5 out of 5 stars and 185 reviews
5
(185)Serving NYC, NJ, PA and Destinations Worldwide
About this vendor
WEDDING CEREMONIES:
Crafting your dream wedding is no small feat; it’s a day brimming with the celebration of your unique love story! That’s where I step in, turning those cherished moments of joy, laughter, and heartfelt exchanges into memories that will last a lifetime!
As a seasoned Wedding Officiant, I’m here to serve couples locally, nationally, and internationally, designing ceremonies that mirror your distinct values and beliefs, whether you prefer a traditional wedding or a quirky elopement.
ELOPEMENTS:
If you're on the hunt for a comprehensive elopement package featuring a captivating ceremony, affordable photography/video services, and assistance in finding the perfect venue, look no further!
DAY OF COORDINATION:
Bid farewell to wedding day stress! Having all your needs met under one roof – from ceremony and rehearsal to coordination – is the ideal solution. Schedule a consultation to delve into the specifics.
CONSULTATION:
Curious about my offerings, pricing, or availability? Simply head to my website (www.weddingsbyaretha.com) and fill out the brief consultation form for an immediate Zoom consultation.
Let’s embark on this journey to celebrate YOUR love story in the most enchanting way!
Details
Business Attributes
- Black-owned Business
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Wedding Activities
- Wedding
- Ceremony
Awards and Affiliations
9-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2025.2024.2023.+6 more.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
5
out of 5.0185 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Looking back on our wedding day, we truly wouldn’t change a thing — it was everything we hoped for and more. A huge part of that is thanks to Aretha. From our very first conversati...
on, she brought a sense of calm, confidence, and professionalism that made the entire planning process so much easier and more enjoyable.
Aretha was incredibly responsive answering every question we had. What really stood out was how thoughtful and connected she is. Aretha introduced us to a wonderful photographer who captured our day beautifully. She recommended a charming restaurant where we celebrated after the ceremony, and it ended up being the perfect choice. She also helped us navigate the marriage license process. These personal touches made our experience feel customized, not cookie-cutter.
Aretha clearly loves what she does, and her warmth, attention to detail, and commitment to her couples made all the difference for us. Everything ran smoothly, we felt supported the whole way through, and we were able to truly enjoy every moment of our special day without stress. We’re so thankful for her A+ service and would highly recommend her to anyone planning their big day. She helped create a day we’ll cherish forever.
From the very beginning, my husband Harris and I knew we were in great hands with Aretha. She was incredibly diligent and thoughtful in getting to know us—our backgrounds, our love...
story, and most importantly, our vision for the big day. Aretha truly listened and made sure every detail we hoped for was respected and seamlessly incorporated into the ceremony.
Her guidance throughout the process was clear, calm, and always reassuring. Aretha made herself available for any questions or concerns, and her professionalism and warmth never wavered. On the day of our wedding, she executed everything flawlessly, allowing us to be fully present and enjoy every moment.
Our guests could not stop raving about how beautifully Aretha led the ceremony. She told our story with such heart and authenticity—it felt personal, intentional, and unforgettable.
Working with Aretha was truly a wonderful experience from start to finish, and we are so grateful she was such an important part of our day.
Upon getting engaged, my husband and I knew we wanted to elope. We had taken some time to look into several different options and when I stumbled upon Aretha, I immediately knew sh...
e was the one! All of her reviews made me hope and pray that she was available for our wedding date given the two month notice; and she was! Since my very first interaction with her which was my initial inquiry about her services, her speedy response (in less than a couple of hours) gave me the reassurance that we made the right decision.
From the communication and planning stage, to our very big and intimate day, Aretha made our elopement beyond seamless and special. Not only was she thorough in explaining what to expect, she was also resourceful in providing recommendations and extremely encouraging/supportive/warm throughout the entire process. Our elopement was tailored to our preferences (we started with a prayer and we also had our own vows) which made it such a special experience. We were beyond satisfied with Aretha’s services and were so grateful we came across her. We loved every bit Aretha poured into our day and hearts. She will forever hold a very special place in our lives. We 10000000% recommend her if you’re looking for a one of a kind, loving, memorable, and unforgettable experience for your big day! Aretha is truly spectacular.
-Valerie & Chris
We cannot express enough gratitude for having had Aretha from Weddings by Aretha officiate our wedding. From the very first moment we reached out, Aretha made us feel like family—h...
er warmth, professionalism, and dedication were evident in every interaction. Our wedding was a last-minute decision, but Aretha never made us feel rushed or stressed. Instead, she was right there with us, guiding us with her soothing voice and calm demeanor.
Aretha went above and beyond to help us organize all the details. She provided thoughtful recommendations for venues, photo and video vendors, and other key elements that perfectly made our day come together. As an international couple, navigating the intricacies of a cross-cultural wedding could have been overwhelming, but Aretha patiently worked with us to ensure everything was in place. She even helped us figure out the logistics for including our loved ones from around the world by arranging for a live-stream of our ceremony.
On the wedding day, Aretha ensured that every detail honored our cultural traditions. She was incredibly flexible, allowing us to translate our vows into our native languages—such a personal touch that meant the world to us. Her attention to detail, ability to make us feel seen and heard, and understanding of our heritage's significance made our ceremony truly unforgettable.
