Skip to main content
Weddings
x3 Award winner
Award winner thanks to recommendations from couples on WeddingWire.com.
  • 2026
  • 2025
  • 2024

Ellen Scher Wedding Officiant

English
Ceremony Rehearsal
Interfaith
Civil Union

Why couples loved this vendor

  • Seasoned Professional
  • Officiant
  • Great Planner
Adam
Luke
Ireland
Brittany
J

Recommended by 100% of couples

About this vendor

A Couple's Choice award winner!

Hi, I'm Ellen Scher and I'm a romantic at heart who promises to make sure the new chapter of your love starts off perfectly.

My favorite thing is helping couples with planning to make sure their wedding script and vows are perfect and the experience is as they envisioned. I can ‘hand hold’ as much as is wanted or not all all - it’s your call. Each couple is different and I am sensitive and respectful of that.​

I am proud to be featured in the forthcoming National Geographic book, OUT IN THE WORLD, as an LGBTQIA+ inclusive officiant who celebrates all love.

I'm a New York native who traveled to California in a VW bus with my husband and daughter in 1976 ... and never left. I love living in Monterey Bay—although I still prefer east coast bagels and pizza.

I love all things glitter, family, gardening, relaxing on the beach, and exploring the world.

As a full-time wedding officiant, you're my priority and I'm always here to help.

That's it about me. now I hope to get to know you more, too!

Call or text: 831-998-2674.

Website: www.ellenscher.com

Features

Woman-owned

FAQ

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$150

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

Non-religious
Interfaith
Ceremony Rehearsal
Vow Renewal
Civil Union

What religious affiliations do you serve?

Agnostic
Jewish
No Denomination
Unitarian

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

CA

What languages do you speak?

English

Still have questions?

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

Wedding couple

Reviews of Ellen Scher Wedding Officiant

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

Ellen is a warm, professional, and highly organized officiant who makes ceremonies personal and stress-free. She's very responsive, offers customizable scripts, assists with marriage-license steps and filing, and is flexible with locations—even hiking to remote sites. Couples praise her calming presence, attention to detail, and wholeheartedly recommend her.

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.

Ellen is a warm, professional, and highly organized officiant who makes ceremonies personal and stress-free. She's very responsive, offers customizable scripts, assists with marriage-license steps and filing, and is flexible with locations—even hiking to remote sites. Couples praise her calming presence, attention to detail, and wholeheartedly recommend her.

J
Justin Sent on 04/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Ellen was just awesome

How do you incapsulate a moment in a personal time, Ellen, procured the trust you need in a very special and intimate moment. Communication was spot on, she became a friend more than an officiant. Totally respected our space, time and needs. This is an incredible lady.
Adam
Adam Sent on 06/02/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Expert and Professional Guidance on Our Biggest Day

My husband and I booked with Ellen for our special, private elopement in Big Sur, CA. Ellen coordinated with us months in advance as we planned with our vendors. It was also important for us to create LGBT+-affirming space, and Ellen was supportive and excited from the very first contact. Every question was answered and she provided guidance from her vast array of wisdom as an officiant. Ellen played a pivotal role in making our day both flexible, yet perfect. We are already excited to hopefully book with her again when we renew our vows in the next decade.
A
Alyssa Sent on 04/20/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Hire Ellen to be your officiant! :)

Ellen is so wonderful. She made herself available to answer any questions from the start of the vendor selection process through the after wedding support with the marriage license! We are so grateful to have worked with her and recommend her highly!
T
Trusha Sent on 02/09/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Carmel Intercultural Elopement

Right from the first moment we spoke to Ellen, she has been nothing but warm and kind. She infused the mundanities and stress of wedding planning with benevolent enthusiasm, going above and beyond in helping us identify a good location for a private elopement. She provided us with wonderful scripts to choose from and was wholeheartedly amenable to our alterations. Her love and dedication to what she does is evident as she works with couples to design a ceremony that aligns with their vision. We highly recommend Ellen, no matter the type of wedding/elopement!
J
J Scott Sent on 12/13/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding in Carmel by the sea !

Overall, extraordinary experience, Ellen pointed out a couple very important needs in that we were coming from another state, she was flexible in the location …meeting.us at the Highlands, and clearly explained next steps in order to get the marriage license, she took care of everything.
Luke
Luke Sent on 12/13/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Professional, Warm, and Made Our Ceremony Unforgettable

Ellen officiated our wedding at The Barns at Cooper Molera in December 2025, and we couldn't have asked for a better person to lead our ceremony.
From our first conversation, Ellen made us feel completely at ease. She took time to understand our story, how we met on Tinder five years ago, blended our family with my daughter Mia, and built a life together in Monterey. She helped us craft a ceremony that felt personal and meaningful without being overly formal or scripted.
On the day itself, Ellen was calm, organized, and genuinely present. She delivered our ceremony with warmth and confidence, setting the tone perfectly for the vows we'd worked so hard on. Multiple guests told us afterward that it was one of the most heartfelt, authentic ceremonies they'd ever witnessed, and Ellen's guidance was a big part of that.
What stood out most was how Ellen balanced professionalism with genuine care. She wasn't just "the officiant", she felt like someone who was truly invested in making our day special. If you're looking for someone who will help you create a ceremony that feels like you, not a template, Ellen is your person.
We're so grateful she was part of our day. Highly recommend.
Luke & Jessica
December 2025
Ireland
Ireland Sent on 11/19/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Highly Recommend

Ellen was awesome! We scheduled a quick phone call, learned more about her services and were so glad to have hired her as our officiant. Responsive, punctual, and very experienced! She took care of all of our paperwork and submitted our marriage license on our behalf also. Would highly recommend!
Brittany
Brittany Sent on 11/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Big Sur Elopement

Working with Ellen was an absolute dream. Our elopement felt so seamless thanks to her. So thankful to have found her!
J
Jacquelyn Sent on 10/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Garrapata State Park 9.23.2025

From our first conversation, Ellen was warm, professional, and genuinely interested in getting to know us as a couple. She helped us create a ceremony that was personal, heartfelt, and perfectly reflective of our relationship and values.
Ellen took the time to check in periodically up until our ceremony and offer support and helpful recommendations. We appreciated her organization and support step by step through the paperwork process and ensuring it was seamless!
Thank you, Ellen, for being such a special part of our day!
— Jacquelyn & Chelsea
C
Chiara Sent on 09/29/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend booking Ellen!

Ellen was amazing every step of the way, she was extremely communicative, friendly, and helpful. I loved the choices of scripts she provided for the ceremony, the one my husband & I chose felt perfect for us. Ellen was always very responsive and made sure to answer any questions we had. Our ceremony was perfect & exactly what we envisioned, it would not have been possible without her. So grateful we chose her to be our officiant, I would highly recommend her services!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

73
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2026 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 Winner
illustration message review

Are you interested?

Team

Ellen Scher
Ellen Scher
Owner

Professional Network & Endorsements

Tatiana Scher Photography
5.0 out of 5 rating , 15 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.
View next Wedding Officiants

Other vendors in Monterey for your wedding

Wedding Vendors

Responds within 24 hours