or email us at:
Information@celebrantusa.com

Thank you.

As the National Director of the Celebrant Foundation and Institute, I would be happy to put you in touch with Celebrants in your area that you would like to speak to about your ceremony.

Feel free to email me directly at: Information@celebrantusa.com. I will have the Celebrant(s) contact you at your convenience. In the meantime, enjoy reviewing the Celebrant’s bios and photos posted below.

I am bilingual, so I can perform your ceremony in English or in Spanish.  Whether it be a wedding ceremony, civil union, vow renewals, or an anniversary celebration, I promise to create with you a beautiful ceremony that is just right for you. 

My background in performance, film and writing contribute to a strong sense of dramatic structure; my years of experience in group dreamwork have developed my listening skills and love of the deeply symbolic.

Your feelings, beliefs, traditions and humor provide the material for a rich and significant ceremony; it is a pleasure to create that.

After living in NYC for 26 years, and working as a Producer, I married and moved to New Jersey. Believing our wedding should reflect our uniqueness as a couple, we scripted the entire ceremony so both of our faiths and beliefs were represented. This experience inspired me to become a Celebrant so I could help others create their own very special ceremony.

Dorry Bless realized her commitment to the significance and impact that individual ceremonies offer after a career as an event planner where she organized nationwide corporate medical meetings, produced fundraising galas, as well as coordinated talent for high profile entertainment events. Dorry’s passion to embrace life’s profound moments began in childhood. While growing up, she intuitively created and performed different types of ceremonies in her neighborhood, from burying birds that fell from their nest to marking the change of seasons with ritual.

Dorry lives in New Jersey by the Musconetcong River, with her husband of seventeen years, her ten year old daughter, a Quaker parrot, and a labradoodle. She embraces the privilege to be of service.

My intention is to create an original, touching, and beautiful ceremony – a ceremony that you, as well as your family and friends, will remember forever.

My background is in performance and creative writing, and I am truly passionate about Celebrancy. I've lived all over northern New Jersey, and currently reside in East Rutherford.

As a mother of three grown children, my life experiences have helped me to appreciate and love life’s little nuances. I am easy to work with, pay close attention to detail, and am a good listener and public speaker.

I would be honored to work with you to help create that perfect wedding ceremony that will set the tone for the kind of life that you, as a couple, envision for yourselves.

Valerie believes that everyone should enjoy a ceremony that reflects exactly who they are as individuals and as a couple. The ceremony is a special moment in time, and should be unique. In not only marks commitment and celebrates the love of a couple, but sets the stage for the rest of their lives.

Valerie will listen to your needs, wants and desires. She has an uncanny ability to really understand a couple. She enjoys blending traditions, and is knowledgeable about many elements that may be included in a ceremony.

Valerie conducts wedding ceremonies, civil unions, commitment ceremonies, vow renewals and anniversary celebrations.

One client said: “Jack’s warmth, humor and ability to listen to us made all the difference in the world. We loved our wedding ceremony – guests are still talking about it!”

She firmly believes that ritual and celebration belong to everyone and she will find a way to make your ritual uniquely yours. Elisabeth’s ceremonies create a lovely and authentic representation of her clients and the important life events that they are commemorating. Elisabeth Coffey is a native New Yorker and an experienced Social Worker. She brings a spirit of enthusiasm and adventure to her work as a Celebrant.

My rich Chinese heritage and culture adds to my appreciation for symbols and rituals and their deep meaning and bonds to family and community.

Weddings are such a profound personal transformation for a couple, it is a life event where two hearts beat as one and two families become one!

My husband and our children live in New Jersey. I’m a computer systems engineer. I speak English, Cantonese and Madarin and I am a great lover of cultures and traditions from all walks of life.

As a museum director, I once illustrated America’s past at a colonial mansion and an 1800’s gambling casino. I have promoted and written about the arts, theater, and nonprofit social agencies. Today at weddings, I celebrate the stories of how couples met and fell in love. It is a deep honor to share and help shape such an important and intimate moment in life. I also perform same gender commitment ceremonies, vow renewals, and betrothals."

