Illuminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyCape CodHudson HouseMusiciansBeach weddingReady for a weddingHobokenDebonair - Ashford EstateRiver CafeRiver CafeHudson House with RaccoonMidtownCape CodWythe Hotel WeddingIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyChris Shelley, warming up the crowd before a wedding at the New York Public Library.Craig & Jessie got married at the New York Public Library, in one of the most elegant ceremonies I've ever seen.Craig and Jessie got married at the New York Public Library, in one of the most elegant ceremonies I've ever seen.Craig and Jessie got married at the New York Public Library, in one of the most elegant ceremonies I've ever seen.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Ryan & Tatiana: I married them 3 times - one small elopement in 2015, one fun family wedding, and this event - a musical ceremony followed by a dance party complete with a massive balloon-drop. I doubled as Officiant/MC, sharing the bill with the magnificent Robyn Adele Anderson.Illuminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyMy dressing room at Rachael RayOn Valentine's Day, 2014, I appeared on 'The Rachael Ray Show', presiding over a vow renewal ceremony.Illuminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyTaryn & Jud at Brooklyn Winery. Taryn was the funniest bride everTaryn & Jud at Brooklyn Winery. Taryn was the funniest bride everAt Brooklyn WineryTaryn & Jud at Brooklyn Winery. Taryn was the funniest bride everThey call us Life-Cycle Celebrants for a reason: a bride that I married hired me to do a memorial service for one of her co-workers, at the UN. Celebrants celebrate beginnings and endings and everything in between.They call us Life-Cycle Celebrants for a reason: a bride that I married hired me to do a memorial service for one of her co-workers, at the UN. Celebrants celebrate beginnings and endings and everything in between.They call us Life-Cycle Celebrants for a reason: a bride that I married hired me to do a memorial service for one of her co-workers, at the UN. Celebrants celebrate beginnings and endings and everything in between.They call us Life-Cycle Celebrants for a reason: a bride that I married hired me to do a memorial service for one of her co-workers, at the UN. Celebrants celebrate beginnings and endings and everything in between.They call us Life-Cycle Celebrants for a reason: a bride that I married hired me to do a memorial service for one of her co-workers, at the UN. Celebrants celebrate beginnings and endings and everything in between.Yes, they do weddings at Citifield! What a great experience. The mic I used carried throughout the entire stadium. So fun. Thanks Britt & Kevin!Now getting married...batting first and pledging his eternal love...the shortstop...Yes, they do weddings at Citifield! What a great experience. The mic I used carried throughout the entire stadium. So fun. Thanks Britt & Kevin! This photo makes it look as if the wedding was sponsored by Geico. 15 minutes can save you 15% on car insurance. But then, you knew that.Joey Boquiren at Cherry Red Shoe photography - at the Leapin' Lizard in Covington, KentuckyJoey Boquiren at Cherry Red Shoe photography - at the Leapin' Lizard in Covington, KentuckyJoey Boquiren at Cherry Red Shoe photography - at the Leapin' Lizard in Covington, KentuckyJoey Boquiren at Cherry Red Shoe photography - at the Leapin' Lizard in Covington, KentuckyMaria and Kyle at 620 Loft and GardenMaria and Kyle at 620 Loft and GardenMaria and Kyle at 620 Loft and GardenMaria and Kyle at 620 Loft and GardenAt MyMoon in WilliamsburgAt MyMoon in WilliamsburgAt MyMoon in WilliamsburgAt MyMoon in WilliamsburgNicole and Drew got married at the Gramercy Hotel in lower Manhattan. Such a cool place for a wedding, I really hope I get to back there one day.Illuminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyThe setting is quaint, classy, beautiful and unique at the Gramercy HotelIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyNicole & Drew, Gramercy Hotel. Most gorgeous bride I've ever married. Other than my wife, of course.At Glass Houses, in ChelseaAt Glass Houses, in ChelseaAt Glass Houses, in ChelseaAt Glass Houses, in Chelsea. No, that's not a really tall cake. That's the bride!At Glass Houses, in ChelseaAt Glass Houses, in ChelseaAt Glass Houses, in ChelseaAt Glass