Skip to main content
Weddings

About this vendor

Kristi Jarrett
Kristi Jarrett
Founder, Officiant, Planner, Coordinator, Crafter

Woman-owned

6 years in business

We speak English, Spanish, French and German

10 team members

We recently went through the rigorous process of being accredited by the Better Business Bureau. We received both Accreditation and an A+ rating!

One of my most memorable weddings.... I married a couple (2 wives) that had very recently discovered one of them had cancer. The wedding was incredibly special.....almost "other wordly." Only women were in attendance (as an archaeologist, the significance of this did not escape me). As a surprise for the couple, we brought decorations, snacks, sparkling cider, etc for them since they really couldn't get out of the house. We bonded....immediately.

I kept in touch with them, especially when they needed someone to talk to around chemo treatments. When they discovered, sadly, that the treatments were not working and she would enter hospice, they called me right away. Shortly thereafter, they asked if I would perform the funeral when the time came. I told both of them it would be a great honor. After she passed, we gathered together and held a beautiful ceremony by the water where we released her ashes. Being chosen to perform this most important task for such an amazing couple, although sad, was in many ways cathartic....and possibly the highest compliment I have EVER received during my entire life.

OK....wipe your eyes now and we will dive into discussing "business"!

We am constantly aware of the fact that the couples who hire us to officiate for them are placing a great deal of trust in us. For most human beings, memories of their wedding day will remain with them for the rest of their lives. We feel a serious responsibility to work as hard as we can to earn the trust that each couple who chooses us as to officiate places in our hands.

After launching Ceremonies By Kristi, it was only a few weeks before my schedule books started to fill at lightening speed. I found myself having to turn down many potential clients, in order to ensure that my current clients received the attention they required. So I began a search....with a goal of bringing on several more officiants who shared my ethos and love for this "work." WIthin the first year, I was incredibly fortunate to find four more officiants who fit this description. We all have various talents and areas where we shine. We work together to ensure that each of our clients has the best possible experience. We now have 8 MAGNIFICENT officiants total, as well as 3 Planners and Coordinators....all went through the rigorous screening and training process I require.

We are LGBTQIA+ friendly and consider ourselves reliable allies in the fight to secure equal rights for all people, regardless of race, gender/sexual preferences, religion (or lack thereof), disability, age, socio economic status, or nationality. We require any "prefered vendors" we list to share these core beliefs and practices. Our prefered vendors are thoroughly vetted before being added. And being "just ok" with serving LGBTQIA+ clients, or any customers, is not acceptable. We expect any vendor/s we recommend to share our enthusiasm for being given the opportunity to share in one of the most important days of people's lives. Period.

We are based in Mandeville, Louisiana. Founder Kristi Jarrett leads the team of professionals who perform ceremonies for couples from all walks of life. Kristi is an ordained, registered Universalist minister. Far from one-size-fits-all packages, Kristi and her team thoughtfully craft every ceremony to fit each couple. Your wedding is a deeply personal experience; Kristi and her team will ensure you get to share your beautiful story in a way that stays true to you.

Services Offered

Ceremonies by Kristi provides caring, thorough services, starting with the planning process, through the ceremony's recessional, and beyond. Your officiant will work with you to create meaningful and memorable nuptials. Whether you want a short and sweet ceremony or a more traditional experience, Kristi and her team are happy to accommodate your vision. After all....it is YOUR wedding, so you should be the Captain of the ship. We follow your vision, using our expertise to then turn your vision into a wedding ceremony that is uniquely you, as a couple.

DAY OF COORDINATING: Let us take care of those last minute details and all of the "behind the scenes" operations....so you can relax and enjoy your day! Your Day of Coordinator also manages your rehearsal.

LONG DISTANCE PLANNING: A large amount of wedding planning involves researching online, making phone calls, sending emails, etc. This is a budget friendly option.

TRADITIONAL WEDDING PLANNING: Just as it says...and it includes Day of Coordinating.