Now, after many years of spiritual journeying through many wonderful traditions, I am very excited to offer these traditions, experiences and training as a Certified Celebrant to you.

Together, we can craft a beautiful script which is all your own to celebrate your commitment to love and life. My fondest desire is that this script, your personal wedding story and wedding memories can be a source of inspiration and peace that you can cherish all or of your days.

Throughout history, ritual and ceremony have played a fundamental role in the human experience. The significance of personalized ceremony was central to planning my own wedding. The same has been true in honoring the passing of old generations and the welcoming of new ones in my family.

It seems that I’ve been preparing to be a Celebrant all my life. Studying the technique for active listening, developing my writing skills, and fine-tuning my natural ability to organize and multi-task are talents that were honed during my prior career as a Business Systems Analyst. All these skills are called into play when crafting a ceremony.

She specializes in crafting weddings, vow renewals and civil unions. Shauna
respects all beliefs/traditions, religious, spiritual or secular.

Married in England in 1995, in a ceremony celebrating their different cultural
identities, Shauna and Robert live in NYC and love to laugh.

I believe that in order for a ceremony to be truly meaningful, it should reflect the values, beliefs, customs, and wishes of the participants; whether they are traditional, unique, or something in between. This is why I had a Celebrant perform my wedding and why I became a Celebrant.

I would be honored to work with you in creating your personal ceremony. I have a background in writing, literature, and anthropology. Through Inclusive Ceremonies, I specialize in ceremonies for all couples, families and children.

Using her background as an actor and writer, Tulis works in partnership with her clients to create each wedding ceremony. She listens, asks questions, and finally weaves their story and vision into a ceremony unique to them as a couple. She would consider it a privilege to create a wedding for you that celebrates your love, embraces your family and friends, and truly begins the rest of your life.

Whether it is the joyous coming together in life-long partnership, the heralding of a new being into your world, the movement from one stage of your life to the next, or the somber honoring of a loved one’s passing, I would like to meet with you, and together we can craft a personalized ceremony that will truly pay tribute; reflecting your values, customs and beliefs.

I believe that I have been preparing to do this work all of my life! I bring to you many years of experience as a marriage and family counselor, and Rites of Passage educator. Hours spent listening to people has informed my commitment to creating authentic, meaningful experiences to mark these major life transitions. It’s the stuff that memories are made of!

