"Legally ordained, experienced, flexible and eloquent -
don't you deserve the very best for your ceremony?"
Area of Residence: Arapahoe County, CO
Locations served: Metro Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, I-70 ski resorts and mountain areas (mileage fee may apply). I am willing to travel in exchange for travel expenses.
Specializing in: Interfaith, general Spiritual, liberal Jewish, unaffiliated and/or nondenominational Christian, Spiritual Humanist, Secular, Athiest and Civil weddings, Commitment Ceremonies, and other life cycle events. I can research and perform spiritual ceremonies honoring other cultural traditions, as well. (Your ceremony will be about your personal spirituality, not mine. I do not judge. I honor what is important to you, and your personal expression of your spirituality.)
Ordained by: Universal Ministries, 2004
Spiritual Humanism, 2004Continuing educational and support from The All Faith Seminary (via correspondence), UUA conferences, and other interfaith organizations. I perform both religious and secular-civil ceremonies. Date Ordained: Ordained, 2004.
Education: BA in Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - May, 1986
I took extensive coursework in Multicultural Studies, World Religions, and Child and Family Psychology.
About Me: Married for more than 20 years, 3 children. Hobbies: Interfaith work and volunteering, jewelry making, reading, and traveling around beautiful Colorado with my family. My Officiant work and writing interfaith educational materials are my full-time job. I take them very seriously, and I love what I do!
Services provided:
I officiate at:
- Weddings - English only or bilingual (I do not speak Spanish, but I can officiate in English, while one of your guests may read the Spanish translation I provide)
- Funerals
- Naming/ baby welcoming ceremonies
- Handfastings
- Vow renewals
- Other life-cycle events
- Spiritual counseling
I can also provide:
- Wedding supplies in partnership with InterfaithOfficiants.makesparties.com
I specialize in:
Interfaith*, secular, and nondenominational** ceremonies - I believe each person has a unique spirituality all their own. No two people share exactly the same beliefs, practices, values and family traditions. When two people find their dreams and their plans are compatible, it is a blessed event, deserving of a celebration! Your marriage will combine the special qualities of each person to create a dynamic and exciting union of souls and personalities. It is my job as your Officiant to help you to express those uniquely beautiful aspects of your relationship in your wedding ceremony, and make your ceremony one neither you, nor your guests, will ever forget. I come to your wedding site. I will officiate in the park, at a beach, on a mountain trail, at a hotel, or in the facility of your choice. I offer nondenominational, general Spiritual-Humanist, Secular, Jewish, and Interfaith weddings, funerals and baby namings. My style is personal, laid back and spiritual (but not necessarily religious in a traditional sense, unless that is what you wish). I am open to your ideas for personalizing your ceremony. I will research any tradition and work with you to create the ceremony of your dreams! I also have experience officiating at commitment ceremonies and vow renewals. My wedding fees are all-inclusive. I do not charge extra for adding personal elements, as many Officiants do. Tell me your favorite songs, poems, scripture readings, things you have seen at other weddings, or things you have read about -- whatever you dream, together we will make it a reality! I can also suggest other ideas you might like, as well. Check out the "Design your own wedding ceremony" on the Interfaith Officiants site, and you will find lots of wonderful ceremony readings and other ideas.* Regarding Jewish weddings and funerals: I am an Interfaith Chaplain, not a Rabbi. I do not read Hebrew fluently, however I am knowledgeable of, and can correctly pronounce the appropriate blessings for a Jewish ceremony, in Hebrew. I suggest an English service with Hebrew blessings. If you prefer to have an ordained Rabbi officiate your wedding, I recommend Rabbi Brian Field, also on Interfaith Officiants.com. (Please keep in mind ordained Rabbis charge much more for their services than interfaith chaplains often do, based on their extensive expertise.) **For Catholic services, I recommend Father Martin Hunckler who is a retired, ordained Roman Catholic Priest (also on Interfaith Officiants.com). We can co-officiate, as well. ALL services include:
- Unlimited email and phone support prior to your event
- Keepsake certificate of ceremony performed
- Paper script of ceremony service
- Legal documents processed, according to state and local laws
- My transportation costs are waived for distances less than 25 miles of my home (my home is in Arapahoe County).
