Seamless, amazing, reasonably priced, authentic, creates touching love stories.
We went through a lot trying to find the perfect officiant for our same sex ceremony. We wanted someone who was authentic that really embodied the saying “love is love”. Dr. Samora officiated our ceremony on 9/1/2023. My wife and I are a little particular so when she said she would write a love story, we were prepared to offer suggestions on how to improve it but guess what? EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT!! She spoke about us as if she had known us for years. The entire audience was in tears. Her energy is welcoming and warm and so many people asked us where we found her. Listen up!! If you’re trying to decide who to choose, go with Samora you won’t regret it. We couldn’t have picked a better person.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
OMG!!!! You have ME in tears. Your love is palpable and I will always be here as a cheerleader and support person whenever the need should arise. Congratulations again!!
Deandra Sent on 12/12/2024
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Perfect choice
Rev. Dr. Samora was the perfect choice to officiate our wedding. From the beginning, she was there with us while planning our ceremony and premarital counseling. She even guided us through an argument we were having during one of our sessions.
She asked us detailed questions to understand us as a couple and as individuals. She arrived on time and stood on business when there was confusion about signing the marriage license. I love a woman who is there to have a great time but also knows her job.
She is that woman. She even asked about our color palette so she can match. Love that! She really became a part of our family that day.
Rev. Dr. Samora is kind, loving, understanding and brought so much joy and calm to our ceremony. Out of all the vendors we hired, she was definitely our favorite. We would highly recommend her to everyone we know.
Alexandra Sent on 12/08/2023
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Best part of the wedding!
Hiring Rev. Dr. Samora was the best choice my husband and I made for our wedding. We were challenged with having to incorporate customs of two religions (he’s Hindu and I’m Catholic), while wanting to make it very personal and contemporary. The final product was a ceremony that was completely unique and tailored to exactly what we wanted. We received tremendous compliments from everyone about how touching, moving, fun, and memorable our ceremony was.
Are you interested?
Ian Q. Sent on 12/06/2023
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Wonderful Reverend Made our Wedding Magical
Dr. Samora is such a wonderful person, on top of being a professional officiant. She is such an inclusive person for a queer/ LGBTQ+ wedding. My husband and I felt understood in what we wanted in our ceremony. She made sure to get to know us as people first to make the ceremony more personal. She also chose quotes that were perfect for us. Even months after the wedding, she still checked-in to make sure we are doing alright. You will not be disappointed in choosing Reverend Samora for your special day.
Rachel Sent on 11/21/2023
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Perfect Ceremony
Dr. Samora was the officiant for our NYC central park wedding, and she was wonderful! She created a comfortable and personalized ceremony our family really enjoyed. She guided us smoothly through everything and delivered a ceremony that reflected our individual story with warmth and eloquence. Her calming presence was invaluable, and many guests praised the heartfelt and engaging experience she provided. Dr. Samora's passion for her work made our day memorable, and we wholeheartedly recommend her services.
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Rudolf Sent on 07/04/2023
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Wedding Ceremony
Dr. Samora officiated our wedding in a beautiful way. From our various conversations prior to the wedding day, she grasped our love story and the true connection between my wife, Nora and myself. Her words in the ceremony were personal and extraordinarily meaningful. Many of our wedding guests came to my wife and I after the ceremony and praised her for her moving words. Thank you Dr. Samora for making this day truly unforgettable.
Anandhu Sent on 07/02/2023
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Excellent service
Rev. Samora officiated our elopement wedding and she was extremely helpful throughout the whole process. She was so kind & professional and knew exactly what we wanted and needed for the day.
Cristina Sent on 06/27/2023
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Wonderful services
Absolutely perfect. Thank you for it an amazing ceremony that hit all the right notes. Your insight and thoughtfulness was beyond our expectations. You truly have a gift!!!❤️🙏🏻🌟
Kyle Sent on 04/07/2022
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Rev. Dr. Samora is amazing!
We contacted Rev. Dr. Samora at the beginning of February to officiate our wedding on February 14th, 2022. She was very professional, extremely easy to work with, and let us know that it was our day and that we could do whatever we wanted for our ceremony. It was a very cold day with a lot of wind and snow, and we were married in the most perfect location, across the turtle pond from Belvedere Castle in Central Park. Rev. Dr. Samora and her photographer Sergio made our day exciting, fun, and definitely rememberable! We trekked through the snow over to the rocks close to the pond to be in front of the castle for more privacy and better pictures. Sergio did an amazing job taking photos to capture our day!
We would highly recommend any couple getting married in the NYC area to call Rev. Dr. Samora!
Kyle & James
Thomas Sent on 02/06/2022
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She made our day in Brooklyn
We eloped to New York towards the end of 2021 and could not have been happier with the service Reverend Samora provided. She was so helpful throughout and a shining example of professionalism. Rev Samora gave us a beautiful and personalised service and did a Celtic hand wrapping ceremony - as well as braving the cold (and a little snow!) in Dumbo. Thanks Rev Samora - we would highly recommend her. Tom and Sarah
Gulcan Sent on 12/23/2021
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Could not be better!
After looking for a few other options, my heart chose to move forward with Rev Samora and I understand why! Rev. Samora was the best officiant we could have ever dreamed of!
She was so kind, professional, making you feel comfortable, understanding your needs and spoke such beautiful words at our ceremony. The energy was so right with her!
I feel like she really puts her heart in her work emotionally and morally.
Laura Sent on 12/22/2021
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Highly Recommend
We were so pleased we ultimately selected Rev Samora. She has an eye for details and prepared and delivered our ceremony in a way that honored our respective personalities, cultures and religious backgrounds. On top of that she is warm, kind and really listens to her clients. Would highly recommend!
R Dupuy Sent on 12/19/2021
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Make your marriage stronger.
