There is no greater feeling in this world than to love and to be loved.
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. It has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give, which is why one shouldn’t go into marriage with the 50/50 assumption, but rather with the expectation of 100/100 from each other.
Shawna, Denise and Mat believe that marriage is a sacred commitment and not just a passing experience through life’s journey. It’s a bond and a promise, made by a declaration in the presence of loved ones. And THIS is where Weddingbella can help.
Shawna. Denise and Mat are dedicated to every couple, ensuring that their wedding ceremony is EXACTLY what they desire. Our moto is "until you LOVE it, its' not done"! Weddingbella customizes every wedding ceremony down to the smallest detail, with a variety of ceremonies to fit every budget.
($175/$225/$325); Quickie, Mini-Matrimony, and Uniquely Yours.
If you're wanting a family member or friend to do the honours, we can help your personal officiant with creating your ceremony, running your rehearsal or simply giving them advice and guidance to set them on the path for a successful ceremony experience. We can also act as the "legal eagle" so that your personal officiant doesn't have to deal with Vital Statistics. Let us take care of the legalities, leaving the fun part of creating and officiating your ceremony for your personal officiant!
Whether you‘re getting married in a house of worship, banquet hall, country club, barn, park, house, hotel, restaurant, art gallery, library or backyard, Weddingbella can preside over your nuptials within the province of Manitoba.
Please take a moment to read full testimonials we've received from our couples below. While you are there, check out our photo gallery and videos from our couples as well.
We would love to chat with you about the plans you've made for your Wedding Day. Call, email, or use the green "contact" link below for more information on how Weddingbella can help make the day of your dreams both magical and memorable!
Services Include:
- Civil ceremonies
- Faith-based ceremonies
- Cultural ceremonies
- Inclusive ceremonies (love is love)
- Special ceremonies (sand, water, rose, etc)
- Vow Renewal or Re-commitment Ceremonies
- Wedding rehearsals
- Helping Hand services
- Ideas for ceremony (poems, songs, prayers, scriptures, ring exchange, vows, etc.)
- Initial meeting (done via Zoom or other video platform)
- Unlimited edits to ceremony
- Registration of Marriage with Vital Statistics
- Assistance with requesting your Marriage Certificate (required for name changes or Immigration purposes)
- Other services upon request
Marriage Licenses
Before tying the knot, a Marriage License is required.
Weddingbella can provide this service to you.
Marriage Licenses must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony and are valid for 3 months.
When you meet with us for your Marriage License, you will need the following:
- Identification
- Parental Names and Place of Birth
- If previously married, an "original" Divorce Certificate or Decree
- If widowed, proof of passing
- $100 cash or E-transfer only
For additional details, please click on the link below
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARTCILE FEATURING WEDDINGBELLA
Shawna Peterson was interviewed by Carolyne Braid, a correspondent for the Winnipeg Free Press community newspaper in April 2023.
The article provides nuggets of "do's and don'ts" advice for both couples and guests.
DON'T WING YOUR WEDDING VOWS!
Nuptial couples have been moving away from more traditional weddings and choosing to create something that is uniquely their own. Shawna Peterson of Weddingbella shares some quick tips for both couples and guests on how to navigate these new waters.
“Some of the biggest faux pas I have seen at weddings are when couples attempt to ‘wing’ their vows,” Shawna said. “Whether they’ve forgotten them at home, thought they had time to prepare them the day of or wanted their vows to be an impromptu disclosure of sentiment, this has generally not gone over well during the ceremony. With the spotlight directly on the couple, our natural reaction is to freeze up.”
She recommends that you prepare ahead of time and practice, so you can share your promises with ease on your big day.
Another trend is having a family or friend act as your officiant.
“This in itself is not a faux pas,” Shawna said. “However, when you don’t seek the counsel of someone who knows how to create a ceremony, the couple may not get the ceremony they anticipate from their loved one. I’ve witnessed many ceremonies that were less than five minutes long because their officiant didn’t realize how short the ceremony would be.”
As for guests, Shawna says to keep the following in mind:
• Don’t be late and don’t be just on-time… show up at least 15 minutes early. The bride may be waiting in a vehicle until she sees everyone inside. Don’t be the reason the wedding start late;
• Tip bartenders (regardless of whether it’s a cash or open bar);
• Don’t be “that uncle” who drains the open bar tab. Open bars are there to be enjoyed responsibly;
• RSVP in a timely manner as couples don’t have time to follow up with each guest. If a couple has requested an electronic reply and you’re not tech savvy, phone them to respond;
• Take note of who is invited to the wedding (the invitation may not specify and it’s perfectly OK to ask). Don’t assume it includes your children or your new boy/girlfriend. Weddings are expensive, so make sure the couple is OK with your plus-one And don’t be offended by their response.
Shawna Peterson has been officiating weddings since 2014. She offers a variety of ceremony services including acting as an advisor for couples. For more information, visit www.weddingbella.ca or call 204-471-4880
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
A 30% non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking.
Deposits may be carried over to a future date (year) if your wedding date has changed.
If rescheduled date is within the following calendar year, the price quoted for services will be honored.
(Example. Original wedding scheduled for 2022 and is postponed until 2023, pricing and deposit remain unchanged)
If rescheduled date is outside the following year, the couple will be subject to a new contract, indicating new pricing, amended ceremony date, time and location, however the deposit will still be carried over.
(Example. Original wedding scheduled for 2022 and is postponed until 2023, then postponed again until 2024, a new contract will be created and the deposit is carried over)
A rescheduled ceremony date must be in mutual agreement with the Weddingbella Officiant. The couple will be responsible for 75% of the services if Weddingbella is not available on the rescheduled date, and a draft or final ceremony has been provided to the couple.
