1. Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a minister of 20+ years. Over the years, I noticed that rent-a-minister, now called off site minister or wedding officiant more difficult to find, especially those who specialize in alternative, CosPlay, non-traditional, and LGBT weddings.
Often I’m asked about my religious affiliation, which is indigenous. Indigenous often times means Native American. I’m Métis (May-tee) which is a Canadian recognized First Nations People. In the United States we are non-federal recognized Native American. If you are interested in an authentic Eastern Woodland style wedding, it would be my pleasure to help you plan and execute it with all the fine details. My non-denominational training is that of a Spiritualist, making my abilities very adaptable for your wedding ceremony.
2. How did you get into officiating for wedding ceremonies?
My mother and daughters told me to put up a website and offer my non-traditional services. After that, I added traditional services and began answering emails and telephone calls. I’m glad I did it. I enjoy the smiles, the love that shines in their eyes when they look at each other or talk about one another, and the vows are amazing.
3. What is your favorite part of a wedding ceremony?
The vows. Whether I write them or the couple write their own, the emotion that overwhelms them as they gaze into each others eyes is wonderful. We think of the Mothers of the couple as the people with tears in their eyes. But, the couple often have their own tears, choke up while trying to speak, or taking laughing fits. This is the part I adore, their emotion bubbling outward.
4. Are you seeing any new trends for wedding ceremonies, and if so, what are they?
CosPlay and Off beat themes are more popular now, than any other time in history. My blog contains photos of the Halloween themes and Steampunk from 2014. I’m continue to wait for the photos from other wedding couples. 2015 weddings have included CosPlay as the Penguin from the game, Arkham Asylum, Off Beat as a Steampunk clockmaker. 2016 is gearing up for a totally Dr. Who wedding and I’ll dress as the very first Doctor.
The photos I still wait for are the Penguin, a couple of the steampunk weddings, along with me as a Plainswalker. Often Rule 63 is invoked when I officiate a CosPlay wedding.
5. What is your favorite venue and why?
For Steampunk, I like the Boonshoft Museum Space Theater. For CosPlay any outdoor venue. For more of a Masquerade style or a traditional wedding, I like The Event Connection. I look forward to officiating a wedding at the Dayton Art Institute and The Victoria Theater.
6. What are some of your top tips for a stress-free wedding ceremony?
Design an itinerary and stick to it. Develop your itinerary with your wedding planner or your day of the event coordinator, officiant, and DJ. Let the people you hire do their jobs. When you try to micro-manage it over stresses your emotions and it gets overwhelming fast, so allow the people you hire to do their jobs.
7. If you could officiate at any celebrity wedding (past, present or future), who would be the lucky couple?
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, I admire Mrs. DeGeneres’ go-give attributes and her natural ability to be entertaining. Brooke Elliott for the confidence she exudes. Bruce Campbell in case he would like to show up as one of his many characters. My list continues on.
8. Anything else you want to share with us?
Every wedding couple should get contracts from each vendor they hire. Whether it is a minister or a friend of the family. Contracts are the glue that provides you with peace of mind that you are hiring a professional that will have a backup plan if something would happen and they could not honor their agreement. I have a network of associate ministers that will deliver your ceremonial service if I am in the emergency room.
The second part of the contract issue is to make sure there is not a non-disparagement clause. A Non-Disparagement clause restricts a person from writing a negative review. In simple non legalese, it means you can not write on facebook, or other social media about how so and so didn’t hold up the contract with you.
While you have hired your vendors, it is polite to offer them a monetary tip the day of the event or in a thank you card the week after to let them know you appreciated their hard work on your behalf.
You can contact Rev. Cindy Lee at
937- 985-7956
Email cindylee@revcindylee.com
Website http://revcindylee.com/