I’ve written a review previously on how Reverand Samora Smith has come through for my wife and me during a time of need during the early stages of the pandemic. To make a long story short, we were fretting for an officiant for our zoom wedding, and Samora guided us through the marriage license process and officiated our wedding through zoom.
Prior to that moment, we met Samora before the pandemic and we loved her calm, patient demeanor, and her upbeat attitude. A year later, even though we were officially married, we still planned on having an “in-person” ceremony with our friends and family during the summer of 2021. During that time we were in constant communication with Samora and she even provided us with marital counseling prior to the ceremony we had planned.
The counseling was free, and it wasn’t time-consuming. Samora had modules that were easy to navigate. Each module consisted of topics that are imperative in maintaining a strong and healthy marriage. Her online course led to my wife and me having honest and reflective conversations about our future, that were beneficial and important to have.
After completing a few modules Samora would have a counseling session with us that was very therapeutic. Samora is humorous, and easy to talk to, but she kept us accountable.
I feel working with Samora had made our marriage more open, and communicative. If and when my wife and I decide to renew our vows we will definitely select Samora Smith to be our officiant again.
Lauren Sent on 12/01/2021
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Wonderful experience
We had a small ceremony and Reverend Samora did a beautiful job officiating. We would recommend her to everyone!
Qi L Sent on 11/08/2021
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I recommend Rev. Samora Smith
Rev. Samora was kind and professional as the officiant for our wedding. She put us at ease and performed a beautiful and memorable ceremony. I could not be happier with the results for such an important part of my life.
Janeva Sent on 11/07/2021
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Wouldn't change a thing!
Initially, my wife & I were hesitant regarding finding an officiant for our same-sex wedding. We put off searching for one because we feared rejection and discrimination due to our sexuality. However, after seeing pictures of Rev. Samora in many same sex weddings at our venue, we knew we had to seek her out. To make a long story short, she most definitely did not disappoint. We received many compliments from our guests in regards to how personalized the ceremony was. Guests even asked if we knew Rev. Samora personally from the way she spoke about the two of us and our backgrounds. I highly recommend her if you're looking for an officiant to make your ceremony feel comfortable, personalized, and intimate. Thank you again Rev. Samora for being a part of our special day!
Tracy Sent on 10/26/2021
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Great Officiant!
Reverend Samora was knowledgeable, professional, and made our day very special!!!!! I would recommend her to everyone interested in a fantastic officiant!
Samantha Sent on 10/05/2021
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Beautiful personalized ceremony
My husband and I loved working with Rev. Samora and having her officiate our recent Brooklyn wedding. We also had a few premarital counseling sessions with her. She is so warm, empathetic, understanding and kind. Multiple guests commented on how lovely the ceremony was and asked if Rev. Samora was a friend of ours since she knew us so well and the ceremony was so personalized. Highly recommend her for a beautiful and customized ceremony.
Katherine Sent on 06/25/2021
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I love it such an amazing experience.
Samora was super amazing and made us feel comfortable and happy I totally recommend her.
Rafaela Sent on 12/04/2020
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Excelent staff!
Antonio was excellent, very attentive and responsible, I would definitely recommend him.
Alicia Sent on 12/02/2020
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Amazing, she was just perfect!
Samora made our ceremony absolutely perfect! The draft that she provided was great, but at the same time she was flexible to make the adjustments that we requested. We received many complements on how beautiful the ceremony was (specially from friends and family that connected trough zoom to watch it, because sadly Covid didn’t allow them to be there in person). The words were meaningful, perfectly chosen. She was very puntual, didn’t rush the ceremony and we can only say THANK YOU!! Highly recommended
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you for the kind words! I am blessed to be able to show up and create some joy for you and your loved ones, near and far! Congratulations again!!
Tina Sent on 11/30/2020
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Amazing experience
Overall amazing experience. Thank you Samora for making my day even more special
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Congratulations! It was my pleasure to support you and share such a great moment with you! Happy Holidays.
Davitha Sent on 11/29/2020
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Unforgettable experience
Rev Samora helped make our ceremony unforgettable from start to end - she was so helpful in writing vows we both truly loved and delivered the ceremony in a wonderful way. All of our attendees/viewers commented on how beautiful the ceremony was and we will forever remember it. Would highly recommend her services!
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you, Davitha! You are such a beautiful couple and you made me feel so comfortable and welcome in your home. Cheers to good health and an amazing, joyful new year!
Kathleen Sent on 11/23/2020
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Amazing officiant
Antonio was the wedding officiant for our August 2020 wedding. From the moment we spoke to him over the phone we knew he was perfect for our wedding! The ceremony script he provided for us was amazing and he also read it in spanish for my family which everyone loved! I cannot recommend Antonio enough!
Rosa Sent on 11/19/2020
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Wedding at Central Park
Out wedding was a miracle.
Starting by the fact that we have been in the mist of a global pandemic. Every government office that could help us through the process of getting married was close and we had no hope on making our day a reality. We found Antonio on wedding wire and it was the best thing that ever happened to us. He helped us secure the perfect location for our wedding, guided us through the ceremony and held our hands every step of the way. Thanks to him everything was special and personal, very romantic too. I even recommended him to a cousin who’s officiant cancelled the day before her wedding and of course he was a dream.
Don’t hesitate to hire Antonio; he is an amazing human being, responsable and very organized. Both his Spanish and English are also impecable.
I couldn’t have asked for a better officiant.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Hi Rosa, congratulations to you again on being able to pull off such a wonderful ceremony during such unprecedented times. I am also grateful that Antonio was available to officiate and offer you such a memorable service. Thank you for your review and many blessings to you and your husband.
