ULC - IN THE NEWS - 2024
Want a 'Star Trek' Wedding? This Colorado Springs-Area Man Can Officiate
Long-haul truck driver Anthony Perdue loves a good wedding. A couple of years ago, he decided to marry his two passions: podcasting and cosplay. Already ordained by Universal Life Church, it was easy to hang a shingle——Fantasy Weddings——and give it a catchy tagline: 'Because everyone deserves a fantasy wedding.
Source: The Gazette
A Tale of Two Kelseys
Kelsey Castañon and Kelsey Whitaker had a lot in common — and a lot of differences. Despite their similarities, their differences became their most important qualities. The couple were married at the Brooklyn municipal courthouse by their best friend, Alana Peden, who was ordained for the occasion by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
In One Magical Moment, He Fell Under Her Spell
Matthew Majchrzak and Emily McCormick might have met while role-playing fantasy characters, but the feelings they developed were real. They were married before about 130 guests at the Merion Tribute House, a historic mansion in Merion Station, Pa. The venue perfectly matched the medieval aesthetics they wanted for their celebration. Aaron Feingold, a friend of the couple who was ordained through the Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
At First They Hid Their Love, Then a Reality Show Gave Them Courage
Gregory Mathis and Richard Cooper bonded over faith and family. But both feared the judgment of being openly gay. In June 2022, they came out to the world on “Mathis Family Matters,” a reality show on E! network about Mr. Mathis’s family. They were married on the balcony of their apartment in Los Angeles by Alix Itkis, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
'Til Death (and Maybe Not Even Then) Do They Part
Brandon Hupp and Lyle Shearer found kindred spirits in each other. What could be more fitting than a wedding on Halloween? On Oct. 31, the couple were married by Kate Faoro Wright, their wedding planner who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
Two Bar Patrons Step Into a Twitter Feed
Tina Survilla Lindell and Cesar Kuriyama, who met at the start of the pandemic, connected over the temporary closing of their favorite bar. The couple gave their wedding a title, “Adventures in Spacetime,” and went by special handles: Space Girl Tina and Timehacker Cesar. They were married by a friend, ordained by the Universal Life Church, who wore a NASA replica spacesuit, complete with a helmet.
Source: The NY Times
Online Clergy Can Perform Baptisms, Funerals
While many get married in their home churches by a priest or pastor they know well, wedding officiants come in all denominations, or no religious affiliation at all. According to Universal Life Church, only two items are required in a marriage ceremony: the declaration of intent, or the “I do” section, and the pronouncement, wherein the officiant declares the couple are married.
Source: Enid News & Eagle
Group Sues Texas to Change Law That Only Allows Religious Leaders to Officiate Weddings
The Center for Inquiry (CFI), a nonprofit that fights religious influence on public policy, has filed a federal lawsuit to overturn a Texas law prohibiting anyone but religious leaders and judges from conducting wedding ceremonies. Some who officiate secular wedding ceremonies in Texas do so by joining the Universal Life Church.
Source: SA Current
Dateline’ Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz Officiated The Wedding Of A True Crime Fan He’d Never Met
Josh Mankiewicz, “Dateline” correspondent, joked with writer Sara Runnels on Twitter. The two became friends over time, and after she became engaged to Adam Zack, she made a proposal of her own, asking Mankiewicz if he would officiate her wedding. He said yes, becoming ordained through the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: MSN
No More ‘Single Girl’ Posts for This Comedic Writer
Sara Runnels was known for her humorous stories and social media shares about the single life, but her dating status quickly changed after meeting Adam Zack. The couple were wed at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, with 100 guests in attendance. Josh Mankiewicz, a reporter on NBC’s “Dateline,” ordained for the occasion by Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
It Was Love After First Flight
Lindsay Bennie heeded Victoria Williams’s call for a Valentine’s date, but they were hundreds of miles apart. Once they finally met, “our connection was instantaneous,” Ms. Bennie said. On their sixth anniversary, the couple was married in front of 100 guests in Miami. A friend of the couple who was ordained by the Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
Outside the Office, Sparks Fly Between Colleagues
Taylor Burt was working at BarkBox, surrounded by adorable dogs, when she found herself distracted by someone she thought was even cuter: Mayank Shah. The two were married by Ms. Burt's former BarkBox boss, who became a Universal Life Church minister for the occasion, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
For Two Years, a Scent of Love Had Lingered
As colleagues, Ariana Silvestro and Nicholas Kluender developed feelings for each other in 2016, but waited to pursue them. The two took things slow and steady right up to their wedding day. Charles Ribaudo, one of the bride’s uncles who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
He Was Open to Love — but Kept His Job a Secret
After Jonathan Filiberto, a medium known as Jonathan Mark, matched with Jessica Rega on a dating app, it took months before he shared what he did for a living. The couple were wed Sept. 20 at the Vineyards at Aquebogue in Aquebogue, N.Y. Alfred Titone, the bride’s stepfather, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
He Tried to Date Two Men. He Wasn’t Very Good at It
After getting caught in a moment right out of a rom-com, it was clear Kevin Turner had a choice to make. He chose Dr. Nicholas France. The couple were married at Taconic Ridge Farm, a wedding venue in Hillsdale, N.Y. Elizabeth Schwarzbach, a friend of Dr. France who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated the ceremony.
Source: The NY Times
A Hollywood Actress Finds a Farm, and Her Leading Man, in the Midwest
Torrey DeVitto, whose father was Billy Joel’s drummer and mother is Stevie Nicks’s best friend, is a famous actress in her own right. She found love with Jared LaPine in Kalamazoo, Mich. On Sept. 14, they were married in the garden at the Inisfree Estate in Pullman, Mich., by a friend who became a Universal Life Church minister to officiate.
Source: The NY Times
Former High School Classmates Finally Become Sweethearts
Austin Mills and Taylor Mills both attended Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, Calif., but didn’t connect until years later at an Los Angeles nightclub. On Sept. 1, the couple wed in Napa, Calif. Keith G. Bremer, a partner with the Orange County law firm Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara and a Universal Life Church minister, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
After Years of Almost-Dates, a Romance Grows Between Friends
Cody Austrie and Stephanie Brooks were locker neighbors in high school and forged a friendship. They didn’t start dating until years later when they reconnected. On Aug. 15, the two were married at Glen Island Harbour Club, an events space in New Rochelle, N.Y., by their friend Wendy Boche, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
On Kobe Bryant Day, a Celebration of Love and Basketball
Malika Andrews first caught the attention of fellow N.B.A. journalist Dave McMenamin as she conducted an interview with LeBron James. Diane Raike, a close friend of the bride’s mother, Caren Andrews, whom Ms. Andrews calls her “fairy godmother,” officiated their wedding. She was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
The Six 'Commitments' That Strengthened Their Connection
Emily Swarts and Tyler Swiggett met online in New York. But she moved to Hawaii before responding to his message. Despite the distance, voice messages and handwritten letters deepened their bond. The two were married in California by a friend of Mr. Swiggett, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