Aretha’s presence is something truly special—there’s a sparkle about her that few people possess. She has an innate ability to make every couple feel like they’re the most important people in the world, and she radiates a sense of joy and love that’s contagious. It’s rare to meet someone so dedicated, professional, and genuinely kind.
As a couple who have worked in the luxury cruise industry for many years, we’ve encountered our fair share of professionals, but Aretha stands out like a shining star. Her grace, class, and polished professionalism made us feel like we were back on the elegant cruise ships we used to work on—yet she brought a personal, heartfelt touch that was uniquely her own.
Aretha is more than just a wedding officiant; she is an angel who brings extra magic to your special day. She was the perfect fit for us, and we couldn’t imagine anyone else guiding us through such a meaningful moment. We wholeheartedly recommend her to any couple seeking a kind, thoughtful, and utterly professional officiant who will make your wedding day feel as extraordinary as you are. Thank you, Aretha, for making our wedding a beautiful and unforgettable experience.
My husband and I could not have asked for a better Wedding Officiant for our wedding! Wedding vendor selection was a stressful process and at times we found it difficult knowing wh...
o to trust. From the moment we met Aretha however we knew we were in good hands. My husband and I didn't belong to a home church but it was highly important to us that our christian faith was incorporated into our ceremony. We were initially nervous about finding someone who could bring the right warmth and energy to the ceremony. Our family voiced their concerns about us not being married by a Pastor early on but after the ceremony they expressed how impressed they were with Aretha and they were glad that we chose her.
Aretha not only incorporated prayer with traditions we value such as jumping the broom and a candle lighting ceremony, but she also tailored them for us to add a personal touch. I joke that Aretha was our neglected vendor because in the midst of completing so many wedding planning tasks in a short amount of time and our large team of vendors, my husband and I failed to allocate time to meet with Aretha to go over final ceremony details. We were shocked however that despite our own shortcomings every single detail we mentioned wanting in our intake form and initial conversation with Aretha was executed effortlessly on our wedding day. At the last minute I added my ailing grandfather to our ceremony and without her knowing a ton of detail about his life she even created a heartfelt way of including him. Furthermore after praying for a warm sunny fall wedding day we got the sunshine and clear skies we hoped for but not the warmth. Despite the chilling breeze blowing from the water of Jersey City on November 3rd, Aretha carried out our ceremony as though we had the warmest of days and never once complained or seemed bothered. It was clear that Aretha cared deeply about making our ceremony personal and meaningful. If you are looking for an officiant who will go above and beyond, I can not recommend Aretha highly enough. She was a blessing to us, and I know she would be for any couple looking to create a truly memorable and heartfelt ceremony. Beyond being an amazing Wedding Officiant Aretha is an awesome and honest person with a good heart. In the wedding industry Aretha is a rare gem.
Our situation was unique because we only had 90 days to get married on a K-1 visa. Originally, for this reason, we planned to just get married at the courthouse, but at the last mi...
nute decided to do something small with only our parents. We were very stressed trying to plan everything until we found Aretha. She took our stress away entirely and took care of everything for a very simple, but romantic ceremony in a few hours. She advised us on what exactly we needed to do for the paperwork, found a venue, and provided a photographer who was also very professional and helpful. Everything went perfectly and we ended up with the exact small, intimate wedding that we hoped for.
We were thrilled to have Aretha officiate our elopement ceremony. She was organized and thorough, saving us from unwanted drama that we did not want or need when trying to celebrat...
e our special day. During the ceremony, her words were moving to our guests, and she even set us up with a wonderful duo for our photos/video.
We highly recommend Aretha for your wedding ceremony--she is a pro and a class act!
Wow! What more can I say? Aretha hit it out of the park!
We contacted her with only 6 days to schedule, plan and prepare for our wedding. And we are beyond grateful she was availa...
ble. She made our day spectacular! Our vows were perfectly written as if she had known us for years. I was a little unsure on what to expect but I love to be spontaneous. Aretha pulled it all together with very short notice and reminded me we needed a marriage license. The ceremony was more than I could have dreamed of, surrounded only by the people closest to us.
We are so grateful we stumbled across her website during a search. You could feel her happiness and love, she is dependable, answers quickly, knowledgeable and truly cares. We made memories that will last a lifetime, thank you so much Aretha!
Our wedding officiant was truly exceptional. Despite the short notice, she delivered a flawless ceremony and ensured every detail was perfect. Her assistance in booking professiona...
l photo/video services and securing the marriage certificate on the same day made our elopement smooth and stress-free. Her dedication and efficiency turned our special day into an ultimate success.
