Unique Ceremonies by Lauren

10/02/2022

Hello friends!

As 2022 winds down, I want to thank everyone for their constant support. I perform ceremonies because I love it. I’m lucky to have a “regular” job (which I love) and to be able to find a second career doing something so fulfilling has been a gift. I’ve performed over 160 weddings and have over 100 5-star reviews on WeddingWire. I don’t advertise, I never have. To think that so many people have hired me for their special day AND that they’ve loved my work so much that they’ve recommended me to family/friends and have taken time to write me such beautiful reviews is frankly overwhelming.

In order to keep myself from burning out, I’m reducing my calendar in 2023. I will not be performing any additional bookings in April, May or June - I’m simply at capacity for those months. If you were thinking about reaching out for those months please feel free to email me for recommendations.

Lastly, there is always a lot of misinformation floating around the internet (aka Facebook, aka BOLI). Currently, New York State does not offer licensing to perform weddings. If you perform a wedding in NYC (or the boroughs) you DO need to be registered with the City - I am registered with NYC. There are currently NO laws or guidelines for officiants in NYS, just because you’re wed by someone outside of the courts or traditional clergy (priest, rabbi, etc) does not mean your marriage is invalid. I, along with numerous officiant friends, have contacted multiple attorneys and state officials and this isn’t an issue the courts have any interest in getting involved in. There are officiants who will tell you they are licensed by the state or will claim they are among a select few who can legally perform, there is even someone who has gone so far as to create accounts to write fake reviews for others in an effort to boost their own revenue (bizarre, right?).

My goal has always been to create meaningful, personalized, unique ceremonies. I pick the clients I want to work with so come the big day it feels like an old friend is performing their ceremony and not some random woman they found on the internet. I take pride in the work I do and I hope I’m able to do it for many years to come.

Again, thank you & love to all 💜

06/08/2022

2022 Update!

My calendar is officially closed for the rest of 2022. 2023 still has availability, I have room for about 9 weddings, if you’re waiting to make an appointment - don’t!!

Thank you for the love & trust 💜

04/26/2022

04/26/2022

Good morning all!
I will be capping my schedule at 20 ceremonies this year. As of todays date, I have 19 on my calendar. If you are getting married in 2022 and would like me to perform your ceremony, don’t wait to reach out.

02/14/2022

Happy 2022, lovebirds! Just a few announcements...

I have redone my website, the address is still the same but it's a whole new feel. I hope everyone is able to view it and enjoy the new facelift it received!

I will now be capping my yearly weddings at a maximum of 20 - I currently have 15 weddings lined up for 2022 so if you're thinking about reaching out, don't wait. Limiting the number of weddings will allow me to really focus on the lovely couples who are trusting me with their special day and will maximize my time in creating a personalized ceremony.

As always, thank you to everyone for the support and encouragement. It means more than you know 💜

08/08/2021

A quick note for anyone considering a last minute 2021 wedding booking:

By the end of this year I will have performed 145 weddings, 25 of which are in 2021 alone. Performing weddings is an absolute blessing. Being able to craft a unique and special memory for so many people is something I truly enjoy but in addition to being the owner & operator of Unique Ceremonies, I also work full time in the mental health world (which in the past year plus has been difficult), I’m a competitive strongman athlete, a dog mom, a girlfriend, friend and family member. With that being said, I am not going to be taking any new 2021 bookings. If I do not currently have a signed contract on file for your date, I will not be able to accommodate you on your special day. I appreciate your support and understanding.

Thank you all for the continued love!

06/09/2021

I’ll allow it!!

04/14/2021

Hello beautiful humans!

It seems that it's time for my yearly "is my marriage legal?" post so here we go...

Many of my couples have found me through various Facebook groups and while I appreciate the love, support and exposure this has brought to Unique Ceremonies by Lauren, as with most Facebook groups it also brings its fair share of problems. I have never hidden the fact that I am ordained through Universal Life Church. I became ordained to perform a friends ceremony in 2013 and since then have performed over 120 weddings which have all resulted in the issuing of marriage licenses. In the unfortunate event that some of those couples chose to end their marriages in divorce, their divorce was granted without my ordination being an issue.

To echo sentiments from past posts, New York State does not currently and has never issued registration IDs, licensing classes or certification numbers to people performing marriage ceremonies (New York City does and I hold a registration number there). Any officiant claiming that what they're doing is legal and what another officiant is doing is illegal is misinformed. Without naming names there is an officiant on Long Island who has made it their mission to discredit (and slander) the competition by publishing articles, creating various online personas and spreading falsehoods in an effort to bolster her agenda. I strongly urge anyone questioning the legalities of their ceremony to discuss your fears with your officiant and to do your own independent research before turning to the black hole of forum groups.