Balance due 24 hour prior to Wedding ceremony or day of Wedding Rehearsal (whichever is soonest).
Refunds are not provided, unless Weddingbella is unable to fulfill the original contract.
If a client cancels services after a draft or final ceremony has been created, 75% of service fees will immediately be due to Officiant.
All Weddingbella Officiants have the right to a safe workplace, therefore if they deem it unsafe (due to COVID-19, other illness, or for any other reason), they may leave the Wedding ceremony without providing a refund to the couple.
The Marriage License is a legal document. Parties who will be signing the Marriage License must be of sound mind and not under any excessive influence of drugs or alcohol.
Late Starts (for Rehearsal or Wedding): If the rehearsal or ceremony is delayed more than 15 minutes, a $25 late fee will be applied for each half hour beyond the original start time
*** This also applies to Weddingbella Officiants – If we arrive more than 15 minutes late, we either deduct $25 from your final invoice or we reimburse YOU $25 for each half hour beyond the original start time
CEREMONY PACKAGES, Services and Fees
Effective January 1, 2024
Uniquely Yours
Wedding ceremonies are a personal and intimate exchange of love, which is why the Uniquely Yours ceremony is a favourite choice amongst couples. Your ceremony will be a reflection of you, incorporating cultural traditions, faith-based beliefs, or traditional elements.
Weddingbella will schedule a Zoom meeting with you, then customize your ceremony down to the smallest detail ensuring that it is Uniquely Yours!
$325 - Ceremony Only
$450- Ceremony and Rehearsal Bundle
Mini Matrimony
The time-saver ceremony. You provide us with your vow and ring exchange selections (don't worry, we have resources to help you with that), and we'll write you a beautiful ceremony approximately 10 minutes long. Before you know it, your "I Do's" are finished and you're ready to continue the celebration with your loved ones!
$225
The Quickie
No need to shake the nerves off for this ceremony....it's not a ceremony at all. A quick exchange of verbal and written legalities in front of 2 witnesses (and your officiant) and your married!
If you want to do a vow and ring exchange, the legal exchanges will be used
(no personal vows or ring exchange)
Perfect for couples planning a destination wedding and want to "make it legal" before their tropical sandy beach wedding.
$175
Wedding Rehearsal
The Wedding Rehearsal is an important service to consider when planning your wedding. A one-hour wedding rehearsal is usually sufficient in ensuring that the ceremony goes smoothly. While not mandatory, a rehearsal is encouraged if you have a medium-large wedding party or have incorporated additional elements in your ceremony (practice makes for a perfect wedding ceremony)
$150
Helping Hand
The Helping Hand service is often used when couples select a friend or family member to officiate their wedding. We will assist your Personal Officiant by providing our advice and guidance on creating the ceremony, or review the ceremony to ensure it includes all the legal requirements. We will also assist them with running your rehearsal.
To legally marry you and your fiancé, your Personal Officiant will require a Temporary Marriage Officiating License from the Province of Manitoba. For a few dollars more, we can provide the legal signature at your ceremony, saving your Personal Officiant's time and anxiety of applying for their own license. We also take care of all the legal paperwork, ensuring error free forms are sent into Vital Statistics in a timely manner. Your friend or family member still performs the ceremony, while we ensure the legal obligations are met.
(starts at $50)
Depending on how many services are requested - bundling discounts applied
Contact Weddingbella for a quote and a list of all Helping Hand services
Marriage License
$100
Mileage
Mileage fees apply to rural Wedding Rehearsals and Ceremonies only
0.50/km - .60/km (depending on current fuel pricing)
WEDDINGBELLA GIFT PACKAGE (By Shawna)
Selected Ceremonies will Receive:
Commemorative Wedding Ceremony
Weddingbella Marriage Certificate
Wedding Card
Small Weddingbella Gift
MEET JOEL AND KYLE FROM DUQUE IMMIGRATION
A NEW RELATIONSHIP - BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
Weddingbella & Duque Immigration are working hard to bring couples together from all over the world.
Duque Immigration Agents are authorized by Canada’s Provincial and Federal Government to represent foreign nationals with their immigration applications or immigration proceedings. They deliver highly competent, ethical services and moderate pricing in all areas of immigration practices.
How does Weddingbella fit in to their services? Founder and CEO, Joel Duque and his awesome staff assist with the immigration process and Weddingbella provides ceremony services for clients wishing to be married in Manitoba. It's a unique relationship that Weddingbella is excited to be a part of.
For more information, simply click on the picture and you will automatically be directed to Duque Immigration's website.
Shawna Joy Peterson
Shawna Peterson is Manitoba born and raised, and has lived most of her life here.
She is married to Dave, her awesome partner in life of 34 years. She enjoys being a Nana to 4 beautiful grandchildren, ranging from newborn (January 16, 2024) to 11 years old.
Shawna has always loved and lived life to the fullest. She wrote an entertaining book in 2015 which depicts some of the funniest moments in her life. She views life through rose-colored glasses and believes the glass is ALWAYS “almost full” (half glass full is for skeptics) and believes there is light in every corner of darkness.
Shawna’s faith, steadfast belief in love and the constitution of marriage, coupled with the natural gift of serving others, makes Marriage Officiating a match made in heaven.
Shawna's first wedding was in 2014 when she had the honour of officiating her niece’s wedding. This began to fuel a passion as she officiated several weddings for family, friends and colleagues. In 2018, she retired from her 28 year career in the Federal Public Service, and shortly thereafter, created Weddingbella,
Shawna, Denise and Mat would love to chat with you about your wedding plans and create a masterpiece ceremony that your Wedding Day deserves!
