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About

The wedding ceremony shouldn’t be the thing that you and your guests have to suffer through to get to the good part.

We promise you a meaningful, enjoyable, ceremony that everyone will remember for years to come. You deserve the moment you become married should live on in your memory as the best part… of the best day of your lives.

Whether you want it short and sweet; traditional or out-of-the-box; secular, religious, or interfaith; literary or pop-culture themed; or simply and beautifully wrapped in your personal love story… We can do all of that and more.

Our ability to write meaningful ceremonies… Our attention to detail, calming presence, humor, skill and delivery is unmatched in the industry. With literally thousands upon thousands of ceremonies crafted and performed, we are poised to bring your ceremony to life and deliver it in a way that will be remembered long after your last dance.

Founded by Pastor Marie April Gismondi in 1997, The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways are an award-winning team of joyful, seasoned, and professional Pastors, Ministers & Rabbis, recommended by many of Long Island’s most amazing venues. All of our officiants hold Church of Ancient Ways ordinations and are 100% fully legal to perform marriage ceremonies in all jurisdictions of New York State and beyond. We primarily serve Long Island and the greater NYC Tri-State area, but destination wedding requests are welcome too!

Church of Ancient Ways was given 501c3 non-profit status by the Federal Government in 1997 as an Interfaith Religious Organization. All of our wedding officiants are 100% legally empowered to perform marriages on Long Island, in New York State and beyond. We do not employ officiants who are ordained online or through ULC.

We endeavor to embrace all Philosophies, Religions, Beliefs and Scientific Principles. Our mission is the pursuit of goodness and we are grateful to use the work we do as a vehicle for celebrating our common ground as human beings. As Pastor April used to say when the organization was just formed…

“Do the best you can all the time. If you find yourself doing less than your best, knock it off and start over.”

The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways are a team of seasoned professionals and are spot-on when it comes to details and organization. We’re creative and well-versed in everything from ‘Short and Sweet’ to Traditional, from Fusion to Pop-Culture, Art, Literature and everything in between. More than anything else, we love telling your personal Love Story… Are you more a minimalist? We can do that too. Whatever your desire is, it’s our mission to say, “Absolutely!” instead of “Oh… I don’t know about that…” There are a myriad of themes possible for a myriad of dreams, all of which become real with that first kiss… And only one of them is yours.

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Frequently asked questions

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for pre-marital counseling (per session)?

$100

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.

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
Hebrew
Spanish

Reviews of The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways

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

Review summary

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Rev. Joe Iadanza from Church of Ancient Ways is highly praised by couples for his exceptional officiating skills, personalized ceremonies, and warm personality. Couples appreciate his attention to detail, ability to capture their love story, and professionalism throughout the wedding planning process. His ceremonies are described as engaging, heartfelt, and unique, leaving guests impressed and making the ceremony memorable. Both his responsiveness and passion for creating a special experience for each couple are highlighted in the reviews, making him a highly recommended wedding officiant for creating personalized and extraordinary ceremonies.

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.

Rev. Joe Iadanza from Church of Ancient Ways is highly praised by couples for his exceptional officiating skills, personalized ceremonies, and warm personality. Couples appreciate his attention to detail, ability to capture their love story, and professionalism throughout the wedding planning process. His ceremonies are described as engaging, heartfelt, and unique, leaving guests impressed and making the ceremony memorable. Both his responsiveness and passion for creating a special experience for each couple are highlighted in the reviews, making him a highly recommended wedding officiant for creating personalized and extraordinary ceremonies.

Melissa
Melissa Sent on 05/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Reverend Joe made our ceremony unforgettable!

While starting the wedding planning process, my mom ran into Reverend Joe at a bridal expo and insisted we use him for our ceremony. I was a little hesitant, not having met him myself, but shortly after I attended a wedding where he coincidentally officiated and knew we needed to book him for our wedding! Reverend Joe knows how to pull in an audience and really gets to know/understand the couples he works with. After our 45 minute zoom call, he sent us a personalized ceremony script and we were able to provide feedback and edits for a completely customized wedding. It means so much to have this ceremony so focused on us, as a couple. He really portrayed our love to our friends and family. And he is a true professional in the wedding industry—knows what questions to ask, helps us take care of the marriage license, etc. We felt very supported through the wedding planning process. We have gotten so many compliments that this is THE BEST wedding ceremony our guests have seen. We’re so lucky to have found Reverend Joe!
Chris
Chris Sent on 03/24/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Church of Ancient ways review

My wife and I couldn’t be happier with the marriage ceremony performed by Reverend Joe Iadanza from the Church Of Ancient Ways. Joe was friendly, kind, thoughtful, and warm. Prior to the ceremony, Joe took the time to meet with us and hear our story. Joe is a great listener and when it came time for the ceremony, he performed a very personal and beautiful service that we will never forget. I couldn’t recommend Joe enough. A true professional and a class act!
Kayla
Kayla Sent on 12/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating

You'll be in the best hands!

Rev. Joe was one of the easiest vendors I got to work with during my wedding planning! He helped make our ceremony perfect & exactly how we pictured it from day one. If you are looking for a reliable & personable officiant you have found your match. I promise you won't be disappointed!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

636
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

7 Endorsements
Tricia LaPonte Photography Tricia LaPonte Photography Wedding Photographers

I LOVE working with Pastor April. She's amazing, kind, funny. Truly gets to know her couples and makes each and every ceremony unique and special.

Splash DJ Splash DJ Wedding DJs

Absolute pleasure to work with!

Jeffrey Studio Jeffrey Studio Wedding Photographers

April is amazing, every time I see her officiate a service I get excited. She talks about each couple as if she has known them their whole lives and keeps the congregation engaged throughout the entire service.

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