was required of me, and the momumental nature of the event, trying to hold on to my emotions, it was my mother and Melissa that kept me calm and collected. She walked upstairs and did just the same for my wife. You should look no further for your officiant than Melissa Coe. She made our wedding so much more than we could have imagined, effortlessly weaving together what many times seemed like disparate threads into this grand, beautiful thing; and my wife and I were happy to gain a friend in the process.

Melissa was probably the best decision we had made during the wedding planning process. She was accessible and responded quickly to emails, detail oriented, and took delight in getting to know us not just as a couple but also as individuals. During our first meeting with her, we got to know her pretty well and she asked lots of questions about our relationship and our stories. We decided immediately that she was to be our officiant and cancelled all other meetings that same night. Melissa took the time to craft a personal and fun ceremony; everyone raved after the wedding, telling us it was the best ceremony they had been to. It was unique because she eloquently scripted our story, our favorite things about each other, and other fun details about our relationship that many of our guests didn't know. She made us laugh and get teary eyed, the guests definitely cried. And then at the end, she had all of our guests pronounce us husband and wife. The supportive atmosphere was overwhelming, in a good way!, and showed how truly magical of a writer she is. Melissa is not just an officiant, she is a celebrant who portrays stories in a unique and fun way. As a person, Melissa is loving, supportive through everything, and empowering. As a feminist, I struggled with looking forward to the ceremony when we first got engaged. Melissa made sure that we were seen as equals. I seriously appreciate everything she did. Who needs an officiant when you can have celebrant of a lifetime? Go for Melissa, she will make your day more special than you ever dreamed it could be.

Melissa is creative, loving, enthusiastic, professional, and she really made our ceremony especially unique and fun for us as well as our guests. Her approach to creating and facilitating a wedding ceremony is something that I would recommend for any blended couple. She really worked with us to figure out how we could combine both of our cultures and values into our ceremony. She has a lot of experience and therefore plenty of suggestions to make a heartfelt and interesting ceremony that all could enjoy. Our guests raved about her and let us know that she facilitated the most engaging wedding ceremony they've attended.

I used Melissa Coe for my elopement ceremony and couldn't have been more pleased! She helped me write my vows until they were just right. I rarely if ever give full 5-star reviews, but this woman deserves it. She is knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. She made a somewhat-complicated process 100% fun, smooth, and easy! A great local business with a true customer service focus. Hire her — you will not be disappointed!

Melissa blew us and our guests away with how intimate, customized, and unique the ceremony was! We had done some research on officiants who performed same-sex marriages and Melissa’s page stood out to us. We could tell that she is a writer and a good story teller. My wife and I didn’t know what to expect from an officiant when we first met with Melissa, but she wowed us from the very beginning! She told us about her ceremonies and how she creates a custom ceremony for every couple, unlike other officiants who typically use a script or two and just insert your names. (Melissa prefers the term celebrant over officiant.) We decided to book her on the spot! A few days later, she sent us “homework” to tell her about ourselves, our story, what we love about each other, etc. so she could include our love story and the details of our love for each other in the ceremony. It was a rewarding assignment that really made us put our feelings into words. When we submitted our homework, she gave us another assignment: to write our vows, choose readings, and choose a unity ritual for a visual aspect. She provided a list of common ones, but we were free to choose from other sources as well. With her suggestions and some research, the choices were easy. She began writing our ceremony about 30 days before the wedding. She sent us the first draft and we were able to edit as much as we wanted to. She was very easy to work with and made us feel like it was all about us. She even added a few details and readings based on what she had learned about us. She learned that our family and friends are very important to us, so she wrote in a community promise: she asks the guests if they will support us, love us, etc. and they reply with “We will!”. She also had them pass our rings around to warm them with their love or bless them. Our guests really enjoyed being a part of the ceremony and it was touching to see them all support us in our love. On the week of the wedding, she had us gather at her house for a rehearsal (for free! She said she charges a fee if you hold the rehearsal elsewhere) She was very welcoming and the rehearsal was easy-going (and the view from her deck is gorgeous!) On the day of the wedding, she arrived at the venue early and fully prepared. The ceremony flowed very well. It wasn’t too stuffy or formal. Melissa made us laugh and cry. She entertained without taking the focus off of us. Afterwords, even the other vendors were raving about how awesome she and the whole ceremony was! When people who have seen numerous weddings make a point to tell you that your ceremony was the best they’ve ever seen, it speaks volumes to the quality of Melissa’s work! I would HIGHLY recommend Melissa Coe to anyone in the Portland area!

I cannot say enough positive things about Melissa. She recently officiated our wedding and, although we had only known her for approximately 9 months, it really felt as if she was family. Melissa’s custom ceremony for us was fantastic and, afterward, so many of our guests commented that they had never heard such a unique, beautiful and fun ceremony before. It was evident she put a lot of time and thought into the ceremony. She also had a lot of great suggestions for the ceremony that we would not have thought of. Everyone loved the ceremony! At the end of the ceremony Melissa put together a very nice package with us including a copy of our custom ceremony. Melissa is very thoughtful and easy to work. She is truly a fantastic officiant and good friend.

When everyone at your wedding tells you they were in tears and it was the most beautiful ceremony they had ever been to (sorry everyone else) you know you picked the right officiant. Melissa is a joyful, enthusiastic, and professional person. She was someone after meeting, I said, " I want to have a few glasses of wine with her sometime, she is a hoot!" She crafted the most beautiful and heartfelt ceremony that encompassed our relationship. We, as a couple, worked hard choosing our readings, vows, and traditions but Melissa skillfully put them all together to create the most meaningful ceremony. I would shout from rooftops and mountains for you to use her expertise, passion, and warmheartedness for whatever ceremony you need. Melissa Coe Ceremonies responded with the the following comments: It was my joy, delight and absolute honor to celebrate K & T's wedding! I LOVED their story, their commitment to each other, their families and their histories. In short, THEY are the type of couple whose love for each other I live, and LOVE, to shout from the mountains and the rooftops!!! What a JOY it was to celebrate THEM. (And btw - ANYTIME you want to meet for a glass of wine or two, I'm there!!!)

Melissa Coe is enthusiastic about her work -- her energy never fades. She helped us write a memorable ceremony that everyone loved. Throughout the process, she was assertive but comforting. Melissa was always available to work through questions or ideas. She’s a natural performer, engaging with guests warmly and earnestly. I highly recommend her.

Melissa was a joy and from the moment I met her at a bridal show, I knew we were meant to be. She asked many questions and got to know us and our ceremony on the beach reflected our relationship spectacularly. Her organization, wit, wisdom, and professionalism truly made the wedding day what I had hoped for!