My husband and I were quite at ease with Sheila, for she is an outgoing, sincere woman who was willing to take our ideas -- we had quite a few -- and coordinate them into a cohesive ceremony. We first met with her at her home seven months before our wedding. In between, we touched base and bounced a few ideas off of one another. Whenever I called and left a message, Sheila responded promptly; if I sent her an email, she would take time to come up with a thoughtful reply. What made me most comfortable with Sheila is her dedication to being an officiant. I quickly realized that being an officiant is her calling, and that she was going to lead a memorable, poignant ceremony. She told my husband and me during our first meeting that she thought the ceremony is the most important part of the wedding. At that moment, I was certain she would be a good fit for us. During the actual ceremony, Sheila also told “our story,” which started before we both met in person; she then gave the important details our first date and the many adventures my husband and I have had together. She described our personalities, how they mesh together, and how important my husband and I are to one another. A few weeks before the wedding, I shared with Sheila how my then fiancé helped me cope with and grieve the deaths of two of my beloved cats just months before the wedding. She was able to incorporate my feelings about the support my now husband gave me during this difficult time. Furthermore, Sheila very successfully told a few stories about my husband’s late mother. She approached her absence with dignity and sensitivity for my husband and his extended family; her words were followed by a tender moment of silence. Nearly all of our guests raved about Sheila. Several of our guests asked us how long we had known Sheila. They assumed we had been friendly with her for a while, for she was able to talk about us expertly during the ceremony. One of our friends blogged about Sheila, calling her “awesome.” One of my best friends said it was the best ceremony she had ever attended, for it was intimate, drew in our audience, and reflected the love between my husband and I as well as the importance of our families and friends.