UNITY RITUALS: At your request, we can include rituals such as sand ceremonies, unity candles, sage cleansing, rock ceremonies, liquor tasting and/or blending, Chuppa's, Breaking the Glass, handfasting, etc (the possibilites are endless!) to further incorporate your unique backgrounds and your love story into your wedding.

WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?: We are happy to incorporate children of all ages, and even your pets! into your wedding, at your request.

CULTURE AND LANGUAGE: Facilitating marriages in Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf Coast, Ceremonies by Kristi can solemnize religious, interfaith, cultural or secular ceremonies. We can also deliver ceremonies in Spanish, 6 dialects of Mayan, Tagalog, and Mandarin Chinese with the help of our "translator" (my husband, Don). There is no additional charge for translating services. I speak French and German.

HAVE WEDDING CEREMONY, WILL TRAVEL: We will travel to out of state/out of country destinations to perform our services, with the couple and/or their friends and family providing for our travel and lodging. In most places within the United States, you may find that our fee + travel + lodging expenses may cost LESS than what your average local officiants charge just for performing a generic ceremony.

THE EXTRAS (MOST DO NOT COST EXTRA!): We do not charge extra for premarital counseling, helping you to write your vows, or spending as much time as you require in conversation with you and/or your partner.

ATTENDING REHEARSALS: Because of the dramatic increase in gas prices, we (unfortunately) have no choice but to now charge for rehearsal attendance. In addition, we often have to turn down clients in order to attend rehearsals. If the rehearsal is in the town where we live, there is a flat fee and extra beyond (we will agree upon mileage before setting the fee). This fee includes our time spent at the rehearsal. We enjoy attending rehearsals, as we get to meet some of the people in your wedding party, and we become a familiar face....so this was a very difficult decision for us. However, you can be comfortable, knowing that our professional officiants do not need to attend rehearsals in order to know our place in the processional, recessional, etc. For those parts, our jobs are pretty much standard and we could do it in our sleep :) . Several of us are certified Coordinators RUN rehearsals. So do not worry....if you do not want to pay the extra charge for rehearsal attendance, we won't be wandering around in circles on your big day (although that may be entertaining)....LOL. We will do what officiants do. As a side note, the vast majority of officiants have always charged for rehearsal attendance (side note: rehearsal attendance is included with our Day of Coordination services and do not cost extra if we are performing those services for you).

HAVING A PLAN A, B, C, D, &F: In addition, our clients will ALWAYS have a back up officiant in case of an unexpected emergency. This is included in our base cost.

OTHER COSTS?: Our most common source of higher additional costs is for supplies related to unity rituals, Day of Coordinating, flower rentals/purchases, photography services from Kristi's daughter Samantha, and decorating. The prices for those items are still very low, when compared to most markets (including our local markets). Regardless, you will NOT receive any surprise charges from us.

Thank you for considering us. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call, text, or email us at any time.

Pricing

$50 starting price
$250 average price
Most popular
Comprehensive Officiating Services
$250 / starting price
Unlimited Consultations
Assistance with name change if applicable
Hand-written, personalized ceremony or traditional
Assistance obtaining marriage license/certificate
Emergency back-up officiant
Premarital Counseling
Completion of legal paperwork
Advocating for clients
Day of Coordinating
$400 / starting price
Creating Timeline for Wedding Day
Confirming Vendors & Deliverables
Coordinating Vendor Arrivals
Ensure Timely Progress of Wedding Day& Flexibility
Ensure "All Bases are Covered" and More
Handle Unexpected Issues During Wedding/Reception
Serving as Professional Advocate for Couple
Leading Wedding Rehearsal

Availability

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat

July

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

August

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

September

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30

October

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

November

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30

December

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

January

  • Su
  • Mo
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
= Full availability
= Limited availability

Confirm availability

Calendars fill up quickly, so make sure they are available for your special day.

Wedding couple

FAQ

Which of the following are included in the price of your wedding officiant services?

Premarital Counseling

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$50

What types of weddings and events do you provide services for?