Personal Note from Shawna
A big THANK YOU to all the couples who have trusted the Weddingbella team to make your Wedding Day both magical and memorable. It is an honour to be a part of one of the most important days in your lives.
It brings me great joy and pride to be working with this team of officiants. Their uniqueness and individuality makes it possible for couples to choose the Officiant that is the right fit for them.
Denise has been a Weddingbella Officiant since it's creation in 2019, and Mat recently joined the team, making him the "Weddingfella" of Weddingbella.
Denise Borowski
Denise is happily married to her husband of 35 years and has always been an active member of her community while raising two children. She's has also had a lengthy career at the University of Manitoba and remains there today.
She currently volunteers for Prairie Strides as a side-walker, which is an extremely rewarding opportunity. In the winter months, she spends time at the curling rink and enjoys a long bike ride in the summer.
Her spare time is spent with family and friends, which is especially important to her.
Personal Note from Denise
I met Shawna in 2019 and soon after, became a member of the Weddingbella Team. It has been a fun filled adventure, working alongside Shawna doing what we both love to do.
Meeting new couples in love, both excited and nervous as they start planning their wedding, warms my heart and I am always honored to have a role to play. Sorting out the details, and designing a ceremony unique to them and their relationship is a privilege and a job I do not take lightly.
In the end I am blessed with the front row seat on one of the most important days of their lives and for that I am thankful.
Mat Pilgrim
Mat grew up in Altona: a small town in Southern Manitoba, where he learned the value of community and the importance of family. In later years, after he married his husband, he moved to Winnipeg where the hustle and bustle of city life taught him how to pivot quickly to life's little (or big) hiccups.
It was their own wedding that seeded his desire to become a celebrant. His wedding was simple, fun, yet elegant. It was officiated by a family friend who showed them that weddings don't have to conform to a cookie cutter, but can be the special day you want it to be.
So what is a celebrant? Some say it is the person who performs a wedding ceremony. Others broaden that further to say a celebrant is a person who performs a rite or ceremony. Mat would say that a celebrant is the Lead Celebrator; the person that sets the tone for the celebration. He really wants to be that person for you.
weddingbella videos
Click on button, then the video option to view these Weddingbella magic moments!
Danielle & Chad (Chris Jensen)
Sara & Michael (Abdul, Visual Koroma)
Lisa & Axel (Ferdie, FD Wedding Films)
Mary & Anthony (Ferdie, FD Wedding Films)
Jess & Bryan (Chris Jensen)
Kim & Gowan (Chris Jensen)
Lindsey & Chris (Chris Jensen)
testimonials
Shawna delivered an exceptional and heartfelt ceremony
We reached out to Shawna a couple days before our planned marriage date due to an unforeseen cancellation from our initial officiant (pastor). Shawna agreed to take on the officiating of our marriage with little to no notice. Shawna delivered an exceptional and heartfelt ceremony for us and our family. Thank you so much!
Kris and Marco
July 18, 2024
It was a great experience
Shawna was awesome. She went above and beyond and made sure everything had that bespoke (customized) feel. She made our special day that much more special, and we appreciate her so much!
Jess and Brett
July 12, 2024
A NOTE OF THANKS
Shawna, your service was amazing and we owe you a great deal for ensuring our ceremony ran smoothly. You were a joy to work with. Thank you for everything?
Crizelyn and Bretton
June 29, 2024
Denise was helpful throughout the whole process
I highly recommend Weddingbella to anyone looking to get married in Manitoba
Yuraj
June 28, 2024
NOTE OF THANKS: Shawna, you made our day the beautiful day it was
I felt so confident with you by my side, and so supported throughout the planning process When life threw us an unexpected curveball, you were the rock that kept everything moving and you were the voice of reason during preparations for and on the day of the ceremony. Your energy was calming, but also so happy, I couldn't help but smile anytime I was near you. You were a true gem. I could tell that you cared for Ryan's health above all else, and that means the world to us. Thank you for being who you are, and thank you for contributing to the best day of our lives. We will always remember you when we remember the day! I want you know that I've received numerous compliments about how great you were. You are truly a beautiful soul inside and out Shawna! I can't imagine anyone else up there with us, You are truly so special.
Kaylee and Ryan
July 6, 2024
Shawna was absolutely amazing through the whole process
From start to finish, she provided great communication and offered so much knowledge and expertise to us. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for an officiant.
Katherine and Colin
June 21, 2024
Note of Thanks:
Thankyou so much again for everything. It was a great ceremony, and it was everything I imagined. I am definitely recommending you to anyone who needs an officiant.
We Won Our Ceremony Through the Wonderful Wedding Show
Post Wedding Survey Testimonial:
We wanted to have a short and sweet ceremony and Shawna was able to deliver a ceremony that was short and sweet, yet still personal to us as well. Shawna was always quick to respond to any emails or texts, and was willing and able to answer any questions we have. We won our ceremony from the wedding show, but we would have gladly paid for her services if we had not. Could not recommend Shawna and Weddingbella more!
Social Media Vendor Review:
We won our ceremony from the Wedding Show, but honestly we were going to pick Shawna as our officiant anyways! She is very easy to talk to, quick to communicate with and has a true passion for her job. She made sure to get to know us as much as possible to make our ceremony as personable as possible. Everything ran super smoothly and was beautiful!
Megan and Ryan
June 22, 2024
Excellent Service
Shawna was excellent and really helped my wife and I out. We had a very little window to try and get married and she came through with a quickie ceremony and 2 witnesses for a very reasonable price. It was a quick and beautiful legal ceremony and she made us very comfortable the whole way. Excellent service!
Nick and Ashlyn
June 21, 2024
I would definitely recommend Shawna.
