Greetings & Congratulations!
Marriage & Commitment Ceremonies
Reverend Leslie Ann Johnson, M.A. Religion & Theology, Minnesota & Wisconsin Licensed Non-denominational Officiant
YOUR WEDDING DAY
The perfect wedding ceremony which symbolizes your love
is the beginning of a great celebration,
it marks a new phase of life that you will continue to create together for years to come.
— Rainer Maria Rilke, “Letters to a Young Poet”
"The point of marriage is not to create a quick commonality by tearing down all boundaries; on the contrary, a good marriage is one in which each partner appoints the other to be the guardian of his solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust. A merging of two people is an impossibility, and where it seems to exist, it is a hemming-in, a mutual consent that robs one party or both parties of their fullest freedom and development. But once the realization is accepted that even between the closest people infinite distances exist, a marvelous living side-by-side can grow up for them, if they succeed in loving the expanse between them, which gives them the possibility of always seeing each other as a whole and before an immense sky."
A Theological & Spiritual Perspective on Non-Denominational or Non-Religious Ceremonies
Most of the couples that I work with do not belong to a religious congregation.
Sometimes their family background may be of a particular religious denomination, but they, as individuals may have not followed within the footsteps of their family tradition. Often the two families of the couple are of differing faiths. There may be a desire on the behalf of the engaged couple about how to put at ease those loved ones who would prefer that there be some scriptural elements involved in their ceremony. How will they express their love in a way that honors the spiritual beliefs of those present and still remain true to themselves?
My own theological perspective and spiritual beliefs are suited to meet this need in a personable and professional level. I am allowed to use creative and metaphorical writing, in combination with careful selections which are gathered into a powerful collection of readings and poetry. My work invites me to take part in the celebration and honoring of a love that two people have had the grace to discover, and the commitment to nurture. I decided to take on this role in a professional capacity and recorded my credentials with the State of Minnesota in 2004, this legalized the unions I witnessed. I began attending United Theological Seminary in 2007 and graduated with a Masters Degree in Religion & Theology, with honors, in 2010. A large part of my interest in attending an ecumenical seminary was my desire to create bridges between faith communities.
One of the loveliest discoveries that I made at United Theological Seminary is that the most common denominator between religious denominations and non religious but spiritual disciplines, is that the truest language of Spirit is the language of Love. There are many expressions of this language. For many people there are tangible metaphors found in nature, or in the relationships which surround them, which speak in a humanist way, or spiritual manner, to the power of that which is celebrated in their love for one another...and their wish to be married.
The sacrament of marriage is an age old tradition and is open to many creative interpretations.
On a wedding day the power and grace of that love is in full bloom,
and any place that is set aside to create a marriage becomes a sacred space where that love is celebrated.
So the question remains, how do you celebrate it?
This is a joyful and creative vocation, to give voice to that celebration.
I am here, as an experienced Officiant, to provide the language and form of your celebration.
We will begin with a carefully gathered collection of poetry & prose...
vows, readings, blessings, admonitions and scriptural elements from which you may choose.
You may be as involved as much or as little as you would like to be in the creation of your marriage ceremony.
Selections of ceremonial elements, such as readings, will form an initial outline; the beginning material of a very personalized wedding script.
In our meetings together we will learn what you feel are the most important elements of content and style
which best express your feelings about love, commitment, and marriage on your wedding day.
MN Wedding Officiant Minnesota Wedding Celebrant
We will discover what language, music, and overall tone feels right for the two of you.
Then the story of your relationship and the meaningful details and metaphors of your life together will be woven together in
in a personal and poetic expression of love...which will be shared with your community in your marriage ceremony.
I specialize in writing original wedding ceremony language
that is unique, sweetly personal, and deeply meaningful.
YOUR ORIGINAL WEDDING VOWS
There are so many ways to express commitment and love to each other.
There are traditional elements that may be drawn upon, or you may decide to have the simplest of words.
I am happy to meet with you to discuss, and discover, how you envision your ceremony.
YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY SITE SELECTION
Whether you want to be in the woods, in a classic mansion,
on the water, in a museum, in your backyard, or on the North Shore,
I am here to assist you in creating a day that is delightful, loving, and memorable.
The fee for Ceremony Services is $425
This all inclusive fee includes:
All of Our Meetings
Perfectly Detailed Preparation for your Ceremony
A Comprehensive Collection of Readings, Blessings & Vows
A Carefully Crafted Customized Ceremony Script
A Beautifully Printed Copy of Your Personalized Language
Full Direction at Your Rehearsal
& Filing of Your Marriage License
Then...of course, there is the Joy & Excitement of
Your Wedding Day!
I will be there to Professionally Orchestrate all the Details.
Let me bring Calm, Comfort, Intimacy
& Joy to Your Lifetime Event!
CIVIL SERVICES
&
SIMPLE CEREMONY REQUESTS
I do offer a Civil Ceremony Level of MN Wedding Officiant Services.
If you are interested in the simplest form of ceremony
and do not wish to have custom written vows,
personal meetings, or rehearsal,
please contact me to discuss this option.