Houses, in ChelseaIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyTom breaking the glassTom and Samantha sharing a laugh during their ceremonySamantha and Tom gazing at each other lovinglyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyGoing over some English pronunciation for the very French TomChris doing a mic check -- a very exciting moment of preparation for a wedding officiantLove this artsy shot of Samantha and TomIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyJosann & Sam had a scenic wedding out in Jersey CityIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyExciting side angle shot - it's like you're backstage at Josann and Sam's wedding!Three Supermodels in New JerseyThis is what weddings look like from really far awayShot of Josann and Sam's wedding from the Hubble telescopeFunniest bride ever.Bo and Estelle got married at Dene Shelter in Central ParkEstelle and Bo kissing, officially husband and wifeIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyJerry & Jeremy, together 23 years, from Texas, got married at Wagner Cove in Central Park.Jerry & Jeremy, together 23 years, from Texas, got married at Wagner Cove in Central Park.Jerry & Jeremy, together 23 years, from Texas, got married at Wagner Cove in Central Park.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.I led Trevor & Evan on a 'Wedding Walking Tour', with stops at the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, 5th Avenue, and Rockefeller Center. We did each part of their ceremony at a different stop along the tour. At Rockefeller Center, we had a group of onlookers cheering.Darren & Yuki got married in Jersey City and had a nifty Sake ritual in their ceremony called 'San San Kudo'.Darren & Yuki got married in Jersey City and had a nifty Sake ritual in their ceremony called 'San San Kudo'.Darren & Yuki got married in Jersey City and had a nifty Sake ritual in their ceremony called 'San San Kudo'.AnnMarie & Mike, Sunset TerraceIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyMonica & Pavel got married quickly, on short notice, at Grand Central.Illuminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher ShelleyIlluminating Ceremonies/Christopher Shelley
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About
Illuminating Ceremonies is a wedding officiant based in New York City. I'd like to be the most accessible vendor for you to work with. For every wedding I'm lucky enough to officiate, I try to create more personal, enjoyable, funny, meaningful, and celebratory ceremonies than most guests have ever seen. It's a high bar, but I aim for it every time.
I'm a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant. I can legalize marriages all around the country. I'm the author of Best. Ceremony. Ever (The Countryman Press/WW Norton). I'm a member of the NY chapter of the National Speakers Association. I have spoken at industry conferences, including Wedding MBA in Las Vegas, WedProCon in Cincinnati, and Midwest DJs Live in Milwaukee.
For four years in a row, I appeared on 'The Rachael Ray Show' on Valentine's Day, officiating ceremonies in front of a massive national audience. In April 2014, I appeared on Joan Rivers' reality show, Joan Knows Best, attending a memorial service for her dog Max. Not many people can say that and have it be true.
Please note: if you contact me (and I am asking this on behalf of ALL wedding vendors), please let me know where and at what time your wedding will take place. Thank you.
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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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Multiple reviewers highly recommend Chris as a wedding officiant, praising his ability to create personalized and heartfelt ceremonies that captivate guests. Chris is commended for his professionalism, thoughtful scripts, and engaging delivery, making each ceremony unique and memorable. Guests often mistake him for a lifelong friend due to the personalized nature of his ceremonies, and his expertise in crafting customized scripts that reflect couples' love stories is highlighted. Chris's attention to detail, humor, and ability to engage guests during ceremonies consistently receive rave reviews, making him a top choice for couples seeking an unforgettable wedding experience.
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.
