ULC - IN THE NEWS - 2026
It Took a Village (and a Parents’ Group and a Knitting Group) to Get Married
A blizzard forced Priscilla Villalobos and Timothy Kolk to rethink their New York wedding, and find a new officiant — fast. They needed someone who was legally authorized to perform a wedding ceremony in the state of New York. The couple posted on Facebook and were put in touch with Kris Liakos, a fellow Brooklyn resident who had been ordained by the Universal Life Church. The couple showed up to McGolrick Park in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to meet a stranger who would marry them the day after a snowstorm pummeled the city.
Source: The NY Times
He Loves Crosswords. She Wrote the Book on Them.
Adrienne Raphel and David Rosenberg had little luck in dating — until a riff about animals and Italian food brought them together. It was over a crossword clue involving Chuck E. Cheese and New York's infamous Pizza Rat that the two began talking. Talking eventually led to the unthinkable by New York real estate standards: they broke their leases to move in together. After unpacking, Mr. Rosenberg proposed and the two were married less than a year later. Jennifer Mackenzie, Dr. Raphel's high school English teacher, was ordained by the Universal Life Church to officiate their wedding.
Source: The NY Times
Theatergoers Can Renew Their Wedding Vows After 'I Do, I Do': A Musical About Marriage
Love is in the air at the Hampton Theatre Company in Quogue, New York. Audience members who get caught up in the magic of "I Do! I Do! A Musical About Marriage," will have the chance to renew their very own romantic vows right after the performance. General Manager Terry Brennan, ordained in the Universal Life Church in 2009 so she could officiate at a family member's wedding, will officiate.
Source: Patch
Changing Up His Routine Led to Love
Mark Van Wye might have never met Helena Brown had he not decided to take a different Pilates class more than three years ago. The two hit it off, bonding over love of world cuisine and travel. They became engaged the following month during a two-week trip to Paris, and married on Valentine's Day in an outdoor chapel at Dunton Hot Springs, a resort in Dolores, Colo. Ian Saunders, a friend of Mr. Van Wye's, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
What’s required to officiate a California wedding? Turns out … not much
Estimates vary, but somewhere between 41 and 50 percent of marriages in California are performed by the couple's friend or family member, who pay a small fee to become ordained online. The OG of the ordination game is Modesto-based Universal Life Church. For many, the decision to become ordained is rooted in the desire to make an already special day something truly unique to those expressing their love for one another.
Source: New Times SLO
A Flirty Weekend Led to Talk of Marriage Just Two Months Later
Tara Jae and RaeShanda Lias met ahead of a Black Pride event. They spent the weekend flirting, and after Ms. Lias returned to Louisville, they stayed in touch with phone calls. Their connection quickly blossomed into serious talk of marriage. The two were wed on Valentine's Day by Niecy Nash-Betts, an actress and a friend of Ms. Lias who was ordained for the occasion by the Universal Life Church. Her own wife, Jessica Betts, co-officiated.
Source: The NY Times
They Took a Swing at Dating Again
Ryan Smith and Andrea Gallo were both newly single when they met on an intramural softball league in New Jersey. Seeing one another every week at the game quickly became something each looked forward to. The two grew closer, eventually moving in together the following year. They were married at Battello, a restaurant and event space in Jersey City, by Kevin Cahn, a friend who was ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
Settled in Seattle After a Long-Distance Relationship
Samantha Smith and Aaron Davis fell in love with the city and each other while she was working as a traveling nurse. Mr. Davis proposed in October 2024 in front of the Inn at the Market, a hotel in the iconic Pike Place Market. Mr. Davis’s great-aunt, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church, officiated their wedding at Europa Events, another renowned venue in Seattle.
Source: The NY Times
They Were Always On the Right Path
Dr. Peter Anderson, who had hiked 1,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail, helped Olivia Bergen prepare for her 2,200-mile solo trek. For both, the outdoors have always beckoned. For their wedding, however, they chose to forgo the elements indoors. Netti Phang, a Universal Life minister, officiated a legal ceremony at ThaiPop, a Thai restaurant in Rochester, with two friends serving as witnesses while a snowstorm raged outside.
Source: The NY Times
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
