Featured

Braden Sent on 06/10/2026

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The absolute best decision we made!

Working with James was hands-down one of the best parts of our whole wedding. From the very first time we spoke, he was just so easy to talk to and instantly made us feel like family. James didn't just officiate our ceremony—he helped coordinate the day and made the whole experience completely stress-free.
He is a truly caring guy who listens to every single request and actually makes it happen. He made our wedding day the most magical day ever, and there is no officiant in the world we would’ve rather had. We highly recommend him to anyone getting married! Honestly, we’re so happy to be married, but we're seriously going to miss just chatting and catching up with James because he is an all-around awesome human being.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words, Braden! Reading this truly warms my heart. It was an absolute joy working with you both, and feeling like part of your family is the highest compliment I could ever receive. I am so glad I could help take the stress out of your day and make it magical. I am going to miss our chats and catching up just as much! Please don't be strangers—I would love to stay in touch. Wishing you both a beautiful, love-filled marriage!

Evelyn Sent on 06/14/2026

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Reverend James Simmons is amazing!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about Reverend James Simmons! From our very first meeting, he made us feel seen, heard, and truly cared for. He took the time to get to know us, guided us through the preparation with such grace and patience, and made sure our ceremony was a genuine reflection of our faith and our love for one another.

On our wedding day, Reverend James delivered every word with warmth, intention, and so much heart. His presence set the tone for the entire ceremony — peaceful, joyful, and deeply meaningful. He spoke beautifully and fully poured himself into making our day special.

If you are looking for an officiant who will treat your ceremony as the sacred, once-in-a-lifetime moment it truly is, look no further. Reverend James Simmons is an absolute blessing, and we are so grateful he was a part of the beginning of our marriage. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you, Reverend James!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much for taking the time to share such beautiful words. Evelyn, It was an absolute honor and a true privilege to walk alongside you and Eli during your preparation and to stand with you as you made your vows. Your faith and deep love for one another were as evident as I've ever witnessed, and serving as your officiant is a memory I will always cherish. May your marriage continue to be blessed with the same peace, joy, and profound love that filled your wedding day.

Fernanda Sent on 06/13/2026

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Best officiant ever

James was absolutely amazing! From our very first conversation, he made us feel comfortable and confident that we were in great hands. He is kind, funny, professional, and incredibly thoughtful. His passion for what he does truly shines through, and it made such a difference throughout the entire process.

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but James made everything feel easy and enjoyable. He offered wonderful ideas, guided us every step of the way, and created a ceremony that felt personal, meaningful, and memorable. We received so many compliments from our guests about how special the ceremony was.

If you’re looking for a wedding officiant who genuinely cares and goes above and beyond, James is the perfect choice. We are so grateful to have found him and would recommend him without hesitation!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Fernanda, thank you so much for this beautiful review! It was truly an honor to be part of your special day. From our very first chat, I knew your wedding was going to be something incredibly unique. Making the planning process stress-free and fun is always my goal, so hearing that you felt confident and supported means the world to me. I'm absolutely thrilled that your guests loved the ceremony just as much as we did. Wishing you and your husband a lifetime of love, laughter, and happiness together!"

Kelsey Sent on 06/12/2026

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A small wedding on a Thursday

Reverend James simmons did a wonderful job officiating our services and was so nice and personable. You can definitely tell he loves what he does! Would absolutely recommend him!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much! I am grateful you trusted me to be a part of your big day. I wish you a happy marriage filled with love, peace, and joy. Blessings. James

Andrew Sent on 06/11/2026

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Highly recommended

We nailed it when we chose Rev. Simmons to officiate our wedding. He was attentive, cheerful, available, and made us feel very special. He catered the ceremony to our specific choices (he does have choices to select from if you are unsure). Everything went smoothly and we couldn’t be happier. You will not go wrong choosing Rev. Simmons to be a part of your special day.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Andrew!!! Thank you so much for this beautiful review! It was an absolute honor to be a part of your special day. I always aim to make the planning process as seamless and personalized as possible, so I’m thrilled to hear that the ceremony choices helped you create a day that felt uniquely yours. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness, smooth sailing, and wonderful memories together!

Chasity Sent on 06/10/2026

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Outstanding Officiant

James did an outstanding job as the officiant for our wedding. His communication and helping us with preparation for the ceremony really made our lives much easier with all the other things we needed to plan. His demeanor and enthusiasm added a special energy to our ceremony. He even took a few pictures for us so our photographer who was a family member could be in some group shots!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful review, Miles and Chasity! It was a true honor to be part of your special day. I am thrilled to hear that the preparation support made your planning process a bit easier and less stressful. Contributing that extra energy to your ceremony and capturing those group photos so your family photographer could be included was my absolute pleasure. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness, love, and adventure together!

Kelly Sent on 06/08/2026

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Rev James Simmons-

Rev James married my husband and I at Chapel Dulcinea and couldn't be happier the way things went. He spent time with us before the wedding getting to know us and what would make a good fit for us for our ceremony. His personality and comfortability with him stood out from the very beginning! He was very accommodating with our visions. We came into the Austin area for the wedding and the day of our wedding was the first time meeting him in person. He made the cermony even more special than I envisioned. His love for what he does shined effortlessly. There was meaning in the way he spoke and lightheartedness with appropriate jokes and laughter. I would highly recommend meeting with him if you are getting married and would recommend Rev James to anyone. Truly enjoyed having him as part of our special day!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Kelly!!! Thank you so much for this beautiful review! It was an absolute honor to be a part of your special day at Chapel Dulcinea. I truly enjoyed getting to know you both before the wedding, and I am so glad that warmth and connection carried over to our first in-person meeting on the big day. Creating a ceremony that reflects your unique vision, complete with meaningful moments and a few laughs, is exactly what I love to do. Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness together!

Morgan Sent on 06/06/2026

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Five Stars is Not Enough for James & His Team!