Marco Sent on 11/19/2020
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Truly amazing
Antonio, our marriage official, who also speaks perfect spanish in case needed, performed our wedding ceremony in an incredible fashion. He was punctual, professional, and above all full of joy. He kept in touch with us for ever question we had, helped us through the process of getting our marriage license, and ultimately delivered an incredible speech. Incredible service, full of love and spirituality. Very respectful and understands every request made. Totally recommended.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you Marco for the amazing review. I am so happy that you were pleased with Antonio's service. He is a wonderful person and his love shines through in everything he does. Congratulations once again!!
Nichcole Sent on 11/07/2020
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Memorable 9/24/20
My fiance and I had to cancel our larger wedding due to COVID-19, but still wanted to be legally married this year on our anniversary. Rev. Samora was wonderful throughout everything from questions we had about the ceremony, zoom, and the virtual wedding process that included our famous and close friends. We would recommend Rev. Samora to anyone looking for a professional and thoughtful ceremony!
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you and may you both enjoy a long, successful, and loving marriage. I am grateful to have been able to support you during this challenging time. Congratulations and be well!!
Kanassanan Sent on 11/05/2020
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Wonderful experience!!!
Rev. Samora was very professional and friendly. We love how our marriage was conducted. She asked our story and included our story in our ceremony, which was wonderful. She made our simple wedding into most memorable moment of our life.
Olivia Sent on 11/05/2020
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Wonderful, responsive, and truly listened to what we wanted
Rev. Samora was perfect for us. She responded very quickly, honestly, and put us at ease. We married during the Pandemic and there was a bit of a learning curve to this process and Rev. Samora was very in the know and helpful with all of the details. She listened to us and created an individual ceremony for us. I recommend her fully and feel lucky we found her.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Considering all the challenges we have faced throughout this period, I am so inspired by couples like you. Thank you for choosing me to be a part of such an important moment in your lives. Blessings to you!!
Fengyuan Sent on 11/02/2020
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Very good!
So talented and fun to be with. Nothing better!
Rashida Sent on 10/29/2020
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Wedding Ceremony
She was amazing, she basically did everything i ask her and more.
Jameela Sent on 10/26/2020
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Perfect Fit!
Rev Samora was the perfect fit for our COVID wedding. We couldn’t have imagined our special day without Rev Samora being our officiant. She was able to seamlessly mesh our cultures while telling our love story.
Rev Samora, thank you so much
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Congratulations again to you and your beautiful family! May you always be blessed and protected on your journey together. Asé!
Ya Peng Sent on 10/23/2020
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Wedding Officiant
I’m so happy to have found Samora! She made us feel comfortable and calm on the day of our wedding and on the days leading up to it too. We weren’t able to book her originally because she had 2 other weddings on the same day (she’s in high demand!) as ours but she managed to squeeze us in at the end. She was genuinely happy for us which makes a huge difference as an officiant. Thank you so much for making our day feel so special!
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
You are such a special couple with a beautiful story. I am so happy that I managed to be there on your special day to help you cross such an important threshold. I am especially appreciative of you both for being essential workers. I absolutely do care about your happiness and I am happy that you could feel that. Stay safe and be well!!
Alyssa Sent on 10/23/2020
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Wonderful Experience!
Rev Samora was extremely professional, personable and made our wedding beautiful! She was promptly on time and was flexible once we had to change our wedding date. Definitely recommend!
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
It was such a joy to be in your presence and witness your love. You have a beautiful future to look forward and I am here to support you along the way. Thank you!
Priscilla Sent on 10/22/2020
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Wedding Sept 26
Dr Samora was extremely professional, very helpful and understanding. We recommend her highly
Paul Sent on 10/21/2020
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Beyond our expectations
Reverend Dr. Samora was a dream come true for us! Trying to secure a meeting with the City Clerk was a challenge, but Rev, Dr. Samora updated us on newly scheduled times that we were able to secure. Energies run wild on a wedding day, but Rev. Dr. Samora’s calm demeanor was soothing and much needed for my husband and I.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
I am so blessed to have met you and been the one to cross you over the threshold. Much love and blessings to a beautiful life together. Stay Gold!!
Dana Sent on 10/20/2020
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Super Happy
My husband and I HIGHLY recommend her services. She made everything so easy and the experience was everything we wanted. Her calm voice, her beautiful words, made our day absolutely perfect. Thank you so very much.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Congratulations again and thank you so much for your kind words. Please reach out if you need anything and stay safe and happy!!
Zhenhan Sent on 10/20/2020
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great service!
What an amazing experience with Samora. We were quite worried about how COVID could impact our wedding, but Samora did a wonderful job and made our ceremony still feel special, warm and unforgettable.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you so much for your warmth and gratitude. I am honored to have shared this time with you. Stay safe!!
Daniel Sent on 05/27/2020
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Excellent service
Rev. Samora performed a beautiful, personal, and heartwarming marriage ceremony for us in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Despite the remote nature, it felt every bit as intimate as a traditional wedding ceremony thanks to her.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
It was so great to officiate your ceremony today. Congratulations again and thank you for leaving such a great review.
Storee Sent on 02/13/2020
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Vow renewal
This was such a special day for us and couldn’t have happened without you!
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Martha Sent on 01/16/2020
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Married us with 48 hours notice!
We didn’t want to get married in city hall after seeing the chaos while trying to register for our license, so we decided to do a quick civil wedding on our 10 year anniversary at our favorite restaurant. Samora was sweet, soft spoken, genuine, responsive, timely, and made our civil wedding flawless. Received our marriage license within 2 weeks!
Marisol Sent on 11/19/2019
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Perfect Experience
We loved having Rev. Samora wed us in Central Park. Very professional and personally tailored our ceremony. It was beautiful and my guest loved it - “it was magical and perfect”. I’m extremely thankful for Rev. Samora.
