Learn More About Our Talented Officiants!
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“After the ceremony, our guests were wondering how many years we have been friends with Rachael! This is how incredibly well and personal she was able to narrate our story through the ceremony. ”
Rachael A. Tanner
Officiant, Founder, and CEO
Dominique + Marquis, December 2018
Kellyne + Jose, 2018
PASSION + TALENT
I officiated my first wedding in July of 2016, for 2 dear friends—Dan and Melissa. I enjoyed working alongside them to create a ceremony that reflected their relationship. I enjoyed the ceremony and received such encouraging feedback, I knew I’d love to offer this service to others.
This creative and spiritual endeavor combines my love of public speaking, strong writing skills, and my love of love! I love to celebrate with my couples and honor the joy of the wedding day.
SECULAR OR SACRED, WEDDINGS ARE DIVINE
I firmly believe that each person can marry who they want, when they want, in the way that they want. Full stop. I am here to help couples have a wedding ceremony that fits them. For some couples that’s a secular ceremony, for others an interfaith and/or intercultural ceremony, and for some a fully spiritual experience.
Whatever path you take, I am here to help you make this transition from singledom to marriage meaningful. I’d love to meet you and learn what will make your marriage and wedding sacred to you!
RELATIONSHIP COACHING - Pre-marital coaching
The engagement period is a unique period for any couple. Consider using this time to invest in your relationship through pre-marital coaching. You can select a variety of topics to discuss. As your coach, I bring structure, accountability, skill building, and new resources to help you deepen your connection and strengthen your relationship. Consider a free Discover Session!
ORDINATION
I am ordained by American Marriage Ministries, a non-profit, interfaith and non-denominational church. American Marriage Ministries believes that the choice of wedding officiant belongs to the couple. Read more about this ordination here.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
I am in my thirties. I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan—a small city in southwest Michigan. I attended the University of Michigan for undergrad, directed a faith-based non-profit in Kalamazoo, and then headed to pursue a graduate degree in City Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
After a few years in Long Beach, California, I settled here in San Francisco. I also work as a consultant and am active in the San Francisco community.
Renesha Westerfield
Specializing in same-sex couples, Black and African American couples.
FIRST WEDDING
I officiated my first wedding in September of 2019 for two of my best friends, Annabelle and Yajaira. I introduced them to each other and I had no clue they would date and end up married but their journey was very beautiful and inspirational. Officiating their wedding really touched me because as a queer woman I know how precious and real these moments are.
WHY OFFICIATE
I want to officiate weddings for people of color and queer folk. I want them to feel special and seen on one of the most important days of their lives. I know how hard our road to love is and I want to celebrate that moment the best way I can.
FAITH BACKGROUND
I was raised as a non-denominational Christian and I still believe in God. Nowadays my faith is more spiritual vs religious. I know and appreciate the journey to God is different for everyone and I love sharing and communing in other faith practices as it helps me grow and understand God on a deeper level.
ABOUT ME
I am from Southern California but I have I lived here in San Francisco off and on for the last 14 years. I moved here for college and I have been in love with the Bay Area every since. I went to undergrad (B.S. in Biology) and grad school (M.S. in Behavioral Health) at the University of San Francisco. My day job is a Human Resource Manager and in my free time you can find me hanging out with friends, riding my bike, and enjoying live music.
“Renesha took the time to get to know us and made the ceremony feel so personal to us. She made our guests laugh, cry, and above all just fostered a warm and welcoming energy with our guests. Highly recommend.”
“Mary...was so flexible, collaborative, and absolutely amazing to work with. Mary is an absolute gem”
Mary Lim
VISION
I have devoted my career to engaging humans who have been muted, ignored or forgotten. I believe that we should expand ways that we express love and care for each other and for our planet.
EVOLVING FAITH
I identify as Roman Catholic and have been a professional community organizer among people of faith for 15 years. I am grateful for the opportunity to explore with couples how they want to express their values (whether it be with the language of faith or not) in their ceremony. Let's get creative!
ABOUT ME
I am a resident of Oakland and work as the Executive Director of Genesis, a faith/community based organization. My 15 year career as a community organizer is informed by two things: 1) being the proud daughter of Chinese immigrants and 2) being the mom of a fierce, courageous 16 year old.
Community organizing is connected to my work as a wedding officiant, as both focus on creating a love story among us as humans.
I have a B.A (cum laude) in Political Science from University of Missouri-Saint Louis and a Juris Doctorate from Saint Louis University.
“Matty did an awesome job expressing our story in the script and delivering it beautifully on our wedding day.”
Matty Wolka
ABOUT MATTY
I'm a California native who has also spent a lot of time in New York, Chicago, and Brazil before settling down here in Oakland since 2008. I love living in the Bay Area because of the diversity and energy of the people I've met. That and the beauty of living near the sea, Muir Woods, and the mountains.
OFFICIATING
I've planned and participated in hundreds of weddings, often as a music director/principal musician, and love working with couples to make the magic of their wedding day match the magic of their love for one another. When I'm not officiating weddings, I direct a concert series in San Francisco that features classical music, world music and jazz.
IN OTHER WORK
Years of composing operas with children as an SF Opera Teaching Artist has taught me patience, grace, and the ability to get everyone to the finish line together with a smile.
Ordination
american marriage ministries
If you want to know about Rachael’s ordination, you can read about American Marriage Ministries here.
All content was taken directly from the American Marriage Ministries website.
What american marriage ministries believes
All people, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, have the right to marry.
It is the right of every couple to choose who will solemnize their marriage.
All people have the right to solemnize marriage.
American Marriage Ministries' Articles of Our Faith
American Marriage Ministries, its members, ministers and congregants, believe that marriage is a sacred union. We believe that marriage is the natural right of all people, regardless of race, sexual identity, nationality, socioeconomic status, or religious background.
Marriage is celebrated all around the world in a variety of ways, each marital ceremony celebrating the values of the couple, their community, and their cultures. The traditions of marriage predate the founding of the United States, the Abrahamic religions, and the emergence of democratic society. We believe that a phenomenon so ancient and revered, and so ubiquitous throughout the ages, can only be defined as sacred.
Our faith is one that is universal. Marriage is an institution that crosses cultural boundaries and unites peoples. We believe that marriage is of a higher power.
We believe that every couple united in marriage has the right to choose how they will observe, and who will conduct, their sacred rite.
The AMM Tenets
All people, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, have the right to marry.
It is the right of every couple to choose who will solemnize their marriage.
All people have the right to solemnize marriage.
