Illuminating Ceremonies
Pricing
Prices start at $800
About Illuminating Ceremonies
Chris Shelley
I am your guests' favorite thing about your wedding. Since 2011, I've been writing and performing personal, meaningful and refreshingly engaging ceremonies for couples just like you and couples who are nothing like you. Couples work with me with an easy, collaborative process during which I become your favorite part of wedding planning. I take guest experience and your wishes very seriously. Your families will thank you for getting somebody who makes the ceremony light while still making clear how beautiful it is that you found each other. I officiate all over the US.
I am the funniest wedding officiant in the country. I know! Such chutzpah! But my goal is to be the best, to find that perfect balance of humor and dignity that makes a wedding ceremony a wedding ceremony. My experience as an actor, a writer, a workaholic and a spouse to a very smart wife have led me to be someone whom couples can trust with their ceremony. I've lived a lot, I've actually been married since 2002, so I know a thing or two about having a happy marriage. I'm a professional who can get along with your parents and grandparents as well as your friends. I've done ceremonies all over the country and on TV. I love my work!
In three words: Collaborative, Confident, Fun
Services
Ceremony types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Legal License Signing
- Multicultural Weddings
- Non-religious Ceremony
- Other
- Vow Renewal Ceremony
Religious affiliations
- Catholic
- Christian
- Interfaith
- Jewish
- Other
- Secular
- Spiritual
Reviews
Write a review5.0 out of 5
36 reviews
The perfect touch to our special day
Chris was an absolute pleasure to work with for our special day. He was recommended to us by our wedding planner who has worked with him many times in the past before. From the very first call, he was incredibly open, responsive, and thoughtful in his communication. He took the time to really understand our story and made sure every detail was accounted for. On the day of, the ceremony was fun and personalized, and we received so many compliments from our guests on how special it felt. Despite both of us being nervous, Chris made us feel calm and helped us stay in the moment. His attention to detail and honest, transparent approach gave us complete confidence that he would deliver a memorable experience - and he exceeded our expectations. We couldn't have asked for a better partner to help make our wedding day so meaningful and joyful. We will be forever thinking back on this day with our happy memories thanks to Chris.
Chris Shelley for the win
Our wedding officiant, Chris from Illuminating Ceremonies, was simply amazing. From the moment we met him, his charismatic and relatable personality put us at ease. He had a captivating and likeable stage presence that kept our guests engaged and entertained throughout the ceremony. Chris was clearly committed and dedicated to making our special day as meaningful and memorable as possible. His effective and excellent execution of the ceremony alleviated any anxiety we had, and our guests are still raving about how incredible our officiant was, even 2 years later. We couldn't have asked for a better person to officiate our wedding.
Response from vendor•Aug 12, 2025Kristen! Your wedding was so fun, so joyous. I could do that wedding every night of the week. You're both great. Thank you so much for hiring me!A Wedding Officiant!
Illuminating Ceremonies was the perfect choice for our wedding. From the very first interaction, we knew Chris was the person for us. He is a true professional and clearly an expert at his craft, skillfully capturing our love story through thoughtful, creative, and engaging storytelling. He took the time to get to know us and what makes us unique to build the perfect flow for our ceremony. It was my favorite part of the wedding! Even on a very hot day, he kept our guests entertained and upbeat, there was both continuous laughter and happy tears throughout the ceremony. The perfect balance and tone for us! Many guests commented to us that they typically don't enjoy wedding ceremonies, but ours was highly entertaining and heartfelt. We highly recommend Illuminating Ceremonies to any couple looking for a wedding officiant who will make your special day unforgettable.
Response from vendor•Jun 10, 2025Thank you Jody! It was hot...but the cocktail hour was in that lovely, cool, former nightclub! I hope you are both doing well.A Truly Unforgettable Ceremony!
We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant. From the moment we met Chris, he was funny, lively, and incredibly personable—exactly the kind of energy we wanted on our big day. He took the time to get to know our story and then wove it into a heartfelt (and hilarious!) ceremony that had all our guests laughing, tearing up, and fully engaged from start to finish. What impressed us most was his ability to capture the essence of our relationship in such a lighthearted and meaningful way. It felt deeply personal, yet universal. And true to his promise—he kept the vows around fifteen minutes without losing any of the magic! Chris brought joy, authenticity, and just the right touch of humor to our wedding. We highly recommend Illuminating Ceremonies!
Response from vendor•Jun 9, 2025Thank you Sanna! It's pretty easy to bring joy when the couple is as over-the-moon joyous as you are. I appreciate these kind words and I'm glad that you appreciate word economy in a ceremony! It was a pleasure.
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