Shawna made my son's and daughter in law's wedding day perfect. We had a last minute change to the ceremony venue from outdoors to indoors. She was quick to make sure everyone knew what to do and the ceremony was absolutely perfect. Thank you Shawna for making their day so special.
Diane (Mother of the Groom)
May 25, 2024
Shawna was Wonderful!
Right from the first interaction to the last, we felt her warm and welcoming presence, her communication was outstanding and overall was a pleasure to work with! I honestly can say we could have not picked a better person to be our officiant and she truly found her calling.
Brittany and Sonny
May 15, 2024
Would 1000% recommend Weddingbella!!!
We could not have wishes for a more caring, friendly officiant. Shawna made us feel so special. Our wedding was perfect and some of that came down to Shawna.
Scott and Ashley
May 11, 2024
Weddingbella was so easy to work with
Shawna made the whole process easy to understand and help dramatically lower the stress of the process. A very friendly, respectful service and we are very grateful to those who were involved in getting us wed.
Dan and Rolanda
April 13, 2024
Amazing!
Shawna with Weddingbella was absolutely amazing. She made our wedding ceremony experience amazing. We wanted something more us then traditional. She did just that! Thanks so much!!
Courtney and Greg
January 20, 2024
Shawna Was Great!
She crafted a ceremony and vows that perfectly captured our values and tastes. Her delivery was relaxed and upbeat- perfect for our casual wedding. I highly recommend her services.
Judy and Mark
January 5, 2024
A Word of Thanks to Shawna
Thank you so much for making a special trip out to the lake to help us get married officially! You were so incredibly helpful and made the process go so smoothly - we are so grateful. Also thank you for the cute gift you gave us.
Danielle and Caleb
August 26, 2023
Denise was fantastic from beginning to end
She made us feel very comfortable with the whole process of creating our ceremony, right through to what to expect the day of our wedding. I was able to relax and enjoy the moment as I knew she had everything taken care of.
Laureen and Shayne
September 23, 2023
We couldn't appreciate her more!
Shawna was great, attentive and supportive. She was clear and effective. Everything ran smooth and we appreciated her so much.
Nicole and Justin
October 7, 2023
I Highly Recommend Shawna to make your big day extra magical
Shawna did an outstanding job catering to some of our very specific ceremony requests (we had a nontraditional celestial/fantasy theme) while also relaxing some of the more formal moments to fit our casual vibe. It was a pleasure to interact with Shawna in the early days as we developed the ideas. HIghly recommended!!
Jess and Bryan
September 23, 2023
1000% worth it
If you're looking for someone to write your ceremony, look no further than Shawna at Weddingbella. She did an amazing job for us both writing our ceremony and helping write our vows.
Joy Lachance
Working with Shawna was a breeze
From the wedding planning to the day of the ceremony, everything was so easy.. She is very easy going and offers tons of support and guidance. Shawna is caring and shows a lot of passion for what she does. Nothing but exceptional things to say about her and her professionalism.
Danielle and Chad
September 17, 2023
Denise was Fantastic!
She kept us organized and on track. She created such a beautiful ceremony for us and made sure we were happy with it. We received a lot of compliments from our guests.
Alana & Patrick
October 21, 2023
10/10
Shawna was amazing. She listened to what we wanted and made it happen. Helped us create our perfect short and sweet ceremony. It was perfect. We highly suggest her as your officiant!
Nikki and Dylan
August 11, 2023
I would highly recommend Shawna for your special occassion
Shawna Peterson is such a kind and warmhearted individual. She took the time to get to know us as a couple. Many of our guests commented that they had never seen a ceremony that was the perfect balance between elegance, humour, and vulnerability and that was all thanks to Shawna's guidance and magic touch.
Carolyne and Brett
August 12, 2023
We are so happy that Shawna was a part of this journey with us
We couldn't have asked for a better wedding officiant. Shawna is amazing and did an incredible job withing with us on such short notice to create our ceremony and make it unique to us. She was kind, patient, professional, and knowledgeable. We also enjoyed and appreciated laughing together and having fun in this whole process. It was easy and we highly recommend Weddingbella. We can't thank her enough.
Lori and Rob
August 5, 2023
I highly recommend Shawna as she will bring all your ceremony hopes and dreams to fruition
Where do I begin? From the very beginning Shawna was enthusiastic, engaged, thorough, amusing and of course, all business where necessary and appropriate. She brought genuine charisma, emotion and truth to our life and relationship stories. She gained the attention and engagement from everyone who attended. The feedback to us from her officiating our ceremony has been nothing but praise and accolades
Valerie and Paul
July 29, 2023
Cochrane, AB
Note of Thanks:
A simple thank you is hardly adequate for all you have done for us. All of your hard work, effort and time are recognized and appreciated beyond measure. You out did yourself and put extra time and energy into the little things that made a difference. I really enjoyed the planning process of the ceremony with you and am forever grateful for all you did for us as I'm sure you do for all your other couples/clients.
Beautiful day with a beautiful Officiant
Shawna was great! Made our ceremony beautiful. Very knowledgeable and was quick with response times. Everything went smoothly and she always made sure we were heard with our ideas and then she brought them to life.
Mona and Joe
July 7, 2023
Note of Thanks:
Thank you so much for taking the time to make sure our ceremony was prefect! We couldn't of done it without you!
Denise definitely made our day extra special
Denise showed up early and came to find me before the ceremony. Since the rain was delaying some things, she made sure I was okay and remained positive the entire time. Throughout the planning process, she was checking in with me regularly which was fantastic.