Packages and Fees (effective for weddings booked after 8/01/06):
Beginning at $100. Fees vary depending on your needs. Please choose from the following packages:"Just the Two of Us" -- Elopement Style I -$100. Private weekday wedding (Monday-Thursday). No consultation, no attendants, no rehearsal, two witnesses maximum. We meet at a park or office building (I have suggested locations) near my office in E. Centennial, using a standard preprepared nondenominational or secular service. References are available. (My gift to you: a disposable camera. I will take a roll of photos of the two of you on-site. No photo guarantees, as this is my gift.) There is a mileage fee of $1 per mile added to locations beyond 5 miles from my home office, round trip.
- Elopement Style II - $150. Just like the package described above, except Friday- Sunday, by appointment.
"Romance in the Air" - Intimate wedding I (Monday-Thursday) -$150. Your location and unlimited ceremony customization. Includes an initial consultation on another day, near my office. 2 Attendants maximum, no rehearsal, the number of guests is up to you. References are available. There is a mileage fee of $1 per mile added to locations beyond 25 miles from my home office, round trip.
- Intimate wedding II (Friday-Sunday) -$200. Your location and unlimited ceremony customization. Includes an initial consultation near my office. 2 Attendants maximum, no rehearsal, the number of guests is up to you. References are available. There is a mileage fee of $1 per mile added to locations beyond 25 miles from my home office, round trip.
- "Our Dream Wedding" -(Fri-Sun) -$250. Your location. Includes an initial consultation near my office, and a rehearsal on another day or earlier that day. The rehearsal date and time must be reserved when the deposit is paid, and the date is booked. (For a wedding that has attendants, a rehearsal is required.) Unlimited ceremony customization is included.
Note: A non-refundable retainer fee of $100 must be received in order to reserve the date. Complex, unusual ceremonies requiring extensive research, and/or additional services provided, may require additional fees. 10% discount given to teachers, with proof of employment, to whom I offer my deepest respect! Other ceremonies' fees upon request.
Double Weddings - 150% of a single wedding (if using the same ceremony and if all in-person consultations are done together). For example, if you chose a Dream Wedding package at $250, the fee to add another couple to the wedding makes the total $375 (250 + 125). A double elopement would total $150 (100+50).
Other services I provide in addition to ceremonies:
Spiritual pre-marital counseling, or spiritual personal counseling - $50 per hour
To contact:
E-mail InterfaithPeace@aol.com or call 303-766-3123. Please include name and phone number if you email me.
Additional Information:
I have been involved in Interfaith Religious Education for many years, and am a proud member of the Colorado Interfaith Alliance. I am actively involved in several Officiant associations, and founded the Colorado Association of Wedding Officiants. Prior to that, I worked with families in jobs related to my Psychology degree as a crisis center counselor, preschool teacher, and group home administrator. I have worked at a Reform Synagogue, as well as a Unitarian-Universalist Church in religious education, and I wrote resources for Interfaith educators in a diversity of faiths. I am the author of Oranges and Olives: A Modern, Interfaith Family Passover Haggadah, which has been used by hundreds of families and/or congregations around the country. I have great respect for all faiths. I would be proud to assist you with your spiritual life cycle event needs. I promise to give your special life event the respect and attention I would give my own.
Testimonials: Reference telephone numbers provided upon request.
"Chaplain Nancy,
Thank-you for the most beautiful wedding ceremony I could ever imagine. Your words were so touching and eloquent. There was not a dry eye in the room. Even my Father-in-law, who never says anything sentimental, was very touched. Everyone kept telling me what a beautiful wedding it was. Working with you was one of the highlights of our wedding. The way you combined our favorite songs and poetry was awesome! We learned a lot about ourselves in the process, and I would recommend you to anyone planning their wedding. I hope we can call you again in the future for a "baby welcoming ceremony"! On behalf of my fiance (oops - I mean husband) and I and our families, we thank-you from the bottom of our hearts."- The new Mr. and Mrs. Morrison
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Nancy,
Thank-you again for such a heartfelt cermony! You truly are a blessing we will always be thankful for... One of a few angels put into our lives.
~ Love always, Audra and Harvey S.
