leslie ann johnson
612.382.2960
leslie@positivelycharmed.com
Positively Charmed Custom Wedding Ceremonies
creating , orchestrating & officiating amazing marriage ceremonies &COORDINATION OF MICRO WEDDINGS
LAURA & TJ AT THE SEMPLE MANSION
KB TOO PHOTOGRAPHY
OUR MISSION IS TO BE A RESPECTED AND CREATIVE RESOURCE OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE SERVICE OF WEDDINGS AND EVENTS
IN MINNEAPOLIS, ST, PAUL AND THE GREATER METRO AREA OF MINNESOTA...AND WISCONSIN TOO!
WE ARE WEDDING OFFICIANTS FOR NON DENOMINATIONAL, HUMANIST, NON RELIGIOUS,
SPIRITUAL AND INTERFAITH CUSTOM WRITTEN MARRIAGE CEREMONIES
INCLUDING REHEARSAL AND WEDDING DAY ORCHESTRATION OF EVENTS
OUR SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE WEDDING AND EVENT DECOR & FLORAL:
A BOUTIQUE WEDDING DESIGN AND WEDDING DECOR RENTAL SERVICE
more about custom ceremonies
& yOUR WEDDING DAY!
The perfect wedding ceremony which symbolizes your love
is the beginning of a great celebration,
it marks the sacred and beautiful passage into a new phase of life
"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 their solitude, and thus they show each other the greatest possible trust..."
— Rainer Maria Rilke, “Letters to a Young Poet”
laura & sheldon at Gale mansion
melissa oholendt photography
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.
Your family background may be of a particular religious denomination,
but you, as individuals may have not followed within the footsteps of their your tradition.
Often, your families may be of differing faiths. Perhaps you have a desire to put at ease
those loved ones who would prefer that there be some traditional elements involved in your ceremony.
How can the two of you, as a couple who are about to commit to marriage within a ceremony, express your love in a way that honors your own spiritual, agnostic, or humanist beliefs, find a way to respect the beliefs of those present, while remaining true to yourselves?
My own theological perspective and spiritual beliefs are perfectly suited to meet this need in a personable and professional manner. My theological outlook and spiritual expression is built upon a foundation of comparative theology, an understanding of world religions, and an open minded progressive sense of expression regarding spirituality. My background in studies includes the wisdom and insight of such scholars and philosophers as Joseph Campbell, William James, and Carl Jung.
I use my gift of award winning creative and metaphorical writing to express the unique qualities of your story which I become familiar with in our meetings. Your story and outlook, in combination with careful selections from a powerful collection of readings and poetry, and the music you select, creates the ceremony that is unique to the two of you.
My work invites me to take part in creating the celebration and honoring the love that two people have had the grace to discover, and the commitment to nurture.
trista and mike at woods chapel
with their ring bearers kouza & monokai!
Jenny bedard photography
wedding officiant leslie ann johnson
graduate of United Theological Seminary in minnesota, m.a. in Religion & Theology
a spiritual humanist with an emphasis in comparative theology
credentials licensed in the State of Minnesota & Wisconsin
A large part of my interest in attending a deeply ecumenical seminary was my desire to create bridges between faith communities. I am especially interested in validating the language of life and love, in ceremonial terms, for those who choose to celebrate that spirit
outside of a defined faith...
One of the simplest but perhaps most profound discoveries that I made at seminary is that the greatest common denominator between most religions...as well as non religious but spiritual disciplines, is this: that the truest language of Spirit...is found in the language of Love. As an experienced Wedding Officiant I know that there are so many beautifully varied expressions of this language. For some people there are tangible metaphors found in the power of nature and the universe that encompasses life, for others it lies within the relationships which surround them, some may speak in a humanist way, and others in a more spiritual manner,but all speak to the power of that which is celebrated in their love for one another...and for some who are fortunate...their wish to be married.
Jennifer & Lawrence's sisters help them tie the knot!
at como conservatory
patrick photography
The Sacred Act & Art of Marriage is an age old tradition and is open
to as many creative interpretations as there are cultures on Earth!
On your wedding day the power and grace of that sacred 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 create that celebration?
This is why I feel blessed by a joyful and creative vocation as an officiant to give voice to that desire to express and celebrate. I am here as a highly experienced and deeply thoughtful Wedding Officiant, to provide the language and form of your marriage celebration.
We will begin with our first meeting! Sharing in the experience of how you met and the path you have traveled to this point in time will guide us in the process of telling your story, sharing your hopes and dreams, discovering what holds together the love that you have discovered in one another and has made you ready to journey forward into marriage!
The two of you will be invited to peruse a carefully gathered collection of poetry & prose...
examples of vows, a fabulous selection of readings, spiritual blessings, and meaningful admonitions from which you might choose, and we can reflect upon for meaning in your ceremony.
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 music and welcoming and 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 your story that create substance and content, and what sort of style and tone best express your feelings about love, commitment, and marriage on your wedding day.
Whether you want to be In the Woods, in a Classic Mansion, on the Shore of your Favorite Lake or River, in a Museum, Library, Gallery, City Park, or in Your Own Backyard...
I am Here to Assist You in Creating a Day that is Delightful, Loving, and Memorable!
BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN ONE OF A KIND CUSTOM Wedding ceremony SCRIPTS
Together in our meetings we will discover what language, music, and overall tone feels right for the two of you. The story of your relationship and the meaningful details and metaphors of your life together will be woven into 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
"As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my heart to keep."
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. I will share with you the experience that I have gathered over more than a decade of working with couples who wish to create and share a unique ceremony to celebrate their love and step forward into marriage.