Each and every bride and groom I meet are very unique individuals with their own personal vision of what they want their wedding day to be. 

Sometimes that requires a simple ceremony for reasons stemming from buying a new home and delaying the "big" weddng to a later date; to wanting a  "private" o "intimate" ceremony for just the two of you with just a few family and friends to witnes your lifetime committment.

A Last-Minute Wedding Story

One of my favorite last minute wedding stories happened October 2009.  A young couple had approximately 2 hours to get their marriage license,(fortunately, Atlanta does not have a waiting period) get the ring, have the ceremony and get the bride back to the airport to fly off to some exotic location in the world as a United Nations Ambassador. 

They were one of the most stunningly beautiful couples I have ever seen.  We performed a beautiful intimate ceremony in my home garden before they rushed off to Lenox Sq. Mall (fortunately my home and office were within 1 block of the Mall!) where they were headed to pick up their wedding rings!  Their rationale for having the wedding ceremony prior to picking up the rings was because, while they could risk running out of time to get the rings, they did not want to run out of time before they exchanged their vows!  Now, that's love. They later had a beautiful family wedding in Africa!

The $50,000 Wedding that Didn't Happen 

Another memorable ceremony took place in Reno, NV in 2004. The couple had planned a $50,000 Presbyterian church wedding.  The wedding date was scheduled only 5 days away.    The Monday before the wedding, the brides grandmother was admitted to the hospital in critical condition.  The bride and groom decided that it was more important for her to witness their wedding, than to worry about a big wedding that she would not be able to attend.  That afternoon, they picked up their marriage license and I performed their wedding ceremony in the hospital, at the grandmothers bedside.  That's unconditional love!

Whatever your reasons are for your last-minute ceremony, I will come to you or you are welcome to come to me within an hours notice or less.

This is one of my favorite areas of service to the bride and groom, as well as any children or other family members who may be included.  Pre-marital counseling has become a "Priority" for the 21st century bride and groom.  They recognize the importance of "enhancing" their loving relationship through the supportive and informative sessions that premarial counseling offers.

My preference is to do a Free Phone Consultation/Interview prior to our first appt.  email or call me for your free initial appointment today!

A Surprise Ending!

Atlanta has come a long way in accepting the need for pre-marial and relationship counseling.  Many couples were fearful in the early days of my practice.  Today more than 75% of couples who contact me for their wedding also request pre-marital counseling!

Counseling is not about right and wrong.  It's about storytelling and we all have a story to tell.  It goes something like this,  I was born, I have parents,  I grew up somewhere (that influenced who I am today).  I love this other person.  We are different, I am male, she is female (usually); I think differently (always); we want to better understand our relationship.  Here's the magic...

The number one issue today in relationships is your ability to communicate effectively with your partner.  Therefore, if you are Not Communicating effectively, this story should give you something to think about. 

Here's more magic...counseling helps You to understand You better so that you can take responsibility for what You want in your relationship and what You bring to your relationship.  Once you understand...You better, the relationship gets better...even if you think it's already Perfect!

I have seen some miracles happen right before my eyes in counseling when the client truly commits and opens up to exploring who they truly are (without all the artificial trimmings.)  There is nothing like an aha moment in counseling!

However, my favorite story is not about my success with couples, (see my review page, esp. Mrs. G. Roots story) but, about "the one who got away!" 

Note: This couple only completed 2 sessions, they always had "higher priorities" and therefore, frequently rescheduled (no show) or cancelled their appointments. 

They were a very attractive, successful, Spiritually grounded, loving young couple.  They had "a lot in common" shared similiar life goals; from the "outside looking in" lots of things were "perfect" in the relationship.  Their fiances were excellent; the family relationships were very good; they lived in a beautiful home; they had trust in the relationship, etc. etc. but...

He wasn't communicating with his partner.  He said he was the "silent type."  He said, it was "just the way he was."   He was coming to counseling and giving it,  "the good old college try, because he wanted to"please her--"  He didn't...please her.  He said he just couldn't change...until she left!  One night, she just walked out of their beautiful life, home, and relationship. 

After she left, my 24/7 on-call service went into effect.   He initiated alls for more sessions.  He was in very real emotional and spiritual pain. I happily received calls well after office hours.  The trust and respect we had built together during our short time together in counseling allowed me to arrange another session for the two of them.  Ironicaly, she had stopped all communications with him. 

He made heart-felt promises, but she wanted to move on, physically, emotionally and Spiritually.  She wanted someone who could/would communicate with her. He promised to change, she said it was too late.

Communications is critical to a happy, healthy relationship.  Silence may have it's place, but, it takes communications to build a life, a marriage and a relationship.

Don't wait too late and let your beautiful relationship end because you don't know how to communicate...openly, honestly and effectively with your partner and loved ones.

Questions? Call me 404-863-5911  

Rev. Gloria



In 1993 I attended my first baby naming ceremony for an African family while attending seminary in Dallas, Texas.  Once I was there, I was told that the "official" ceremony had already taken place earlier in the day in a "private" ceremony.  The ceremony I was actually attending was an invitation for the "whole community" to celebrate the birth of the baby and to provide support for the family.  It was one of the most memorable experiences of my seminary training, I will never forget it...even though I did not actually witness the Official or Private Ceremony.

This is just a small indication of how powerful this ceremony can be, for the family as well as the community.  The "baby" is now an 18 year old college Freshman in North Carolina!

I look forward to planning a personalized baby naming ceremony with you today!  Whether you choose to opt for "private" or "public" it will be a day to remember!

Rev. Gloria

Rather you've been married one year or 50 years, vow renewals serve to "remember" your promise to love one another until "death do us part."  These ceremonies are more popular then ever and are utilized by couples who are committed to their original promise.

The State of Georgia does not recognize Same Sex Unions.  However, couples are holding their own creative celebrations of love called Commitment Ceremonies.

However, these States do recognize Same Sex Marriges in the U.S. In the United States, although same-sex marriages are not recognized federally, same-sex couples can marry in five states and the District of Columbia (Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the District of Columbia) and receive state-level benefits.^[101] The states of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island do not facilitate same-sex marriages, but do recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, as does California in some cases. Additionally, several states offer civil unions or domestic partnerships, granting all or part of the state-level rights and responsibilities of marriage.  SOURCE: WIKIPEDIA.COM