Ceremonies
Meaningful secular and non-denominational wedding ceremonies.
Non-Denominational
At MN Secular Weddings, we specialize in creating secular and non-denominational ceremonies that reflect your unique love story. As more couples from diverse backgrounds seek to celebrate their union without religious ties, we provide a meaningful, personalized approach that resonates with what matters most to you.
Personalized for You
Traditions and rituals once derived from religion are now evolving. Today, couples often come from varied backgrounds, making a shared religious foundation less common. That’s where we come in—crafting a ceremony that’s deeply personal, meaningful, and tailored to your shared values and journey.
Creating Meaningful Moments
A ceremony doesn’t need to reference a specific deity or tradition to be impactful. In fact, some of the most heartfelt and beautiful ceremonies I've had the honor to officiate were non-denominational. Together, we can create a ceremony that is not only significant but also unforgettable..
About Me
Pete began officiating weddings in 2002 when he had the privilege of officiating a close college friend's wedding. At the time, he noticed that many ceremonies lacked inclusivity, especially for LGBTQ+ couples who often struggled to find an officiant who truly understood and respected their love story. The experience was so fulfilling that he knew he wanted to continue helping all couples, regardless of their background, celebrate their love in a meaningful way.
After moving from Minnesota to Washington, DC, Pete founded DC Secular Weddings and officiated over 50 weddings, perfecting his craft along the way. However, his connection to Minnesota remained strong. Now back in his home state, Pete brings his expertise to couples across the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. He’s known for being incredibly hands-on, often found hauling boxes or ensuring every detail is just right on the wedding day. Couples appreciate his ability to infuse humor into the ceremony, creating a fun and memorable experience.
Pete collaborates closely with couples to refine their ceremonies, offering insights on what works well and suggesting tweaks when necessary. He’s always happy to meet for a coffee—or preferably, a beer—to discuss any details as they arise.
Anna
Anna has always been passionate about social justice and working with underserved communities. Her career path has included many different roles– therapist, educator, advocate, community organizer, volunteer coordinator, program manager– but throughout all these experiences she has maintained a passion for “speaking truth to power” and supporting people to find their own authentic voices. Since much of Anna’s career has been focused on working with people in profound pain, she relishes the opportunity to be present with marrying couples during their time of profound joy!
Anna also brings many years of experience as a dramatic performer, vocal musician and public speaker to her work as an officiant. She feels equally at home “on stage” or in a private counseling session, always sharing her unique blend of warmth, wisdom and humor. Having grown up in a blended family, and now living with her partner and stepchildren, Anna is deeply familiar with the unique joys and challenges that blended family life can provide.
Anna identifies as agnostic, and has explored many different spiritual and secular traditions. She has a deep appreciation and open-mindedness for all traditions, including atheism, and is honored to co-create wedding ceremonies that reflect a couple's own values and beliefs. Her training as a mental health professional, her deep sensitivity and empathy, and her attention to relationship-building allow Anna to understand the joys and challenges that partnered couples can face as they make a lifetime commitment to love and support each other. She has been working locally as a non-denominational officiant since 2013, and is thrilled to be joining Minnesota Secular Weddings and collaborating with her cousin Peter.
Pete
Pete began officiating weddings in 2002 when he had the privilege of officiating a close college friend's wedding. At the time, he noticed that many ceremonies lacked inclusivity, especially for LGBTQ+ couples who often struggled to find an officiant who truly understood and respected their love story. The experience was so fulfilling that he knew he wanted to continue helping all couples, regardless of their background, celebrate their love in a meaningful way.
After moving from Minnesota to Washington, DC, Pete founded DC Secular Weddings and officiated over 50 weddings, perfecting his craft along the way. However, his connection to Minnesota remained strong. Now back in his home state, Pete brings his expertise to couples across the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. He’s known for being incredibly hands-on, often found hauling boxes or ensuring every detail is just right on the wedding day. Couples appreciate his ability to infuse humor into the ceremony, creating a fun and memorable experience.