Collaborating with Ms. Gaskin was a pleasure from start to finish! My now husband and I live in New Jersey. We were planning to elope to upstate New York with our best friends, but...
we learned that we needed to be married in New Jersey in order for our union to be recognized by our state of residence. I did a diligent search through multiple officiant websites before coming across Ms. Gaskin's site. I was charmed by her aesthetic and how much care she seemed to put into curating relationships and special moments with her clients. Within an hour or two of reaching out to her, Ms. Gaskin contacted me via my preferred method (text message) and we proceeded to discuss arrangements. Luckily for us, she was available for the date we wanted! She provided us with thorough, detailed information throughout the entire process of applying for our marriage license. She was readily available to answer all questions and provided us with guidance which made the entire process that much easier. Two weeks later, we met at our agreed upon location (I was over half an hour late because my makeup appointment ran late and she didn't charge me extra, even though she had every right to do so!), she performed a perfectly sweet ceremony, and we were married! We were then able to travel to upstate New York as we had originally planned. Ms. Gaskin submitted our completed license to the registrar the following Monday and we had our marriage certificate in our hands by Tuesday! I would absolutely recommend Ms. Gaskin's services to anyone looking for an intimate, personalized, affordable experience with a true professional.
What stood out to us throughout our time working with Aretha as our officiant was how detailed and prepared she was. As a bride or groom, one of the more stressful parts about wedd...
ing planning can be the sense that no one cares about the success of the event more than you and your partner — not even the people who are literally paid to care. But where others let us down, a handful of rockstar vendors showed up big and managed to alleviate us of that lonely feeling. Aretha was among the latter group.
She collaborated with our incredible coordinator and the venue’s super accommodating staff to create the perfect wedding day. She was a core member of our dream team, guiding nearly every detail of our ceremony. This included the way we walked down the aisle, the cues for us to embrace our parents, which foot we each stepped on stage with, where we placed our hands, how we received our rings from her after she received them from the best man, and so many other details I’ve probably forgotten by now (although I know she hasn’t!).
More than an officiant, Aretha is an astute choreographer with a keen understanding of how to stage a show. Perhaps the best example of this was her suggestion to break tradition and sit the groom’s guests on the left and the bride’s on the right, allowing our respective families to see our faces instead of the back of our heads as we recited our vows.
If you hire Aretha to officiate your wedding, you’ll hire a performer who respects the art of performance. She cares so deeply about the pageantry of the day that she’ll decline to share her speech with you and your spouse ahead of time, ensuring your surprise when you both finally hear your story spoken during the ceremony. (This was scary at first but turned out great. As guests of another wedding, we once heard a pretty cringe-worthy speech from a rouge officiant. But we didn’t worry much about that happening with Aretha after building trust through such an extensive planning process.)
We recommend Aretha’s services not just because they’re thorough, but ultimately because such thoroughness provided peace of mind on what we’ll remember as the most beautifully nerve-racking day of our lives. - Austin and Natifia
I would like to thank Aretha for being patient with my fiance and I. The process was confusing to us from the start but with Aretha’s help we were able to figure it out. Aretha alw...
ays reminded us that if we had any questions that she was just a call away. With a lot of questions and answers we were ready for our wedding day. The day of our wedding was beautiful. Being outside made us feel like it was just the two of us and nature and also the way it was very intimate. Thank you Aretha!
My testimony is the story of my fairytale of everything I wanted came true. I literally would sit and draw my wedding day up in my head and watch weddings on YouTube whenever I wa...
s relaxing and there she was, Aretha Gaskin of Weddings By Aretha standing in elegance and speaking with grace. So calm and warm that it drew me into each couple’s ceremony. Her style and presentation catered to each couple won me over, so I made a notation on my vision board that she would marry me off in romance. God blessed me and it was my time and I booked Aretha and just as I imagined, from the initial call, she was so welcoming with this calming voice and seemed so intrigued about our love story. Aretha married us at The Somerset Palace and you could feel the love – and with Aretha’s voice, choice of words, style and grace, she just set the tone. I am so thankful for her services and elated on the wonderful job she did with our wedding. Thank you over and over again! -- The Bacotes.
I was searching for a wedding officiant when I found “Weddings by Aretha”. I called her up and she was the sweetest and most helpful person to talk to during a stressful and chaoti...
c moment. I chose her as my wedding officiant and have no regrets for my decision. She made my process so easy and was always willing to answer any questions or doubts. I will definitely be referring anyone who needs a wedding officiant over to her.
Aretha made getting married easy! She was flexible and patient with me looking for the perfect elopement date. She was prompt and calming the day of. Lastly, she created for us the...
most beautiful vows that brought me to tears on our happiest day. I will recommend her to everyone!
Working with Aretha was an absolute pleasure! Aretha is professional, caring, compassionate, and considerate, which is why we knew we were in the best of hands when choosing her as...
our officiant.
We began by having a preliminary meeting where she outlined how our day would go and asked if we had any visions or requests that she could accommodate. This ensured that our day would go exactly how we always envisioned it to go.
After agreeing to work with Aretha, she was available to answer any and all questions and was prompt with getting us those answers. Not only was she prompt in answering, but she also provided additional ideas and options that we did not even think of doing. This helped further personalize our big day.
On the day of the wedding, Aretha arrived early to make sure we were all set up appropriately prior to all our guests arriving. Her ceremony was as beautiful as we could have ever imagined and it helped make our wedding that much more perfect. I am convinced that if we worked with anyone else, the day would not have gone as smoothly as it did with her.
After speaking with our guests, many were surprised to find out that Aretha had not known us for years due to the words she spoke and how she interacted with us at the venue. That solidified the fact that choosing Aretha for our special day was one of the best decisions we could have made. Thank you, Aretha!