James officiated our wedding on 5/9/26 at Chapel Dulcinea. If you want your wedding day to be completely seamless, stress-free, and full of incredible energy, do yourself a favor and hire James.
We planned our wedding in just two months, and James was hands-down the best decision we made. Not only did he work with us to meet our budget and financial needs perfectly, but he did so while genuinely caring about us as people. We never felt like just another booking to him; he was fully invested in our story and peace of mind.
He is the ultimate professional who truly understands what a couple (and an anxious bride, lol!) needs. From a detailed initial Zoom call to guiding us through the venue in person, he was there every step of the way. A week before the big day, he even walked me through everything one more time just to put my mind at ease.
James's energy and personality are completely contagious-our family and friends are still talking about how wonderful he was. Between his officiating and his team's incredible event coordination and music, our day at Chapel Dulcinea simply would not have been the same without him. Thank you, James, for being such a pivotal part of our forever! -Morgan and Hayden Fontenot

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Morgan and Hayden!!! Thank you both so much for this beautiful review! It was an absolute honor to officiate your wedding at Chapel Dulcinea and to be a part of your special day. Planning a wedding in two months is no small feat, but your positive energy made the whole process a joy. I am so glad that our extra walkthroughs put your mind at ease and that my team could help create a seamless, stress-free day for you both. Hearing that your family and friends enjoyed the ceremony and music truly means the world to us. I am truly grateful Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and wonderful memories together!
Warmly,
James

Monique Sent on 06/02/2026

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Rev James Simmons was amazing!

He made our wedding day extra special with his attention to detail, joyful attitude and funny humor. He was absolutely brilliant and a joy to work with.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Monique! Thank you so much!! Wedding day was so special. The joy, the laughter, the love. Thank you again for the honor of being a part of such a momentous occasion.

Elizabeth Sent on 05/27/2026

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Amazing officiant!

Hiring James Simmions was one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! From our first conversation, he took the time to truly get to know us and craft a ceremony that felt completely like 'us'! He was incredibly communicative, kept us calm at the altar, yet knew exactly when to throw a joke in or make us laugh. Our guests mentioned about how beautiful and heartfelt, yet funny the ceremony was! Highly recommend!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Elizabeth! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am truly grateful. Central Texas weddings are wonderful but there is something so special officiating at Chapel Dulcinea in Austin, TX. You and Alex is such incredible people and pray your marriage is blessed beyond measure with peace, love, and joy. God bless you. James

Audrey Sent on 05/10/2026

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AMAZING officiant!!

We were married this past April, and Rev Simmons really made our special day come together. He was fantastic to work with and just oozes experience and geniality. The resources and guidance he provided was invaluable in helping us put together our plan for the ceremony, and in bringing it to fruition. Communication was always super fast, and any questions or uncertainty we had he cleared up immediately. He’s a genuinely nice person and we got along great with him! We thought he was so funny and very sweet! :) On the day of, he ran the ceremony like an orchestra conductor - and knew when to step out of the way for the photos! Honestly, our ceremony couldn’t have been any better than it was and Rev Simmons was a critical part of that. He had a great speaking voice and several guests commented on how well he did! We can’t thank him enough!! We recommend him to anyone and everyone who is looking for an officiant.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much for those incredibly kind words! It was an absolute joy to work with you both and help bring your ceremony to life this past April. You made the planning process so smooth, and I truly enjoyed our time together—getting to know such a sweet couple was the highlight of my work. Knowing that your guests enjoyed the ceremony as much as I did means the world to me. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness and love!

Jennifer Sent on 04/25/2026

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Chapel Dulcinea

We had an amazing experience with James as our wedding officiant. He was incredibly kind, professional, and made us feel comfortable from the start. He added such thoughtful personal touches to the ceremony that made it feel truly special and unique to us as a couple. He also brought the perfect amount of humor, which kept everything lighthearted and enjoyable while still making the moment meaningful. Our guests loved him, and so did we. We’re so grateful he was part of our day and would highly recommend him to any couple looking for someone warm, personable, and memorable

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much!! Leo and Jack looked so handsome and of course Michael was Mr. GQ but....when you walked into the Chapel the clouds opened up! What an absolutely beautiful family-inside and out. I am so grateful that your chose me to be a part of such a momentous occasion. My prayer is blessings upon blessings for you and your family.

Eric Sent on 04/15/2026

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Great Service

James was professional, on time and performed a perfect service. I will be recommending him to others.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much, Eric! I am grateful. I will always remember the Duchman Winery! I wish you two the absolute best marriage filled with love, light, and peace. Blessings.

Ariel Sent on 03/24/2026

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Reverend James Simmons!

We truly could not be happier with Reverend James Simmons! From start to finish, his dedication, professionalism, and passion were beyond anything we could have hoped for. He worked so hard to ensure our wedding ran seamlessly, kept everything perfectly on schedule, and went above and beyond his role to help in any way he could.

Reverend Simmons didn’t just officiate—he was fully invested in making our entire day special. His energy, organization, and genuine care made such a difference, and it did not go unnoticed. You can tell he truly loves what he does, and that passion shines through in every moment.

Our ceremony was absolutely beautiful and set the perfect tone for the entire evening. We received so many compliments from our guests about how meaningful and well-executed it was!

We would choose him again and again without hesitation. If you’re looking for someone who will bring heart, excellence, and reliability to your big day, Reverend James Simmons is the one!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Ariel, thank you so much for the beautiful five-star review! It was such a joy to serve as your wedding officiant for your special day on March 7th.
I truly pride myself on bringing both passion and organization to every wedding ceremony I lead, so I’m thrilled to hear that you and your guests felt that energy! Ensuring everything stayed on schedule and creating a meaningful experience for you both was my top priority. It was an honor to be part of your big day here at Chapel Dulcinea in the beautiful Hill Country of Austin, Texas.
Wishing you and Ram a lifetime of happiness together!
— Reverend James Simmons

Tiresa Sent on 03/18/2026

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Wedding Officiant!