Multiple reviewers highly recommend Chris as a wedding officiant, praising his ability to create personalized and heartfelt ceremonies that captivate guests. Chris is commended for his professionalism, thoughtful scripts, and engaging delivery, making each ceremony unique and memorable. Guests often mistake him for a lifelong friend due to the personalized nature of his ceremonies, and his expertise in crafting customized scripts that reflect couples' love stories is highlighted. Chris's attention to detail, humor, and ability to engage guests during ceremonies consistently receive rave reviews, making him a top choice for couples seeking an unforgettable wedding experience.
+52User photos
Elina Sent on 02/21/2024
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Amazing officiant and speaker
Chris officiated our 1/20/24 wedding. He did a fantastic job, people laughed, people cried, and everyone asked about him afterwards. He came highly recommended on just about every website we found him on, and for good reason! His process is great, he's asks the right questions and wants feedback along the way. He wanted to make sure our ceremony had the vibe we wanted. He was punctual and was flexible with the plan, making sure everyone knew what they were doing. Would highly recommend his services.
Robyn Sent on 07/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Charismatic, Caring & Celebratory!
Hands down—best day ever! We had the absolute pleasure of having Chris marry us in the beautiful gazebo in the gardens at the Hilton Garden Inn. It was 10 days ago and everyone is still talking about how amazing and wonderful Chris is. Even though the sun was beating down on us in that hot gazebo, he treated our love story with so much care and professionalism, and delivered the most beautiful words. Our guests were hanging onto every moment. He has a very unique approach to marrying couples and his skills definitely shine. His delivery was heartfelt, humorous, and thoughtful. He made our ceremony so personal that our guests were coming up to us during the reception asking if he was our lifelong friend. He truly goes above and beyond. It was a spectacular day that began with an absolutely wonderful ceremony that people will be talking about for a long time to come! Excellent! We couldn’t be happier!
Taylor Sent on 01/20/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Amazing Ceremony!
I am so glad we had Chris officiate our ceremony. Beyond his questionnaire, he took the time to meet us in Manhattan to get to know us a bit better as a couple. He was able to understand what we wanted and didn’t in a ceremony. Chris’ script was personal, lighthearted, and really captured our story the way we wanted it conveyed. Chris collaborated with us to make sure we were on board with the script and that it covered everything we wanted. He even worked with us and our band to coordinate the Jeopardy song to give guests 30 seconds of photos before the unplugged ceremony kicked in. He also included some personal advice about married life for us in the ceremony (while planned in the script, the advice itself was kept as a nice surprise for us to hear at the altar). Our guests loved him too – we got a good number of compliments about Chris’ ceremony during cocktail hour and a few questions about how we know him. Guests assumed he was a long-time friend based on how personalized he made our ceremony. Chris truly did a great job of making our ceremony unique to us, fun, and heartfelt!
Brittany Sent on 01/19/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Chris Made Our Wedding Unforgettable!
We found Chris on YouTube while searching for an officiant who could make our DC wedding in November 2024 truly special—and he exceeded all our expectations! From the start, Chris was an expert partner in helping us bring our ceremony vision to life.
He guided us through a fun and insightful couples questionnaire, including some secret questions that added a personal and unexpected touch. His insights, humor, and charisma shone through in every interaction, making the planning process smooth and enjoyable.
On the big day, Chris delivered a ceremony that was everything we dreamed of: intimate, special, and light-hearted. It was the perfect blend of tears, laughter, and joy—a true reflection of our relationship and the love we share.
We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant and would wholeheartedly recommend Chris to any couple looking for someone who can beautifully balance professionalism, warmth, and creativity. Thank you, Chris, for making our wedding day unforgettable!
Jack Sent on 01/02/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Incredibly Personal Ceremony
We were overjoyed to have Chris as our officiant! He did a phenomenal job at creating a personalized ceremony that centered around our story while still ensuring that . We loved the result and received multiple compliments about the ceremony from our friends and family.
My wife and I enjoyed the process of working with Chris almost as much as the result. If you are looking for a ceremony that tells your love story, has the right amount of levity, but also has the professionalism and structure behind the scenes to make it seem "effortless" then he's perfect. We are among the last of our friends to get married, but would recommend him to anyone looking for an officiant!
