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About
REV. MARSHA THOMAS is an ordained minister, Wedding Officiant and Pre-Marriage Coach based out of the south suburbs of Chicago. Rev. Marsha wants your ceremony to completely reflect who you are as a couple, and to make it one that will inspire your guests and create memories that you will cherish for many years to come.
Services Offered
***GREAT NEWS!***
In addition to my popular Wedding Ceremony Packages, I am beyond excited to offer two new services:
1) same-day and next-day appointments for LICENSE SIGNINGS; and
2) VIRTUAL PRE-MARRIAGE AND MARRIAGE COACHING SESSIONS!
Hi, I'm Rev. Marsha Thomas, an ordained United Church of Christ minister. I am a Wedding Officiant, Pre-Marriage Coach, and a Wedding Script Writer performing ceremonies in person in the south and western suburbs of Chicago, as well as providing pre-marriage coaching sessions virtually from - ANYWHERE!
My WEDDING SCRIPT WRITING service is offered remotely for couples who want a special relative, friend, or even another officiant to perform their ceremony. And, if you are a pastor with a very busy schedule, I am happy to write a fresh and inspiring ceremony script for any wedding that you plan to perform.
I love working with couples to create the ceremony of their dreams. I have performed hundreds of weddings, including same-gender loving ceremonies, in a variety of settings including churches, private homes, restaurants, country clubs, mansions, banquet halls, a train station, and on Lake Michigan at the Taste of Chicago.
According to the wishes of the couple, the ceremony I create can be described as non-denominational, religious, spiritual, traditional, or non-traditional, casual, or fun! I also perform multi-cultural and interfaith ceremonies and marriage vow renewals. All the ceremonies I create are personalized, unique, inspiring, and are sure to "touch hearts and change lives!" I offer all my couples a 1/2-hour, no-obligation get-to-know-you meeting because I think it's important that I like them and they like me before we agree to work together!
Throughout the process of planning a ceremony, I value and offer an open mind, great communication, excellent customer service, timely follow up, ideas and suggestions, flexibility, an easy going personality, and a sense of humor. The couples I have most enjoyed working with have shared these values and even though what we were doing was serious, we also had fun along the way.
Your wedding is one of the most important events in your life and I want to help make the planning process and your wedding day as enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. This is YOUR wedding and every aspect of your ceremony should reflect who you are as a couple and should be just as YOU want it to be! It is truly an honor when couples select me as their Wedding Officiant; and such a pleasure when I can share in their excitement and be a part of their Special Day!
CEREMONY PACKAGES: (Free initial 1-hour consultation included with all packages.)
LET'S JUST DO IT! - $150
- License signing with the I'Do's
- Please invite 2 guests as witnesses (18 or older)
- On-the-spot photos taken with your phone or camera
- Prompt filing of your Marriage License
- Same-day appointments available
BRONZE CEREMONY- $300
- Elopement Ceremony
- 6 Guests including your two witnesses
- Short, generic ceremony script (religious or non-religious)
- On-the-spot photos taken with your phone or camera
- Prompt filing of your Marriage License
- Same-day appointments available
SILVER CEREMONY - $450
- Simple, intimate ceremony with exchange of wedding vows and rings.
- 50+ guests
- Ceremony at a park, restaurant, or backyard
- Couple joined by a small gathering of family and friends (limit 20 guests including your two witnesses)
- Choice of your written vows, repeated vows, or just the "I do's"
- Choice of religious or non-religious wording
- Choice of one unity ritual
- Prompt filing of your Marriage License
- Length of ceremony approx. 10-15 minutes
GOLD CEREMONY - $550
- A more elaborate ceremony package that includes two options for vows, ring exchange, prayers or readings, and rituals
- Unlimited guests
- Choice of religious or non-religious wording
- Includes two edits
- Prompt filing of your Marriage License
- Length of ceremony approx. 15-20 minutes
PLATINUM CEREMONY- $650 (BEST VALUE & MOST POPULAR)
- If you want a truly personalized, beautiful, and memorable ceremony that you and your guests will remember for years to come, this package is for you!
- Unlimited guests
- I will write a completely customized script for you to review that includes several options for all of your special elements.
- Choice of all aspects of your ceremony - religious or non-religious wording, traditional or casual, serious or fun, acknowledgment of special people, inclusion of pets, and more!
- You have unlimited ceremony edits and email communication; and you can share the final script with your coordinator, musician, photographers, and videographer so they will be comfortable with the flow of the ceremony.
- Length of ceremony approx 20-35 minutes
- Prompt filing of your Marriage License
VOW RENEWALS follow the fee structure outlined above.
PRE-MARRIAGE COACHING - $125/HOUR (Minimum of two 1-hour sessions)
- Sessions are based on a coaching rather than a therapeutic model; i.e.; forward movement rather than continually rehashing the past; and supporting the couple's agenda
- Coaching sessions are personalized and based on issues and challenges that you and your partner have identified
- After the initial 2 sessions, coach and couple can agree to additional sessions, if needed.
Attendance at your rehearsal is an additional $100.
Please call me at 708.466.9106 or email me at marshathomasweddings@gmail.com to schedule a complimentary consultation. I will provide more detail about all of my services; and will be delighted to answer any questions you have. I can't wait to start working with you to plan your very Special Day!❤️
- Black-owned
- Woman-owned
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Frequently asked questions
Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?