We had an amazing experience with our wedding officiant James Simmons! He was incredibly professional from start to finish, made the entire process smooth, and truly helped make our special day perfect. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable, professional, and talented officiant. Thank you again for being such an important part of our wedding day!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Tiresa!!! Thank you so much for the honor of being your wedding officiant. That beautiful morning at Chapel Dulcinea...what a beautiful hill country view in Austin, TX. You and Trey are so kind and such a gorgeous couple. I pray your marriage is truly blessed with love and peace. Thank you again. I'm grateful.

Ummi Sent on 03/14/2026

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Your search ends here! He is the best!!!

My husband and I chose Reverend James to marry us right after our first call. He is genuinely kind, incredibly detail-oriented, and brings such a joyful, positive presence. He made the entire process smooth and thoughtful, and our ceremony felt very personal and meaningful. And our guests loved him too!! We highly recommend him to any couple looking for someone who truly cares about making your day special.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Ummi!!! Thank you so much! You and Baptiste are such wonderful people. Thank you for the honor of being there on such a momentous occasions in our lives. I pray your marriage is blessed with light, love, and peace.

Daniel Sent on 02/15/2026

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10/10 Officiant

James is an amazing officiant! He was very helpful in guiding us to create the ceremony of our dreams and is definitely a crowd-pleaser. We totally recommend him!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much! It a true passion of mine to craft custom ceremony scripts that tell your love story. Thank you again for trusting me. I'm grateful.

Reece Sent on 02/09/2026

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The Officiant You’ve Been Searching For!

My wife found James during her research leading up to our wedding and further showed me why she takes the lead on things like this. He truly elevated our experience in the best way possible. James was easy to get ahold of, brought a bright energy to what can be stressful planning, and showed just how passionate he is about uniting couples for the rest of their lives. He even personally drove our marriage license to the County Clerk’s office since we were flying out the following morning! If you’re looking for someone to officiate yourself and the person of your dreams, your search ends here. Thank you for everything James!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much! It was such a joy to be your wedding officiant for your beautiful ceremony in Austin at Chapel Dulcinea. I always strive to bring a calm, bright energy to wedding planning in Central Texas, and I’m so glad I could help make the process a bit easier for you both. Hand-delivering your marriage license to the clerk's office was the least I could do to ensure your big day ended perfectly! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness as you start your new journey together.

Daniela Sent on 01/13/2026

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Rev. James Simmons

Rev. James Simmons was the sweetest. We are so glad we chose him to officiate our elopement. He helped make our day perfect. He was great at explaining the process of the ceremony and still made sure we were comfortable/happy with the overall outcome

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Daniela! Thank you so much! Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and the 5 Star review. I'm grateful.

Shakira Sent on 01/13/2026

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Best Officiant ever SERIOUSLY!!

James Simmons was incredible funny, great energy, flawless ceremony team!! 10/10❤️

YOU WILL NOT REGRET HIRING HIM!! 🥹

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Oh my goodness, Shakira! Thank you so much! I'm grateful. Your family and friends made us feel like a part of the family. AND YOU are an absolute bundle of joy! It's like light radiates from you. We pray blessings upon blessings upon you and Jonathan.

Haylee Sent on 01/08/2026

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The perfect officiant

James was so thorough, helpful, and beyond amazing. His website helped us plan the ceremony to a T. He was exactly the man for the job. Thank you, James, for making our wedding day so special!

+3 photos

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Aw Haylee, thank you so much! I'm grateful. My heart is full with your kindness. May your marriage be truly blessed with love and peace.

A Watler Sent on 01/04/2026

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James is fabulous! All in one stop.

James was extremely friendly, down to earth and personable! He was very responsive and was able to answer any questions my partner and I had being that we are super new to all of this. He was able to even point us in the direction to having a beautiful marriage license that we chose to frame. On our wedding day he made us laugh but also provided the foundation to our next chapter. James was excellent with his selection of how you can personalize your wedding ceremony as well as being our personal dj at the chapel duclinea. So grateful we had the pleasure of using him! Would do it all over again!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Aveanna!!! Or should I say Mrs. Bent! : ) Thank you so much for your kind words and the beautiful picture. You and Aldon on beautiful on outside AND the inside. Thank you for trusting me to be there for you on this most important day. Wishing you love, joy, and peace in your marriage. I'm grateful.

Kylie Sent on 07/14/2025

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1000/10 recommend

We truly cannot recommend our officiant highly enough! From our very first (free!) Zoom consultation, we knew we were in great hands. He was incredibly personable and instantly made us feel comfortable and excited about our ceremony.

Before the wedding, he took the time to hang out with the groomsmen, learned everyone’s names, and immediately felt like part of the group. He went above and beyond helping with ceremony logistics and even suggested great photo spots around our venue — which turned out beautifully.

After the wedding, our family couldn’t stop talking about how amazing he was. He brought such warmth, professionalism, and joy to our big day.

10000/10 recommend — we’re so grateful he was part of our wedding!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Oh my goodness! Kylie and "Coach Canyon" the roofer! : )))
You two were an absolute joy to work with. Your family and friends made me truly feel welcome and that I "belonged" there. From my long and enjoyable coffee visit with Canyon in the coffee shop to my conversations with the hilarious Steve I had a wonderful day! Thank you again for the honor of allowing me to be there on this most important day. I'm grateful.

Sarah Sent on 07/12/2025

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Pastor Simmons

Pastor Simmons did a fantastic job at our wedding. We appreciated him! Our ceremony was great and he was very personal with his delivery.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much Sarah!! I am grateful you gave me the honor of being there on one of the most special day in our lives. May your marriage by blessed with light, love, and peace.

Christian Sent on 06/19/2025

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James is awesome!

We are so happy we decided to work with James. Before we'd even decided on an officiant, he made time to zoom call us and discuss what we wanted. He has a natural talent for making people laugh, and he allowed us to completely customize our ceremony, but he helped us by providing recommendations and examples so it wasn't overwhelming. We decided to hire him to take care of the music for the ceremony, too. He was easy to work with and did a great job. Our guests loved him, too! Thanks, James!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Christian!!! Thank you so much! I LOVE this picture!! Thank you again for trusting me to be there for you and one of the post important days of our lives. I'm honored. May your marriage be richly blessed!