Aretha helped us to create the perfect ceremony that was both meaningful to us as a couple and to our family and guests. Throughout the planning process Aretha was always communica...
tive and happy to answer any questions, and share any information that could help create a unique ceremony for us. One of our favorite moments was the wine bottle ceremony, which is a memorable token we now have in our home to remind us of our union and commitment to one another throughout the years to come. During our ceremony Aretha was welcoming, personable and most importantly she created a space that allowed us to truly feel present with each other in such a beautiful moment in our lives. Thank you! Rachel & Lex
It was a delight having Aretha officiate our wedding, even with short notice. Her patience, professionalism, and seasoned expertise seamlessly guided us through the process. Her or...
ganized and user-friendly website provided thorough guidance on available options. Aretha was available for all our questions, easing our nerves and instilling a sense of calm for both me and my bride. Her service is top-notch and comes highly recommended for friends and family.
My husband and I were so lucky to have found Aretha! Applying for a marriage license is no walk in the park, and we found ourselves confused with the process. We decided to search ...
for a Minister, and this is where we came across Aretha. Aretha offers so much guidance and support regarding the tedious application process. We had a small, intimate ceremony (only our mothers attended) under a beautiful gazebo that Aretha recommended. Aretha was clear about how the process looked and helped us get married before going on a lovely vacation together. Thanks to her guidance, the process went smoothly, and we are now happily married! We are now looking into planning a bigger ceremony, to celebrate our union with our loved ones abroad. Thank you for helping our dream come true!
From the moment we met Aretha, we were struck by her warmth, professionalism, and genuine interest in understanding our story and values as a couple. She took the time to get to kn...
ow us on a personal level, and it was clear she wanted to craft a ceremony that truly reflected our love and commitment to each other.
Aretha also provided us with resources and new ideas to help us create a ceremony that was unique, personal, and memorable. On the day of our wedding, Aretha delivered a ceremony that was nothing short of magical. Her words were beautifully crafted, capturing the essence of our relationship and the love we share.
People often focus on aspects like food or music when it comes to planning their wedding day. But the purpose of the day is your union. A ceremony that reflects this will mean more than you know. Aretha was truly exceptional on the most important day of our lives. She beautifully orchestrated a deeply meaningful and personal experience, and we will be forever grateful to her for that.
It was my event planner who got Aretha under our radar. The wedding process can be challenging, but after our initial meeting with Aretha, we knew that this part of the process was...
going to be trouble-free. As soon as we made it official with Aretha, she sent out our “homework” right away, and this is how we knew we made the right decision. We loved how Aretha considered our culture, values, and thoughts because we knew it would translate into our ceremony. My favorite homework to complete was the questionnaire because it gave us the time to reflect on the memories that we had created over the years. Not only is Aretha organized, but she is professional and polite as well. It was a pleasure to work with her and to have her officiate our ceremony. Honestly, our ceremony was the favorite part of our wedding day, and we couldn’t have created that intimate and warm felt ceremony without Aretha! We thank you so much! – Kristie & Gillon
Aretha, we couldn't thank you enough for being such a BIG part of our wedding day! We feel so fortunate to have had you officiate our wedding ceremony. Aretha was reliable, caring ...
and compassionate— she explained things honestly and thoroughly and was open to answering any questions we had. It was a beautiful personalized ceremony, we could not have pictured anyone else to officiate. We have no regrets, thank you Aretha!
Aretha, Thank you for Everything!
You’re professional, poised and gracious at all times. Thank you so much for being there for us from start to finish, being so patient with us, a...
nd the wedding party.
We really appreciate the great work you did, and were so pleased with your professionalism, patience and flexibility during our special day!
One of the best decisions we made was hiring you to help us pull everything together.
Thanks again, and happy to refer you to anyone in need of an officiant and day of coordinator because you are simply amazing!
Thank you,
The Faussett’s
My advice, hire Aretha! She does a fantastic job!
Our story…We wanted to get married without going through a year of planning.
We were hoping to do this in at the end of July.
It...
was June.
I came across “Weddings by Aretha “in a search for elopements for the NY/NJ area. We had a date in mind, and it was important to us to have pictures to commemorate the day and to be able share with our friends & extended family.
What initially drew me to Aretha’s website is she had several packages to choose from -including photos and rates.
I then did some research and saw the beautiful videos of previous weddings she officiated. They all were so beautiful, the vows made me cry. One right after another.
After we connected and spoke over the phone, I explained what we wanted and she navigated me through the website, made suggestions, and I told me what package would be best.
After speaking with her, I knew we were in good hands.
Aretha connected us with one of her photography vendors. She was able to officiate the wedding on our chosen date. She also suggested Central Park as the prime location, and we got some beautiful photos and video. (Photo Credit to Purroy Productions)
She wrote beautiful vows. (It is an option to write your vows, but we had limited time.) She asked us a little bit about each other on an emailed questionnaire.
On the day of the wedding, we recited the beautiful words she had written, to one another.
It was like she knew us.
They vows were perfect!
We had two witnesses. My husband’s brother, and my first cousin. We included our parents.
We had a beautiful wedding day!
We have no regrets with our decision to have a small intimate wedding.
I would highly recommend “Weddings by Aretha.”
