ULC - IN THE NEWS - 2026

Our Lady of the Perpetual Bobbin

Northwest Yarns & Mercantile in Bellingham, Washington does much more than sell knitting needles. Its downtown storefront also features a wedding chapel: Our Lady of the Perpetual Bobbin. After offering to host a simple ceremony for two craft circle regulars, owners Heather Seevers and Echo May were ordained through the Universal Life Church. Since then, they've married more than 20 other couples who feel a kinship with Northwest Yarns' quirky, inclusive atmosphere.

Source: Cascadia Daily News

Getting Married in 2026? Here’s Who Can Legally Officiate Weddings in GA

Planning a wedding in Georgia? You'll need an officiant, but the good news is that almost anyone can perform the ceremony. According to U.S. Marriage Laws, any minister authorized by their church may perform marriages in Georgia. Anyone over 18 can become ordained online through the Universal Life Church Ministries. There's no waiting period, residency requirement, or minister registration needed in Georgia. Once ordained through the Universal Life Church, officiants can legally perform weddings, baptisms, and funerals.

Source: The Telegraph

She Remembered ‘That Kid Who Used to Be in Love’ With Her

Colleen Bridgit DeCourcy and Jason Leonard MacDonald first met in 1983 during a college production of "Guys and Dolls" in Ontario, Canada. After six months of dating, their ambitious paths led them in different directions. Each married other people and lost touch for over 35 years. In 2024, Mr. MacDonald messaged Ms. DeCourcy on LinkedIn: "Remember that kid who used to be in love with you?" They reunited on Christmas Eve 2024 and married exactly one year later at La Mercerie in New York City. Joanna Coles, a close friend and chief creative officer at The Daily Beast, officiated after being ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.

Source: The NY Times

She Planned Hundreds of Weddings. Now Her Own.

Reneille-Gian Paneda Velez, a wedding planner, and Brian Michael Teodoro, a Microsoft security analyst, met on Bumble in August 2020 during the pandemic's slower wedding season. After a rocky start that included Mr. Teodoro ghosting her due to work stress, Ms. Velez gave him a second chance. Mr. Teodoro proposed under the Eiffel Tower in September 2024. They were married at the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle. Kimball Gainor, a close friend of Ms. Velez who was previously ordained through the Universal Life Church, officiated.

Source: The NY Times