Fran Sent on 10/21/2019
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35th Wedding Anniversary Renewal of Vows Ceremony
Rev Samora was great to work with and did a wonderful job performing our 35th wedding anniversary vow renewal ceremony. I found Samora on the internet and how lucky I was! I wanted to surprise my husband on our visit to Manhattan, NY. I requested our ceremony be in Central Park, Samora had multiple suggestions and information, and was extremely professional and personable. I too wanted some element of surprise, so I provided the background information about our life, relationship, challenges and successes and love, asking Samora to create the ceremony without my seeing it or reviewing it. I was able to experience the joy and love of this ceremony and what a joy it was for both of us! Samora did a beautiful job, along with providing the photographer, and it was a beautiful memory that will always remain with us! Thank you Rev Samora.
Lorda Sent on 10/17/2019
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wonderful Wedding!
When me and my husband decided to get married in New York (we're from the U.k), I contacted several companies, however Samora was the only one who answered all of my questions and made the whole process so easy!
We went to the city clerk two days before to apply for our wedding licence (only took 45 mins or so) We took the licence to Samora, and she done all the rest.
We met Samora on the day in central park, and were greeted with her friendly smile, and the ceremony was beautiful just as we had hoped.
Serg took our photos, who was organised by Samora, he was brilliant and made it so much fun... we laughed the whole time, and got great photos.
Samora posted our marriage certificate to us, which arrived 3 weeks later.
Samora went above and beyond for us- when we arrived back in the U.K my husband realised he left his suit in the hotel room!! We contacted Samora and she kindly arranged for the suit to be posted back to us.
I highly recommend Common Ground Ceremonies!!
Thank you so much!
Zhaleh Sent on 10/13/2019
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Creative, Personal and Caring
Samora was a wonderful person to work with. We wanted a meaningful ceremony that integrated the three cultures associated with our backgrounds: Persian/Iranian, Indian and Filipino. Samora did a fantastic job with listening to us and understanding our vision, and implementing that vision with a personal touch. Our ceremony involved multiple stages. The first stage was the display of the sofreh aghd - i.e. Persian ceremony. Samora did background research and right away introduced the symbolism associated with the spread, which was valued by our guests. Second, she read a beautiful poem capturing our union, with a piano piece playing in the background. We thoroughly appreciated this, as we didn't want a religious ceremony, given our mixed backgrounds. We wanted to share our union with loved ones on a humanistic level, devoid of creed and religion. Samora was really creative at incorporating the Indian and Filipino cultures into the Persian ceremony. This was the third stage in which my husband and I exchanged garlands (i.e. Indian ceremony). In the fourth stage, with a ribbon our garlands were united, which captured the Filipino tradition. Everything flowed nicely, and from an outsider's perceptive all the stages appeared to be part of an old tradition, rather than an amalgamation of different snippets of various cultures. This short, 25 minute ceremony was a beautiful fusion of the love that we have as humans. Samora, thank you for making the start of our lives a memorable, timeless masterpiece!
Elise Sent on 10/12/2019
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Romantic !
We were so pleased with our experience with Reverend Samora! She came to meet us before the wedding to get to know each other and discussed the themes we wanted to incorporate. She offered thoughtful questions and ideas that helped us write our own vows. The ceremony was so beautiful and and heartwarming! It was wonderful to share our love story with family and friends. I received many compliments about how romantic the ceremony was. Samora is a very sweet and easy person to talk to and we recommend her highly!
Joy M. Sent on 10/09/2019
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A dream come true!
Any couples who are looking for a first class officiant for your wedding, look no further! Reverend Samora Smith is hands down your best choice. My wife and I were in desperate need of an officiant when our original choice canceled. Reverend Samora came to our home to meet with us. Her energy, spirit, and genuinely sweet personality shown through. Our wedding was a monumental success in part to Reverend Samora's ceremony. We have made a true friend. Kind, Caring and thoughtful Reverend Samora is unmatched.
Samantha Sent on 10/08/2019
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Wonderful from initial contact!
From the moment I connected with Samora she made the whole process of planning a wedding in New York all the way from England a complete dream. She was so helpful and was quick to respond. On top of this she is so warm and lovely! We had the most wonderful day and this was in great part due to Samora.
Ced A. Sent on 10/08/2019
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Inoubliable
Un magnifique moment passé avec une personne formidable. N'hésitez pas à la rencontrer !
Gabriel Sent on 10/08/2019
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Best ever!
Happy with her professionalism and class. Highly recommend.
Sarah Sent on 10/08/2019
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Beautiful, personal, funny and loving
Rev Samora was just what we were looking for. She found a way to make our ceremony incredibly intimate and personal whilst keeping it light hearted and funny allowing all our friends and family to be and feel a part of our moment. Couldn't have asked for a better ceremony or delivery of it. We would highly recommend her.
Aeighra Sent on 09/27/2019
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Just Perfect!
Having Rev. Samora officiate our wedding made everything just perfect. She was very sensitive, very responsive, engaging and ensures she caters to your preference, set budget and needs. As ours was a private wedding, she respected our choice and looked after us, as well as our guests, very well. We are extremely grateful as she made everything convenient for us: arranging our wedding venue, offered choices for reception, hired a photographer and violinist for us. We love her so much and we cant imagine anyone else marrying us. She was exceptional and we highly recommend her. It was lovely meeting her daughter too in the wedding. xx A&A
Clarice Sent on 09/23/2019
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Incredible Officiant creating perfect romantic ceremonies and vows
Rev. Samora helped us put together the most romantic ceremony and vows (according to several of our attendees as well). She was flexible and considerate, and followed up with us even when we had a bit of e-mail trouble. Her process was clear, helpful, and was wonderful for us reliving how our romance came about. Highly recommended.
Kelly Sent on 09/12/2019
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Our own real life angel!
We could not have been more honoured or privileged to have Rev Samora officiate our marriage. She made the whole experience seamless and she absorbed every last minute request we had and made our ceremony perfect.
