It’s Spotlight Tuesday, where we introduce you to incredible Orlando wedding vendors and share the stories behind the companies who help Wedding Venue Map couples have their best wedding day.

Hiring the right professional wedding officiant is so important on your wedding day. 

It gives us great pleasure to introduce this week’s vendor spotlight, Catherine T. Pick, of Ceremonies by Catherine.

When people ask “what do you do?” how do you answer?

I find that a lot of people do not know what an officiant is, so I will tell them, “I marry couples.”

What did you do before you did this?

I had a full-time office position at an amazing tech company for almost 6 years.

When and how did you get into the wedding industry?

I performed a childhood friend’s ceremony in 2013. It was so amazing, then 2 years later it dawned on me that I may enjoy writing and officiating wedding ceremonies for other couples. I tried it and was a success so I have continued on. After 450+ weddings I have definitely become more comfortable going with the flow and taking unexpected happenings with ease.

What is your favorite thing about what you do? What’s your WHY?

My absolute favorite thing about being involved in a couple’s wedding day is that every couple’s idea of their “perfect” wedding is completely different. Some couples want a rustic barn wedding, while others may want to have their ceremony on the beach. And you can’t forget about those lovely couples whose perfect day is finding a secluded spot on the beach or in a park and eloping!

Tell us about your most memorable event so far and why it was.

Wow, so many cool memories to choose from. Last year I had a couple mix/blend guacamole at the altar as their unity ceremony. I once had a couple hire live zombie actors to come in during cocktail hour to mingle with the guests. All the ceremonies where the couples involve their pet(s) are definitely memorable.

What’s the best part of your job?

I love that weddings are one of the best days of a couple’s life – and not only do I get to enjoy it with them, but I am fortunate to be a part of one of the most special moments of that day.

What motivates you to do this every day?

I’m always excited to see where my next wedding will take me and who I may meet once I am there!

What fun fact would people be surprised to learn about you?

I am an introvert and NOT a public speaker, by any means. But somehow, magically, weddings bring out the public speaking extrovert in me.

What is the best compliment you’ve received from your clients?

I love when the couples rave over how many guests came up to them after the ceremony with compliments on the job I did.

How did you decide on the name of your company?

I had a really difficult time thinking of a unique and catchy name that was not already in use, so I ended up with Ceremonies by Catherine because it was the most simple and effective option.

What is important for clients to know about your company before they book you?

I do take weddings seriously and I am always professional in a fun way.

What makes your business stand out from others in your category?

My fun and upbeat, yet professional personality tends to draw in couples who are seeking a non-traditional and unique wedding ceremony.

Tell us about your favorite type of engaged couple.

I love all the couples, but my favorite would have to be the ones who are socially awkward introverts like myself…I feel your pain, lovebirds.

Why do couples hire you?

Couples who hire me are looking for someone who is unique, fun, and upbeat yet still professional and reliable. I go above and beyond to ensure all of my couples are happy and love the ceremony script I create for them.

Tell us more about your most popular packages.

All of my officiating packages include the initial consultation, unlimited ceremony script revisions, unity ceremony additions, anything until the script is perfect for the couple! I always include any travel time in my quotes so there are never any additional hidden fees. Elopement ceremony pricing begins at $120 and Wedding / Commitment ceremony pricing begins at $160.

Ceremonies by Catherine shares some helpful information for engaged couples…

What are the most common questions you get asked by brides and/or grooms?

How long have you been in business? Since March 2015

How many weddings have you performed? Approximately 450 as of August 2018

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions that people have about your vendor category?

The biggest misconception is that officiants only spend 20-30 minutes doing their ‘job,’ but there is more to it. The officiant’s job is meetings with the couple, writing and customizing the script, editing the script based on the couples requests, travel time to and from the venue as well as performing the ceremony.

What some of their previous couples had to say….

“Catherine was AMAZING. We had originally hired her to be our officiant. We ended up having a last-minute cancellation with our original wedding coordinator and Catherine came in last minute to save the day! She was both an amazing coordinator and officiant and the day could not have gone smoother. I am forever grateful for her services and highly, highly recommend her to anyone planning a wedding. She led a beautiful service and made me feel so relaxed about all of the vendor coordination and moving pieces throughout the day and the night. She’s THE BEST!!!” – Rachel and Daniel – ceremony at The Casements/reception at the Atlantic Center for The Arts in Ormond/ New Smyrna

“I am so happy we choose Catherine to officiate our wedding two weeks ago. The first time we met with Catherine, it was like meeting up with an old friend. She was so funny and easy to talk to. We knew right away that she would be the perfect fit for our wedding. She wrote up a script for us, and we honestly didn’t change anything – it was perfect! It said everything we wanted without being over the top. It even had a little humor in it. At the rehearsal, Catherine made us feel at ease and made sure we knew what we were doing as we did not have a coordinator. The day of the wedding went exactly how we envisioned and our ceremony was beautiful. Catherine did an amazing job! I would absolutely recommend her as an officiant!” – Jenna and Ian, Noah’s Event Venue in Lake Mary

“Catherine’s beautiful vows made my ceremony. So many of my guests came up to me, complimenting her on her words. She’s so very kind and absolutely delightful to be around. I knew for sure I didn’t want to write my own vows but was worried about what vows an officiant would come up with. Once she started speaking, I couldn’t have been more pleased that I left it all up to her. I will never forget those words. So grateful I found her.” – Amanda and Taylor, Lake Mary Event Center in Lake Mary

Name three unique venues that you enjoy working at and why.

I absolutely love the Floridian Manor Estate in Osteen. This property has many options for where the couple can host their ceremony and reception. From the shaded area next to the lake to the garage surrounded and filled with many antique vehicles, and the barn with water mill, this sprawling property really has something for every type of couple!

I have also fallen in love with the Lake Mary Events Center. Want a lakefront wedding but don’t want to deal with the weather and bugs? Well, the Lake Mary Event Center has an amazing atrium with floor to ceiling windows for you to solemnize your vows in.

Another fantastic venue is the Crystal Ballroom in Daytona Beach. Not only does the venue have beautiful views of the Halifax River but their great team will set up and decorate your entire event! Just hire your other vendors and come enjoy your special day!