Your wedding day. It's a monumental step in life that should be cherished and beautifully rendered. And part of what makes a wedding so personalized and meaningful is the words that are shared by your officiant. You want your ceremony to reflect the unique and timeless love you share with your significant other and that's exactly what Gail Olberg strives to accomplish through her services.

As an experienced non-denominational officiant, Gail gladly performs ceremonies for all couples who come to her with love in their hearts. Ranging from casual back yard ceremonies to wedding extravaganzas, Gail performs both uniquely personalized and traditional ceremonies. Gail performs civil ceremonies throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia with the greatest concentration being the Greater Richmond area. However, Gail gladly travels to the outer regions of Virginia to destinations such as the Northern Neck region, to Arlington along the very border of Virginia and Washington DC, Charlottesville and Virginia Beach areas. If your wedding destination is anywhere within the Commonwealth of Virginia, Gail will travel to serve as your Marriage Officiant and perform your Wedding Ceremony.

Gail specializes in wedding officiant services only; she does not provide rentals or coordinate events. She is devoted to perfectly capturing your vision for your wedding and bringing it to life during your ceremony. If you have questions for Gail, give her a call today at (804) 994-5940.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME

1) A full commitment to your vision.

2) A no-cost consultation either by phone or face to face.

3) Availability by phone, email or text to answer any questions both prior to and following your event.

4) Willing to share suggestions, to wedding vendors ie: venues, photographers, caterers, wedding planners, wedding DJs etc.

5) The filing of your marriage license either by mail; or hand-delivered upon request to expedite processing.

Note: additional fee may apply for hand delivery.

6) A personalized ceremony written especially for you!

-Gail Olberg

What should the customer know about your pricing ?

My fees are tiered for basic simple elopements, small weddings, and larger weddings with rehearsals. For engagements requiring extensive travel, an additional fee to cover time and mileage may apply. For couples who are in a hurry for their Certified copies, I will travel to hand deliver the Marriage License to the applicable Court to expedite it's processing. (Subject to my availability, additional compensation required)

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

We'll initially meet in person or by phone to discuss everything to be included in their ceremony. We continue to stay in contact right up to the day of the event. My couples are encouraged to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, changes or additions regarding their ceremony.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I specialize in Civil and Non-denominational wedding ceremonies throughout Virginia receiving 5 star reviews for my ceremonies. (Civil being, no mention of God and Non-denominational being, of no particular faith but containing mention of God. For example: in a prayer) I marry couples with no guests in attendance (Elopements), formal ceremonies with 300 guests, and everything in between. Occasionally, my couples engage my services at the spur of the moment for an elopement, but usually, my couples reserve my services between 3 – 12 months in advance of their wedding date. Even for elopements.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

For many years I wanted to perform weddings. And finally, after many years of this being in the back of my mind but still in the foremost of my heart, I decided it was time that I pursue this desire to join two loving hearts and lives as one. My father was an Ordained Minister. Perhaps that’s where it stems from. In addition, I had been married to my husband for over 20 years, when I finally started marrying others, and feel I am blessed he is the best partner I could be paired with. I want to give the opportunity to others to experience the same blessing of committing their love and devotion to that special person in their lives.

What types of customers have you worked with?

I consider it my privilege to marry all couples who have love and devotion to each other and want to make the commitment of marriage. My couples consist of a man and woman or same-sex couples. They come to me of various races, cultures and religious backgrounds, in blue jeans and extremely formal attire. It doesn’t matter who they are or how their dressed, if it’s a grand event or a small intimate ceremony. If they want to be married, I’m here to marry them.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Very often the Officiant is the last person hired for the event. But keep in mind…none of this day is going to happen without the Officiant! So I suggest that couples not wait until the last second thinking they can always get an Officiant to perform the ceremony. Although that may be true. But the Officiant should be your Officiant of Choice vs. someone to fill the void. Not all Officiants are alike, any more than the results of photos taken by a professional vs. pictures from an iphone. Officiants should come with references just as any other Vendor of Choice selected for your special day. They should be dependable, competent, someone who is truly part of your wedding not just at the wedding, willing to make your day special for you, and most of all be someone you both feel comfortable and confident with.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

Although the couple may likely have some idea of what they want their ceremony to be like…they don’t have to know everything they want prior to meeting their Officiant. Your Marriage Officiant should have experience to lead the couple along the path of creating the ceremony that fits their vision. Helping the couple decide what to include and what is pertinent to their beliefs, sentiments and customs.