We had an elopement Ceremony and when we met totally put us individually at ease.
We had lots of previous correspondence, but no actual meeting until the day. When we met it was like we were old friends, she put us at ease that much.
Our special day was made even more amazing by Rev Samora, it could not have been more perfect.
I look at my wedding ring and have an overwhelming feeling of love and gratefulness for my now husband. I can not imagine one second of my life without him. He is my love, my family and as per our vows ..... my home.
Rev Samora made this a reality, and with her additional very touching, beautiful words, made this not only extra special, but extremely heartfelt.
A huge Thank you to Rev Samora for this, please don’t stop what you do, you keep it real for everyone of us ... you are amazing!
Rev Samora will have a special place in our special day and a special place in our hearts.
We will always have huge love, gratitude and amazing memories of Rev Samora and our special day .....
Thank You x
Lesley Sent on 09/07/2019
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Intimate and personalized ceremony
Rev Samora gave us a ceremony that was all about us and fit who we are as people so well! The ceremony was intimate and personalized. She struck the perfect tone of being descriptive, commanding, and adding a touch of humor.
Also her non-verbal cues during the ceremony made us very comfortable and put us at ease the whole time. She would glance at us and use her body language very well during key times.
Leading up to the ceremony she made herself available to meet us at coffee shop, speak on the phone, and communicate over email including sending us a ceremony draft to review. My husband and I would strongly recommend Rev Samora!
Alana Sent on 09/07/2019
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Wonderful and amazing
I would like to thank Rev samora for doing such an amazing job at my wedding. She was on time and did an amazing wonderful job st the ceremony. I recommend her 100%
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you, Alana!! I am so honored to have been a part of your special day. Wishing you all the happiness in your marriage.
Gabriel Sent on 08/27/2019
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Amazing afficiant
Rev. Samora is one of a kind!!
We met her at a wedding fair and hired her to be the officiant for our wedding in May/2019. We can hardly put everything in words:
Her speeches, her voice tone, the way she made the ceremony so flowy and catchy, her effort, the perfect coordination with every detail we had in mind for our day, everything was just perfect.
Most of our guests kept asking for how long had we met her for, since everybody thought we were close friends. Not to mention how she made absolute everyone there (grooms included) bawl out!!
She is amazing and would recommend her for anyone looking for authenticity and warmth during the ceremony.
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Edgar Sent on 07/18/2019
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Perfect amazing experience.
Choosing Rev Samora to officiate our wedding was one of the greatest decision we made, Rev Samora had patience to wait for our family to get together, the delivery of our ceremony was magical. It was an amazing experience having Rev Samora to be there for us.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
It was such a wonderful experience for me to share in that moment with you! Thank you for the generous words!
Erik Sent on 05/30/2019
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Would definitely recommend!!
Rev. Samora took the time to meet with my wife and I to truly understand what we were looking for out of our ceremony. She made herself available for questions both before and after the wedding as well. I would recommend to anyone looking to get married in the area.
Matthew Sent on 05/28/2019
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Rev Samora was fantastic
My wife and I are so happy Rev Samora was part of our ceremony. She was incredibly professional and polished. More importantly, she conducted a fantastic ceremony that was both humorous and heartwarming. We're fortunate to have been able to include Samora as part of our wedding and highly recommend her
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
Thank you!! Congratulations again on your new chapter as husband and wife and on Emily becoming a doctor!! Please keep in touch. Warmly, Rev. Samora
Nicole Sent on 10/29/2018
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Book Her Now!
Reverend Samora was an absolute dream to work with! I hired her a little more than a month before our wedding and she was super accommodating. With just a quick phone call and a short questionnaire, she totally understood my husband and I and what we wanted out of our ceremony. She ensured our ceremony was brief, but long enough to truly impact our guests with her script she formatted just for us. If you are looking for a professional, flexible, and charismatic officiant than you must book Reverend Samora Smith.
Cherina Sent on 10/28/2018
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Thank You Rev. Samora
Deciding on Rev Samora to officiate our wedding was an amazing decision! My wife and I became familiar Rev Samora after she officiated a friend’s wedding a few years prior. She was so great that we knew we had to have her at ours. Rev Samora was so thorough and made the process a breeze. She communicated with us via phone, email, and in person to get to know us, our style of ceremony, what’s important to us and so on. She made sure to include every detail into our ceremony that we discussed. Reading the words prior to the big day didn’t do it justice. When hearing Rev Samora deliver those words, we were in tears and many of our guests were as well. In fact our family and friends raved about her for several days after the wedding. We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant. Thank you Rev Samora for all that you did and making our wedding day very special!
Neal Sent on 10/13/2018
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Reverend Samora performed a beautiful ceremony at our wedding. She captured exactly the sentiment we were looking for. She was very helpful in guiding us through the process and was very responsive to our questions. We received many compliments from our guests on the ceremony and vows she put together. HIGHLY recommend her!
Stacia Sent on 10/08/2018
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Samora was amazing. We came to her based on referral and she completely exceeded my expectations in officiating our wedding. We wanted something intimate and simple but very special. Because our ceremony was so small it put a lot of pressure on the officiating to be right because it was going to be such a big part of our memories. Samora met with us, listened to us, asked the right questions, and created the perfect ceremony. What an amazing woman! I would recommend her to my closest friends and family!
Vicky Sent on 10/03/2018
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We arranged our elopement wedding in Central Park, NYC from the UK. Researching for an officiant we came across Common Ground Ceremonies, after watching the video clips and looking through reviews and photos it confirmed to us how much we wanted Reverend Samora to perform the ceremony on our special day. We were very impressed with the draft script we were sent and have to say that our day would not have been as amazing as it was without Reverend Samora! The ceremony itself was very personal, Reverend Samora reading with real emotion and feeling.