Kristyn Sent on 05/19/2025

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Felt Like Part of the Family!

Reverend Simmons was so great to work with. He had so much enthusiasm for being part of our special day that he truly felt like another family member. I especially liked that we got to pick what he would say. He went slightly off script, but overall the ceremony was beautiful and we loved how it turned out. Highly recommend!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Kristyn! Thank you so much!! A HUGE thank you and to your family and friends for making me feel welcome. I did indeed feel like a part of the group! Thank you for your kind words and trusting me to be there for you. May your marriage be richly blessed with light, love, and peace. Blessings.

Nicole Sent on 05/15/2025

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James is the best!

I am an event planner in the Austin Area and working with James was a great experience! His presence, professionalism, and heartfelt delivery truly set the tone for a beautiful celebration. His communication and direction between myself and my client was super helpful! It is clear he is very passionate about the work he does, and it was such a joy to see that shine through. I would 100% recommend booking him!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Awww....Nicole! Thank you so much! I'm grateful for your kind words. I look forward to working with you in the future. As a wedding officiant I have worked with 100s of wedding planners over the years. It absolutely makes a huge difference having someone like you that has attention to detail, work ethic, friendly personality, and ability to help the day run smoothly! 100 recommend you! Book now!

Natasha Sent on 05/14/2025

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10/10 highly recommend James

James was amazing! He was so kind and accommodating to us for our small little pre wedding ceremony! He is funny and brought such a special touch to our day! I look forward to having him at our wedding in October as well. I would recommend any couple have him marry you.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Natasha! Thank you so much! I'm grateful. That wonderful day at our Jim Hogg park is one I will not forget. So simple yet so beautiful! I am honored that you chose me to be a part of such a wonderful milestone of life. Blessings upon your marriage.

Erin Sent on 04/18/2025

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The BEST! James was perfect for us.

I am so happy James joined us on our elopement. He was PERFECT! I can’t thank James enough. He is kind, thoughtful, and very funny! He made our day extra special with his wonderful sermon as we were married. If you’re on the fence don’t be, James will not disappointed! I will forever appreciate his gentle and funny words for us. We love James and you will too! ❤️

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Erin!!!! Thank you so much! I'm so thankful you trusted me to be there for you on this most important day. May your marriage be truly blessed.

Lisa Sent on 04/16/2025

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Don't think twice- book!

James was so wonderful to work with as we were getting closer to our wedding. He was very professional, relatable and very positive to work with. We went over the order and procession of the wedding day, where we would all be, etc and it was exactly as we had reviewed.

James was always available via email, or we needed it, but text and responded quite quickly! One of the things we truly enjoyed was James went above and beyond and actually had one pre-marital counseling session with us to go over things we never really thought to talk about.

You won't be disappointed if you book James, we certainly weren't!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much Lisa! Your kind words are greatly appreciated. Getting to know you guys was such a pleasure! I wish you the absolute best in your marriage. Blessings to you now and always. : )

Jeff Sent on 04/15/2025

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Georgetown wedding

James did a great job with our wedding in Georgetown. He took the time to sit down and discuss what was going to be said well before the wedding. He had plenty of ideas and suggestions to work with as well. He was on time and full of enthusiasm at the wedding. I would recommend him if you are looking for a professional to marry you.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Jeff! Thank you so much! I'm grateful. Your family, friends, Joanne's family and friends, everybody made me feel so welcome. Although a little chilly of Joanne and a few guests all hearts were warmed by the obvious love you have for one another. Blessings to you.

Cassandra Sent on 04/06/2025

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Amazing wedding officiant!

Rev. James Simmons officiated our wedding and we were thrilled! He was so friendly and catered the ceremony to our preferences. His genuine love for what he does shines through, and he makes everyone feel at ease. 10/10 would recommend.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much! Although my visit was short with your mom and stepdad, I absolutely enjoyed it. Your HUSBAND is hilarious! Thank you for trusting me to be there for you and inviting me into your home. I'm grateful. I wish you John the absolute best! Blessings.

Valerie Sent on 03/28/2025

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Highly Recommended Officiant

From the minute we met James, I knew he needed to be our officiant. He was professional and very accommodating with what we wanted as a couple. Based on what we communicated, he made our ceremony light, funny but also very sweet and meaningful. I would recommend James to anyone getting married!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Valerie! Thank you so much!! I'm grateful. You and Tristin are beautiful humans inside and out. I am honored that you chose me to be a part of such a momentous occasion.

Abigail Sent on 03/22/2025

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Chapel Dulcinea Wedding

James did perfect helping us set up and coordinate our mini wedding. So grateful for all of his help on our special day!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you Abigail!! I am grateful. May your marriage be filled with light, love, and peace. Blessings! James

Amit Sent on 03/18/2025

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James Simmons

I spoke with James on the phone from the first moment I felt there was someone listening on the other side of the line. A nice, thoughtful and funny guy who I highly recommend to make your happy day with

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Awww...Amit!! What a wonderful morning that was. Thank you again for the honor of being there! The sheer joy from your circle of friends at the ceremony and their happiness for you was inspirational. I'm grateful.

Jim C. Sent on 11/29/2024

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Smiling james!

If you’re looking for officiants, save your time & energy and BOOK JAMES!!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Jimmy and Colleen!!! The class and ease you conduct yourselves with is so beautiful to watch. From our very first visit I was so impressed with the way you two communicated with each other. As we continued to visit it just confirmed my initial thoughts of how amazing you two are. Thank you again for trusting me with you vision. I wish you all the best. Renee and I look forward to our wine bar visit on or near your one year anniversary.

Caitlyn Sent on 11/16/2024

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The perfect ceremony with the perfect officiant

We absolutely loved Reverend James! He was easy to work with, quickly responded to all of our emails and questions, and was flexible with meeting times throughout the process. On the wedding day, he delivered the most beautiful ceremony and we couldn’t have asked for a better officiant

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Caitlyn! Thank you so much. I'm grateful. What an absolutely beautiful day that was. Thank you for trusting me to be a part.