Ayize Nyatui Wedding Celebrant New Jersey

Ayize is dedicated to creating a personalized ceremony which genuinely reflects your beliefs. He especially enjoys working with couples who are having a difficult time finding the right person to deliver their ceremony. Most importantly, Ayize takes great pride in listening to you and precisely fulfilling your vision for your ceremony. With his calm, strong presence, and resonant voice, Ayize brings warmth and good humor to every meeting. A brand-new grandfather, Ayize enjoys spending time with family and riding his motorcycle. Ayize resides in northern New Jersey. Jeffrey T. Paduano Wedding Celebrant New Jersey / Eastern Pennsylvania Jeff is a Certified Wedding Celebrant who draws upon his 10+ year interfaith marriage to truly help couples experience a one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony. Jeff understands the myriad of issues couples face today as they prepare for their Wedding Day, including second marriages, blending spiritual and religious beliefs, and accommodating extended families. Jeff has been extensively trained in many different ceremonial elements and customs, and enjoys helping couples create a ceremony that is unique and stands out from the rest. Although Jeff will travel far and wide to help couples celebrate their marriage, most of his ceremonies are conducted in the Hunterdon/Warren/Somerset Morris/Mercer Middlesex counties of New Jersey and the Bucks/Northampton counties of Pennsylvania. Shelley Grodner Seidenstein Wedding and Couples Celebrant Funerals, Healing and Transition Celebrant New Jersey It is exhilarating and an honor to be able to assist clients in designing ceremonies in ways that are authentic, creative, spiritual and sacred. Every ceremony must be true to the individual's or couple's vision. I am authorized to officiate Couples Ceremonies: Weddings, Same Gender Couples, Commitment and Engagement/Betrothal Ceremonies as well as marking a variety of life's milestones; such as divorce and downsizing ceremonies, memorials/funerals and others. Simply, my intention is to create meaningful ceremony for any Rites of Passage. I am Director of KIDS WHO CARE, INC., a nonprofit organization that helps to bridge the socio-economic barriers to enrich the lives of children and families less fortunate. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Special Education. Lois Heckman Wedding Celebrant Northern New Jersey Lois Heckman’s background is in three diverse fields: religious philosophy, music and social justice. She is an educator and advocate in the battered women's movement, working for social change. Previously, as a working musician, she performed and toured extensively. Lois’ formal education, however, is religious philosophy. Each of these experiences contributes to her worldview and informs her as a Celebrant. Her core values are peace and social justice. She is a non-denominational minister. Lois says: “Becoming a Celebrant has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I honor all philosophies, beliefs and traditions - secular, spiritual, religious and interfaith. I will create a unique ceremony that will respect and reflect your values, style and your life.” Lynn Tyndall Milestone Celebrant New Jersey Looking for a memorable way to honor parents on their anniversary, a friend on her retirement, or a brother on a special birthday? I will work with you to create a tribute that will let your honoree know just how much he is loved, and why she means so much to the people in her life Why have ‘just a party’ when you can create a truly meaningful celebration? Honor their unique life contributions and share their story with a Milestone Celebration. “Meaning is the sister of experience . . . to discern the meaning of what has happened to you is one of the essential ways of discovering the sheltering presence of your soul.” - John O’Donohue Denise Jones Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Denise is a motivational speaker. Her theme is “It’s A Beautiful Day”. Denise feels that everyday is a beautiful day, However, the day of your ceremony should be the Most meaningful.Each person’s story that leads up to their special Ceremony is of great value. I would love to help create your personalized Ceremony that reflects your unique beautiful Life. Denise lives in Montclair, New Jersey. She enjoys Writing, spending time with her family, and helping To make a positive difference in all people’s Lives. Moya Keating Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Moya Powers Keating, MA comes to the Celebrant USA Foundation with over 17 years of experience creating art and ritual in churches and universities in the US and Canada. She has a masters degree from NYU in Performance Studies and is certified by the International College of Celebrancy as a general and wedding celebrant. In 2003, she found of Seasons of Life Ceremonies. Her collaborative style and wide range of experiences is an asset to families looking for quality ceremony. Her work is clear in its intention and poetic, building bridges between the past and present, the personal and the collective. You will find her performance of ceremony, warn and generous. Barry Klassel Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Barry will work with you to create a ceremony that is loving, meaningful and memorable. A strong proponent of Humanist ideals, Barry believes the best ceremonies open all of us to the wondrous possibilities of life. Since receiving degrees in psychology and theatre, Barry has acted and directed professionally in New York City and elsewhere. Currently he works on an arts-in-education program in the schools and volunteers on a crisis/suicide hotline. Most proudly, he was the at-home dad for his two daughters and has been married since 1968. Barry specializes in wedding/commitment and end-of-life ceremonies. He is a skilled listener, writer and speaker who will help blend your traditions and your unique story into a truly personalized ceremony. Anne Kelly Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Some of us actively practice religion and some of us do not. Yet we all live our lives through a system of personal beliefs. Our beliefs come to us through our families, our cultures, our religious backgrounds and our life experiences. Anne strongly holds the conviction that everyone has the right to beautiful and meaningful wedding ceremonies regardless of their beliefs. Your ceremony can be religious, inter-faith, completely secular or anything in between. Anne will work with you to create a deeply personal and unique ceremony that is a true reflection of you, your values and your own personal beliefs. Kim Kirkley Wedding & General, Certified Civil Celebrant New Jersey New York, New York In her early days as an attorney, Kim Kirkley wore the shell of a cynic. Through her volunteer work with social justice organizations, in the U.S., Africa and South America, Kim began to realize that she longed to play a part in