In 2013 a case was brought before the New York State Supreme court in which the plaintiff Henry Oswald tried to have his marriage to Victoria Oswald deemed null and void (in pursuant to a divorce) because it was performed by a minister with Universal Life Church. The judge in the case, P.J. Peters, ruled that the marriage was legal and that Mr. Oswald's claim that it should be deemed null and void because it was performed by a minister with the Universal Life Church was unsubstantiated.

https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/appellate-division-third-department/2013/515519.html

To the best of my knowledge, this is the most recent case regarding ULC and NYS licenses.

Thank you all for the love, support and encouragement through the years. I appreciate you all more than I have words to say and with that I'll step down from my soap box.

Oswald v Oswald - 2013 NY Slip Op 02811

01/30/2020

Hi all,

I’ve been off Facebook for a while but I feel the need to clarify some things that are being said on the Brides of Long Island FB group (a group I am not in as they have banned vendors) about the legalities of my ceremonies. Last night I was contacted by four of my brides all in utter panic asking me if the work they have hired me to do is legal because someone stated otherwise.

What makes a marriage legal is the marriage license. When you apply for a marriage license at the town clerk you sign the license in front of the clerk (unless you apply for your license in the five boroughs but that’s a different story and I’ll go into that in a moment), the license is then presented at the ceremony where your witnesses will sign and your officiant will take the license to complete it. At the bottom of the license the officiant will fill out the date, time and location of your ceremony, what kind of ceremony it is and their title. They then return that to the town clerk via mail and 5-10 business days later you will get your official license. If you apply for your license in the five boroughs you will sign the license in front of the officiant and not the town clerk, your license will take about 20-30 business days to be returned to you but that’s the only difference. No other document results in a legal marriage, if you are married in the church/temple/etc you may be presented with a certificate from the religious body but that is not your legal marriage license.

Nassau and Suffolk counties do not require any kind of registration or licensing of an officiant, anyone that says otherwise is misinformed and anyone presenting a registration or license from Nassau or Suffolk counties is presenting something issued by a third party and not the government. I am registered in the five boroughs and have been since 2015.

Friday (1/31) I will be performing my 100th wedding ceremony. I’ve never had any issues with a couple not receiving their license, every single one of my ceremonies has resulted in a legal marriage license being issued.

While I believe the person who is stating otherwise likely doesn’t intend to do any harm, what they are saying is defamatory and libel. My business is, and has always been, word of mouth. I do not pay for advertising so posting incorrect information in Facebook groups may impact my business.

Lastly, I am still performing wedding ceremonies. I have met so many wonderful people over the last eight years and have enjoyed all the heartwarming stories of their love. I do this work because I enjoy it, when it stops being fun I will stop performing.

As always, thank you to all the couples who have trusted me to be on a microphone in front of their closest friends and family. You put a lot of faith in me and I hope I continue to exceed expectations.

04/27/2018

Hello beautiful people!

I’ve been MIA here for a while and I truly apologize - life is wonderfully busy these days.

Just a quick update:

- Yes! I am still performing ceremonies 💍❤️

- For the FOURTH year in a row, WeddingWire has named me as a Couples Choice winner 🏅🎉

- Facebook has, yet again, messed with algorithms and my ability to receive messages (my filtered message folder as gone missing) so please, please contact me through the contact section on my website OR directly through email 💻💌

As always, thank you for all the love & support!

09/24/2017

09/24/2017

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that I am now the recommended celebrant for The Vineyards at Aquebogue! I am so excited to perform custom, special and unique ceremonies in such a picturesque location on the North Fork of Long Island.

Thank you, as always, to my wonderful couples for your continued recommendations, reviews and, above all, for trusting me with the most important day in your lives.

Cheers to love ❤️🥂

05/31/2017

I'm so behind on social media postings!

For the 3rd year in a row I've been awarded the WeddingWire Couple's Choice Award and, as always, I am humbled by the kindness, love and trust my couples have shown me. I perform ceremonies because I love being involved in the happiest day of someone's life. I don't pay for insane advertising on the premier sites, I don't send unsolicited emails and I don't hound potential clients to sign a contract - I simply don't believe in it. I rely on word of mouth, recommendations and referrals for all of my bookings. I have been so fortunate to meet some truly wonderful people and to, hopefully, have made a lasting impact.

As always, thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here's to more love, more kisses and more happily ever afters!

The Couples' Choice Awards recognizes the best wedding vendors, from wedding cakes to wedding photographers, in the WeddingWire Network. These wedding vendors have demonstrated excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.