Non-religious
Interfaith
Ceremony Rehearsal
Vow Renewal
Civil Union

What services do you provide?

Premarital Counseling
Bilingual

What religious affiliations do you serve?

Agnostic
Anglican
Baha'i Faith
Baptist
Buddhist
Catholic
Earth-Based
Episcopalian
Evangelical
Hindu
Islam
Jainism
Jewish
Lutheran
Methodist
Mormon
No Denomination
Orthodox Christian
Pagan
Presbyterian
Quaker
Shinto
Sikhism
Taoist
Unitarian

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.
30-60 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY

What languages do you speak?

English
French
German
Spanish

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Ceremonies By Kristi and Associates

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

Connections by Kristi receives glowing reviews with particular praise for their officiants Melanie, Marc, and Kristi. Brides appreciated the personalization of the ceremonies and the excellent communication throughout the planning process, despite some minor scheduling issues. Reviewers found the team to be professional, helpful, and accommodating, making their wedding day stress-free and memorable. Despite some minor hiccups, couples highly recommend Connections by Kristi for their wedding officiant needs.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Connections by Kristi receives glowing reviews with particular praise for their officiants Melanie, Marc, and Kristi. Brides appreciated the personalization of the ceremonies and the excellent communication throughout the planning process, despite some minor scheduling issues. Reviewers found the team to be professional, helpful, and accommodating, making their wedding day stress-free and memorable. Despite some minor hiccups, couples highly recommend Connections by Kristi for their wedding officiant needs.

Ivy
Ivy Sent on 05/15/2025
5 out of 5 rating

AMAZING! Couldn't have asked for better

Melanie was absolutely amazing! She listened to everything we wanted and delivered it perfectly. We felt extremely comfortable especially being a same sex couple in the South. The ceremony was heartfelt, personal, and exactly our style. We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant. Highly recommend!!!!!
Rayna
Rayna Sent on 06/22/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Thoughtful & unique!

We were lucky enough to have Melanie officiate our wedding, and she was absolutely wonderful. From the very beginning, she was kind, easy to talk to, and so open to making edits to our ceremony script to reflect us. The ceremony she delivered was heartfelt, beautiful, and perfectly timed. I couldn’t have asked for a better officiant to lead us into our marriage. 100% recommend!
Jacob
Jacob Sent on 12/06/2023
5 out of 5 rating

A wonderful experience

I was searching for a bilingual officiant for our wedding, as my wife is from Guatemala and speaks hardly any English. Ceremonies By Kristi and Associates delivered. Kristi and Edgar did an amazing job and made us very comfortable and relaxed throughout the ceremony. Kristi was amazing help, keeping in touch throughout all of the planning process, making it super stress free.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

45
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Team

Melanie Russell
Melanie Russell
Officiant
Sherri Calamia
Sherri Calamia
Officiant and Manager of Wedding Planning/Coordinating Services
Katherine Prats
Katherine Prats
Officiant, Weddding Planner and Coordinator
Nicolina
Nicolina
Officiant, Owner of The Emerald Door NOLA
Marc  Leunissen
Marc Leunissen
Officiant Extraordinare!
Jenn Diaz
Jenn Diaz
Officiant, Bilingual English & Spanish
Kristi Jarrett
Kristi Jarrett
Founder, Officiant, Planner, Coordinator, Crafter

Professional Network & Endorsements

House of Broel
4.7 out of 5 rating , 61 reviews
· Mansion Weddings
Crystal Events
4.6 out of 5 rating , 18 reviews
· Banquet Halls
Linka Odom Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 2 reviews
· Wedding Photographers

Map

Location

Why use Weddingwire to message vendors?

  • Messaging our verified vendors on WeddingWire is complimentary, safe, and secure.
  • Effortlessly manage vendor communications and planning details in one centralized location.
  • Our mobile apps ensure you can stay connected with vendors anytime, anywhere.
  • For customized pricing and package information, messaging the vendor directly is the quickest way to get the details you need.

Other vendors in New Orleans for your wedding

Wedding Vendors