Thanks Chris!
Jack
Jc Calingo Sent on 11/27/2024
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Unforgettable Officiant: Chris Made Our Wedding Perfect!
We had the absolute pleasure of having Chris as our wedding officiant, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment we started preparing, he was professional, thoughtful, and incredibly easy to work with. On the big day, Chris truly stole the show with his humor and storytelling—our guests, including my family, couldn’t stop raving about how engaging and heartfelt he was. He made our ceremony feel unique and special, and his delivery was flawless. Chris absolutely crushed it, and we’re so grateful for the role he played in making our day unforgettable!
Ryan Sent on 11/19/2024
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
A top notch professional. I can't recommend him enough.
Not only was he extremely flexible and understanding, we could tell how much time he spent preparing for our special day.
He tailored our ceremony to highlight our unique circumstances and story, and perfectly executed it to set the exact mood we wanted.
During the reception, half of our guests were talking about him instead of us!
All in all, an absolute joy to work with.
Allison Sent on 11/01/2024
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
don't use your uncle tony, use a professional like chris!
we are SO lucky to have found chris and to have used him for our wedding on october 11, 2024! my husband and i had so much fun filling out his questionnaire which really helps him to understand the couple and their love story on a deeper level. he then takes the questionnaire to create a cohesive, beautiful script which you can edit to your liking, and then you can offer feedback and he will execute any adjustments you'd like. we also met chris for coffee one morning which helped him to get to know us even better! our love story is incredibly special to us and chris absolutely NAILED it on our wedding day. we had multiple people approach us throughout the night saying it was the best ceremony they had ever been to, and let me tell you, it really WAS!! hiring a professional officiant truly makes such a difference. he helps with rehearsal and the flow of the ceremony, and handles everything with your marriage license too! the ceremony was such a highlight of our wedding day. THANK YOU CHRIS :)
Juliana Sent on 09/11/2024
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
The Absolute Best!
If you're looking for an officiant who will make your wedding ceremony truly special and tailored to your unique story, look no further than Chris Shelly. From start to finish, working with Chris was an absolute delight. He is not only incredibly kind and personable, but also exceptionally skilled at what he does. Our ceremony was a huge hit with our guests, and we cherished every moment. Chris's ability to craft a ceremony that felt deeply personal and meaningful was nothing short of remarkable. We cannot recommend him highly enough—he truly made our day unforgettable.
Lily Sent on 07/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Don’t think twice about hiring Chris!!
I cannot say enough amazing things about Chris!! He came super highly recommended by our planner so we felt lucky to be able to book him for our date. From the first meeting, Chris was engaging and fun, yet professional and had a clear process that he explained to us. That process, included questions that dove deep into our relationship and love story and was extremely fun for us to complete. As I look back, his process feels like a super special part of the planning process. Then came wedding day…. Chris was phenomenal!!! The ceremony was so fun and exactly our vibe. He involved our guests the perfect amount and the ceremony felt so special and exactly what we wanted. Multiple guests raved about him, but beyond that, told me they got a chance to talk with him afterwards which I thought was so special that he stayed and engaged with guests. I would rate him more than five stars if I could, book Chris Shelley!!!
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Christopher is an excellent officiant! He brings his charming, joyful personality to his work and it's evident he gives 100% to every client. There is no such thing as a boring or dry wedding when Christopher is the Officiant!
Christopher is a suburb choice as an officiant for your wedding. I guarantee that you will have a unique and fun wedding ceremony with his creative and lively touch.
Christopher really is illuminating! He is by far the funniest person I know and there won't be a face in the crowd without a smile on their face when Chris performs a ceremony. He is charming, polite and the best listener I know. He will deliver a ceremony that would surely put a smile on even "Aunty Betty that disapproves of this union" face.... Highly recommend.