What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?
What is the starting price for pre-marital counseling (per session)?
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On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?
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Reviews of Rev. Marsha Thomas, Wedding Officiant & Pre-Marriage Coach
Review summary
Rev. Marsha Thomas is highly recommended by multiple reviewers as a wedding officiant who goes above and beyond to create personalized and meaningful ceremonies. She is praised for being attentive, professional, and guiding couples through the process with warmth and authenticity. Reviewers highlight her punctuality, organizational skills, and ability to make couples feel celebrated and at ease. Additionally, her premarital coaching is commended for strengthening relationships and providing valuable insights. Rev. Marsha's dedication, professionalism, and personalized approach make her a standout choice for couples seeking a memorable and heartfelt wedding experience.
“A Blessing Beyond Words”
As a queer couple navigating a Christian wedding and doing so without all of our family present, finding someone who would see us, honor us, and celebrate us for exactly who we are was deeply important. From the very first conversation, she was everything we had hoped for and more: patient, compassionate, professional, and truly guided by love and faith.
She crafted a ceremony that was not only personal and meaningful but sacred in every sense of the word. Every word she spoke felt intentional and full of grace. She made us feel safe, celebrated, and at peace, which is something we will cherish forever.
She was responsive, organized, and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. But beyond all that, it’s her warmth, authenticity, and heart that set her apart.
If you’re looking for an officiant who will meet you exactly where you are, honor your love story, and make your ceremony something you’ll remember for a lifetime, look no further. We can’t recommend her highly enough. She truly was an answer to our prayers. ❤️
Look no further
Wonderful officiant!
Wedding Officiant & Premarital Coach
Rev. Marsha was the epitome of professionalism throughout the entire process. She was punctual, organized, and made sure every detail was in place for our special day. Her warm and kind demeanor put us at ease, which was so important during such a momentous occasion.
During the ceremony itself, Rev. Marsha officiated perfectly. Her words were heartfelt and beautifully crafted, reflecting our love story with sincerity and grace. She managed to strike the perfect balance between emotion and tradition, making our ceremony a truly memorable and moving experience.
We can't express how grateful we are to Rev. Marsha for making our wedding day so special. She exceeded our expectations in every way, and we would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a wedding officiant who goes above and beyond to create a meaningful and personalized ceremony. Thank you, Rev. Marsha, for being a crucial part of our unforgettable day!
Rev. Marsha not only officiated our wedding but also served as our premarital coach, and her guidance was invaluable. She took the time to understand our relationship on a deeper level, helping us navigate important conversations and challenges that arise in any partnership.
Her coaching sessions were not only informative but also incredibly insightful. Rev. Marsha's wisdom and experience shone through as she provided us with tools and advice to strengthen our bond and communication. Her kind and non-judgmental approach made us feel comfortable discussing even the most sensitive topics.
Having Rev. Marsha as our premarital coach not only prepared us for a successful marriage but also enhanced our connection as a couple. Her dual role as coach and officiant made our wedding day even more special, as she had a unique understanding of our journey together.
We are profoundly grateful to Rev. Marsha for her unwavering support and guidance. She played an essential role in shaping the foundation of our marriage, and we can't thank her enough for her kindness, professionalism, and dedication to making our union truly exceptional!
Cannot Say Enough About How Great Rev. Marsha Is
Rev Marsha is one of the best
Marsha is a 5/5. Wonderful to work with and delivered a beautiful ceremony for our wedding
We were a little late to the game in booking an officiant for our wedding. My fiance (now wife) and I spent months procrastinating with the idea that we might have a friend do it, but we weren’t totally sure which one and how we wanted our ceremony to look like. We knew we wanted a secular ceremony that was still meaningful to us and our guests, but other than that, we it was three months out to our wedding date and were at a loss.
We were blessed to find Marsha via the WeddingWire. We reached out online and this led us to a zoom call where she introduced herself, got to know us as people, and then reviewed her services and costs up front and with full transparency, which we greatly appreciated. She made us feel at ease and guided us through how the process would work, which included a questionnaire she would send us, a couple of zoom calls, and a drafting process where we narrowed down across multiple available options for different parts of the ceremony.
Our favorite part of Marsha’s services was the “love story” she helped us craft via the aforementioned questionnaire. This helped us document our relationship in a truly special way, then splice and dice different aspects and anecdotes for sharing wider with our friends and family. Multiple people approached us after the fact and remarked that this aspect of the ceremony made for a truly special event and one of the best they had attended (which is saying something, considering how many weddings folks have attended this year, 2022!).
Overall, we are very happy with how Marsha helped us create a special wedding ceremony for our guests and ourselves. We will be saving our ceremony document, especially the love story, to cherish for the rest of our lives.
A True Family Experience
Awards
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A breath of fresh air, the perfect officiant! I've experienced Ms. Marsha Thomas at her passion, which is working with people, she is awesome, she has a warm heart and a caring spirit and is open to everyone she unselfishly lends an open ear and will offer a non judgmental response or can just listen. She's positive and makes your wedding personal, exciting and interesting. With her EVERYONE matters. Your wedding will be warmly felt not just watched. I recommend her services to everyone. Sheryl Youngblood Soloist/Songwriter/Band Leader