Sian and John
July 15, 2023
Shawna created our perfect ceremony
We had Shawna from Weddingbella as our officiant and she was great! Just fell in love with her at the wedding show, and she helped us through the planning of the ceremony. She was very helpful in finding the Filipino traditions I wanted in my ceremony. . Shawna was extremely helpful and informative in the whole process of creating our perfect ceremony, as well as the steps to take following the ceremony. We just loved working with Shawna. I would definitely recommend Shawna to anyone looking for an Officiant.
Mary and Anthony
June 24, 2023
Denise was such a joy to work with
She handled the entire ceremony and was able to get us drafts of it super early in the planning process. Not only did she take care of officiating the ceremony, but she also dedicated extra time to help the groomsmen talk over the processional of the day, since she could tell I was a little nervous after our rehearsal. She even assisted the boys with pinning their boutonnieres on the Wedding Day. I would absolutely recommend her and Weddingbella. We also found their prices to be very reasonable.
Cassidy and Nick
June 24, 2023
Shawna was so amazing to work with!
She went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and understood all the pieces that needed to be arranged for a well organized, intimate and loving ceremony.
Danika and Brad
May 20, 2023
Shawna was such a pleasure to work with for our wedding
We wanted something personal but short and sweet and Shawna worked with us to find the perfect balance. She was supportive the whole way through and made many things super easy for us. Weddingbella was even able to supply us with our marriage license. We were so happy to have her there on our wedding day.
Alicia and Sage
May 22, 2023
Note of Thanks:
Thank you so much for all your help with our ceremony. You helped make all our wedding dreams come true. Thank you also for the sweet gifts and beautiful card. We feel so lucky to have had you with us on our big day.
Margaret and Evan
October 9, 2022
We are so happy to have Shawna's expertise while planning our wedding
Her communication was very prompt and feedback was always helpful. She always ensured we knew our options on how to personalize our ceremony the way we wanted. She made us feel very supported during the planning and on the wedding day. Would highly recommend.
Vanessa and Steuart
June 3, 2023
There is nothing that could have imporved our experience with Shawna
Shawna did a great job through everything. I wouldn't have had it any other way. She was great through the entire process.
Stephanie and Kyle
August 30, 2022
Note of Thanks: Thank you so much Shawna. Everything was awesome and we couldn't have asked for anything more. You went above and beyond.
Denise is warm, professional and punctual with communication
We signed up for the Helping Hand Service and it was everything we were looking for. Denise took care of all the paperwork and ensured our wedding day prep and follow up went as smooth as possible. We would recommend Denise and Weddingbella to anyone planning a wedding.
Kristyn and Brett
August 27, 2022
Shawna created a ceremony that was truly "us"
We originally planned on asking a family member to officiate our wedding since we hoped to have someone who knew us well. I heard about Weddingbella when Shawna delivered a presentation at the Our Local Wedding Expo explaining all the benefits of hiring an officiant. What stood out to us was the assistance with ensuring all the legal requirements of the ceremony and processing of the paperwork go smoothly.
Are we ever glad we decided to hire Shawna! Not only did she provide excellent navigation of our ceremony, including legal requirements and marriage license support, but she also helped us create a ceremony that was truly us!
There are so many options to build a ceremony that is customized to you and your partner. We really felt like Shawna knew us well and we felt well taken care of throughout the entire process.
Even when we had some last-minute hiccups with our venue for the rehearsal. She remained patient and helped us problem solve.
I remember turning to my partner and saying how I wished Shawna was our event coordinator! We continue to receive complements about the beautiful and intimate ceremony we shared with our guests.
Heather and Jesse
September 24, 2022
Note of Thanks: Thank you for the sweet gifts included in the envelope. There are a lot of birch tress where I have been going camping with my family since I was a baby, so birch trees hold a special place in my heart!
We've already recommended Shawna's services!
Weddingbella, and specifically Shawna Peterson is/was absolutely our deepest pleasure to have guiding us to wedded bliss. Nothing could have been done better. With the most deepest thanks and love, we appreciate the experience whole heartedly!
Melonie and Joe
September 24, 2022
Note of Thanks: Words cannot express our thanks. You guided us beautifully the entire way. Nothing was left unaccounted for. Thank you for a million, trillion reasons and many are because of you. May you know how special you are and the light and love you carry. Also, thank you so much for all the goodies in the envelope! Everything was so, so perfect. We are so lucky to have you and your support along the way through this journey.
Denise was great!
She really took the time to get to know us and that was reflectingin our ceremony. We would highly recommend her services to anyone.
Noelle and Alex
September 24, 2022
Note of Thanks: Thank you so, so much for everything! The ceremony was lovely and exactly what we asked for.
Shawna was truly amazing!
She had two days to get everything together for our wedding and she did such an amazing job! We couldn't have asked for a better Officiant. One thing I would suggest is to make sure people know there is a limit on how much alcohol you can have before the ceremony. We would not have normally known that. Thankfully we only had 2 and we were fine.
Ashley and Louis
September 3, 2022
Note from Shawna: Yes, all legal documents need to be signed of sound mind and alcohol / cannabis have limits for whoever is signing the marriage license. This is usually stated in the Officiants contract, however a reminder a couple days before the ceremony is a good standard practice I may adopt going forward. Thank you for the suggestion!
Our ceremony was perfect!
Shawna made sure everything went smoothly four our special day. I couldn't have asked for anything more. She worked with us throughout the wedding planning to ensure we had everything we wanted included in our ceremony.
Stephany and Trevor
September 3, 2022
The experience was of 5/5 stars!
Shawna made the entire wedding experience a blast! She was so knowledgeable and helpful all the way through, and kept a smile on everyone's face every step of the way.