Deana & Brian
Aretha was an absolute game-changer for our wedding! Seriously, she took personal touches to a whole new level and our guests are still talking about the uniqueness she brought to ...
our big day.
From the moment we met her, it was like she'd known us forever. She took the time to really understand our story and our relationship, and that came through in every word she spoke during the ceremony. It wasn't just a cookie-cutter script – it was a heartfelt and personalized narrative that had everyone hanging on her every word.
I can't even count how many people came up to us after the wedding and raved about how special our ceremony was. They couldn't believe the way she wove in those personal anecdotes, the inside jokes, and the little details that made it uniquely ours. She didn't just officiate; she crafted an experience that felt like it was tailor-made for us.
Aretha's warmth and genuine excitement for our union were palpable. It was like having a dear friend guide us through one of the most important moments of our lives. We couldn't have asked for a better officiant, and we're forever grateful for the way she made our wedding ceremony unforgettable. She also was extremely punctual for our rehearsal (which you should absolutely also book) as well as our big day.
If you're looking for an officiant who will go the extra mile to make your ceremony personal, meaningful, and completely one-of-a-kind, then look no further. Aretha is an absolute gem, and she'll turn your wedding into a memory that you and your guests will cherish forever.
I cannot express just how eloquently and beautifully Aretha was able to put together and officiate our wedding ceremony. Her words and articulation were flawless, and her ability t...
o lighten the mood and make everyone smile was refreshing and greatly appreciated. She is organized, prepared, and knowledgeable, and I would 110% recommend her, as she will make your wedding ceremony magical
The next day after our engagement I started planning for the big day, that’s when I started looking for wedding officiants. I came across Aretha’s Instagram page and instantly knew...
I would not want anyone else to prepare and officiate our ceremony. I reached out to her prior to booking the venue! This is how deep in my heart I knew she was the person I wanted and needed in my wedding team.
During our first Zoom meeting, she was very attentive, responsive and very helpful. My husband (fiancé at the time) asked for a few days for us to think about it. After we got off that Zoom call I told him “I don’t want anyone else. She is the officiant!”. A good husband always listens to his wife (haha) and we signed the contract with her for Wedding Officiant and Day of Coordination.
We stayed in constant communication. She was really helpful and always checked in on us. A few months later and we had an unexpected loss in the family, we paused all planning. Four months prior to our wedding, I asked Aretha if she would recommend a wedding planner, to which she replied that she is also a wedding planner. It was a done deal; Aretha became our Wedding Planner.
I cannot thank her enough! Our ceremony was beautiful, personalized and sacred. She did everything we wanted and more. Our wedding reception was beautiful, she was a key member of the wedding team and I would have not been able to pull it off without her! From decor to DJ, she took charge and connected us to the right vendors.
Aretha, thank you! For all your support, late texts, late calls, long conversations and more importantly for being you! You are an amazing person. Your words during our ceremony will always play in my mind. Thank you for your love, prayers and time! I highly recommend Aretha for wedding planning and ceremony officiant.
When my now husband and I first discussed that we wanted to commit to one another and get married we thought that we would have an ample amount of time. Little did we know that his...
Armory would have to be deployed the year we were planning to get married and have our wedding. We sat around trying to figure out how and when we would be able to pull off an elopement so soon. We decided to look around for officiants and many fell flat in our eyes. Until we came across Aretha's website, from the testimonials, to the clarification of services, to her warm energy through all of the photos we knew we had to try to see if we could get her to officiate our quick nuptials. From the moment we started corresponding with Aretha she was clear and concise. She calmed our anxieties and answered all of our logistical and heartfelt questions. When it came to the day of our vows Aretha was cool as a cucumber matching our relaxed vibe as well. She helped us and our witnesses go through the paperwork with ease. But most importantly her words and structure made us so comfortable to open up our hearts and share our vows with one another without hesitancy or awkwardness. Aretha you are an absolute God-send and we could not be more grateful for all of your help! We hope that our paths will cross with you again.
-Tiffani and Christopher
Aretha is incredible! We would highly recommend to anyone searching for a professional and thoughtful officiant. From the moment we started working with her, Aretha was organized, ...
thorough, detailed, consultative and warm, putting our nerves at ease. My husband and I intentionally wanted a special non-religious ceremony and Aretha delivered beyond expectations. So much so that months later, our family and friends still compliment the beautiful ceremony and acknowledge it as the best they’ve witnessed.
Our ceremony was perfectly personal, intimate and unique. Aretha worked with us closely to ensure each aspect reflected us, from the wine box ritual down to the song choices and readings. Everything was carefully curated to represent our unity in the past and our future together. Aretha beautifully encapsulated our love story, while infusing encouragement, optimism and lightheartedness throughout our ceremony. We had guests come up at the reception marveling over Aretha and asking if she was a family friend — it’s like she knew us so well!
Aretha, thank you and for officiating the most meaningful and memorable ceremony we could have ever dreamed. You are the BEST!
We are very happy to have worked with Aretha. From the very first zoom meeting, we knew we made the right decision. She was prepared, knowledgeable, professional, and very detailed...
- which made the ceremony planning process seamless. Aretha’s passion for officiating weddings was on full display as she guided us through the planning of our ceremony and the filing of the correct paperwork. Moreover, Aretha was accommodating and always reiterated that she was only a phone call, text, or email away should we have any questions. This was indeed fulfilled as we had a few questions during the planning stage. This level of customer service and professionalism was greatly appreciated.
