About this vendor
Welcome to Unity Ceremonies - I specialize in non-denominational & secular wedding ceremonies in NE Ohio. I will preside over your ceremony with professionalism and care! Personalize your ceremony as you wish (vows, readings, unity ceremony) and I will do the rest!
LEAD WITH LOVE!
**PLEASE CONTACT ME THROUGH MY WEBSITE... and also to check booking availability**
https://clevelandweddingofficiant.me/
Details
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Religious Affiliations
- Baha'i Faith
- Buddhist
- Christian
- Catholic
- Mormon
- Orthodox
Wedding Activities
- Wedding
- Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.057 reviews
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Matt went above and beyond what we were expecting. The way he took charge during rehearsal, made sure we were all comfortable and knew what we were doing, from the parents and bridal party to my 4 year old flower girl, was amazing. The ceremony was beautiful. He coordinated with my vendors to make sure everything went flawlessly. If you're looking for a top tier officiant Matt is your guy. We couldn't be happier.
We are so grateful to Matt for officiating a ceremony that not only fit us as a couple, but was meaningful to everyone involved. I could not have imagined this going any better. Not only was the ceremony perfect, but Matt's calm and professionalism saved us a lot of stress in planning! The phone check-ins before and ideas for how to plan a unique ceremony made this so easy to plan. We can't say enough good things!
Matt is awesome! He has done both mine and my brother's wedding and both were fantastic. He does a great job of making the ceremony feel very personal and thoughtful.
Matt from Unity Ceremonies was fantastic! Like most weddings, we had a fiasco that diverted our attention from getting materials to Matt but he was super kind and patient with us. We did a google meeting with him first before booking and we loved his vibe and background. We knew from the get-go we would have no issues with him and we were confident in our choice.
For the rehearsal and wedding ceremony, he was on time and very professional. He and our catering coordinator were able to chat and get a game plan for an indoor option for our ceremony, which we did end up doing.
Overall, if you want someone personable and professional, Matt will truly be your guy!
Matt did a wonderful job of officiating my husband and I’s wedding back in August. He did a great job of bringing the mood and readings to life that we wanted and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. He made it magical
Matt was a fantastic officiant. To start, he is so professional and organized and experienced. He knows how to corral a rowdy bridal party, and took control of everything so my husband and I didn’t have to worry about any detail. He has an amazing presence and voice, and worked with us to make a custom ceremony that fit us perfectly. My wedding planner even told me she wished all her couples would use him because of how great he was. Also, our family commented and thought that we must have known him for a long time because of how he spoke with and about us. Our ceremony was sentimental. romantic and personal. We truly could not have asked for more, we feel so fortunate to have found Matt to be part of the start of our marriage.
Matt is great!!!! We were struggling with finding the perfect person to marry us as we were both raised Catholic and our families were struggling with the idea of us not getting married in the church. Matt fit right in with what we wanted! He made the ceremony so beautiful and personal to us. Our ceremony was both spiritual and personal and filled with advice that we have both taken to heart. Afterwards, we had so many of our loved ones comment on how beautiful the ceremony was and even several “better than a Catholic wedding” comments from the older crowd. We loved having Matt and you won’t regret having his calm and warm presence officiate your ceremony!!!
Matt is great! He was super helpful and patient throughout our wedding planning process as we had questions, but he was even better on our big day. We got so many compliments on our ceremony and were so happy with how it turned out!
Matt was a fantastic officiant. He was quick to respond to our inquiries, very professional throughout the entire planning process, and crafted a beautiful secular ceremony for our intimate backyard wedding that was perfect for us. After the ceremony, he promptly filed all of our legal paperwork with the county.
We would absolutely recommend Unity Ceremonies to other couples, especially those looking for secular officiants.
Matt was very professional, charismatic, and tied everything together nicely. He took our questions and concerns into consideration and led us through the ceremony process from start to finish. We really enjoyed working with him!
Your only regret will be not hiring Matt before his dates fill up!!!!!
Our parents were having a tough time with us not having a traditional wedding in a church.
By the end of our ceremony— our parents could not have been happier with our decision.
Matt did a wonderful job putting together just the right ceremony to please both us and our parents. He walked us through the whole process with suggestions and helping us add our own unique ideas. Our ceremony was about 25-30 minutes and full of both spiritual aspects and great marital advice!