Kendal and Marlon
August 20, 2022
Shawna was absolutely amazing from the very beginning
We wanted my family member to officiate us but didn't want the hassle or stress of actually getting her licensed as she is from California. Shawna met us after our ceremony to go through the legalities and sign our marriage license. She also took care of mailing the documents in for us which was absolutely fantastic. We had no worries what-so-ever! We highly recommend Shawna and her team, whether you go with the Helping Hand service like us, or have them officiate your wedding.
Avery and Orval
August 27, 2022
Very Professional and Dilegent
We had Shawna as our Officiant for our Wedding. She went above and beyond in making sure everything went as smoothly as possible. She provided superb service and truly made our special day flawless and perfect.
Ashley and Travis
August 27, 2022
Shawna is Great
She is the best in what she does. I will always recommend her!
Yomi and Ola
August 13, 2022
I highly recommend Shawna's Uniquely Yours wedding ceremony
Shawna felt like a second mother....she was so kind, patient and just the amount of leadership we needed to get our butts in gear. We received so many compliments about our ceremony and how beautiful and creative it was to us as a couple. I felt nervous going into the rehearsal but Shawna made all my nerves go away. It was perfectly executed and she was able to get a large group to listen. We will forever be grateful for Shawna.
Chanelle and Nick
July 9, 2022
10/10
Shawna is professional when she needs to be, a hard ass when necessary, and always fun and ready to have a good time.
Mat and Janelle
July 17, 2022
We found Shawna at the Wonderful Wedding Show
She is amazing! Since it was a Covid wedding, we ended up doing plan E. She would always touch base with us and would always ask if we needed any help. She kept us updated on all the public health orders.
Jade and Jose
July 7, 2021
I cannot recommend Shawna enough
I'd of easily been lost without her. In a week's time, we had an entire ceremony good to go and answers to so many questions we had. Not to mention the ones we didn't even think of.
Courtney and Jeff
July 9, 2022
We are so glad we had Denise as our Officiant
She took the time to get to know each of us and helped us put together our vows. We also appreciated that she was open to adding Filipino cultural elements to our ceremony. Denise definitely helped to make our wedding day special.
Note of thanks: Thankyou so much for all your help these past few months. You really made our ceremony special and unforgettable.
Christina and Steven
March 16, 2022
Excellent Services =
Shawna delivered excellent officiating services in a friendly, professional manner.
Brenda and John
August 6, 2022
A major thank you to Shawna Peterson
After planning 4 different weddings, 2 different locations, and the last minute having to reduce it to 10 people with restrictions, our wedding turned out more incredible that imagined. A major thank you to Shawna Peterson from Weddingbella. She made our ceremony so amazing. She's so sweet, caring, funny and outgoing, and we need more people like her these days. She went above and beyond our expectations. If anyone still needs a Marriage Commissioner, I highly recommend her.
Danielle and Shayne
October 2, 2020
Weddingbella helped saved what could of been a disastrous bridal walk
We had our super small backyard wedding and we loved every moment of it. Of my course my 2 year old, the flower girl, had a meltdown right at the moment we were about to walk out. We tried everything to calm hr down which seemed to make it worse and our wonderful officiant, Shawna at Weddingbella came to check on us. I'm not going to lie, because I had pictured my cute 2 year old walking happily down the aisle throwing flowers and I wanted to cry. I was on the verge of my own meltdown and Shawna's calm demeanor made me calm right down. After that, it was smooth sailing and we had a wonderful ceremony. So happy with everything she has done from being super courteous and thoughtful. She gave us a really sweet wedding gift too. We felt so blessed by Shawna just by being herself and we need more people in the world like her. I'm sure others couples who have worked with Shawna feel the same way.
Mary and Daniel
August 9, 2020
Shawna went above and beyond
We can't imagine what she could have possibly have done different or better. We started over a half hour late because we had to completely unlace the corset on my dress. Shawna patiently dealt with the guests, THEN laced me up in the dress in the unbearable heat inside our travel trailer. She was calm and made me believe that everything would be fine.
Elitha and Scott
July 10, 2021
I cannot say how truly AMAZING Shawna from Weddingbella is.
She goes above and beyond. Our 1st anniversary is coming and we have received a lovely card in the mail. Shawna is personal, she remembers key details and truly works every single little detail out. Wedding planning was exhausting and not really for me, and I'm terrible at providing those key details. Shawna was so amazing. She worked with all of the information we gave her and filled in the blanks. She provided 2 ceremonies for us, and I'm so glad she made our day extra special, especially with all the little tokens and memorabilia she provided us. She truly include every little thing and sure our kids were a HUGE part of our ceremony. Plus, when I initially booked Shawna, she was on vacation doing a phone call from her vacation spot AND her car. How amazing! Just truly a wonderful, sweet, and caring person. She will make your day ultra special. We can't wait for the years to pass by already so we can use her again for our vow renewals. If you have a special day coming up, talk to Shawna...she's incredible!
Bunny and Kyle
February 6, 2021 AND
October 17, 2021
Never have I met someone who believes so deeply in the constitution of marriage as Shawna does
Never have I met someone who believes so deeply n the constitution of marriage or "loves love" as much as Shawna does. She has a beautiful presence and love truly shines through her laugh and smile....the best person to marry two people! We had no doubt she would make our ceremony special, warm and personal. Having Shawna as our officiate our wedding was a blessing and asking her was the easiest decision we had to make.
Robyn and Brad
May 2014
Shawna's services were excellent
She made this day an easy and enjoyable experience. She was willing to accommodate and willing to work with our needs and wants. Shawna is personable and you made our day feel special. Thank you again Shawna. I would definitely and highly recommend your services to friends and family.