something more meaningful and spiritual. When she realized that her happiness depended on finding a new vocation, Kim shed her shell, moved into her heart and waited for the right opportunity. Today, she is a joyful, professional civil Celebrant and has received a “Modern Bride Trendsetter” award! As a Celebrant she stands in the power of ritual and invites everyone to celebrate a meaningful, personalized wedding ceremony -- religious or non-religious -- full of the great expectations and sense of adventure that are the foundation of a joyful union. Shauna Kanter Wedding Celebrant New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester, Hudson Valley, Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Congratulations! By deeply listening to your dreams and plans Shauna brings diverse experiences to the creation of your ceremony. As a published author, former NYU professor, theatre director and playwright she draws upon thirty years of experience with the written and spoken word and organizational people skills. It is an honor for her to, serve your individuality and style by creating a ceremony unique to you. She specializes in crafting weddings, vow renewals and civil unions. Shauna respects all beliefs/traditions, religious, spiritual or secular. Married in England in 1995, in a ceremony celebrating their different cultural identities, Shauna and Robert live in NYC and loves to laugh. Shelley Grodner Seidenstein Wedding and Couples Celebrant Funerals, Healing and Transition Celebrant New Jersey It is exhilarating and an honor to be able to assist clients in designing ceremonies in ways that are authentic, creative, spiritual and sacred. Every ceremony must be true to the individual's or couple's vision. I am authorized to officiate Couples Ceremonies: Weddings, Same Gender Couples, Commitment and Engagement/Betrothal Ceremonies as well as marking a variety of life's milestones; such as divorce and downsizing ceremonies, memorials/funerals and others. Simply, my intention is to create meaningful ceremony for any Rites of Passage. I am Director of KIDS WHO CARE, INC., a nonprofit organization that helps to bridge the socio-economic barriers to enrich the lives of children and families less fortunate. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Special Education. Roberta Koepfer Weddings Celebrant Funerals and Memorials Celebrant Ceremonies for Families and Children for the Tri-State Area The stepping stones in a Japanese garden path, a metaphor for life, may bring us to a “pausing stone,” inviting us to contemplate our surroundings, or to a “dividing stone” signaling that the path will fork. Ceremonies enable us to pause and reflect on life’s transitions, and their meaning becomes deeper when they reflect one’s own unique path. A significant “dividing stone” showed me that my interests, talents, and joy in personal interactions led toward Celebrancy. Many years as a professor and pre-health advisor at a large, culturally diverse college refined my communication skills and empathy, as does an on-going correspondence with several prisoners. Poetry, comparative religion and languages, growing orchids, and the laughter of grandchildren sweeten my life’s path. It would be an honor to assist you in marking your significant moments, and I will do my utmost to insure that your ceremony faithfully fulfills your personal vision. Julie Laudicina Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Julie Laudicina, a graduate of Celebrant USA, focuses her celebrancy practice on weddings and commitment ceremonies as well as vow renewals, engagements, and special anniversary celebrations. She serves clients in the greater New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Julie Laudicina brings diverse experience to what she calls "this joyful work." She was a university dean, a corporate training manager, and an art museum administrator. With a master's degree in organizational behavior and an undergraduate degree in English and art, she draws on a myriad of rituals and images to create the individual ceremonies she conducts. Even though Julie has lived in New York City for over thirty-five years, she still feels the influence of her Minnesota roots. She and her husband Joe live on Staten Island. "It is my hope that each couple will sense that the core of their ceremony is their own love story and their own pledges to each other for a fulfilled life together." Celia Milton Wedding Celebrant Funeral Celebrant New Jersey Celia brings a unique blend of talents and resources to her work as a celebrant. An owner of a company that specializes in producing memorable events, she has helped to orchestrate over 20 years of weddings and commitment ceremonies; as a motivational speaker, she is skilled as establishing the perfect mood for an occasion, from the sophisticated to the joyfully flamboyant. As a writer, she draws on a rich variety of traditional and contemporary writings, blending the touching and the humorous. "My aim is to delight and surprise; to act as the catalyst between you, your unique story, and your guests. Together, we'll mark the joyous start of your new life and have that joy renew the lives of the people who share your wedding day." Her celebrant practice also focuses on Funerals and honoring a loved one's passing. Celia will craft a sensitive and individual celebration that speaks of lives well lived, with personality and grace. Angela Enid Medina Wedding Celebrant Northern New jersey Love is the greatest of human emotions and needs to be highlighted and celebrated as often as possible! Whether it be a wedding, a baby naming, a renewal of vows, etc., I. Angela Enid Medina want to bring your unique story of love to life! As a bilingual person, I can create beautiful, sacred and memorable ceremonies in Spanish and/or English, using the language of your choice, or both, to enhance your story with rich imagery and emotional overtones. Being a celebrant has brought joy into my life, and my ceremonial handiwork will do the same for you. I will make your occasion outstandingly special, in collaboration with you, highly respecting your preferences and choices. I will bring to you an unforgettable experience, as we interweave rituals, family traditions, poetry, cultural symbols, etc. into your ceremony. As an educator for over 30 years, I have learned that there is no "one size fits all" mold to dealing with things that matter. Let me be your custom designer! Yo le creare una obra de amor... Carolyn Niethammer Wedding Celebrant New Jersey At Ceremonies of Distinction, I will work with you to design the perfect ceremony to celebrate your wedding or other life milestones such as births, adoptions, vow renewals or end of life rituals. Your beliefs are paramount and your spiritual path, be it secular or religious, is always honored. I believe that truly personal and meaningful rituals can help you to deepen bonds with your community so I will provide many ideas for involving your family and friends in your