We had many guests come up after and ask us to whom Matt was related as he made the ceremony so personal to us!! They couldn’t believe he was not related to either my husband or myself!
Matt was punctual , professional and overall a complete blessing to us during the crazy last year of postponements and the unknown.
10/10 recommend!!!!!!!
Matt did an awesome job officiating our wedding. We gave him simple requests of what we wanted and he created the most beautiful ceremony. We had so many compliments on the ceremony and how personalized it was. Matt was also great with organizing our rehearsal and keeping our bridal party on task.
Matt was awesome to work with and he conducted the perfect ceremony for us. We first met him during a simple consultation while we were looking for an officiant. We aren’t actively religious, so we weren’t sure how hard it would be to find someone to conduct our ceremony. Matt has such a calm attitude and goes out of his way to make sure you’re comfortable. He was prompt in his responses and very helpful in writing our vows. We had a rehearsal the night before and he was able to get everyone perfectly setup for the real event. On the day of, he performed exactly as planned and was still helpful with everything. We are so happy we went with Matt as our officient. We had wedding attendees come up to us later in the night and comment on how well spoken he was. Thanks again Matt!
Matt did a great job officiating our ceremony! We received many compliments from our guests. He listened to what we wanted, provided advice when needed, and coordinated the rehearsal very well! He was also timely in responding. Highly recommend!
We found ourselves in a situation where we had to replace our officiant only 6 weeks before our wedding date. We were so grateful that Matt was available for our date. Matt's years of experience were evident in our initial discussions of the type of ceremony we wanted, and especially on the day of the wedding. He conducted himself with the utmost professionalism throughout our process and really set us at ease given the stress of needing to replace a major piece of the wedding day so close to the ceremony.
We would highly recommend Matt's services to anyone looking for an organized, professional officiant, especially if you aren't looking for a super-religious ceremony. Matt was able to give us a ceremony that reflected our values while still providing the more religious touches that our families were looking for.
We had Matt help with the rehearsal as well, which was absolutely worth it. He helped with everything, big and small - the bridal party order, walking speed, and even how they should angle their shoulders when standing down by the altar. He also suggested our parents swap sides during the ceremony, and they were so glad he did.
We could tell that Matt was prepared with his remarks, but he was still able to improvise in the moment. In the middle of the ceremony, there were suddenly some people in a side room of the venue talking loudly and being very distracting. Matt, however, handled it like a pro and was able to turn it into a quick moment of levity. During the reception we got no shortage of compliments on how much everyone liked Matt's words during the ceremony.
Really can't say enough positive things!
Matt was a dream to work with and he made sure our ceremony was so meaningful and personal. He is so professional and working with him is so easy! You can personalize your ceremony as much or as little as you want and Matt doesn't try to push anything on you. He delivered every second of our ceremony beautifully and I can't imagine having been married by any one else!
We had the pleasure of working with Matt for our ceremony this April and words cannot describe how incredible he was. He was professional, detailed, and worked with us to figure out what we really wanted for our ceremony. Our guests could not stop raving about how beautiful the ceremony was and my husband and I really can not say enough good things about Matt. If you have the chance to meet with him, and potentially work with him, you won’t regret it. He will help make your special day beyond incredible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Matt! Now give him a call and see what we’re talking about!
Matt performed our wedding ceremony in March this year and it couldn't have been better! Matt is so personable and really gets to know you and what kind of ceremony you want. Everyone is still talking about how wonderful our ceremony was!!
My husband and I used Matt at Unity Ceremonies for our wedding in September 2018. It could not have turned out better!! We spoke with Matt over the phone several months before the wedding and got the feeling he understood what we wanted. We wanted a completely secular ceremony that was short and sweet and that is exactly what Matt delivered.
Prior to the wedding Matt sent us an email with samples of vows, readings, and unity ceremonies for us to pick from. This was very helpful to a couple like us who really had no idea where to begin. We were able to pick and choose what we liked best and Matt combined everything seamlessly the day of the wedding. Many of our guests specifically complimented us on how well the ceremony itself turned out.
