Services:
Established:	1998
Employees:	1
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I am a full time Officiant in Orange County, California and I stopped counting after 2,000 Ceremonies. I Officiate at all Orange County, California Hotels, Country Clubs, Parks, Chapels, Beaches and Residences with Personalized, Non Denominational Wedding Ceremonies. I am competitively priced and offer numerous options, customizations and personalizations. By utilizing my services you get the option to decide every word of your Wedding Ceremony, if you want to.

By utilizing my services, you get three choices:
1. Do absolutey nothing. I will compile a nice, romantic Ceremony for you.
2. Choose any one of the Ceremony samples I send you and make any alterations you wish.
3. Mix and match between the Ceremony samples I send you, make any changes you wish and add anything you wish.

I am also very proud to be one of a handful of Orange County, California Officiants, and the only Laguna Beach Officiant to be listed on the "Martha Stewart Weddings" web site.

I offer:
1. A totally personalized Ceremony from the very beginning to the very end.
2. Various Ceremonies to choose from: Make any changes you wish, mix and match and even write your own Ceremony. If you simply want a traditional Ceremony, I offer that. If you want me to compile a Ceremony for you, I offer that. If you want a customized, personalized Ceremony including prayers or no prayers, palm holding (handfasting), children inclusion, unity candle, unity sand, unity wine, rose exchange, rose presentation to your parents, dove release, breaking of the glass, the seven blessings or vow renewal, I offer these and more.
3. After I receive your Ceremony draft, I layout your Wedding Party Entrance and Positions including the cues for music.
4. After your Ceremony, I send you your final Ceremony text and a Certificate of Marriage, and you get to keep them as keepsakes.

"Your Ceremony words are the most important part of your Ceremony", and you can easily pick out or compile the Ceremony you want. The feedback I receive from couples is that after they have picked out their Ceremony text and the vows they want to make, they are much more in tune with their Ceremony than other couples and their "Ceremony Words" have so much more meaning to them than a typical fill in the blank, canned Ceremony. They also get a greater realization of the importance of their vows, their feelings for each other and the institution of marriage. It will also make a major difference for you, your families and your guests during your Ceremony and the memories of your special day.

If you are getting married outside the Orange County, CA area and wish to compile your own personalized Ceremony, I have compiled a book titled: "Wedding Ceremonies Devoted to Love and Commitment" via my web site. http://www.ReverendMichael.com

Simply email or call me to check my availability, pricing, to receive two free Ceremony samples. Please include the Bride and Grooms first names, Ceremony date, location and start time, along with the approximate number of guests. Reverend Michael   ReverendMichael@ReverendMichael.com

Five Crowns Restaurant	Reverend Michael is a wonderful caring officiant. He makes sure that the bride and groom are comfortable and follows through on all details. He personalize each ceremony for the bride and groom. Five Crowns recommends Reverend Michael and looks forward to working with him again soon.
An All Inclusive Event at Laguna Village	We are delighted to endorse Rev. Michael. He brings a certian charm and energy to his ceremonies. He has performed at many of the weddings that have booked at Laguna Village Wedding Terrace. Feedback from couples is always positve, especially how comfortable he makes them feel. Rev Michael is one our top preferred vendor. Terilyn & Michael - www.AnAllInclusiveEvent.com 949.395.2606
Essential Mobile Music	We have worked with Reverend Michael at over 30 weddings. He is very detailed and works hard for his couples. He is well prepared and keeps all vendors on the same page. We love working with Reverend Michael and highly recommend his wedding ceremony services. If you need more information contact DJ Todd at www.emobilemusic.com and djtodd@emobilemusic.com
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort	I've known Reverend Michael for years and he always perform a great service.
Black Gold Golf Club	Reverend Michael was amazing to work with. He kept the bride and groom very calm during the preceremony and ceremony. It was a pleasure to work with him on the timing of the ceremony. He is very professional and helpful. He really educated himself on the couple and that made all of the difference in the ceremony.
OC Wedding Dove Service Orange County CA	Reverend Michael was very personable and easy to talk to. He is very flexible and willing to do whatever you want. He will make you feel at ease before and during the ceremony. I highly recommend his service!
Tustin Banquet Center	Rev. Michael, he is one of the most outgoing, kind and friendly officiants that I have ever worked with. I have only had the pleasure to work on on a couple of occasions, and he is always first on my referral list!!
Kelly Photo Video	I have worked with Reverend Michael at various venues over the years and always admire the way he handles himself at wedding ceremonies. He is well spoken and very professional in his approach and presentation. I look forward to working with him in the future.
Premiere Events Group	I had the pleasure of working with Reverend Michael at Hotel Laguna recently and he was a true professional, he delivered a wonderful ceremony. I hope I will be able to work with him again in the near future.
An All Inclusive Event at Laguna Village	We are delighted to endorse Rev. Michael. He brings a certian charm and energy to his ceremonies. He has performed at many of the weddings that have booked at Laguna Village Wedding Terrace. Feedback from couples is always positve, especially how comfortable he makes them feel. Rev Michael is one our top preferred vendor. Terilyn & Michael - An All Inclusive Event