I would highly recommend Common Ground Ceremonies and Reverend Samora when looking for an officiant, such a lovely, compassionate person.
Thank you for such a beautiful smooth ceremony!
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Christopher Sent on 09/29/2018
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Would highly recommend rev Samora we found her to very easy to deal with and the service was out of this world made our day very easy and was there every step of the way with a smile
Elena Sent on 09/23/2018
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Reverend Samora was born to do this! Any couple would incredibly lucky to have her as their wedding officiant!
Vanessa Sent on 07/10/2018
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Willing to meet us first before setting up our ceremony to fit what we wanted. Spoke clearly, preplanned service and arrived early for the event. Absolutely worth the price and made me feel so comfortable around. Will love to hire again for another relative in near future.
Karyn Sent on 05/20/2018
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We knew from the moment we met Rev. Samora she was the absolute perfect choice to officiate our wedding.
I can go on and on about her, but bottom line - she's outstanding!!! If you're looking for an officiant who can put together the most beautiful ceremony and do it exactly the way you want it... she is your answer. Rev. Samora is clear, concise and so well spoken. She takes time to get to know you and know your story. Our guests RAVED about our ceremony because Rev. Samora made it romantic, fun and interesting. Exactly how we envisioned it would be!
Anna Sent on 05/07/2018
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Samora was great! She was very flexible (which is necessary for a stressed out bride) and made our day very special. She gave suggestions for my location, recommendations and in the end our ceremony was exactly what I wanted. Samora collected information about us and the vows were well said/very personal!
Melissa Sent on 04/12/2018
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We just had our wedding on Saturday. We met with Rev.Samora in November and discussed what we had envisioned for our wedding. We were at ease with the wedding planning process as soon as we sat down with Rev.Samora because we knew that by workkng with her we would have the exact wedding ceremony we had dreamed of. Rev.Samora also put us into contact with a harpist which was the perfect added detail to our ceremony. Coming from an interracial background, I wanted that to be reflected in our ceremony. We were able to have a beautifully written ceremony, that incorporated our families interaction into our vows as we stood under a chuppah and that concluded with breaking glass and jumping the broom.
Crystal Sent on 04/07/2018
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Samora couldn't officiate our wedding because of a family emergency but had a replacement, Daniela VillaRamos. Samora rest assure that Daniela would take care of us. Daniela absolutely did! She was so sweet and had great energy. We were so happy with Daniela! She definitely tailored the ceremony to reflect my husband and I.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
I am so grateful to Daniela for delivering an amazing services on my behalf. Many couples worry about these scenarios happening on their special day and sometimes we can't plan for these types of emergencies. I feel so relieved to have such amazing colleagues. Congratulations!!
Rhiannon Sent on 03/02/2018
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Rev Samora performed a perfect ceremony for us. We talked with her a lot about our all-inclusive attitudes towards religion/faith, and she completely got our vibe. She wrote a beautiful ceremony that centered on love and the unification of our families. I loved every part of it. She's incredible to work with and I can't recommend her highly enough!
Lorelei Sent on 02/28/2018
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Reverend Samora was fantastic to work with! She was awesome about going over our ceremony and giving helpful feedback about what would work and what wouldn't. She had amazing energy at our event and when there were glitches in sound/equipment/the room, etc. she just ran with it and made it all work. We'd both highly recommend working with her on your special day.
Leslie Sent on 01/31/2018
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A wedding in itself is a stressful event however the care and compassion demonstrated by Rev Samora before and during the event helped to allay our fears and anxiety. Rev Samora was thorough in her preparation, she drew upon her experience and provided suggestions, there were appropriate and practical tips offered which helped in our decision making process and most importantly, she demonstrated a willingness to tailor the event to suit our needs. We certainly would recommend her as an Officiating Minister for a wedding.
Erin Sent on 01/13/2018
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We loved using Samora at our wedding. She was the punctual, easy to work with, hard working and very helpful! She did our ceremony at The Garrison and I would highly recommend Samora.
John Sent on 01/10/2018
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What kind of people hold an outdoor wedding, at Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, in January, in 15 degree weather?! That would be us.
It's not as if we especially crave frigid weather. But what we did want was a very short service, held in a beautiful setting in Manhattan, during the first week of January with all the promise of fresh starts that the new year brings. And Rev. Samora was a total trouper!
We met with her two months prior, and she was wonderful; smart, good-natured, welcoming and calming. As a gay couple, we loved her "love is love" attitude when it comes to officiating a same-sex wedding. And we also appreciated her ability to craft a beautiful service that met our needs exactly. Several of our guests complimented her to us, which underscored that she was the perfect choice.
We join so many others in recommending Rev. Samora highly.
Sarah Sent on 12/27/2017
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We used Common Ground Ceremonies for our 5 year anniversary together and then our big wedding for the family in 2016. My husband and I are very laid back, lapsed Jew, lapsed Catholic, so we wanted our ceremony to be more about life than faith. Samora worked with us for months and we built a great relationship with her. I am ironically uncomfortable with weddings... and yet I honestly would love to get married to Neil again and have Samora be there. Of course that cannot happen unless we both get amicably divorced so we will probably just see her for our 10 year anniversary together (lol). Our ceremony was full of laughs, happy tears, and surprises. We surprised my husband, who never gets surprised. She is epic. If you want your ceremony to be full of life and joy, choose her.
Fatima Sent on 10/31/2017
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Out of everyone I messaged, Samora was the one who responded right away. Setting up a meeting location and date was very simple and she worked very well around our schedule. She was very easy to talk to and had a lot of great ideas and input. She also was very open to our ideas and incorporated them into our ceremony. She even traveled to the location that we picked in the snow and bared the cold snowy weather with us for the ceremony. I highly recommend her to everyone!!! She is awesome!!