The day of the wedding Matt showed up in plenty of time to go over the details with the us, the venue coordinator, and the DJ. He was dressed professionally and matched our color scheme. He spoke clearly and confidently. He handled the paperwork for the marriage license so we did not have to worry about a thing.
There are a million tiny details to worry about on your wedding day, but the officiant will not be one of them if you decide to hire Matt with Unity Ceremonies!
Matt was just great! He was very perfect for our wedding ceremony. We wanted to have a pretty simple but meaningful ceremony he captured exactly what we wanted. He was able to come to our rehearsal and meet with our wedding planner to make sure everything ran smoothly for our big day. We were able to not worry about how the ceremony timeline and structure was, Matt handled everything perfectly. Everyone keep coming up to me and letting me know how special and beautiful our ceremony was. Matt was great to work with and highly recommend Unity Ceremonies.
Matt was outstanding. Many remarked that he must have really known us well to capture our spirit in the beautiful ceremony on 8.4.18.
Matt met with us first and explained the process and we were very comfortable that he would be an excellent officiant and he exceeded our expectations.
The flexibility, patience and professionalism from Matt throughout the process was exceptional.
Matt is incredible. From the beginning of the process of looking for an officiant all the way through to the day of our wedding, he was communicative and helpful. He made us feel comfortable during our rehearsal and the day of the ceremony. His words were warm, thoughtful and sincere. We got tons of compliments from our guests regarding our ceremony and what he chose to say. We would 100% recommend him to anyone looking for an officiant!
Matt was amazing. I cannot put into words how perfect our ceremony was. It was all about love and commitment. All of our guests commented on what a beautiful ceremony it was. If you are considering an officiant, I would highly recommend Matt. He is an amazing speaker and really knows how to connect to a crowd and a couple and make it feel really personal. He was always available for questions, he ran our rehearsal, and really made sure everything went smoothly.
Matt was fantastic! I was an out of state bride and he was wonderfully accomadating when it came to scheduling meetings and great at keeping in touch via phone and email. He truly listened to what we wanted for our ceremony and did a great job. Our ceremony couldn’t have been more perfect!
Matt was so great to work with! The ceremony was personal and we got so many compliments on how beautiful the ceremony was. From helping with the rehearsal to just giving helpful advice, we couldn't have found anyone better as our officiant. Thank you!!
Matt was awesome. He is an incredible professional, and has an amazing presence. He gave us a customized, personal, and touching ceremony, and did a great job of running the rehearsal. I would definitely recommend his services to anyone.
Matt was truly amazing! He worked with us every step of the way to help create our perfect ceremony. Your wedding day can be nerve wracking and Matt helped us feel at ease.
As a recent addition to the Unity Ceremonies team, Ericka did an excellent job on making our special day everything we hoped for and more. From the beginning all the way up to the very end of the wedding process, she was beyond accommodating, thorough and professional. Her compassionate, caring manner really shines through her work. We are so grateful to have had Ericka officiate our wedding and highly recommend her for your special day!
My husband and I could not be happier with the officiant services Ericka provided for our wedding. She was extremely flexible throughout the entire wedding process - including setting up an initial face-to-face consultation and responding to my many questions. She was also flexible in adding and making changes to the ceremony until we were happy with it all.
Ericka also attended our rehearsal the day before and helped us understand how everything would proceed.
On our wedding day, she was a calming influence to both of us, which we really appreciated!
Ericka officiated our ceremony with assurance, grace and warmth. We couldn't have been happier.
Working with Unity Ceremonies worked great for our wedding! We were looking for a religious, but non denominational ceremony for our outdoor wedding. Matt was wonderful to work with and accommodation throughout the entire process!
We are so happy to have chosen Unity Ceremonies to officiate our wedding. We wanted a non-religious but spiritual ceremony and Matt is awesome! He is responsive and timely in his communication and very receptive to thoughts and ideas. The vows he came up with were literally perfect. So many of our guests were complimenting us and saying that they had never heard such beautiful vows before. You can tell that Matt puts a lot of time and chooses his wording very carefully and considerately. He was great to work with and we had such a beautiful ceremony. Would book again in a heartbeat!
Matt was an outstanding officiant. He did such a great job with our ceremony and was always available to answer any questions we had prior to the big day. We received tons of compliments on him after the ceremony!