April Sent on 11/14/2024

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Secret elopement

From the first message James sent, we knew he was the one. He was warm, friendly and welcoming. We wanted an intimate ceremony for our secret elopement and he was so helpful and accommodating the entire way. He made it easy to build our ceremony. He was always quick to respond to any of our messages or emails. We are so glad he was the one to marry us, he brought so much fun and joy. What a great way to start our marriage!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

April!!! Thank you so much! You and "Lex" are an absolutely beautiful couple. The positive energy you both exude is contagious. Thank you for trusting me with such a monumentous day. I'm grateful.

Shyann Sent on 11/13/2024

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Perfect Ceremony

Was amazing officiant, really stuck to what we wanted and delivered a beautiful ceremony for my elopement!!

Jenna Sent on 11/07/2024

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The Sweetest Ceremony

We asked James to officiate our elopement, and we truly couldn't have asked for a better experience. We met over zoom beforehand to make sure we were a good fit, and we could tell he was going to be perfect. We were looking for something short, sweet, personable, with a hint of humor and that's exactly what James provided! We will forever cherish this special day, and appreciate how James contributed to that.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Hi Jenna! Thank you so much!! I'm grateful. Thank you for trusting me! Best wishes to you and a most wonderful marriage.

Rey G. Sent on 10/24/2024

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10/10 Experience!!

We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant than James for our wedding. From the moment we first spoke with him, he made us feel at ease and reassured us that everything would go smoothly. He took the time to understand our vision for the ceremony and made sure to incorporate all the personal touches that were important to us. James was incredibly attentive to detail and brought our ideas to life in such a thoughtful and heartfelt way. His calming presence and professionalism helped ease any concerns we had, allowing us to fully enjoy our special day. We’re so grateful to him for making our wedding ceremony everything we hoped it would be!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Rey!! Oh my goodness. Thank you so much! I absolutely enjoyed you and your family. Your class is palpable. I wish you and Jasmine. Thank you again for trusting me with such a special day. I'm grateful.

Christian Sent on 07/31/2024

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Best Officiant!

Using James as our officiant could not have gone any better. From the beginning, he laid out the blueprint and gave us a step by step on what to expect. Because of this, the actual wedding day went flawless . Very professional and loves what he does. 10/10, highly recommend if in need of an officiant!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Christian! Thank you so much! I'm grateful. That morning watching the two of you exchange vows you wrote really touched me. #truelove

Randy Sent on 07/24/2024

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Rev. James Simmons

James was amazing! He was so personable and we felt a connection right away. James was friendly, fun going, and professional! He offered so many great thoughts and ideas. We couldn’t have had a more perfect officiant!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you Randy! Your family and friends were so kind and welcoming. Thank you again for the honor.

Brooke Sent on 06/11/2024

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James Simmons is the BEST!

I am so glad I had Austin Area Weddings for our wedding ceremony. I had so many wedding guests tell me how personal and intimate our wedding ceremony was. It was perfect! I highly recommend!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Brooke!!!! Thank you so much! I'm grateful. Wedding day can sometimes be so stressful. With your family and friends it was perfect.

Jennifer Sent on 07/20/2023

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Amazing, went above and beyond!!!

I cannot recommend Rev. Simmons enough. He brought humor and personality, coordinated the rehearsal, the day of, and customized everything for us. Hands down the best in town! Every raved about how great he was and thought we had known him for years.

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Meghan Sent on 11/13/2022

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Would Highly recommend James

James was an absolutely great choice for our wedding. He's knowledgeable, personable, patient, and makes you feel at ease in front of everyone during the ceremony. James has lots of examples of prayers, vows, and readings on his website so it makes everything very easy to plan the ceremony. I knew that I would have trouble reading my vows in front of everyone so James was more than happy to read them for us. When going through multiple websites, I noticed that the officiants are always standing next to the couple for their first kiss. James let us know ahead of time that halfway through the ceremony he moves to the side so that it will only be the couple in the first kiss pictures. I would never have thought about this and was so happy when he mentioned it. I'm definitely glad we chose James as the officiant of our wedding, and we would highly recommend.

Kaley Sent on 02/16/2021

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Great Officiant!

We hired James for our wedding and are so glad we did. He was incredibly friendly and personable, and tailored our ceremony to exactly what we wanted. Highly recommend!

Emily Sent on 08/08/2020

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Fun Officiant for Small Ceremony

James Simmons was our officiant for our recent elopement and brought a lot of joy and levity to our ceremony. We hired him early and had good communication throughout our engagement. He was even kind enough to reschedule with us when COVID-19 impacted everything. We had a secular ceremony, he performed it with joy, and we were happy to have him be part of our day.

Paola Sent on 01/07/2020

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Grrrreat!!

James was great! Not only is he very easy to talk to but he has a presence about him that makes everyone pay close attention to what he's saying. My parents, husband and I were meeting with a couple of officiants for our wedding. But once we met with James, we instantly knew he was the person we wanted there with us. He went over the ceremony order and explained everything in detail which we really appreciated as we've never done this before so were clueless. Every time he would go over one item i'd just picture our wedding day and had to hold my tears at times. During our ceremony, he made it so special and unforgettable. I can't thank him enough for making our memories of that day so precious. Highly recommend!!

Corie Sent on 07/29/2019

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James is amazing!

James gave me my dream ceremony!! I'm not kidding literally my dream ceremony, a few days before the wedding I was talking to my fiance about a passage I wanted read by James at the ceremony and I meant to contact him asking him to incorporate, but it slipped my mind to do it in the shuffle of all the things that needed to get done leading up to the day of. I knew no matter what was read it would be beautiful, but to my surprise James read the EXACT passage I wanted to read without even knowing it was what I had wanted. It was truly magical, the groomsmen, guests, and everyone in between raved about how amazing it was. Thank you for being a part of our special day James, we'll never forget how amazing you made it!