Jessica Sent on 10/31/2017
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We were absolutely satisfied by our choice in working with Rev. Samora as our officiant. She is an expert at crafting ceremonies that are tailored to the details that are important to the couple. No matter what your beliefs are, she will create a beautiful ceremony for you that speaks to what you and your partner cherish in your relationship. She is an expert at navigating the stresses of the day including backup rain plans. We have no reservations in thinking that she would be wonderful working with a wedding of any size. Our guests were tearing up as they told us how beautiful the ceremony was. We wrote our own vows and Rev. Samora helped us feel prepared to say them with her writing process. With all of the stresses of the wedding planning, we have to say that working with Rev. Samora grounded us. Working on our ceremony brought us back to the real reasons why we were looking forward to our wedding day and marriage- beyond the details of color schemes and linens. We highly recommend working with her!
Debbie Sent on 10/20/2017
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Samora put our minds at ease, especially as we were traveling from the UK. She answered all the questions raised to ensure our day would be as special as we wanted it to be.
Fantastic day for us and stunned family and friends upon our return to learn that we had married in Central Park
Jay Sent on 10/16/2017
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We cared a great deal about all the details of our wedding, but nothing weighed more in importance than the ceremony . We wanted the ceremony to be the highlight of our celebration. And Rev. Samora went above and beyond in delivering that. She crafted everything from scratch. She captured the important nuances of our story (and our story is complex, but she did it beautifully!). She was able to bring our families and cultures together, and her words spoke directly to us but also to our very diverse group of guests. It was personal to us (e.g. she remembered that I once said I liked the poet Rumi and she added a beautiful verse from his work) and yet timeless. We had a number of friends and family members commend the ceremony and say it's the best officiating they've heard. Above all, we couldn't say enough about how kind and patient and calm she is, just the right type of person to trust on such a big day.
Jon Sent on 10/03/2017
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When my partner and I were looking for an officiant for our wedding, Google lead us right to Rev. Samora. I checked the reviews. They were great. I looked for negative reviews and I found none. We set up an appointment to meet Rev. Samora. My partner and I felt an immediate spiritual connection. She asked personal questions to ensure she captured “US”. She suggested several things to incorporate into the ceremony to make it uniquely ours.
On May 12th, 2017, Rev. Samora performed our ceremony. Everyone loved her and thought we were long times friends. She not only described each of us as if she had known us for years, she also shared our story with our guests and spoke from the heart. Rev. Samora was the perfect officiant for our special unique ceremony.
Scott Sent on 10/03/2017
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Love Rev Samora! She performed a vow renewal ceremony for my wife and me in Central Park, which was a total surprise for my wife. Rev. Samora followed through on everything I asked for and more. Wonderful event and we are so thrilled to have had Rev Samora perform our ceremony! She will forever be in our hearts!
Lauren Sent on 10/03/2017
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We got married one week ago and are still on Cloud 9. Reverend Samora helped make our day so unbelievably special and memorable. If you are looking for an officiant, Reverend Samora is the best around-- the compliments we received after our ceremony were numerous, people "felt her love," they could tell "that she was deeply spiritual" and someone even said that it was "the most powerful service" they have witnessed. These are not common comments about a wedding officiant and these are a true testament to how special she is-- kind, caring, calm, experienced, and overall wonderful. We felt extremely lucky to have her with us on our special day.
Brian Sent on 10/03/2017
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With all the flurry of preparation for our wedding, it seemed like the "emotion of it all" can sometimes be placed in the background! Rev. Samora brought my wife and I right back to the "moment." I remember standing in front of everyone and seeing my beautiful wife slowly walking towards me and thinking, "this is it!" and then Rev. Samora started to speak beautiful, heartfelt words that put us both in tears of happiness and we felt such appreciation for each other. It was just beautiful!
Nicole Sent on 09/25/2017
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My wife and I found Samora on the Knot. We loved her video and how she expressed herself. We knew she would be a match for us and immediately scheduled a meeting. From the moment we sat down with her, we could see her sweet personality. We chatted a bit and she made us feel comfortable. Conversation came easy with her because of her warm and open spirit. We asked her to work with us on the spot.
In order to better know us and our history, she sent each of us a questionnaire to fill out without seeing each others answers. In a couple days, Samora sent us a beautifully written ceremony for our review. She offered to edit it but it was so beautiful and perfectly written that we left it as is. She really captured the true essence of our story, quirks and emotions. We teared when we first read it and every time we see our video.
The day of our wedding, she arrived early, ready and looking professional. She delivered a beautiful ceremony that brought us and our guest to tears. Her timing was perfect, not too long, not too short. We were beyond happy with Samora and are so glad we found her. Now that all is past, we don’t know we could have had a more perfect ceremony. She definitely set the tone for our meaningful day.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
I am honored to have met you and that you asked me to be part of such an incredible moment in your journey! Thank you again for choosing me!
Sandro Sent on 09/16/2017
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My newly wedded husband and I are very much a look, feel and gut instinct type of people and our decision in choosing a celebrant was based on that. Rev. Samora from first online impressions was one of warmth, welcoming and love, finally we met in NY a few days before our wedding and our instinct were right, those qualities followed through in the initial meeting but also on the day as she guided us over the threshold of our union of love to one another.
We feel that she is very personable, and open to embracing each couples uniqueness regardless of their beliefs. We would recommend her for anyone, whether religious or not, to be involved and play a part in the most special day of a couples lives together!! She truly is amazing, kind hearted, open minded and someone that will always be special to us.
Sandro and Beau Sertorio
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
I am honored to have played a part in walking you across that threshold. Your love transcends all barriers and always hold it close to your hearts. You have blessed me!
Lisa Sent on 07/27/2017
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From the moment, I spoke with Reverend Samora on the phone I told my fiancé I had a good feeling! I loved her story and background! I knew immediately she would be a good fit and perfect for our circumstances.