Matt was absolutely amazing from the planning process, to the rehearsal and in the big day. I would highly recommend him to anyone. He was also extremely helpful when it was planned to rain for our outside ceremony. I can't say enough great things, thanks Matt!!
Matt was extremely professional and kept everything/everyone organized. His calm demeanor was exactly what we needed at the rehearsal and the day of and I would recommend him to any of my friends/family. My husband and I wanted an interfaith wedding and he executed the whole thing perfectly! We never met him face-to-face until the day before the wedding at the rehearsal, but his communication prior made us feel like we already knew him and as soon as we did meet him, we knew we made the right choice. You will not regret choosing Matt as your official at your wedding, I have nothing but positive things to say about him!
If you are looking for a GREAT officiant, I definitely recommend Matt. He is professional, but fun, and wrote the perfect vows for us. He was down to earth, and incorporated a perfect mix of spiritual (for our religious guests), and just pure love into our ceremony. He was always available to talk about the ceremony at a moments notice, and I honestly can't say enough good things about him. He was definitely worth every dollar, and really made me feel at ease, which is always a good sign when you can remove some stress from the bride!
Matt is an outstanding officiant and true professional. We asked for a short, sweet, and secular ceremony, and he delivered. We can’t say enough about how easy he made everything. He provided a list of sample vows that we were able to customize and then took care of the rest, himself. He put together a beautiful ceremony that suited us perfectly after only having had two short conversations with us. Matt has a very calming demeanor to him, which is extremely helpful, given the chaotic nature of a rehearsal and wedding. He also stands out for his commitment to providing an exceptional service at a fair price, which cannot be said for others in the industry. He was easily one of our favorite vendors to work with, and we would highly recommend him to any couples going a non-church route for their wedding.
Matt is absolutely terrific! We were struggling to find someone to perform a non-religious ceremony that was also down-to-earth, and luckily found Unity Ceremonies' website! Matt is VERY quick to respond and puts all your worries at ease. He was the perfect blend of commanding and kind during our rehearsal and was warm and gracious on our wedding day. He created a beautiful ceremony for us, tailored to our level of comfort. He has a great speaking voice and a good heart! A few people were surprised at how much we paid for an officiant, but Matt was absolutely worth the price in my opinion. I would choose Unity again in a heartbeat and recommend to all! THANK YOU MATT!
Matt was a fantastic choice for our officiant. My husband and I live in Las Vegas and did all our planning and communication from across the country. We contacted Matt about a month ahead of our wedding, so very last minute. He was great to work with and made everything easier on us. We felt very comfortable with him and he reassured us everything would run smoothly. It definitely did! Our guests loved the ceremony and my husband and I were very happy with it! I definitely recommend Matt to anyone who wants their ceremony personalized and run by someone who actually cares! :)
We were skeptical about finding someone to marry us as we wanted to get married outside of the church. Upon finding Matt on The Knot and reviewing his website, it was clear that he was what we were looking for in an Officiant. From the get go, he was clear about what he is able to provide, clear on what he wanted from us and professional when it came to the contract and money side of things. He was helpful every step along the way in developing our perfect ceremony and was always there to help answer questions regarding the ceremony. On our wedding weekend, he was quite organized at the rehearsal knowing everyone's name and how they should line up and where they should be standing so that the pictures looked perfect! He was kind, energetic, and welcoming to everyone. The day of the wedding, he was neatly dressed and a suit that matched our colors, early enough to coordinate with our sound guy and the musicians and even helped in arranging chairs and some decorations last minute! The ceremony itself was the finest I have ever heard, and our family and guests echoed the same sentiment. It was beautifully written and the flow of the ceremony was perfect for what we wanted. Matt was not reading the ceremony and there were no mistakes what so ever in his prose - I can say with confidence that Matt provided exactly what we were looking for. Matt's services come at a premium - but it was worth every penny for what was the beginning of our lives together. We recommend him!!!!!
