The Right Officiant
​
Finding the right wedding Officiant to marry you is an important decision - after all, they will have a huge influence on the tone of the ceremony. You'll want to make sure that you find someone who is willing to perform the kind of ceremony you are envisioning, or who has a style and belief system similar to your own. Decide whether you want a religious or non-denominational wedding. Make sure your wedding Officiant will be able to travel to your wedding ceremony location. And of course, if you want to Make It Official you'll need to make sure that they are legally able to marry you in your state.
(Make It Official is)
When speaking with a wedding Officiant, consider how customized you want the ceremony to be. Go over the wedding Officiant's speeches and the wording of the ceremony. Do you want to write your own vows? Do you need them to attend your wedding rehearsal?
Many may charge more for attending rehearsals,
*Make It Official doesn’t when you have a wedding planner.
About Me
.jpg)
If you are planning a large wedding, or a private intimate ceremony in a backyard, it’s your wedding day and it should be personal, beautiful and memorable. Whether you know exactly what you want, or you don’t even know where to begin. I will customize and personalize your ceremony to make it exactly, yours.
As your Wedding Officiant, whether we are celebrating your marriage, or vow renewal, I hope you'll give me the opportunity to create with you a ceremony that will reflect your love, beliefs, personalities and unique traditions. Your ceremony should not only reflect the love in your lives, but also demonstrate the meaning and power of love.
My name is Suzane Shelden, I am a non-denominational, 5 Star Rated, Award Winning Wedding Officiant, Ceremony and Rehearsal Coordinator since 2009. I am based out of Santa Clarita, CA. and service the Los Angeles & Ventura counties. Majoring in American Sign Language in college, I knew that I always wanted to work with and help people wherever and however I could. Having been a part of a family that has been in the wedding & event industry for over 50 years, I knew that I could do two things that I loved to do. I have been married for over 23 years to a wonderful, disabled US Marine Veteran and have three step children and one teenage son with my husband. As your Wedding Officiant, I will create a wedding ceremony that tells YOUR story, one that reflects the essence of YOUR relationship. It is important to me that YOUR ceremony is exactly how you want it to be, after all it is YOUR day. I have discovered that there is a huge need for an experienced, caring Wedding Officiant who can create and perform a wedding ceremony with warmth, professionalism and love. I have been told that this is “MY CALLING” and I take a lot of pride in creating YOUR perfect ceremony and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Let me take away all the stress involved in creating your ceremony. Remember, this is your wedding ceremony; it’s not a performance, so you can’t mess up or do wrong. I will do everything I can to make it perfect, and at the end of the day, you will be married to your best friend.
Real Life Reviews
from my happy couples...
I not only help write and perform ceremonies with my couples, but form long-lasting, professional relationships with them. Each of my couples are unique and special, and that’s why I make sure their ceremony will be just as special as they are. Check out the 5 STAR reviews I’ve been getting over the years from my couples .
I really couldn’t have done it without them.
" If I could marry my husband all over again, I would choose Suzane to officiate our wedding over and over".
"Suzane, your great attitude, professionalism, and assistance were the key ingredients for such a magical ceremony. My husband and I continue to receive many compliments on how beautiful the ceremony was from our friends and family. We had many favorite moments, which makes it impossible to choose one, but one which we believe is worth mentioning is when you asked who gives the bride away in Spanish. It was such a memorable moment. My husband and I knew it was going to be a challenge for you since you don't speak Spanish, but you nailed it! Thank you for agreeing to such special request. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect ceremony. Thank you again for attending our wedding rehearsal, arriving at our ceremony early and helping me deliver the rings to the best man."
​
Mr. & Mrs. Matta
​
“Our wedding night turned out so beautifully. I still look back at the photos and cry tears of happiness! What could have been such a stressful day was handled with such careful attention to every detail. We loved working with Suzane, we already booked her for our 10yr vow renewal.”
​
Mr. & Mrs. Mathers
"My husband and I found Suzane Shelden on a Facebook wedding page and we could not have had a more wonderful experience. She was professional and responsive, and very quickly quells any worry. She was warm, kind and calm, both during our phone meetings and day-of. She listen intently to our wishes and our story, and pulled together a ceremony that perfectly blended those elements. She gave us so many helpful suggestions with regards to the ceremony and asked questions we didn't even think of . Many of our guests remarked how they enjoyed our ceremony, and we could not have been happier."
​
Mr. & Mrs. Stanley
​
“We hired Make it Official - Wedding Officiant to take care of our daughter and son in-laws ceremony and it was the best decision we could have possibly made. The ceremony turned out perfect and it was a pure joy working with Make it Official - Wedding Officiant.”
​
Mr. White
​
"Suzane was professional, easy to work with and was open to anything we asked for. We thank her for helping make our day special. Thank you Suzane!"