So much warmth and positive energy! Reverend Samora was especially helpful with a pre-marital counseling session
that we did a few months before our wedding and gave us guidance that was important and so needed during a stressful time during our engagement. The questionnaire /assignment we had to do for her really enabled us to reflect on our relationship and she was able to craft a ceremony that was so perfect, heartfelt, warm and engaging! All our guests commented on how wonderful and personal the ceremony was. The wedding day goes by so fast but of all the parts I remember it was the ceremony and all the love we felt on that day! We highly recommend!
Thank you Rev. Samora for marrying us and sharing in our special day!
Blessings!
Lisa & Lloyd
Liza Sent on 07/22/2017
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Rev Samora made our wedding perfect! My wife and I were married by her on 12/08/2014 in the Flat Iron building. We're not religious and we're lesbians, so we had wishes that were a touch unusual, and she was fantastic! She made our wedding very meaningful. Highly recommended!!
Gilsang Sent on 07/22/2017
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Rev. Samora was very personable and helped my wife and me feel comfortable and relaxed on our happy but at the same time possibly nervous wedding day. Her script was well-written and her voice was well-articulated, helping everyone present understand what was going on even though it was an outdoor wedding. I highly recommend Rev. Samora to future brides and grooms.
Rev. Dr. Samora-Common Ground Ceremonies's reply:
It was so wonderful to celebrate with you!! Thank you for the review and I wish you both a loving, happy and prosperous life together
Arlene Sent on 07/11/2017
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We hired rev. Samora to marry us in the cop cot in central park. Her services were impeccable , she offered great tips and even got us a musician to play a few songs of choice. Made our day even more special. She was very easy to work with and professional. Highly recommend to anyone near or far.
Carrie Sent on 06/14/2017
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Reverend Samora was an absolute joy to work with. From the moment we met with her we knew that we wanted her to marry us. She got to know us and from our interactions wrote an absolutely beautiful script for the ceremony.
We're so happy that we found her and that she married us. Her words were beautiful and she guided us through the process with such care and love.
Maureen Sent on 05/26/2017
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We'd definitely recommend Rev Samora, she officiated at our ceremony in May. She was relaxed and friendly plus she'd tailored our ceremony to perfectly suit our requirements!
Laura Sent on 03/10/2017
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I cannot begin to say enough wonderful things about! We only spoke a few times prior to our service and it could not have been better!! She truly has a gift and made our ceremony better than we could have imagined!
Brian Sent on 01/05/2017
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Rev. Samora was FANTASTIC! My wife and I reached out to her just weeks before our big day and she couldn't have been more accommodating with our Central Park ceremony. Rev. Samora created a beautiful personalized ceremony and provided suggestions throughout the entire process. She's responsive, reliable and will go the extra mile to mitigate any stress that comes with such an important day. We highly recommend her as your Officiant, you won't regret it!
Andrea Sent on 12/07/2016
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Reverend Samora Smith was the perfect fit for my husband and I. She did both our elopement ceremony in Central Park & our big wedding ceremony in North Bergen, NJ. I love that she wanted to sit down and talk with us after we spoke over the phone about what we were looking for. We got to know her and she got to know us. It was amazing that Rev. Samora did both ceremonies but each were so different in their own ways. She added personal touches to each one that made them breathtaking and memeorable. We appreciate her amazing work and loved having her marry us twice :)
-Mr. & Mrs. Jackson
Patrick Sent on 10/31/2016
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We had a surprise wedding, so Rev.Samora had to blend into our "going away" party and even handle the difficult, "how do you know them,' questions easily, until it was time for her to step forward and marry us. It was a pleasure working with her and getting her guidance on writing our vows. Her approach and lovely words added such a special touch to a wonderful night, I couldn't recommend Rev. Samora more highly!
Caroline Sent on 10/28/2016
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Rev. Samora was our officiant for our April 7th, 2016 wedding and our very small and personal ceremony was absolutely perfect! Samora was super professional and easy to work with. She was the utmost perfect fit for our short, sweet, and light hearted ceremony in Central Park. I would highly recommend Rev. Samora and Common Ground Ceremonies 100 times over!
Moeisha Sent on 10/28/2016
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Moeisha & Jason/May 23, 2016
We were recently married in May 2016 and could not have asked for a better ceremony! It all started with our decision to employ Rev. Samora Smith on behalf of “Common Ground Ceremonies” as our officiant and day-of coordinator. From our first meeting, we were easily swayed by her warm demeanor, attention to detail and genuine interest in getting to know us. Her involvement was consistent throughout the entire planning process. She helped us merge our existing ideas and non-ideas and was able to utilize our unique input to customize our ideal ceremony. She accomplished this by listening to our story and sharing our vision. She is well-versed with the NYC landscape and made several suggestions during our planning. She has great knowledge of potential ceremony locations, reception venues, hotels for out-of-town guests and even transportation. We were so pleased after surveying several locations when Samora recommended and helped us finalize the perfect spot in Central Park for our ceremony. (The Cop Cot, which we highly recommend to anyone planning a Spring/Summer wedding in the park). Samora also arranged and booked a musician to play live guitar during our ceremony. Beyond that, she even advised us to have a back-up location on stand-by just in case of bad weather. Thankfully, the day was beautiful but it was just one more thing that gave us peace of mind on our big day. The list goes on and on… She was always on time, very organized, always brought a great attitude and always had answers (or suggestions) when we had concerns. These are some of the measurable attributes, but we were more impressed with the intangibles she brought forth. The ownership and pride she took in overseeing our special ceremony is what truly set her apart from the rest. Our big day was truly AMAZING to say the least thanks to Samora. We highly recommend “Common Ground Ceremonies” to take your wedding celebration to the next level!