Matt was wonderfully accommodating and professional, helping us craft a truly unique ceremony. He made sure that he was aware of the names and relationships of all parties involved with the ceremony and even though we didn't have a rehearsal, all things went smoothly. We didn't have a bridal party and had our ceremony at a small gazebo, so when our guests were confused about where to stand, Matt took charge and invited everyone to come close and surround us - which is exactly what we had wanted and weren't able to communicate ourselves. Matt prepared an opening talk that delicately balanced our parents desires for a traditional ceremony with our hope of a non-faith based ceremony. His words were heartfelt as well as eloquently written and delivered. We couldn't have asked for a better wedding officiant! We highly recommend Matt for your wedding too!
-Em and Mike (happy bride and groom)
Matt was absolutely wonderful! Our ceremony was beautiful and flawless. Matt was incredibly professional and prompt and made us feel comfortable and confident throughout the entire process. We were very pleased with his services and very highly recommend him. Look no further... Matt is awesome!!
What can I say...Matt made my dream of a "Fairytale-in-the-Forest-Wedding" come true!! Matt was completely professional, full of love and kindness and in constant communication with us from our first conversation to the moment he pronounced my now husband and I as husband and wife. We eloped to Ohio ((where we're originally from)) and said 'I do' in a secret ceremony in the Gorge Metro Park. Matt hiked with us at dusk...in the rain...to a cave, where we said our vows. Witnessed only by our photographer, two hikers and a park ranger...our ceremony was nothing less than magical! I am so happy that Matt was part of our special day. He is an amazing person and I highly recommend his services to anyone looking for the perfect officiant for their wedding...or elopement:) xoxo
We found Matt on The Knot and after meeting him one time, we felt like we'd known him for years.
He listened to our request for a ceremony that focused more on love but still had a religious touch for the family members. He spoke about a similar situation from his own wedding experience and that gave me such trust in him.
Matt led a fantastically calm, smooth and organized rehearsal and left me (and the groom and the family) with complete confidence that the next day will be wonderful.
On the day of, Matt was on time, calm and looked great! But more importantly was the message that he wrote for us. It was filled with such love and wonderful words! It was more beautiful than I could have asked for!
Matt will give you a wonderful ceremony that will make your day complete!!
Lead with love! Thanks Matt!
Claire and Kevin Factor
Matt was able to create exactly what we wanted in a wedding ceremony within a very short amount of time. The words he spoke couldn't have been more perfect or more "us". Many of our guests complimented the simple and individualized wedding ceremony and said they have never been more emotional at a wedding. Thank you again for spending your birthday at our wedding and making sure our day was perfect!
I was cool as the breeze in the weeks leading up to my wedding. It wasn't until the day of the rehearsal that I began freaking out! Matt was able to calm my nerves, take control, and give everyone direction. Everything turned out great! I couldn't have imagined a more perfect ceremony. He took the time to get to know exactly what my husband and I wanted in our wedding. He catered the ceremony to our liking. We as well as everyone who witnessed our union could feel the sincerity in his words. My husband and I are tremendously pleased with Matt, and would recommend him to anyone!
Matt was great to work with and really listened to all our specific requests around what we did and did not want in the ceremony. We loved the wedding blessing he gave, and continue to have people tell us how much they liked our ceremony, and what a great job Matt did. He was extremely easy to work with, and always promptly answered any questions we had throughout the entire process. Highly recommend!
Matt did a great job acting as the officiant at my daughter's wedding ceremony. We contacted him within just a few weeks of the wedding date. He made himself accessible to us, making himself available to us even though we were on vacation, and even though the bride was out of state.
During the ceremony, Matt showed poise and presence. He was well prepared. Matt has a professional speaking voice and demeanor which set just the right tone of solemnity, without being too formal or stiff. It was not his fault, but he did the whole ceremony without the benefit of a rehearsal!
We were very lucky to have Matt as part of our wedding. He truly is a gem!