Aretha, thank you for being a part of our special day and for crafting up such a special and memorable ceremony. Your words captured our love story and embodied us as a couple. Our guests were blown away by how everything flowed. Safe to say, you exceeded our expectations. Thank you very much, Aretha.
Aretha is such a breath of fresh air!!! From our very first conversation with her, we knew we had found the right match and didn’t need to look any further. Our conversation flowed...
so naturally...we laughed, shared stories, and got to know one another as people which was very important to my husband and I going into the search for the “perfect” officiant. Aretha was so calm and knowledgeable that she immediately put all of our ceremony worries to rest. Even when our wedding venue could not provide us space for our rehearsal, Aretha was very flexible and quickly helped us to resolve the matter.
Fast-forward to the day of our wedding, Aretha had everything laid out and boy, did she deliver!!!! We have gotten so many compliments about how beautiful our ceremony was and how effortlessly it flowed, and that’s all thanks to Aretha. She spoke about our love as if she’d known us for years. Her words were perfectly crafted and truly embodied us as a couple. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ceremony. It was everything we wanted and needed.
We had no idea what to expect when we chose to not have a traditional church wedding. From our initial zoom consultation with Aretha, we knew we had made the right decision, her de...
meanor is very warm and inviting and the conversation just flowed so naturally like talking to a good friend. She explained to us how to write our marriage vows and this made it less stressful. The day of our marriage her voice put us both at ease and removed any anxiety we had. Aretha provided us with a copy of our vows which was something we did not expect. After the ceremony we retreated to our lounge to sign the marriage license, Aretha was there interacting and engaging in conversation with our family like she was family. She is an absolute professional and a pleasure to work with. Aretha, we thank you for everything that you did for us and we pray that you continue to be a blessing to other couples.
We don’t even know where to begin. Aretha was truly a blessing throughout this entire process. When we set up a consultation with Aretha in July 2021, we had a big wedding planned ...
for October 2023. After a Zoom consultation, we quickly knew that Aretha was the perfect person to marry us. Aretha helped us to make sure we were prepared for what type of ceremony we wanted and was just as excited for our special day.
Fast forward to August 2022, we called Aretha and let her know that we had experienced A LOT over the past year and that we had cancelled our big day and decided that we wanted to elope on our actual anniversary this year!
We were nervous about that this meant for Aretha’s availability to officiate our elopement. But we had nothing to worry about. Aretha was with us every step of the way and guiding us through the process, providing EVERY referral, and truly taking into account our vision for the day. She encouraged us to make the day as special as possible despite the change in plans.
Aretha was so supportive and MORE than accommodating. She has a keen ability to connect with her couples in a way that is so genuine, heartfelt, and sincere. We truly felt loved by Aretha throughout the process. She took the time to get to know us and the love that we share together.
Knowing all that we have gone through the past year, Aretha spoke life over us during our ceremony and made us laugh, smile, and cry. We cannot thank you enough for the calls, love and attention, and expertise that you brought to this process. We are forever grateful for you and you will always be a special person in our lives. We love you!
We got married in July and had the pleasure of working with Aretha as our officiant. We were able to choose most of our vendors quite easily but an officiant was a hard task for us...
. We spoke to many options but couldn't imagine them spearheading our ceremony, and I wondered if I would ever find anyone in the NY area who would fit our needs. As soon as we spoke to Aretha, she made us feel confident in choosing her- she is a true professional who truly cares about her profession.
She ensures everything is organized- I assume she would also make a great wedding planner with her gift in paying attention to every detail. She also dressed up so well and looked beautiful, which shows she looks at your event as something special. She speaks well and has a way with words, and I am sure any couple who has or will work with her feels the same way. She kept things efficient but didn't miss any important parts of our story, which we really appreciated. We would absolutely recommend her to anyone looking for a wonderful officiant, you will not be disappointed!
Jahma and Patrick
From the moment we had a Zoom meeting with her, we just knew that Aretha was the right person to officiate our wedding.
Her warmth, charisma and impeccable attention to detail sk...
ills set her apart from the other officiants we were considering.
On the day of our elopement ceremony, she was prompt, provided us with ease and comfort as I had an overflow of anxiety.
The ceremony exceeded our expectations, clearly Aretha has a gift. Everyone was blown away by her warm yet commanding presence.
We truthfully cannot recommend her highly enough; she is a spectacular wedding officiant.
Marck-lee and I were absolutely delighted to have you as our officiant for our special day. We’ve searched high and low and came across your Instagram and knew immediately that we ...
needed you to officiate our wedding. Honestly, having you be a part of our special day was the best decision we made. You helped bring in our union with such calmness and graciousness. Your touching words will forever live true and dear to us for the rest of our lives. Also to mention, our family and friends raved about our ceremony and many have said you were the beam of light that truly encapsulated our forever love. Our ceremony was infused with love, warmth, joy and laughter. Your professionalism is truly unmatched. With that, we thank you immensely and thanking God for placing you in our lives. You are truly the best of the best!!!
