Virginia Officiant
Gwendolyn Steele has been officiating weddings since September of 2019 and services the entire state of Virginia. Gwendolyn officiates weddings and is a court-appointed and state-certified Officiant that believes in marriage equality.
Here is her story!
How it began...
I was a wedding coordinator for The Refinery and realized there was a shortage of officiants in the area. Especially pro marriage equality officiants or officiants open to performing any kind of ceremony: Buddhist, handfasting, same-sex, non-denominational, etc.
I'm a trained and experienced Public Speaker and I have also been an event/wedding manager for over 15 years. I coordinate well with all the vendors and make sure the photographers have the best shots (I step aside a lot so I'm not in all the pictures). I also have no ego and make sure the couple and their personalities shine through on their day. It's all about the couple and their promises to each other. I also have a calmness to me and make sure the couple is at ease and in the moment through the entire ceremony.
What about business challenges?
Sometimes its a challenge making couples understand what a professional public speaker and officiant bring to a wedding. I give subtle cues, I keep things calm and comfortable, I engage the guests, i'm inclusive and I break the tension. I also keep the couple in mind, its their day.
I love love love creating and writing ceremonies that help capture that moment.
What Would she like us to know...
I love weddings and I am ALWAYS honored to be asked to be part of this special moment in the couple's lives. It's amazing to watch people in love promise their lives to each other. It's amazing to be asked to help them bring those promises to life and give it words that are meaningful. I take special care in writing my ceremonies to capture their feelings and their nature.
