I Got Featured in CanvasRebel (Here's What I Told Them)

A little news

Flower City Ceremonies just got featured in CanvasRebel Magazine! They asked me about the wildest thing that's happened on the job, the biggest pivot I've made, and what actually grows a small business. It was a fun one to answer, so I'm sharing the highlights here.

Grab a coffee. One of these stories involves a marriage license and a very regretful morning.

Photgraphy credit: Nina Piccini Photography; Location: Revival Rentals

It started with "don't be boring"

Back in 2014, two friends asked me to marry them. Their one requirement? They didn't want a boring officiant. I told them I wasn't boring. They said, "Great, you're hired."

That one ceremony turned into a business I never saw coming. More than 500 ceremonies later, the mission hasn't changed: the ceremony is the whole reason everyone showed up, so it should never be an afterthought.

We don't start with a template and swap in names. We get to know you, learn your story, and write a ceremony that could only belong to you. My favorite compliment? When a guest asks how long I've known the couple.

My background makes a weird kind of sense for this job. I've taught English for 25+ years and have a master's in English and Liberal Studies, so writing and storytelling are my whole thing. Theatre and improv taught me to read a room and roll with surprises. Then I added 175+ hours of professional celebrant training through Celebrant Academy.

Today, Flower City Ceremonies is bigger than just me. Our officiants are writers and performers, because there's an art to finding the moments that matter and saying them in a way that feels real. That's what we mean by The Art of I Do. We also officiate funerals and celebrations of life, where the job looks a lot the same: listen closely, find the story, and give people the right words for a moment that matters.

The wildest story (so far)

I do a lot of elopements at a local conservatory. Picture a historic park, plants from all over the world, and turtles, tortoises, and quail just wandering around. It's magic.

One afternoon I married a couple there with a parent as their witness. Everyone was glowing. The parent was thrilled. I drove home feeling great about these two.

The next morning I woke up to about eight texts and a pile of emails from one of the newlyweds. The message: please don't file the license, it was a mistake.

Here's the thing. Once I perform a ceremony, I'm legally required to file it. So I did.

I still wonder what happened in under twelve hours.

The pivot I almost missed

A few years ago, I noticed more and more couples asking a friend or family member to officiate. My first thought, as an officiant, was basically: well, there goes my job.

Then I watched it happen a few times and saw the gap. These were wonderful people handed a huge responsibility with zero guidance. Write a meaningful ceremony. Figure out the structure. Handle the logistics. Speak confidently in front of a crowd. Know what to do when something goes sideways.

Those are skills I'd spent years building. So instead of seeing the trend as competition, I asked how I could make those ceremonies better.

That's how our friend and family officiant services were born. I can write an original ceremony for your person, coach them on pacing, delivery, and presence, and walk them through the logistics. You get the person you love up front with a pro quietly backing them up.

The lesson? A shift in your industry isn't always a threat. Sometimes it's pointing you to your next opportunity.

What actually grows the business

Short answer: doing work people remember, then letting that reputation snowball.

Weddings run on relationships. Some of my best referrals come from past couples, planners, photographers, and venues who've seen us work up close. Once someone has experienced a ceremony written for the people in front of them, they can spot a template from a mile away.

Reviews matter a ton too. Choosing an officiant is personal. You're trusting someone with the most meaningful part of your day, and hearing from couples who've been there builds a kind of trust ads just can't.

I've put real time into social media, SEO, and networking. Visibility gets people in the door. The experience is what keeps the business growing.

After more than a decade, my strategy really comes down to consistency:

• Show up prepared

• Care about the details

• Treat every ceremony like it matters, because it does

• Make work you're proud to put your name on

Still not routine

Hundreds of ceremonies in, this work still doesn't feel routine. I hope it never does. Every relationship is different, so every ceremony should be too.

You put so much thought into your venue, your music, your flowers, and your food. The words spoken while you actually get married deserve that same intention.

Huge thanks to CanvasRebel for the feature. You can read the full interview here: [ADD CANVASREBEL LINK].

Planning a wedding and want a ceremony that sounds like you? Or want a loved one to officiate with a pro in their corner? Let's talk.