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Seasoned Professional
Officiant
Great Planner

About

On WeddingWire since 2011

Illuminating Ceremonies is my company name: I am a professional wedding officiant based in New York City. I'd like to be the most accessible vendor for you to work with. For every wedding I'm lucky enough to officiate, I create more personal, enjoyable, funny, meaningful, and celebratory ceremonies than most guests have ever seen.

I'm a Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant. I can legalize marriages all around the country. I'm the author of Best. Ceremony. Ever (The Countryman Press/WW Norton). I'm a member of the NY chapter of the National Speakers Association. I have spoken at industry conferences, including Wedding MBA in Las Vegas, WedProCon in Cincinnati, and Midwest DJs Live in Milwaukee.

For four years in a row, I appeared on 'The Rachael Ray Show' on Valentine's Day, officiating ceremonies in front of a massive national audience. In April 2014, I appeared on Joan Rivers' reality show, Joan Knows Best, attending a memorial service for her dog Max. Not many people can say that and have it be true.

Please note: if you reach out to me (and I am asking this on behalf of ALL wedding vendors), PLEASE let me know where and at what time your wedding will take place; thank you!!!

Frequently asked questions

What is the typical price for your wedding services?

$900

What is the starting price for your wedding services?

$800

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$200

What is the starting price for pre-marital counseling (per session)?

$500

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

Non-religious
Interfaith
Ceremony Rehearsal
Vow Renewal
Civil Union

What services do you provide?

Premarital Counseling

What religious affiliations do you serve?

Agnostic
Buddhist
Catholic
No Denomination
Pagan
Taoist

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

AZ
CO
DC
KY
NJ
NY
OH

What languages do you speak?

French
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Message vendor
5.0 out of 5 rating
103 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
99% Recommended by couples
Elina
Elina Sent on 02/21/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing officiant and speaker

Chris officiated our 1/20/24 wedding. He did a fantastic job, people laughed, people cried, and everyone asked about him afterwards. He came highly recommended on just about every website we found him on, and for good reason! His process is great, he's asks the right questions and wants feedback along the way. He wanted to make sure our ceremony had the vibe we wanted. He was punctual and was flexible with the plan, making sure everyone knew what they were doing. Would highly recommend his services.
R
Rebecca Sent on 11/22/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Best wedding ceremony we could imagine!

We are so incredibly lucky that we came across Chris in our search for an officiant. Our ceremony was the highlight of our wedding and so special due to Chris’s creativity and inventive way of approaching ceremonies! He’s a beautiful writer that both wrote and narrated our love story for our guests. The ceremony was a perfect balance of laughter and more sentimental moments. So many of our guests remarked that our ceremony was one of the best ones they have ever been to and my husband and I can attest to that because it was hands down our favorite part of our wedding! We also had the opportunity to speak with Chris and meet him in person before the wedding. He was very open to the ideas and vision we had for the ceremony that were important to us. Chris has changed the game for how wedding ceremonies can be imagined and we couldn’t speak more highly of our experience!!
Tara
Tara Sent on 11/01/2023
5 out of 5 rating

100% The Best Officiant

I am SO thankful we had Chris as our wedding officiant. He was incredibly kind, professional, and effectively communicated with us during the entire process. Even our guests were telling us how incredible our ceremony was and it was all thanks to Chris for making it perfect. Everything ran smoothly and I highly recommend him. If you want the best for your day, hire him!
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Awards

103
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner

Real Weddings

Betsy & Mike
88 photos · 09/15/2017

Pricing

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Professional Network & Endorsements

8 Endorsements
Valerie Coleman, Wedding Officiant and Celebrant Valerie Coleman, Wedding Officiant and Celebrant Wedding Officiants

Christopher is an excellent officiant! He brings his charming, joyful personality to his work and it's evident he gives 100% to every client. There is no such thing as a boring or dry wedding when Christopher is the Officiant!

Colleen Good Ceremonies Colleen Good Ceremonies Wedding Officiants

Christopher is a suburb choice as an officiant for your wedding. I guarantee that you will have a unique and fun wedding ceremony with his creative and lively touch.

Weddings by Larissa Weddings by Larissa Wedding Officiants

Christopher really is illuminating! He is by far the funniest person I know and there won't be a face in the crowd without a smile on their face when Chris performs a ceremony. He is charming, polite and the best listener I know. He will deliver a ceremony that would surely put a smile on even "Aunty Betty that disapproves of this union" face.... Highly recommend.

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