Ceremony Words. When I first began Officiating Wedding Ceremonies I quickly realized that couples who were having a non denominational, civil or even a basic church Ceremony are offered only one or maybe two out of the book, fill in the blanks with the Bride and Groom’s names, canned, repeated Ceremonies. Some Officiates may offer limited personalization, alterations and additions. Keep in mind that the Officiant is the main witness of you agreeing to be husband and wife, THE WORDS SHOULD AND CAN BE WHAT YOU WANT. The bottom line is that you should EASILY be able to compile the Ceremony that you want, print it and hand it to your Officiant/Minister/Judge/Justice of the Peace and say: "Here, read this". Another problem I ran into is what I call "cookie cutter" or the easy repeated way to perform a Ceremony. As guests, we attend a Ceremony, sit in our chair and all of a sudden, without notice, there is the Officiant, the Groom and his entourage up front. How rude and surprising to the guests! I firmly believe that the Officiant should do some sort of a "Welcome" to your guests along with any needed announcements and instructions including the turning off of cellular telephones to set up what should be set up as a warm loving time. I am also big on equality. If the Bride enters down the main aisle so should the Groom. He is an equal half of the equation. If the Bride is to be escorted by her Father; why not by her Mother also? She is typically closer to the Bride than the Father anyway. When they get to the front corner chair the Bride and her Mother can hug and kiss, the Mother can be seated and then the Father walks the Bride up to the Groom. And since the Bride is being escorted by her parents, why can’t the Groom be escorted by his parents and seated in the front row? How many Ceremonies have we all been to that the Groom’s parents are never recognized and therefore treated like second-rate citizens? If the Bride is being given away during the Ceremony by her Father, then why not by her Mother also? Therefore, why shouldn’t the Groom’s parents be able to give him away? Equality! I also believe that the parents should give the Bride and Groom away during the Ceremony prior to the vows. Doing the give-away when the Bride is brought to the Groom is typically missed by the guests and it doesn’t stand out. I have whoever is giving the Bride and/or Groom away stand as a Wedding Album photo opportunity when they do the give-a-way. As to the entrance processional, I feel that as a guest it looks so much nicer and loving to have the Maid of Honor escorted down the aisle by the Best Man and the Bridesmaids by the Groomsmen. They reach the Officiant then split to their respective positions. The theme of a Ceremony is the making of a couple, so when the wedding party enters as couples, it keeps with the theme and you don’t shove the Grooms party in from the side as if they are not equal to the Brides party. It also allows your guests and your photographer to focus on one aisle instead of looking around wondering who is coming next and from where. But the bottom line is; do as you wish. As to the rings, equality again! Unless you have a Ring Bearer, the Best Man should have the Grooms ring and the Maid of Honor should have the Brides ring. The Grooms ring is too large for the Maid of Honor’s finger and she has no pockets, so she simply places the Brides ring on a finger that slides easily over her knuckle. If the Ring Bearer has the real rings, then the Best Man should be the one to tie the rings on the pillow since he will be the one to untie them. Hopefully this will be your only or final Wedding Ceremony. Do it the way you want to and not some "cookie cutter" way a wedding coordinator or family member wants you to. And finally, your "Ceremony Words" are the most important part of your Wedding, more important than the paper the invitations are printed on, the seating arrangement etc. Make "YOUR WORDS" meaningful and memorable to you, your families and your guests. If you can make your guests cry a bit, laugh a bit and tell you afterward how much they enjoyed the words of your Ceremony, you will have succeeded.

