ULC - IN THE NEWS
They Fell in Love on the Hiking Trails
Sarah Bacon, who suffers from a rare lung disease, never expected to marry — until she met Bruce Bjork during the pandemic. After weeks of distance and precautions, the two shared their first kiss in front of a bonfire, fresh from a hike in the countryside. They were married not far from this site by a friend who was ordained by Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
Years After Being His Muse, She Hid a Proposal in His Lunch
Julia Chance modeled for Jimmy James Greene, an artist, who, in exchange, painted her apartment with great flair. Afterward, their connection deepened. Years of ups and downs culminated in a simple question, asked via a handwritten note: 'Let's make it official and tie the knot. What do you think?' The two were married at an outdoor ceremony by Ashley Nicole Williams, a Universal Life minister.
Source: The NY Times
Online Ordained Ministers of the Universal Life Church Sue Virginia Officials Over Discrimination
The Universal Life Church has sued officials in the state of Virginia after these officials indicated ULC ministers specifically were not permitted to solemnize marriages in the state in at least one case going so far as to provide a list of approved non-ULC ministers to a would-be couple applying for a marriage license.
Source: PR Web
Their Friend Rigged the Gala Seating Chart. It Worked
Malu Byrne and Andrew Kuo were set up by a mutual friend who rigged the seating chart at a gala event. Two years later, her father and Universal Life Church officiant, David Byrne, called their love story “inspiring.” The couple walked down the aisle together while Mr. Byrne sang “Heaven,” a song performed by his former band, Talking Heads.
Source: The NY Times
A Decades-Long Friendship Turns to Love
Gia Rosenblum and Stuart Miller met as teenagers and became friends. Nearly 40 years later, they fell in love. The couple eloped in Dead Horse Point State Park in Moab, Utah—a representation of the expansiveness of their love. Aimée Flynn, a Universal Life Church minister and photographer, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
The Tent Was Built For Way More Than Two
Taylor Turkmen and Ryan Milligan were married under the Gospel Tent at Jazz Fest. They gained more guests when a storm rolled through. The rain that started falling and the crowds that started gathering before they were pronounced married by their friend Jade Duplessis, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion, raised the joy level for both.
Source: The NY Times
Celebrating With 150 Guests and Jabba the Hutt
Hayley Finetti and Emilio Lopez, who met in elementary school, opted for a "Star Wars"-themed wedding on May 4. The couple combined cultural traditions — Ms. Finetti's Jewish background and Mr. Lopez's Mexican heritage - during a ceremony for 150 officiated by Mr. Lopez's uncle, Jesse Rodriguez, who became a Universal Life Church minister for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
After Meeting 46 Years Ago, Finally Tying the Knot
Rodney Page didn’t make a great first impression on Jennifer Welch. Four years later, his standing improved. Decades later, it improved more. The two were finally wed in a traditional ceremony 46 years to the month from when they met. The event was officiated by the bride’s friend Shawn Marie Frye, who was ordained through Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
How a Little Humor Led to a Serious Relationship
Sara David and Peter Hess, both writers, met through social media and bonded over a shared love of picnics and satire. After sharing offbeat adventures for four years, talks turned to engagement and a life of love spent together. Their friend Ben Groh, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated their wedding ceremony.
Source: The NY Times
For Two Artists, Learning About Each Other Was Their Greatest Project
Stephanie Duhem, a poet, and Brad Abrahams, a documentary filmmaker, immersed themselves in each other's creative worlds. The couple became engaged during a road trip through West Texas and were married by August Smith, a close friend of the couple who was ordained by Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
When The Dogist Gets Married, the ‘Dog of Honor’ Wears a Custom Dress
Elias Friedman, a well-known photographer known as The Dogist on Instagram, and Samantha Cutler met as teens. Both love dogs, but it would be years before they loved each other. Ms. Friedman, a Universal Life Church minister, officiated their wedding in Miami. Ms. Cutler wore an ivory 1998 Galliano for Dior gown with a custom veil; Elsa, Mr. Friedman's dog, wore a custom matching dress as the dog of honor.
Source: The NY Times
Flying Solo at a Pride Festival Was the Plan. Falling in Love Wasn’t
Daniel Nester and Geno Yoscovits met nine years ago at a Pride event at a bar in Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Nester arrived alone, but left with a phone number and the spark of a possible new relationship. The two were married March 23 at the Westside Reservoir Park in Atlanta. Parton Waters, the drag persona of their mutual friend Gerome Stephens, who was ordained through Universal Life Church for the occasion, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
Growing Up in St. Croix, He Asked Her to the Senior Prom Underwater
Harry Hoffman and Anne Hardee spent much of their youth in the water, on the water or by the water. Mr. Hoffman even asked Ms. Hardee to the senior prom during a snorkeling adventure. The two were married on the island of St. Croix by Eliana L. Schuster-Brown, a Universal Life Church minister, who officiated before 143 guests at the Castle St. Croix, once a contessa’s hilltop estate built in the 1970s
Source: The NY Times
On an Itchy Dorm Room Couch, They Finally Broke the Ice
Mayarita Castillo first met Jalen Glenn at a party, sitting on an itchy maroon couch, and struck up a conversation. From there, the attraction grew into a relationship and, a few years later, an engagement. Wallis Monday, a friend of the couple from college who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion, officiated their wedding.
Source: The NY Times
An Engagement Fib That Came True
To secure a hard-to-get reservation, Carrie Seim said she was celebrating a proposal. Little did she know, Clarke Adams was planning one. He proposed that night and they were married less than two years later. A close friend of the couple who was ordained by Universal Life Church for the event, officiated an outdoor wedding at the Palms Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach
Source: The NY Times
Their Best Match Came With the Final Swipe
Illyse Singer and Ty Duncan were having little luck with dating apps until they connected on Tinder more than two years ago and quickly found they had much in common. The couple were wed on Feb. 10 before 60 guests at the French restaurant Pastis in Miami. A close friend of the couple's who was ordained by Universal Life Church for the occasion, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
Eloping in Washington Takes More Planning Than You Think
An impulsive decision to elope requires some planning on the part of the couple in Washington—including finding an officiant to oversee the marriage ceremony. Couples that don’t want to be married by a judge or commissioner can have close family or friends get ordained online through the Universal Life Church.
Source: Cascadia Daily
Falling for ‘the Same Kind of Weird‘
When Jessica Papilla’s sister managed Michael Burnett at Starbucks, she had a hunch he and her sibling would hit it off—they were the "same kind of weird." They consider their first official date to be July 3, 2011, when they went to a parking structure to watch Fourth of July fireworks. The couple were married in January of 2025 by World Famous BOB, a “draglesque star” who was ordained through Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
Wedding Guests Play Kahoot! to Decide Who Gets to Sign Marriage Certificate
Ahead of their upcoming elopement in Ireland, John and Cara Ellman-Yuan legally tied the knot at their home in Kansas City, Missouri. The groom, 31, and bride, 28, had a "very casual" ceremony, with only six other people in attendance — all of whom competed in a Kahoot! game to narrow down the two people who would have the honor of being the marriage certificate witnesses.
Source: Yahoo! Life
A Proposal — and a Wedding Date — That Were Suddenly Moved Up
The current political climate caused Josey Nett and Grace Duncan, who met as freshmen in college, to change their long-term plans. They were married at San Francisco City Hall, ahead of the second Trump Administration, by Ms. Duncan’s cousin, Hayley Duncan, who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church
Source: The NY Times