Haileigh Sent on 11/05/2018

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Perfect officiant

We are so glad our planner suggested James to us! From our first coffee thru the prep & wedding James was a constant source of joy & easement in our planning. James' resources were incredibly helpful helpful in creating our own ceremony. After the wedding our guests were asking how long we had known James, if he was a close friend etc... as they could see how at ease we all were together. Our guests were amazed that we had just been recommended him and not known him for years. For us this was great as our whole wedding had a very close knit feel to it and having had a very stiff officiant would not have fit with the vibe. Definitely check James our. Grab a coffee and be prepared to laugh!

Abigail Sent on 07/02/2018

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James made us feel so stress free with our wedding! We were a bit stressed about a multitude of possible issues, but after sitting down with James, something about his character and ease made all of our stress dissipate. Having James around made us feel everything was going to go smoothly. He had everything under control and was able to take as much personal direction or as little specifications as the couple feels comfortable. He created a ceremony that was perfectly fit for us, as well as our audience, making the wedding so special. He pulled tears of happiness from everyone, as well as pulled laughter! He made sure everyone was comfortable and happy! My grandfather sat up with us, also, and said a few words during the ceremony, which was absolutely special! (Also, we found James because he was recommended by multiple people and vendors!)

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Aww...thank you so much! You guys were an absolute dream to work with!! It was an honor to be a part of your special day. May your days be long, happy and peaceful!

Danielle Sent on 06/26/2018

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James and Austin Area Weddings were wonderful to work with. We knew from the first meeting with James that he would be the perfect fit for our wedding. James made our day so special with his upbeat personality and endearing smiling. Austin Area Weddings provides services like decor, ceremony/reception sound, and day-of coordination. We took advantage of the sound set up for our ceremony and it worked out so well. I highly recommend James Simmons and Austin Area Weddings!

Danielle Sent on 06/19/2018

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James was awesome! He knew how to put everything together flawlessly. He listened to me and did just as I asked. I really appreciated how he listened! Everyone said he was awesome. It was short and sweet and very lighthearted. Thank you James!

Shayne Sent on 06/12/2018

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James made our wedding truly amazing. We have gotten so many compliments on how great he was. I would definitely recommend.

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Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Awww...thanks Shayne. I really do appreciate your kind words. You guys made my job so easy. May your days be happy, long and peaceful.

Cole Sent on 06/12/2018

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James was a dream come true for us. He was the perfect officiant for our wedding, making jokes where appropriate and keeping the ceremony fun and lighthearted, but sentimental at the same time. He met with us multiple times before the wedding, and made sure we were good to go before the ceremony started as well. I really appreciated his organization, professionalism, and just great personality when interacting with family and guests as well.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Cole, you guys were absolutely amazing! I had so much fun working with you. Yours' is one I will not forget!

Shelly Sent on 06/12/2018

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James was very, very flexible. Our wedding was rescheduled due to Harvey, then again because the resort double booked our date, then again one last time when the resort we originally booked decided to go under construction and not tell us. This was SO helpful because it was just a quick email to him and we were rescheduled quickly and without any additional fees. James offered a few scripts for us to choose from and let me customize our ceremony the way I wanted it. Although we didn't meet him until our wedding day he was super upbeat and happy, and we meshed well right away! I would definitely recommend James to any of my friends!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Awww...Shelly, thank you so much! I really enjoyed getting to be a part of your special day. It was gorgeous!! May your days together be long and peaceful.

James : )

Victoria Sent on 06/11/2018

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We absolutely adore James. He is an amazing officiant who made our day super special (May 13th 2018.) You will not be disappointed in his service or what he brings to the table. He has years of service that do him credit. I don't leave reviews but when I do it's for top quality service. Thank you James for being a gift to us! We will adore you always!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Victoria, you and your handsome HUSBAND may be the most kind couple I've had the pleasure of working with. Thank you for the honor of being a part of your most amazing day. May your days be long, happy and peaceful!

Jillian Sent on 06/11/2018

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James is truly the best! Your guests will be fooled and will think you’ve known James for years! He has a great personality and does not stop smiling. Our ceremony was better than we could’ve imagined. It was short and sweet, but James still made it so incredibly special. Thank you, James!

Troy Sent on 03/15/2018

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We had the most amazing wedding service with Mr. Simmons. He was helpful and involved. Our wedding moments were special, and he made it fun while providing us great information about our venue. Highly recommended!

Stacey Sent on 02/28/2018

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James... there are not enough kind words we can say about you. Your presence at our wedding made it spectacular. Everybody loved you, your sense of humor and your wife! Your smile is contagious and you helped me not cry like a baby the entire time. Thank you SO much for marrying Matt and I!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Stacey, you and Matt and your family are amazing!! Thank you so much for the honor of being there. My wife and I truly enjoyed visiting with you family and friends. Just a wonderful time!

Caleb Sent on 02/12/2018

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I had many of my friends and family come up to me to comment on James and how awesome his performance was! Everyone including my wife and I are very pleased with his service!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much Caleb! You and your wonderful wife were an absolute joy to work with!! Best wishes for many years of joy and peace.

Katie Sent on 01/03/2018

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James Simmons was great and affordable to work with for our New Year's Eve wedding! We knew we wanted a church ceremony but also something fun because it was NYE. Well, James did not disappoint.

We met with James earlier in the year to learn more about him and also fill him in on what kind of wedding we were looking for. He came with a ton of great ideas and a vibrant personality. Him and his wife are very organized and gave us a lot of options for a short but traditional ceremony. He was great to communicate with along the way and did a great job at our rehearsal as well. I highly recommend James and his team for your wedding ceremony!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Katie!!!! Thank you so much for the honor of being a part of your special day. You guys were a blast to work with!

Vanessa Sent on 10/06/2017

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James did an amazing job officiating our wedding and gave my husband and I the ceremony we wanted. It was short and simple but he still managed to make it special for us. I would highly recommend James to officiate your wedding.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Vanessa, thank you so much! Best wishes to y'all!!

