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—her 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.

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 minute 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.

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 who 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.