​
Mr. & Mrs. Richards
"My wedding was magical. It was beautiful. And the one thing that people remember most about it, is the ceremony. The minute we met with Suzane, we knew she would be perfect for us. We booked her on the spot. She completely understood our vision and special circumstances (divided family) into consideration. She is very prompt with responding to your inquires and very accommodating when setting up a meeting. Her email process for your ceremony and vows is easy, straight to the point, and very personalized according to your tastes. Honestly, our ceremony was the most treasured and memorable part of the entire day. Suzane is such a beautiful person inside and out! She would be such an amazing addition to your special occasion."
​
Mr. & Mrs. Brown
"Suzane is the best. She performed our ceremony on Saturday and everyone was commenting on how beautiful and unique it was. She is a wonderful speaker and an excellent writer. She was so accommodating and tailored the ceremony to us and our Personalities. Thank you Suzane!"
​
Mr. & Mrs. Battaglia
​
Contact Me
Get in touch today to discuss your upcoming wedding!
Servicing: Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Westlake Village, Woodland Hills, Hollywood, Ventura, Burbank, Glendale, Arcadia, Los Angeles, Long Beach and everywhere in-between.
Email:
Phone:
661-313-1224
Ceremony Packages
.jpg)
+
Personal, Fun, Memorable & Professional
Planning a wedding can be stressful. I can help walk you through every step of the ceremony. I enjoy creating a meaningful, memorable, fun and personalized ceremony just for you that represents your personalities, style, beliefs and love story.
I do not issue marriage licenses. You will need to obtain one from a county clerk’s office prior to the ceremony. I would be happy to walk you through this process and answer any questions you have.
​
​
Personalized Ceremony (most popular)
​
I will write you a customized romantic, fun wedding ceremony, reflecting your personalities, beliefs and love story. Performed at your location of choice. Available for Ceremony or Vow Renewal.
This package starts at *$595 and includes:
* A consultation and planning “get to know each other” meeting, usually in-person or by phone
* Unlimited email and phone support
* Personal and/or traditional vows
* Unity Ceremony can be added at NO additional charge Sand Ceremonies, Candle Lighting, etc. All materials must be provided by you.
* A unique, customized ceremony written just for you (with your edits and approvals) so there are no surprises on your special day
* Incorporate music and/or readings into your ceremony
*Attend the rehearsal, at NO additional charge (time allowing, with a planner). This is a great opportunity for me to meet the couple and key members of the bridal party before the big day (time and location permitting).
* No planner no problem, I can attend and coordinate the ceremony rehearsal for a $100 additional fee.
* Rundown of your ceremony to ensure everyone knows where they are supposed to be and when
* Officiant arrival 30 minutes before the ceremony
* Performance of the ceremony
* Coordination with your musicians, photographer, videographer, wedding planner, event staff, family, and whomever else you wish me to plan with to ensure a perfect ceremony
* Signing your marriage license as your non-denominational Officiant/Minister (if applicable, as you may already be legally married)
and oversight of witness signatures
* Return signed wedding license to the county for recording
* Emailed copy of unrecorded wedding license for your records
* Step By Step Important Marriage License Information
* Step By Step How to Change your Name Information
* No additional travel charge
​
​
Quick I Do Ceremony
A modern, simple & fun Non-Customized Ceremony (elopement style) at your location of choice. Available for a Ceremony or Vow Renewal.
​
This package starts at *$295 and includes:
​
* Limited guest count ~ you plus two witnesses (four total)
* Administering the oath of marriage
* Exchanging of rings
* Exchanging of personal or traditional vows
* Unlimited calls & email support
* Signing your marriage license as your non-denominational Officiant/Minister
* Return signed wedding license to the county for recording (if applicable)
* Emailed copy of unrecorded wedding license for your records
* Step By Step Important Marriage License Information
* Step By Step How to Change your Name Information
* Additional travel charge may apply.
Just Make It Official Ceremony
SIGNING OF MARRIAGE LICENSE ONLY... At the location of your choice
This package starts *$195 and includes:
* Administering the oath of marriage-(No formal ceremony)
* Signing your marriage license as your non-denominational Officiant/Minister
* Return signed wedding license to the county for recording
* Emailed copy of unrecorded wedding license for your records
​
No planner no problem, I can attend and coordinate the ceremony rehearsal for a $100.00
additional fee.
​
If you don’t see what you are looking for, please give me a call and we can create almost anything you can imagine.
​
PA system available for a small fee if needed, to insure that your friends and family don’t miss a word of your ceremony.
​
​
* Starting at prices are Monday - Thursday & Non-Holidays in Santa Clarita, CA
Retainer Fee of 50% is required to hold your wedding date. Full payment is due 1 day before the ceremony or at the wedding rehearsal.
Cash, Check, Zelle & Venmo are accepted.
​
Thank you for choosing Make It Official. I look forward to speaking to you soon.
Suzane Shelden, Officiant/Minister
661-313-1224
​
sshelden1@yahoo.com
Referrals available 💕
