testimonials
"We hired Bethel to be our officiant for our wedding in July. From our first meeting with Bethel (over Skype because we had moved out of state) Bethel blew our mind and we knew that our wedding was going to be perfect because of her. Bethel was so much more than a vendor to us, she made us feel like we were to become a special part of her life, and she definitely became a special part of our lives. She had so many personal and creative ideas, and they made our ceremony truly memorable. She helped us, throughout the year, stay focused on why we were getting married, and helped remind us that the wedding is about our union, not about all the silly little details that go into wedding planning. Bethel worked so hard with us to create the perfect ceremony, and it truly was perfect. The ceremony was personal, touching, funny and so exactly fit us and what we wanted out of our ceremony. People are still coming to us and telling us that it was the most memorable wedding ceremony they had ever been to. She made each of our guests feel like they were a part of the day, which was so special. She had everyone crying and laughing - she truly has a gift and any couple would be lucky to have her as part of their lives!!" - Ricara, Bride
"Our Coordinator recommended Bethel. From the moment we met her, she was detail-oriented, professional and we could tell that she took pride in each and every ceremony. She made the process of planning the ceremony so smooth and fun! But, it wasn't until the day of our wedding when we really realized how amazing Bethel is. Our ceremony was flawless. An overwhelming amount of guests told us that it was the best ceremony they have ever seen because of how intimate and personal it was. Bethel had us answer questions about each other months before the wedding and she turned it into a story during our ceremony. There was laughter and a few tears; it was so special. Knowing that people will remember our ceremony as being their favorite means to much to us and we have Bethel to thank!" - Dave and Erica Cohen
"Where do I start? As a wedding planner, I have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of officiants. As much as brides focus on the reception, I always stress how important the ceremony is and that investing in a meaningful ceremony is a must. Bethel by far is the most personal officiant I have had the pleasure of working with. She works with her couples to create a very intimate ceremony that ties in the couple's story and brings together traditional and modern ceremonies (tying the knot, wine boxes, etc.) for her couples. Every time I work with Bethel, guests are in awe of how sentimental and personal the ceremony is. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend Bethel. She is a pleasure to work with and truly one of the highlights of any wedding we get to work on together." - Amy Vargas, First Comes Love Weddings and Events
"Bethel is the absolute best! She is the only officiant we recommend to our clients because of her very personal approach to writing a wedding ceremony and really getting to know her couples in the process. Your ceremony definitely will not be generic if Bethel is your officiant-- it will be tender, loving, funny, and very tailored to your relationship and your personalities. Bethel is also the nicest person you could hope to meet, and she will make you feel very comfortable and listened to in the process of working with her. We cannot recommend her highly enough. If you want a great ceremony that is about you and your love, look no further." - Melanie, Goodnickels Photography
"What can I say? Bethel rocks! She put together an awesome ceremony. People complemented her and us afterwards. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. She is cool, easy to work with and really listens. She suggests great ideas that we never would have thought of. She is prepared and has everything set for you so you just have to show up. She speaks with conviction and makes you feel special. Fantastic. You would be doing yourself a dishonor if you didn't have her at your wedding. Just say I DO to Bethel!" - Aron, Groom
"I have had multiple opportunities to work with Ceremonies by Bethel this year (and more on the horizon) - what else is there to say except that Bethel is a professional, through and through. She ensures that her couples stories are told in a meaningful, positive way and I often hear from guests after the Ceremony that the stories touched them emotionally. Bethel is on time, courteous to other vendors and guests alike, and always puts her clients at ease. I know that when Bethel is on site that I'm working with a colleague, and a friend, who will always provide clients with an excellent experience. I'm always happy to refer Bethel to clients." - Meaghan Schmaltz, Weddings Made Splendid
"Never would we have imagined that my small, simple wedding would have been so stressful in the beginning, and after choosing Bethel as our Officiant, we also wouldn't have imagined it being so simple and enjoyable. She was so organized and professional at all times, yet passionate and caring. It's rare that you come across professionals who actually "care", so having her be a part of the ceremony was a blessing to us. She speaks with passion, and her smile and eyes are warm and loving, making it so easy to talk to her. We NEVER once felt like we weren't in control, or that anything was going to go wrong. She was VERY good at keeping us updated in the ceremony's progress, and the "homework assignments" were so much fun (for both of us). Ultimately, she helped us make our wedding just the way we've always dreamed it to be, and for that, we are FOREVER thankful." - The Dimanches (Bride and Groom)
"Bethel, many thanks for the wonderful job you did conducting our ceremony. You helped us create exactly what we wanted without making us feel pressured to cater to a certain set of beliefs. Your method for drawing out our own stories about each other was personal and touching. I would highly recommend Bethel to anyone who wants to work with an open-minded and compassionate ordained officiant who will create a ceremony that is uniquely their own." - Mr. & Mrs. Gold, Bride and Groom
