the #antiboringweddings officiant & adventure elopement planner
It’s been a wild ride, let me tell you! I’ve performed ceremonies at iconic venues like Amangiri, The ACE Hotel Palm Springs and the San Francisco Asian Art Museum as well as behind glass in jails, and even once in the Chino State Prison yard. I’ve flown to Spain and Las Vegas to speak at conferences as an industry expert, held meet ups in Los Angeles and New York for wedding officiants and celebrants. I’ve been a guest on dozens of podcasts for the wedding industry. I even had a podcast of my own, Spoonful of Spirituality, which was part of the Good Risings podcast family, had over a million downloads during my time as host. (You can listen to it on Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Apple Podcasts if you’re into spirituality.) I’ve won over a dozen awards due to the massive amount of 5-star reviews my couples are so generous in bestowing upon me. And with some 1,500 marriage ceremonies performed since 2011, it’s safe to say I know AND love what I do!
A Bit About Me as a Person
Queer Chicana, chronic illness girlie, she/her/hers. Abolish ICE and 🖕🏽🖕🏽 Mango Mussolini. Dedicated bedroom yogini as a spiritual practice. Passionate National and State Park nerd who adores accessible hiking, camping, and stargazing. A humble student of our indigenous siblings and learning to live as they do in balance with the earth and all her inhabitants (not just humans!). A lifelong gamer from Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros to Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Gears of War and Halo to Animal Crossing, Palia, and Luigi’s Mansion 3. Deconstructed from the Abrahamic religions (I was raised Jewish, Catholic, and American Evangelical) and decolonizing as a daily practice. Proud to claim California as home and care for her (and the Pacific Ocean) with every act. Avid reader (I aim for a book a week) spanning science and tech to feminist theory and indigenous history to smutty novels and fantasy/sci-fi. Classically trained musician who loves to explore new music (Broadway musicals! Bollywood! Tango-house fusion!) and will absolutely put classic rock, jazz, funk, goth, or emo on repeat as the mood strikes. Enthusiastic gardener who is finally growing both tomatoes and zinnias with very mixed results. Mother to a teenager and beyond proud of who they are becoming. Neurodivergent and the kind of creative that needs an outlet or I’ll ruin the furniture. Ardent coffee and tea drinker, maker and consumer of fine craft cocktails but am never above a midnight burrito run. 420-friendly witch who thinks this sacred plant has healing lessons to teach us. (Though I am a garden gummy/drink girl exclusively because *asthma*.) Romantic dreamer who knows how wonderful it is that the iron in our blood literally comes from the formation of stars. Believes in love, reciprocity, and that clarity is kindness. A person who is doing her damnedest to leave the people and places she interacts with better for the encounter. Grateful for every opportunity to behold and celebrate the beauty of the people and land who share this time and space with me. Proud to minister (which literally means “to serve the needs of others”) to mi gente in whatever way I am able.
Which brings me to another point of this business that is essential to discuss…
The Ethics of My Business Model
Wedding Pricing
It is important to me that you understand how I price my services.
Viable Sustainability
I watched at least 1 in 5 of my colleagues go out of business during the pandemic. Another 15-20% simply left the industry entirely due to a lack of financial stability so their wedding business is now just a hobby if it’s still anything at all. Even before all of this, I lived at the poverty line for most of my 20s. I know the importance of having enough firsthand.
That’s why my pricing is based on calculations to ensure I make a “good living”, meaning I can support my family sustainably without grinding myself into poor health, burnout, and misery. I know that when you reserve your date with me, you’re expecting me to be healthy, happy, and creative 2-24 months from now so I can craft and present a meaningful ritual with some pretty big emotional, social, and legal ramifications. I want to make sure you get what you’re paying for and my pricing helps ensure that.
Equity
I always have and always will offer a affordable, fun options for those who wish to get married but can’t afford much (or simply don’t want to spend a lot of money). That’s why I have different service levels to meet the needs of everyone I can.
You can learn about my affordable wedding options by going through the Package Quiz here.
Elopement Pricing
I partner with dozens of vendors to deliver to you my all-inclusive elopement packages all over the West Coast. Each one of these photographers and florists are creators and small businesses in their own right with literally some 150 years of combined experience between us all.
Amazing to think about when it’s put that way, isn’t it?
Reciprocal, Sustainable, and Never Exploitative
Apparently I’ve taken a revolutionary stance by saying both 1) being really good at what you do should mean you’re paid well for it and 2) no one should be exploited in an ethical business, neither service provider nor client. This means finding the happy balance between paying every vendor well while keeping it reasonable for my clients so everyone is thrilled. I price these elopements to be reflective of both our skills and time while still giving you an epic celebration that is some of the best money you’ve ever spent, all while still being a fraction of the cost of an average American wedding. For context, my all-inclusive (officiant + planner + florist + photographer) elopement packages range from $3,299 to $8,999 while the average wedding here in California cost $40k in 2025, which is 21% more than the national average American wedding cost of $33k. Even with my most expensive package, you’re saving up to $31k from the average cost by eloping!
My goal for every single elopement to have everyone involved — you and me and the photographer and the florist and the Park Ranger we interact with — to be thrilled with their experience of it. When you say “Let’s get married by Marie!” for your elopement, that’s what you’re saying too.