celebration. Ultimately, however, my only goal is to provide you with your idea of a perfect ceremony. I am an award-winning biographer, the author of six books, and hold a master’s degree from the University of Arizona and certificates in Wedding and Funeral Celebrancy from the International College of Celebrancy. I am available for all ceremonies in Tucson and Southeastern Arizona. Adam Phillips Wedding & Funeral, Healing and Transition - Celebrant Metro New York City, Long Island, Northern New Jersey and Southern New England Adam performs ceremonies anywhere within New York City, Long Island as well as northern New Jersey and Southern New England. "Adam Phillips is a licensed New York City Celebrant specializing in weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals, as well as baby welcomings, end-of-life rituals and other ceremonies that mark transformative moments along life's path, including housewarmings. Many skeins in his life have brought Adam to celebrancy, which he views as a humanitarian calling as well a livelihood. He has made a lifelong study of ceremony, myth and religion across cultures. He worked in theater and children's theater and is a dedicated community service volunteer and oral historian. His journalistic career has spanned twenty-five years. Wilma Quantrille Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Simple or sophisticated, informal or traditional, religious or non-religious, your wedding is a deeply personal ceremony that celebrates the love you have discovered with each other. As an experienced celebrant with Celebrant USA Foundation, I will work with you to plan your wedding, civil union, baby naming or funeral. The result will be a beautiful ceremony uniquely worded which expresses your personal vision for this precious moment in your lives. Professionally I bring experience in meeting couples, planning with them a beautiful and moving ceremony and the authority to solemnize marriages and civil unions in the State of New Jersey. I also offer you knowledge and resources from my studies at Drew U. Graduate School. It is my delight to be able to meet the diverse needs of couples and families as a Celebrant. Cynthia Reed Wedding, Funeral & General Celebrant New Jersey I am a former lawyer, and finding the vocation of Celebrancy has been life-transforming. I am honored to be part of the rich traditions and important milestones in peoples’ lives. I specialize in weddings, ceremonies to welcome children, and funerals. I am Minnesota born and raised, where I attended the University of Minnesota. After stints as an attorney in Washington, D.C. and New York City, I married a Jersey boy, who lured me across the Hudson River into the Garden State, where I am firmly planted. We are the proud parents of our first child, a daughter adopted from China. Trish Preston-Roberts Wedding Celebrant New Jersey As a Celebrant, I have focused my work on weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewals – the ceremonies that celebrate the union or re-union of two people in their love for each other. It is my mission to help couples create a ceremony which will allow them to express their own belief system(s), family traditions, ethnicities,or any meaningful aspects of their lives that they wish to include. After working with so many couples I have seen, first hand, how carefully and lovingly crafted ceremonies have transformative psychological and emotional power. It would be my pleasure to speak with you to discuss the possibility of our working together to create your own unique, personalized ceremony for your very special day. Dave Smith Wedding Celebrant North Eastern New Jersey David Smith is a former High School Principal and English teacher with degrees in Creative Writing (Theatre) from the City College of New York and English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. He brings a unique interest in and respect for the written and spoken word and to the creation of ceremonies that honor conscious choosing. A father and husband, he cherishes family in all of its loving combinations as a gathering of individuals who seek to learn and teach each other. He would be honored to help craft a memorable ceremony that fulfills your vision of the day. Dana Silverberg Wedding Celebrant New Jersey As a Wedding Celebrant, I personalize your ceremony by giving voice to what you feel in your hearts so that it may be enjoyed by others. Creating the wedding celebration of your dreams is my art, my passion. I offer a flexible style that ranges from simple, honest and down to earth to profound, radiant and spiritual. My experience in composing and conducting meaningful ceremonies will ease your mind and calm your senses. Cathy Vitone Wedding & Commitment Funeral & Healing Celebrant New Jersey Cathy has worked with celebrations for over 30 years. As an educational leader, visionary explorer, and playful enthusiast, she will assist you create a personalized ceremony for you. Called to “Celebrate Life’s Journeys”, her goal is to make every ceremony creative, sacred, and authentic. Cathy specializes in interfaith and interracial weddings, gay and lesbian commitments, and funerals. Her own life-journeys help provide a blend of sensitivity and creativity to the ceremonies she performs. As a storyteller and experienced listener she hopes to help you reflect on the preciousness of your journeying and assist you in creating a meaningful celebration that can be shared with your family and friends. Maria Valez-Lopez Wedding Celebrant New Jersey Maria is a New Jersey family law lawyer residing in Jersey City. Maria is fluent in Spanish and often officiates at bi-lingual ceremonies. With great joy she would be proud to be your wedding celebrant. Diane Wilkerson Wedding Celebrant Central NJ and the NJ Shore areas I will make your ceremony one of the most special days in your life! Whether it is your wedding, renewal of vows or civil union ceremony, I’ll help you create and officiate at your wedding ceremony in the most sincere and loving manner. As a Celebrant I am a ritual maker specializing in one-of-a-kind multi-cultural, non-denominational and interfaith ceremonies, and I offer genuine, heart-felt and meaningful ceremonies. Eve Young Wedding, Family, & Children Celebrant New Jersey Eve Young is of American Indian and African descent. She has long been a public advocate for members of both her heritages at various civic, educational and cultural events in the New York metropolitan area. She is also a former coordinator of the Conversations on Race Program of Montclair, NJ. Eve believes that life’s journey is less mystifying and infinitely more fulfilling when one’s choices are land marked by ritual and accompanied by celebration. She was drawn to Celebrancy by a desire to help others commemorate the turning points in their lives. An experienced facilitator trained in the art of listening, Eve will help you create simple yet eloquent ceremonies to mark the turning points in your life.