"I received so many comments after the wedding about how great our ceremony was performed. Bethel did such an incredible job of tying our two faiths (Judaism and Christianity) together in a memorable ceremony, as well as incorporating our personal story in such a touching and funny way. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Bethel for your own personal and memorable ceremony." - Craig, Groom
"The choice of Officiant is, for many couples, often an after-thought. However, the person who joins you together is forever linked to you. Right from the early planning stages, we knew we were in good hands with Bethel. With her warm and caring manner, and her confidence and professionalism, we knew our ceremony would turn out just the way we imagined it. She listened carefully, asked the right questions, and she put together a ceremony that was tailored exactly for us. It was a moving ceremony which truly captured the spirit of our relationship. At our wedding, with confidence and poise, she made everyone feel as if they truly knew us from the beginning of our relationship. She skillfully officiated our ceremony with warmth, humor, and solemnity. She made our ceremony feel inclusive, intimate, and dignified. We can't thank Bethel enough for making our wedding so special." - Eve and Gideon, Bride and Groom
"Bethel did a beautiful job with Nasheela and John's wedding ceremony. Her natural warmth and her ability to understand and communicate the bride and groom's personal story made the ceremony one of the most memorable I ever attended. Her easy smile and humor created a friendly tone for the entire event." - Tim, Friend of Bride and Groom
"Thank you so much for all you did for us. We also got tons of compliments on you and the ceremony. I was a little unsure about the he said/she said part (because I hate surprises), but it turned out wonderfully and very entertaining. I guess people loved hearing those parts too. I will definitely post some reviews for you and if you ever need recommendations for couples, I am more than happy to tell them how awesome you are. Thank you again for helping us make the day so perfect. Lindsay"
"Dear Bethel, thank you so much for being part of our special day and helping us along the way. Your kind spirit and calm demeanor helped keep us relaxed and comfortable. We feel lucky to have had you involved! Heidi and Marc"
"When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we identified the top 3 things that were important to us for our wedding -- lots of dancing, a chocolate fountain, and a special ceremony. Thanks to Bethel, our ceremony was more special than we could have ever imagined. Bethel took the time to understand each of us as individuals, our relationship together, our dreams for the future and our vision of the ideal wedding ceremony...... I always expected that I would cry on my wedding day. I had no idea how much I'd laugh during our ceremony. (I think that I might have even snorted at one point during the ceremony.) In fact, almost all of our guests approached me at some time during our reception to tell me that our ceremony was the best that they had ever seen. Last week, I had the opportunity to watch the DVD of our ceremony. Nine months later, I still laughed and enjoyed every moment!" - Nasheela, Bride
"We are eternally grateful to Bethel for officiating a beautiful ceremony for us. In only four days, she created a very personal ceremony that was filled with love and laughter. Her words were touching and inspiring not only for us, but for everyone who attended the ceremony. Bethel set the tone for the rest of the evening, which was filled with love and happiness. Thank you so much, Bethel, for making our special day truly memorable." - Paulo and Dacely, Husband and Wife, Renewal of Vows
"Bethel officiated at my daughter's wedding---and made it such a warm, personal ceremony. Her words were so very meaningful to the bride and groom, and to all our friends and family. Bethel managed to bring dignity, humor, and freshness to the marriage ceremony. We're all so glad she was able to conduct it." - Susan, Mother of the Bride
"Getting married was one of the most stressful and wonderful experiences ever. There is always advice on how to pick a photographer, florist, venue, caterer, but never on how to pick an officiant... the most important part. We lucked out completely when we found Bethel! Most vendors try to pressure you into doing things their way, and we all know wedding planning is filled with enough of that. Bethel's process in crafting your ceremony is perfection -- from personal stories you share with her and from her sense of you as a couple upon meeting. The ceremony was as traditional as we wanted it to be, and gave our wedding guests a sense of our relationship while celebrating our decision to marry. Often, the problem with such a customized ceremony is the pressure to be creative. She provided us with templates and ideas that we were able to go over as a couple and separately, and then let her know our choices. Our entire family commented on how beautiful the ceremony was, and we felt like we had a close friend marrying us. Her involvement in making our marriage special spanned even after our wedding day with her idea to send love letters to each other after the wedding, and on our anniversary (she sends them to each partner via email each year). Aside from being highly efficient and truly knowing the wedding business, it also helps that Bethel is absolutely lovely as a person, which is exactly what you want on such a special day." - Andrea and Steve, Bride and Groom
"Bethel, Thank you for making our wedding so special. We really appreciate the time you took in getting to know us and creating a ceremony that reflected our relationship. Our guests though it was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for creating such an incredible memory for us and our guests. Love, David and Angela"
"What a treat you've been for Paul and me. For two busy people from Milwaukee, not knowing much about San Diego, and how it's done, you certainly kept our minds at ease. We thank you for your detail, your kindness, and your tenacious efforts to make our Valentine's Day celebration a sincere testament of how we feel about each other. Thank you for enabling us to express all of our feelings to each other. We appreciate all that you have done for us - we are very lucky to have found each other, and lucky to have found you! Blessings, Traci and Paul"