Tessa Sent on 09/23/2017

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James was a wonderful officiant for our wedding. He was early to our wedding rehearsal and to our wedding which I was so thankful for! He even helped the groomsmen put on their boutineers :) Everyone loved him, including our guests! Thank you James!!

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much! It was absolute honor to celebrate with you guys.

Richard Sent on 08/04/2017

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My wife and I first reached out to James to officiate our wedding after reading a plethora of positive reviews about him online. After meeting with James in person, we knew he was the officiant we wanted for our wedding. He has a very warm presence, and made us feel comfortable that we could have the kind of ceremony that we wanted. His website provides a wide range of options for customizing the ceremony, which we found very helpful. When it came time for the rehearsal and wedding, James was nothing but professional. He does a nice job of walking the line between keeping things light and fun and also honoring the sanctity of the ceremony. We strongly recommend James's services as an officiant.

Austin Area Weddings's reply:

Thank you so much Richard! Wow! What a day. So enjoyed the honor of being a part of your ceremony.

Tara Sent on 05/19/2017

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James was wonderful!! The best officiant!

Kristen Sent on 04/14/2017

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James was incredible! He saved our ceremony which started very late and brought back my smile with his first line of the ceremony. I loved that he let us be ourselves and just have fun with it. We very much appreciated him!

Nicole Sent on 03/23/2017

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James was awesome!! We had guests asking how long we've known him because he made it seem as if he's known us forever. He had everyone laughing before the ceremony and kept everyone in good spirits even though it was raining. He even stayed to say the prayer before dinner. My family enjoyed him so much that they mailed him an additional tip a week later. The ceremony went exactly as planned! I would recommend James to anyone who is looking for the PERFECT officiant!

Anjanette Sent on 01/04/2017

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We found James on Wedding Wire and loved his website! He has planned out different verbiage options for your ceremony, ring exchange, opening and has some great advice listed for anyone who is planning a wedding on their own. Once we met him, his smile and enthusiasm was the first thing we noticed and the main reason for having him as our officiant. He was warm and welcoming with our family and friends and even stalled a few extra minutes when I was a little late walking down the aisle!! We loved having him as part of our ceremony and hope he is around in 10 years for our renewal of vows. Thanks so much James for adding laughter and love into our special day!

Greta Sent on 12/24/2016

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Absolute lifesaver! Got down to the wire and our planned officiant for our daughter's wedding backed out. James stepped right in and it was a beautiful, relaxed, perfect wedding! If you are looking for someone that is kind, helpful, humorous, relaxed and professional, he is the person you want. We got many compliments from friends and family at how wonderful the ceremony was!

Grant Sent on 11/24/2016

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Very personable, professional, and fun! Excellent job!

User2874670 Sent on 11/21/2016

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James was a pleasure to work with. He makes you feel at ease and has a wonderful sense of humor which we really appreciated!

Krissy Sent on 11/21/2016

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James and his crew were amazing! He had the guests laughing and was very quick and witty. His coordinator services were worth every penny. His decorator did an amazing job with my decorations and he personally helped the wedding and ceremony flow without a hitch. I highly recommend him. My guests asked me later where I'd found him and that he was wonderful.

Michelle Sent on 11/17/2016

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My husband and I hired James Simmons of Austin Area Weddings to officiate our wedding in April 2016. Neither of us are from the Austin area, so searching for a local officiant was a daunting task. I did quite a bit of research and spoke with multiple officiants in the process. While our ceremony had some religious elements and a prayer, it was mostly non-denominational. We both come from mixed backgrounds, so it was especially important to us to work with someone who was willing to be flexible with the ceremony script.

Also a major concern was finding an officiant who was down-to-earth and could make us feel at ease. James over-exceeded our expectations in all regards! He was personable and professional all at the same time. Throughout the planning process, he was great about answering questions. He provided multiple example ceremony scripts, but we had the freedom of picking and choosing passages that most resonated with us. He was great about providing input about what would work well as part of the ceremony.

The day of the wedding, we were understandably very nervous. We made a few "mistakes", but James was great about easing the tension and cracking a few light-hearted, appropriate, and very welcomed jokes. It added another element to the ceremony, and we often quote some of the one-liners he used. Guests loved him, and we received lots of compliments about his officiating style. I have to say I am so happy that we found James and decided to use his services! We would pick him again in a heartbeat, and totally plan on it if we ever decide to have a vow renewal ceremony (many many years from now!!). Thanks for everything, James!

Michelle Sent on 11/08/2016

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James was the perfect officiant to marry us this past weekend. His joy is contagious, and you can truly tell he loves what he does!

User2939037 Sent on 11/07/2016

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James was a great officiant for our wedding. He was professional and great at his job. I even had people during the wedding ask who our officiant was because he made our ceremony so special. We recommend James to anyone who is planning a wedding.

Mandi Sent on 10/12/2016

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James Simmons (Austin Area Weddings) was wonderful!!! I am so glad we chose him as our officiant for our special day! James listened to all our our wants and needs for the ceremony and his personality and reading style added character (not monotone or boring at all) Our wedding was small and intimate so no wedding is too small or too big of a Job for him! He was very accommodating and flexible with time and scheduling, and more importantly he was respectful of our religious background. Would definitely recommend!! 5 Stars !!

Janelle Sent on 10/05/2016

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James was so kind and friendly. Lots of my guests commented on how much they enjoyed the style and tone that James had set of our ceremony. He was very helpful throughout the day, before, during and after the ceremony.

User6929199 Sent on 09/28/2016

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James personality fit the mood of our wedding perfectly. He's very outgoing and a strong speaker. He went step by step explaining the process of our ceremony and had a variety of styles to choose from. He is very open minded to people's suggestions and will adjusts to different ideas. It was such a pleasure working with him. I highly recommend him!