Tony Zecca Weddings Celebrant New Jersey

Being passionate about writing and creating ceremonies brings joy to my work as a celebrant. I work closely with you to design a ceremony which expresses your true values and your uniqueness as a couple. When my wife and I decided to get married, we believed that our ceremony should reflect our story as a couple. We engaged the service of a celebrant. With her guidance and support, we wrote our own vows, told our love story and crafted a ceremony together. A unique reflection of what a wedding meant to us. Shortly afterwards, I began my course earning my diploma in Marriage Celebrancy through the Celebrant Foundation and Institute. I am an ordained certified celebrant authorized to perform wedding ceremonies / Civil Unions / Commitment Ceremonies and Vow Renewals.

Valerie Coleman Wedding Celebrant NewYork & New Jersey

Valerie believes that everyone should enjoy a ceremony that reflects exactly who they are as individuals and as a couple. The ceremony is a special moment in time, and should be unique. In not only marks commitment and celebrates the love of a couple, but sets the stage for the rest of their lives. Valerie will listen to your needs, wants and desires. She has an uncanny ability to really understand a couple. She enjoys blending traditions, and is knowledgeable about many elements that may be included in a ceremony. Valerie conducts wedding ceremonies, civil unions, commitment ceremonies, vow renewals and anniversary celebrations.