Matt married us on July 11, 2015. We cannot say enough great things about him! As cliche as it may sound, when we first met Matt (super accommodating by the way- was happy to meet us at our local Starbucks just a few minutes away from us), we knew it was meant to be! We had all of these crazy connections, and upon meeting, he immediately made us feel comfortable. We had what most would call an interfaith ceremony which incorporated both Christian and Jewish elements. I’ll admit we had no idea what we were doing in putting this together, as none of my several married friends had an interfaith ceremony (this is what worried us and made us question most of the other officiants we had spoken with). But Matt willingly walked us through everything and was a great communicator throughout the whole planning process. He called/emailed back promptly with detailed responses, right up until the wedding day. He was happy to attend the rehearsal and was always well-prepared. Matt honestly cares about the couples he marries, and there was never a moment where we doubted that! His care and concern radiated through every time we met/spoke with him. He truly put together the most incredible, beautiful ceremony I have ever seen (and I don’t think I’m being biased here!). :) He dressed very professionally and was incredibly well-spoken and loud (which was important with an outdoor ceremony). We received SEVERAL compliments regarding Matt and the ceremony afterwards. Guests are still talking about how perfect it was! We could not be happier with our choice to have Matt officiate our wedding; we are impatiently and eagerly awaiting our video to re-live it! It was a magical day. You absolutely cannot go wrong in choosing Unity Ceremonies- a real class act- we promise, you won’t regret it!
Mr. Rutkowski leads a high class and remarkable ceremony. He officiated at a wedding that I was at last summer and if you are looking for a professional, spiritual and memorable experience take advantage of this opportunity. Alongside the couple during the ceremony, he is genuinely able to bring the audience "inside" the vows between the two. His ability to capture and celebrate the experience is unparalled in my experience. Hands down, this guy is Top Shelf.
If you "just don't want anything to go wrong" on your wedding day, Matt is your man. I could tell that this was not his first rodeo and he added a real touch of class to an already special event.
Between a nervous groom, an emotional mother-in-law and a super-energetic bride, Mr. Rutkowski's kind and cool demeanor saved our day. He has a very calming effect that was felt by all actually. His kind words and infectious smile made everyone attending our wedding feel special. I cannot thank him enough for making our day run so smoothly and I absolutely recommend his services for anyone looking for a thoughtful, kind professional.
Matt was everything we could have asked for in an officiant. His ceremony had all the personal touches that made the wedding our own. It was absolutely beautiful. We chose to use his vows but wrote a knot ceremony to use for the unity ceremony (alternative to a unity candle).
Matt walked us through everything at the rehearsal so we felt prepared on the day of the wedding. He showed up early and dressed to match our wedding colors. The ceremony was very smooth and many guests commented on how beautiful it was.
I absolutely recommend him to anyone.
My daughter found Matt to be most gracious and personable. He tailor made the service for her and her new husband. They were (as were my wife and I) well pleased with the service he performed. Many guests commented on how well he personalized the ceremony. It was great. I highly recommend him.
I've been to a lot of weddings that have not been very good, the officiant's are sometimes lack luster. It's a shame really, because that's the most important part of the day! We were really concerned about picking an officiant, because we really didn't know any out there. we saw Matt perform a wedding ceremony for our friends, and that sealed the deal! That ceremony and ours were personalized, heartfelt, and just wonderful! The only bummer for us was that we had to move our ceremony inside because of the rain, but Matt quickly helped organize things and help us put our worries at ease. From what I can tell, you get what you pay for. This is no different.... He's on Facebook and the has a great website that explains everything… well done!
My husband and I were looking for an officiant who is not affiliated with the church. We found Matt on the Internet and from the moment we met him we knew he was going to be perfect. We didn't want a ceremony that was too religious, he helped walk us through how he was going to make the ceremony for our wishes. His communication was spot on, always there to answer our questions. He was very professional at our rehearsal, he helped everyone with their spacing and how to walk in and out. The ceremony itself was perfect, both my husband and I were very happy. Our family and friends gave us great feedback, we recommend Matt with no reservations!
Matt was an incredible officiant. He was very personable, professional and responsive throughout the process and the service itself was exactly what we had hoped for. More than a couple of guests commented on what an amazing job he did and how much they enjoyed the service. When there were last minute changes and questions, Matt kept everyone organized and went with the flow. Exactly what you want on your wedding day! I cannot recommend him strongly enough!
Mr. Rutkowski was incredibly easy to work with and made us at ease (which was a nice reprieve from the rest of wedding planning!). He is the most professional and well spoken individual you will find AND he assisted us in understanding the wedding procession and gave us ideas on readings and traditions we could include to personalize our special day. I can't express enough how grateful we are that we found him. Plus, he is very photogenic!!!
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Gates Mills, OH | Northeast Ohio and surrounding areas
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