Johanna and Chris
May 21, 2020
Denise helped us to bring the truest meaning and our hearts desires to fruition
Without a doubt, our wedding day was made extra special, all in thanks to Shawna
The preparation, thoughtfulness and genuine desire to ensure our wants, beliefs and needs were met are things that Shawna made a high priortiy. It is evident that Shawna truly loves what she does and believes in the sanctity of marriage. Shawna's sense of humour, laughter and bright smile made it much easier to work through the stresses often associated with planning a wedding. We were truly blessed to have Shawna officiate our ceremony and we can't thank her enough. You will ALWAYS and forever to a part of our life.
Joan and Rob
August 26, 2017
Shawna was an enormous part of making our day perfect
Her attention to detail in ensuring that the ceremony was a direct reflection of our belief system, made it feel like we were being married in a church. She incoroprated pieces of our lives prior to meeting each other, with respect. She also honoured our adult children in the ceremony as we became one big family. With humour and always a joyful disposition Shawna made the ceremony th easiest decision in the wedding planning process
Flo and Peter
June 9, 2018
Denise did an amazing job - we are so happy with the service we received from her.
Shawna is by far, the most caring and passionate person ever
She's super easy going, and absolutely cares about each and every one of her couples. Shes is very accommodating and I would highly recommend Weddingbella to any bride. Want a wedding you'll remember? Let Weddingbella help you "tie the knot"!
Kellie and Andrew
August 7, 2021
The ceremony Shawna wrote for my uncle to officiate was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.
If you don't have a wedding officiant , or need someone to help write vows, I absolutely recommend Shawna Peterson at Weddingbella. Working with her over the past few months has been amazing. She is so sweet and fund, and always has a cool little story to tell. We had some really fun video chats with her, and the ceremony draft she wrote (Uniquely Yours package) for my uncle to officiate on our wedding day was absolutely beautiful. I had tears in my eyes reading it for the first time. It is one of the keepsakes that I will cherish from our wedding day. When we finally met Shawna in person for the marriage license, she had so many great tips for us to pass on to my uncle when he does the legal paperwork. It has been an amazing experience working with Shawna. I can't recommend her enough..
A note of thanks: Thank you so much for the beautiful card and Weddingbella goodies. The ceremony you wrote for us was so beautiful, even the bartender and photographer were crying! We are so grateful for your advice and support. WE'RE MARRIED!!!!!
Joy and Justin
July 2021
Shawna was truly amazing
Shawna even dealt with all the last minute changes we made to make our ceremony perfect.
Maureen and Jay
July 30, 2022
Denise worked so hard over the past few months
She really made our ceremony special and unforgettable. We are so full of gratitude.
Christina and Steven
March 16, 2022
Thank you Shawna for being a part of our special day
Thank you for all the time you spent making our wedding day special.
Katie and Joshua
August 14, 2021
We had the pleasure of have Shawna perform our wedding ceremony.
We found her by chance but couldn't have asked anyone better to marry us. Shawna really took the time to get to know us and made our ceremony so personal. She was happy to meet up with on more than one occasion, always with a warm smile. We had so many options to choose from for vows, prayers and special ceremonies that we had everything our way. Shawna took care of everything including making arrangements for our marriage license and certificate through Vital Stats. Thank you for making our day even more special.
Kathy and Brent
September 10, 2019
We cannot even begin to express how much working with Denise meant to us.
I love everything about her
Shawna is very easy to work with and so thoughtful. It's very inspiring to see someone who just loves what they do and really has a heart to serve others.
Mary and Prince
June 19, 2020
Shawna officiated our wedding last July.
She always answered any questions I had promptly and was so sweet to work with. Highly recommend Shawna.
Linda and Gerry
July 2020
We were very happy with the service we received from Weddingbella
Katie and Chris
September 19, 2021
Denise did an amazing job and we were very happy with her service
Our wedding day worked out great. Thank you for being a great officiant and keeping us up to date with all these ever changing restrictions. We would definitely recommend you.
Mina and Quyen
May 24, 2021
Shawna was amazing throughout our wedding planning journey
She was so easy to communicate with and always made sure to check in on us whenever new public health orders/restrictions came out. Our ceremony was everything we asked for. We are truly lucky to have had Shawna officiate our wedding and we highly recommend her.
A note of thanks: We just wanted to express our heartfelt gratitude to you for officiating our wedding. We absolutely loved meeting you and getting to know you! Our ceremony was everything we wante and more. Thank you again!
Karen and Braedon
August 28, 2021
Thank you thank you thank you to Denise who worked so hard to make our wedding day perfect!
Shawna was amazing
Brittany and Kevin
July 31, 2021
Shawna was a fun, organized, and easy going officiant who was wonderful to work with
She took the time to get to know us, help us stay organized every step of the way, and even came to the rescue on the day when plans changed last minute due to the pandemic. We felt so happy to have chosen her to make our marriage official. The day couldn't have gone any better.
A note of thanks: We are forever grateful for the beautiful job you did on our wedding ceremony. You took the time to really get to know us which showed in the words you shared with our family and friends. It's so special that you've known the Peichl family for so many years and that you were the one to marry us. When we showed my grandfather the ceremony, he recognized you right away. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts...the day wouldn't of been the same without you.
Lauren and Andrew
August 21, 2021
I connected with Shawna after a virtual wedding show
Even though I told her right away that we had decided to go with a friend to officiate, she still offered so many helpful tips, and answered TONS of questions from me.
Amanda
Shawna was professional and thorough with all the details of our ceremony.
She was patient through all the wedding date changes through the pandemic. She regularly checked in to see how we were doing. Her positive and friendly personality just added a special touch to our day. I'm so happy she was our officiant.