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...We were so pleased with the way the wedding, both the service & reception, turned out. We're glad you were there to guide us through the wedding. There didn't seem to be a dry eye during the service. We want to thank you once again for everything you did to help Anne & James' day turn out happy.
~Sincerely,George & Debby Hart
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Nancy,
... The day that you married Chuck and I will be one that I will never forget. You helped to make that day more special than I was thinking that it would be. Thank you soo much for your assistance on me starting a new path in life.
Sincerly,
~ Mrs. Kira King
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(From a request for feedback)
"...We were happy with our ceremony.... It was everything we envisioned it to be and more. We were very happy with Nancy. She listened to what we wanted, and made it happen. She was also there during the planning to answer any questions that we had. She did a great job incorporating all of the different aspects that we wanted. The ceremony was beautiful!"
~ Mr. and Mrs. Josh and Jaime Ferguson
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"Dearest Nancy,
Thank you so very much for performing my niece’s wedding... It was a major feat considering that my niece and her partner live in Boston, but they felt very comfortable communicating with you by phone, as well as a couple visits. In spite of ... the whole commotion ..., thanks to your organization and professionalism, as well as caring and aura of peace, the wedding came off without a hitch -- amazing. The whole ceremony went smoothly and gracefully according to plan, and yet there was a relaxed family feeling.Another major problem that you overcame was being considerate of both partners’ religions (Conservative Judaism and Catholicism). The materials that you shared beforehand were invaluable. The ceremony incorporated traditions and was so spiritual!This was the first same-sex marriage in our families, and the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever attended. My niece and her partner, as well as myself and both families, were thrilled with their wedding, in which your officiating was a large part of making it so memorable."Sincerely,
- Randee W., Aurora, CO
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Dear Nancy,
Thanks so much for being the officiant at our wedding... Stuart and I truly enjoyed working with you. Your words were so kind and wonderful. You created a day that we will not soon forget. Even our guests told us it was the best ceremony they had ever seen and heard.
Thanks again, Stuart and Amy L., Las Vegas, Nev.
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Nancy,
"We would like to thank you for being a part of our wedding day. We are thankful that we were able to meet with you and that you agreed to be a part of such an important day. We am pleased with the way that the wedding went. We feel that the ceremony was beautiful."
~ Ruby and Rey. R, Aurora, CO
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(Via email)
Thank you Nancy for the terrific job you did wedding Gar and I yesterday!
We'll recommend you to our friends and co-workers as one of the BEST!
Take care,
~Rebecca and Gary!
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Nancy,
"Our wedding was lovely. You did a fantastic job. Thank-you."
~ Warm regards, Marie and Manfred, Aurora, CO
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Nancy,
"I can't say enough about you as a person. Your knowledge about several religions coupled with your expertise with ministry in a church setting and a synagogue, and your open-mindedness to people of all faiths -- and all walks of life, makes you a wonderful Chaplain. You pay attention to detail and truly care about the work you do and the people you do it for. The honesty shines through. Colorado citizens are lucky to have access to such a caring and compassionate wedding officiant."
~ Madeleine M., Lake Orion, MI
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"...It's hard not to like Nancy. She is very compassionate and dedicated to making the world a better place for all people, especially the underprivileged.
She is also one of the most spiritual people I know. She has studied Judaism, Christianity, and Eastern Religions and incorporates the best of all of them into her everyday life. She wrote an interfaith, progressive family Passover Haggadah that I used at our Passover Seder. If I have a question about religion, mine or another's, I ask her and she always has the answer, or knows where to look for it. Nancy is especially skilled with children, having worked as a preschool teacher in a Jewish school and as Director of Education at a Unitarian/Universalist Church. She practically bursts with kindness and the need to help others. Given Nancy's deep spirituality and devotion to helping people, I simply cannot think of a better candidate for your...(life event)"~ Melissa G., Centennial, Colorado
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My Pledge
- I pledge to respect and honor all people regardless of race, religion, national origin, faith practices, personal beliefs, and sexual orientations.
- I will never proselytize my own beliefs. Your beliefs are all that matter to me.
- I am willing to provide personal and/or professional references upon request.
- I promise that the information provided enough is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
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My favorite quote: "My religion is kindness". - The Dalai Lama