Yahjaira Sent on 08/30/2016

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Mr. Simmons was the best wedding officiant! I couldn't have chose anybody better. All my guest loved him he was very helpful with the wedding, if it wasn't for him things wouldn't have ran so smoothly. I seriously recommend letting him be a part of your special day.

Dal Sent on 06/06/2016

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I'm so thankful my wife found Austin Area Weddings and hired James as the officiant for our wedding. He was funny and our guests loved him. He made such a fun day that much more enjoyable.

Cynthia Sent on 06/06/2016

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My experience with Austin Area Weddings was pleasant and fun. James is a personable and charismatic officiant whom your guests will love. I was really appreciative and grateful to have found Austin Area Weddings. I highly recommend!

Rachel Sent on 06/04/2016

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Reverend Simmons did an excellent job! He took the time to speak with us before we even paid for any services, and it felt like we were catching up with a long time friend. He even seemed to have spoken with our family and friends before the wedding to get a better idea of "our story" and used this research to make the ceremony more personalized. He kept everything fun and everyone all smiles! With his help, our wedding was even better than we could have imagined.
Thank you Reverend James Simmons!

Greg Sent on 05/27/2016

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very professional and is excellent.

User2619099 Sent on 05/23/2016

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James has a great personality and customized our ceremony to exactly what we wanted. I would highly recommend his services.

Jacqui Sent on 05/02/2016

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James really made it easy for us to customize our ceremony. We were married out of town so we were not able to meet James in person prior to rehersal. James was flexible and communicated with me over the phone and even offered to facetime or Skype with us. The day of the wedding he was great! Smiling James Simmons is a great description - he was enthusiatic and seems to really love what he does. The ceremony was perfect, we could not have asked for anything better.

My ratings are based on his Officiant services only. We also hired James to assist with the reception - announcing dances, introducing the couple and bridal party, cake cutting, etc. Basically MC services. We were under the impression that we had booked him through the entire event time. I have not gone back and looked at the contract - however, James did have several other weddings scheduled that day and he left about an hour into our reception. In the end it worked out - my brother in law was our DJ and he picked up the MC duties without hesitation. I just wish that I was informed that he would need to do that prior to it happening.

ZERO complaints for James as far as Officiant Services go - he was amazing.

Nakeiya Sent on 04/20/2016

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Rev James Simmons @ Austin Area Weddings was perfect. He helped make our special day even more special and personalable.

Francine Sent on 04/19/2016

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James was amazing! Would highly recommend him!

Winnie Sent on 04/12/2016

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James was wonderful! We were super ill-prepared and he went with the flow and the ceremony went perfectly! He's so personal and made us feel really comfortable around him, very reliable and it brought a piece of mind being the crazy bride. I think he's well worth his services. Would definitely recommend him to anyone I know!

Julie Sent on 04/01/2016

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I cannot say enough great things about James! He was so personable, so flexible, so "go with the flow" during the entire time leading up to the wedding and the wedding day itself. He put everyone at ease immediately and listened carefully to the wishes of my son and now daughter-in-law. He made their wedding one of a kind, very unique and special to them. I would recommend him as a wedding officiant in a heartbeat!

Cara Sent on 03/21/2016

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I think one of the many things that was so great about James is that he makes you feel at welcome and as if you were home. We've never met him until we started searching, but he quickly became a good friend. He was also extremely flexible and even did an amazing job covering our butts when we needed to buy more time while the father of the bride left to search for the ribbons for our hand fasting in the middle of the ceremony.
Even though we only spent a few hours with him to discuss the ceremony, to our guests it felt like he's known us for much longer. His smile invites you in while friendliness keeps you there.
At that time I was really set on having a female officiant, but after the extremely friendly email from James my fiance (at that time) convinced us to meet up with him. Once we met him in person there wasn't a single doubt in our minds, we wanted James to marry us.

Maria Sent on 03/20/2016

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James Simmons
Our wedding was amazing and you a me it personable, up beat and humorous as well as special for Jon and I, he even files the marriage license, visited with our guest and met our family and friends. You were a great and we are so thankful for finding our services online. Jon & Maria

Melissa Sent on 02/20/2016

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James led a wonderful, professional but personable ceremony. I was very impressed and highly recommend him to be a part of your special day.

Amy Sent on 02/20/2016

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James did an amazing job helping us customize our ceremony, helping me remain calm and able to remember my lines, and just made our ceremony beautiful!

User2490226 Sent on 01/01/2016

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James was excellent. I mean that very sincerely. While planning for our wedding, we spoke with several different ministers but when we met with James, we immediately knew he was exactly what we were looking for. Our wedding was small, intimate and somewhat non-traditional, and James was very accommodating and flexible to what we desired. He made the ceremony feel personal, warm and holy. We had many guests comment to us how great he was. Austin Area Weddings made our wedding extra special. They also gave a very reasonable price for their services. So very happy we went with them.

Sandra Sent on 12/07/2015

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We were very pleased with the officiant our son and daughter in law chose for their wedding. We recommend Rev James Simmons to everyone. He is professional, kind, warm, had a great scene of humor. He became part of our family for the day. Very happy!!

Kyle Sent on 12/06/2015

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James was amazing. We first found him on a website and didn't know a whole lot about him. My fiancee and I met up with him at Starbucks and talked about what was important to us and what we were looking for in an officiant. This was a very comfortable process that helped us get exactly what we had in mind. It's hard to convey in a review what he meant to my wife and I but he did such a great job! He has such a great personality everyone was moved at our ceremony!!

Cecilia Sent on 12/03/2015

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Made a great choice for making Mr. Simmons a part of my wedding. Would get him again for renewing my wedding vows. Great services, very professional and flexible in making your wedding day the perfect day for you and your other half. HIGHLY recommend him.

Amanda Sent on 11/25/2015

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James is absolutely amazing! My wedding was above and beyond what any of us expected thanks to him! He really put heqrt-felt thought in his words and it us me and my husband right on the money:) I would get married again just to see James work his magic again! Thank you again James for making our day so special! Your awesome! I would without a doubt highly recommend James:)!!!

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