Planning Your Ceremony. Your wedding is like a stage play. You are the stars and your guests are the audience. You, the Officiant and your wedding party are the cast. You have a production crew, a budget, a timeline, script, costumes, props, a set, lighting, make-up, camera work, a rehearsal and a final performance. Include a detailed map with your wedding invitations and a contact phone number for the day of the Ceremony. If your Ceremony is to begin at noon, invite your guests for 11:45am. If your invitation says 12:00 noon, most guests will not start arriving until just prior to noon or after and this will delay your Ceremony. With delays you will have a chain reaction of other delays such as your catering service. And if your vendors have another wedding to work after yours, delays will cause them to cut short their time at your Ceremony and you will have cut short your own reception time. If you are having your wedding outdoors in the summer, take into consideration how brutal the sun can be. If your guests will be mingling, make sure there is a shaded area for them. If possible, make refreshments available. Standing can be miserable for older people and for women in high heels. If your there are no chairs or bathrooms, don’t make your guests wait too long for your Ceremony to begin. Have your paperwork completed and checks written or cash for your vendors in advance. On the day of your Ceremony, it is best if you designate a friend to manage money and attend to details. The Best Man is usually best for this. Make sure money and paperwork is handled before the Ceremony begins. Afterwards, you will be too elated and busy socializing with your guests. Your marriage license comes in an envelope pre-addressed to the county recorders office. Inside the envelope you will find a form for requesting a certified copy of your license. I recommend that you get at least two certified copies. There are many cases which you may be required to provide proof of your marriage, such as changing the Brides name on her passport or drivers license when you renew them or proving you are married in order to be included on your spouses health insurance and many other instances. Fill out the forms in advance and bring them to the Ceremony in the envelope with the license. Enclose a check made out to the county clerk for the amount of each certified copy you desire. Enclose the Officiates fee in the same envelope. The Officiant mails it to the county and it can take from four to six weeks to receive your certified copy(ies). I have my couples take care of their Marriage License paperwork and my fee at their rehearsal. That way I don’t have to hassle them after the Ceremony when their families, guests, photographer and their wedding party want all their attention. Your wedding coordinator or a designated friend should act as a coordinator between the Ceremony setting and the Brides quarters. It is important that the Officiant, the musicians and others involved know the exact moment when the Ceremony procession is to begin and when the Bride is to enter. Your Officiant should coordinate most of this for you. Rehearsals are a good idea if you have more than four people in your wedding party. Delegate responsibility. The Groom and his party should greet people as they arrive and seat them when it is time to begin your Ceremony. As to seating: The age old tradition of the Bride upfront on the left with her family seated on the left and visa versa for the Groom is a terrible tradition. What does the Brides or Grooms family get to see - the side or back of your head! It is much nicer and loving for the Brides family to be seated on the right side so they can see their daughter etc., and share in her emotions and be able to take great pictures along with the Grooms family seated on what we take for granted is the Brides side. You should face each other during the Ceremony. This makes a much more enjoyable Ceremony for your guests who can then see all the apparel, flowers and share in the emotions on your faces and your photographer will get better photographs. During the Ceremony spend very little time looking at the Officiant, look at each other. Don’t be formal or stiff, be touchy and feely. After you are pronounced husband and wife and kiss, turn and face your guests and stay put for ten seconds with your wedding party tightening up to you for your photographer and guests to get great straight on pictures full of smiles. If you are going to recite any lines during the Ceremony, rehearse them. Practice your vows to one another out loud. This is also true for any readings, poems or passages that may be given by you, a relative or friend. Make sure your Officiant and readers have a microphone, if needed. If there are any scriptural passages, blessings or cultural rituals you would like to incorporate in your Ceremony, they should be included because you want them included and not because of what someone else wants. After all, it is YOUR Ceremony.