Michele and Chris
October 24, 2021
Nothing could of been BETTER than the service Denise provided us.
Denise was very accommodating, friendly and we just loved having this experience with her and the Weddingbella team
Heather & Cyrus
May 1, 2021
Good Service - Everything went well
Shawna was very accommodating since we choose her to be our officiant to our elopement. She gave us a wonderful message during he ceremony.
Jessamine & Don
November 26, 2021
Shawna was wonderful to work with
She worked with us to meet all of our specific needs. Shawna was available to answer all our questions to navigate all pandemic restrictions as they changed. We loved the idea of the hand blessing. We are still receiving compliments on how unique that was. Shawna was very personal from the first meeting at the Wonderful Wedding Show, right through to the day of our wedding. We highly recommend Shawna.
Lindsay and Jason
September 4, 2021
We loved having this experience with Denise and the Weddingbella officiants.
Weddingbella was amazing
Shawna was extremely knowledgeable and personable. She was patient with us as navigated through the COVID rules. Would highly recommend her to anyone getting married.
Heather and Steven
August 12, 2021
Will definitely recommend Denise to our friends
Thank you so much for making everything go so smooth for us and for creating a beautiful ceremony. We appreciated you so much.
Taylor and Justin
October 30, 2021
Shawna was absolutely amazing
We can't thank her enough for marrying us and making sure our ceremony was perfect.
Monique and Mark
July 2, 2022
Shawna and Cheryl were exceptional on both our Wedding days.
Shawna took a lot of time to get to know us as a couple to create a ceremony tailed to us. Anytime a Covid update happened, we were texting about how to pivot the plans and options for different places we could have our ceremony that would allow for our bare minimum guest list. Shawna is very passionate about her job and goes above and beyond for her couples.
With Chery, I felt like we were chatting with a friend the entire time. Turns out, my in-law's1 actually knew her. She was so nice and fun. We really enjoyed having her officiate our September wedding.
Reily and Justin
June 26, 2021 AND
September 4, 2021
Shawna at Weddingbella was so amazing throughout the entire process of planning our ceremony!
We had to change many things due to COVID...and even had to change the entire ceremony with less than 48hours to go. Shawna was there for us through exceptional circumstances and gave us the wedding day to remember. Shawna is extremely professional, thorough and is fantastic to work with. She was able to include our personal and traditional elements into our ceremony that made it one of a kind! We could not recommend her enough to all couples looking to get married.
Carly and Chad
December 31, 2021
My husband and I were thrilled with how straight forward our elopment was
Weddingbella was a huge part in making that happen. Shawna was a delight to speak and work with and we were so happy she was our officiant
Ainsley & Arleigh
Feb. 19, 2022
Shawna was knowledgeable and timely and helped us create the perfect ceremony
I was so nervous about the ceremony (and rehearsal) but it all went smoothly and we were able to add in pieces to our ceremony that guests had never seen before.
A note of thanks: Thank you so much for being part of our wedding day! You are so knowledgeable and easy-going. Thank you for creating the perfect ceremony for us . We loved every minute of it. You know how to balance "Uniquely Yours" and all of your knowledge perfectly. Thank you for your patience with all of our changes and for bringing our vision to life.
Jenna & Ren
May 21, 2022
Shawna was absolutely amazing!
She started off as a stranger, but quickly became someone who genuinely enjoyed getting to know us. We had nothing but compliments about Shawna and was asked if she wanted an Aunt because of how raw, true and heartfelt her messages were through the ceremony. Shawna puts in so much effort to make your day the most memorable day of your life. Thank you Shawna , for making our day so special!
Abby & Steve
June 11, 2022
Our Officiant Shawna was wonderful!
She is very well organized during the wedding process and helped us with the legalities. She personalized our ceremony and added culturally appropriate touches for us. Her wedding experience and suggestions were truly appreciated.
Cheyanna & Jordan
June 11, 2022
I had a great experience with Weddingbella. Denise is so easy to work with and very accommodating.
Sylvie and Charlie
June 3, 2022
Shawna was amazing!
She went above and beyond for us. Random things had to be changed on my end and she made things work and run smoothly. She made me feel calm and comforted. My husband agrees that she is the most amazing woman we've ever met.
Kelsey & Calvin
June 18, 2022
Shawna was amazing and so personable.
Always available when needed and quick to respond. Wrote our love story so beautifully. I would highly recommend her.
Allisyn & Kyle
June 19, 2022
Shawna was amazing!
She did a wonderful job with our wedding rehearsal and ceremony. She made our special day all the more magical. Very informative and helpful too!
Kristy and Chris
October 9, 2021
Shawna was fantastic from the beginning to the end
She made the process very easy and worry free. She is a very energic, sweet and genuine individual who truly cares about each couples. Highly recommended.
A note of thanks: Our Wedding would not have been the same without you. Thank you for being our officiant on our special day. Our ceremony was beautiful and will remember it forever.
Melissa and Jeff
September 25, 2021
Shawna is the kindest person I've ever met
There is not a thing that could have improved our wedding day. You went beyond expectations for us and took a lot of time into preparing our ceremony. It's a day we will never forget.
Candace and Ron
September 18, 2021
Denise was accommodating and friendly. Loved everything about our experience with her!
10 Years of “I DO’s” WINNER!
CONGRATULATIONS TO ROBIN AND SCOTT!!
Robin and Scott will tie the knot on August 17, 2025 at The Gates on Roblin. Their Mini-Matrimony ceremony will be Officiated by Shawna, courtesy of Weddingbella!
Thank you to all those who entered the draw and helped me celebrate 10 Years of "I DO'S"!
I look forward to joining more hearts in the years to come!
Engaged or soon to be engaged? click on the link below