Pete collaborates closely with couples to refine their ceremonies, offering insights on what works well and suggesting tweaks when necessary. He’s always happy to meet for a coffee—or preferably, a beer—to discuss any details as they arise.
FAQs
Can we meet you before we make a decision on who to hire?
We are more than willing to meet you two for some coffee and to answer your questions in person. Hiring an officiant to perform your wedding ceremony without meeting them first is a bit like buying a car over the phone. And no, we don't charge you for the meeting. We like to meet the folks we marry prior to actual ceremony as well.
Will you file the paperwork for us, or do we have to do that?
Part of our job is to make sure that all of the paperwork is filled out correctly and filed on time, so yes, we will take care of that for you. It is important to note, however, that you must obtain your Minnesota Marriage License yourself! You and your fiance must go to any local courthouse and apply for your Marriage License. This isn't something that we can furnish for you. Your Marriage License is good for six months, so don't wait until the last minute to apply.
What about our vows?
If you would like to write your own vows, that's great. If not, we can send you about four pages of them to choose from. No cookie cutter wedding vows here.
How many sample wedding ceremonies do you have?
That's a tough question. Some wedding officiants have only two ceremonies - a long version and short one. we have about 25 weddings in our collection, but since we give our couples complete control over their ceremony, the possible number of ceremonies are endless.
Do you peform LGBTQ ceremonies?
Almost offended by the question. Of course we do! After the long fight for marriage equality in Minnesota it's an honor to finally legally perform these ceremonies.
How far can you travel for weddings?
We can travel anywhere in the state of Minnesota to peform your wedding. Ceremonies that take place more than 30 miles outside of the Minneapolis are subject to a $0.50 miliage charge. The exception to this is weddings that take place in the Brainard Lakes area. We will officiate ceremonies within 30 miles of Nisswa Minnesota.
Clients Reviews
Great Folks We've Worked With
Pricing
- The Signing
- $120
- This option is for couples needing an officiant to sign the marriage certificate. Officiant meets you at your desired location and signs the certificate. The officiant will then mail the certificate to the courthouse.
- The Standard
- $715
- With the Standard Package, you’ll receive more support from the officiant leading up to your wedding day. In addition to supplying the ceremony templates, the officiant will help you customize one of the templates to fit your style, personalities, relationship history, etc. This information will be gathered by the officiant when you and officiant meet (at a coffee shop, brewpub – your preference). The officiant will then send you a revised ceremony, and will work with you to finalize before the big day. The officiant will be available to attend your rehearsal to practice the ceremony and help coordinate the flow of the ceremony with your wedding party, if needed. Includes:
- Multiple ceremony scripts from which the couple will choose, and then work with officiant to personalize
- Coordination with other vendors prior to and day of ceremony to ensure a seemless ceremony
- Brief phone call to talk logistics of wedding day
- 2 in-person meetings to talk about the ceremony, and learn more about the couple
- Rehearsal attendance and ceremony run-through/coordination
- Sign and mail marriage certificate
- The Signature
- $900
- This package includes all of the support provided from the officiant from the Standard Package, but with additional meetings with the couple to ensure a special, customized and personal ceremony – as if you’ve known the officiant for years. If requesting The Signature Package, please note that this level of support needs time. Please contact the officiant no less than three months in advance of wedding date to ensure enough time to get to know each other before the big day. Includes:
- Standard package
- Arrive at venue an hour before the ceremony
- Additional meetings between the couple and the officiant (up to five) to enhance the personalization of the ceremony itself
- The Boating
- $300
- Want a small wedding on the water? Being the innovative company we are, MN Secular Weddings is offering weddings on a boat. Bring your partner and two witnesses and get married while taking a cruise on beautiful Leech Lake. This Includes:
- A 90 minute boat cruise
- Whatever drinks you want because it's BYOB for libability reasons
- Ceremony location options! You can get married on the boat, floating in the water, on a beach or even at a bar on the lake.