Sincerely,
Marck-lee and Stephanie
As soon as my husband and I started looking into wedding logistics, we knew we wanted Aretha to officiate our wedding. From the multiple videos online, she seemed highly poised and...
her readings were clever and personally customized. After our initial consultation, she blew it out of the water and was decidedly the only officiant we met with. Given the covid restrictions at the time, our interactions were solely over zoom, but her abilities were not tarnished one bit!
During our first Zoom call, Aretha was very friendly and provided a ton of information. She was very professional and responded to all emails and inquiries within a timely manner. The day of our rehearsal was the first time we actually met in person, but it felt as if we were already familiar with each other. She provided highly detailed instructions and advice, and although I was nervous about our big day, she was able to reassure me that everything would be fine. Our walkthrough went through seamlessly!
Our ceremony reading was amazing! Aretha was able to convey our love story exactly as pictured. She provided so much joy to our friends and family that day. I would definitely recommend Aretha to anyone looking for an officiant capable of making a lasting memory!
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided I was going to plan my own wedding. Finding Aretha as my Day-of Coordinator was exactly what I needed to assure that my ...
vision came to life. During the planning process she gave helpful suggestions from her experience doing weddings. I immediately felt like I could trust her to make sure I was headed in the right direction when it came to all the small details that I was quite unfamiliar with when planning. She took the time to get to know my husband and I; to understand our likes and dislikes. She asked me questions that I hadn’t even thought of! All of the questions helped me hone in on things like, what vendors I needed to hire and what exactly I wanted from each of them. As the wedding date got closer, Aretha really took a load off of my shoulders by contacting all of my vendors and creating a wedding timeline. It was the organization I needed.
When the day of the wedding finally arrived, every detail of the wedding was thought out. Every minute of my wedding day was accounted for. Aretha knew what we wanted our wedding to be like and truly made it happen. It was magical. Everything fell into its perfect place. All my vendors arrived on time. My bridesmaids were all ready on time. My ceremony started on time. My decor was just how I envisioned. I mean, perfection!! I honestly am still in awe. I have no complaints and no regrets; that’s how a bride wants to feel when looking back on her wedding day! Thank you Aretha! I truly couldn’t have done it without you.
The icing on the cake is, Aretha also officiated our wedding ceremony. Just as she took the time to fully understand our wedding vision, she took the time to get to know us as a couple and our ceremony reflected that. Our ceremony was personalized to us and nothing short of amazing! Aretha is professional, dependable, honest, easy to talk to, attentive, experienced, and who you need on your team!!! Thank you Aretha!!
Much love,
Henzly and Taylor Meghie
We started planning our wedding two months before our big day. Aretha was our first choice to be our wedding officiant. We had a few Zoom meetings to get to know each other and dur...
ing the Zoom conference she made us feel very confident to have her as our wedding officiant. From day one she was very flexible and prompt to help us and to guide us with the paperwork and she made everything very easy and comfortable during our wedding ceremony. She encouraged us to write our own vows. We were nervous to create our own vows but in the end was the best choice we could have. During the ceremony she spoke beautiful and inspirational words of love, God, encouragement and strength. We had an intimate wedding surrounded by family and friends, Aretha made us calm and relaxed, and the feeling was that she is part of our family. She is very professional and still kind and sweet. We totally recommend Aretha because she helped to make our wedding unforgettable.
Love,
Michael and Marcos
Aretha was the absolute best. Her professionalism throughout the process was excellent. She always kept the communication open to us whenever we needed help or had a question. Are...
tha is very well connected and it showed during our wedding day. She also referred professional photographers who were great people and also provided a great service just like she did. Aretha also even suggested a great makeup artist for my wife. Our wedding was exactly what we wanted and we have to definitely thank Aretha for that. It was a pleasure to have her as our wedding officiant.
Aretha has gone above and beyond as both Officiant and Day-of Coordinator. We wouldn’t have it any other way as she has shown so much professionalism and patience. She has walked u...
s through the process every step of the way. She has great energy, and respects your culture, religious beliefs, your family values, and everything else that she’s aware of that matters to you. She’s got it all down to a science! Every time we hear Aretha say “Okay I have an idea” We know we’re about to hear something creative that will make our big day even better. Though we love to do things our own way, rarely if ever, do we say no to an Aretha’s idea. She made sure she learned just enough about us to share ideas that fit both our personalities. If we had to do it all over again, Aretha would surely be our go-to person. Friends and family are commending us for how structured everything was and we’re thankful to know how big of a part she played in that. There is so much more great stuff about working with her that we may have not mentioned, but it is totally worth it. Just wow! We can never thank her enough for her outstanding services and level headedness. Aretha, thanks for everything.
- Ken & Lore
I had a great experience with Weddings by Aretha. My husband and I chose her elopement package. From the very beginning of us reaching out Aretha was very quick to reply and very ...
responsive throughout the entire process. She set up a zoom meeting with us to better get to know us and what our vision was for our special day. Since we didn’t have a location in mind she chose a very nice park for us and even prepared our vows for us. Everything was perfect. Right after the ceremony we were able to walk across the street and file our paperwork and received 2 marriage certificates immediately. I would highly recommend her.
I had the pleasure of witnessing Aretha officiate a wedding I attended approximately 4 years ago. I immediately started following her on Instagram after that ceremony. It was a no ...
brainer when my fiance and I decided to plan the details of our wedding, that we would use her to be our officiant. Aretha did not disappoint from her reply in a timely fashion after our first inquiry, to effective and thorough communication through out the whole process preparing for our big day. Aretha gave us exactly what we asked for, a personalized, sentimental, warm hearted, romantic ceremony. Needless to say, our guests were blown away by the delivery of our ceremony and we will definitely be utilizing her for our vow renewal.
Choosing an officiant for our wedding ceremony was a top priority for us. The officiant sets the tone for the ceremony, and we wanted our ceremony to be meaningful, impeccable, and...
timeless. Meeting Aretha for the first time, we knew she would be a phenomenal officiant. We learned more about the ceremony process and the importance of hiring a highly competent and professional officiant to ensure that the ceremony flowed well and would be immaculate. Aretha has a fantastic process while getting to know the couple and a detailed questionnaire that made the journey seamless. Our ceremony speech by Aretha was perfect and intimate. Aretha conveyed all aspects of our relationship, values, and love. Her acknowledgment of our families at the start was warm and calming. Choosing Aretha to officiate our wedding was the best decision; our wedding ceremony was truly magical.
-Justine and Steve
Working with Aretha has been such a pleasure. I came across her information from social media when making the preparations for my nuptials and we scheduled a virtual meeting to dis...
cuss my husband and I expectations. She was very professional, prompt, knowledgeable about the ends and outs of the process, and friendly. She always ensured to answer any questions I might of had throughout the process and is very flexible in working with scheduling. She kept an open line of communication amongst one another which allowed me to feel comfortable and alleviated our stress.
One of the things that stuck out the most and was very helpful, was how her website provides a detailed amount of information to clients or/ and potential customers regarding how to obtain a marriage license and the reasons/ difference for it. In my personal experience, my town provides limited information on the process, so I am very grateful and thankful for that.
Thank you so much Aretha for making this experience memorable and less stressful.
Much success and best wishes,
Mr. & Mrs. Williams
From the very first meeting with Aretha we knew she was the perfect person to help us create the wedding of our dreams. She was very professional and so warm. She replied quickly t...
o all forms of communication and remained connected throughout the entire process. She was able to provide a rehearsal for our large wedding party with clear direction and patience. Aretha, personalized our ceremony with little mentions of things I forgot I told her. She is passionate and you can tell how much she loves her career. She had just the right amount of humor to compliment our personalities. My favorite thing about her is her warm tone. When she guided our ceremony it felt genuine. I described her tone like a warm hug. Being from out of state, she went above and beyond to make sure we received our marriage certificate. We had no regrets and truly appreciate everything she has done for us.
We can't thank Aretha enough. We loved her energy and knew from the beginning that she was a great fit for us. We were so pleased from our initial interactions, to the actual weddi...
ng ceremony. She was extremely professional and personable, and with all of the stressors that come with wedding planning, we felt at ease knowing that Aretha would deliver. Aretha flawlessly tailored our ceremony to incorporate everything that we wanted. We still get compliments on how great Aretha was and how she beautifully crafted our ceremony. We highly recommend Aretha to anyone getting married in the future!
Aretha is a power house. She is very well spoken, well poised and your guests will be left in awe at her words. I am a Wedding Planner and had the privilege of working with her r...
ecently. She was on time, professional, and an overall pleasure to work with. There was a moment in the ceremony right at the end right before my couple jumped the broom that was so incredibly powerful, it brought me to tears! I see weddings every weekend, but the significance of this moment and Aretha's words had us all reflecting. Book her now!
My partner and I were married in October of 2021 and we hired Aretha as our officiant. Working with Aretha was an absolute dream! We were both incredibly nervous about crafting a c...
ustom ceremony and had no idea where to even begin. After two calls with Aretha not only were we no longer nervous about our ceremony, but we had crafted something unique and personal to us that we were excited to share with our guests. Our ceremony was filled with joy and laughter and Aretha did an incredible job guiding us along as we wrote our vows and proudly shared them with our loved ones. Aretha is extremely professional while still being kind and thoughtful. She is extremely prompt and was there for us every step of the way. And as an added bonus, she shows up looking like an actual supermodel (we asked her to wear a red dress, and she looked incredible!) - I would absolutely recommend Aretha to anyone looking for an absolute pro officiant who is sure to make your special moment unique and unforgettable.
Choosing Aretha as our wedding officiant was one of the best decisions we could’ve made throughout our whole wedding preparation process. We went back and forth on who to pick as a...
n officiant and I randomly found her Instagram page, read the reviews and I’m glad we didn’t think twice about reaching out to her.
She was impressively organized and had us fill out a questionnaire where we got to open our heart, which made everything more personal. Aretha was extremely helpful during the last couple of weeks of the wedding preparation, she pointed out things to us that we hadn’t even thought about and for that we’re extremely grateful. It really showed her attention to detailed and it was reflected on our wedding ceremony.
Our wedding ceremony was beautiful. Aretha went above and beyond to make our ceremony perfect. I can’t say enough good things about her. From the moment you meet with her, you see her professionalizing and her thoroughness.
Aretha, thank you for telling our love story and all of your advice.
-Nataly & Keith
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