I am an ordained non-denominational interfaith minister and a registered wedding officiant serving Maryland, DC and the surrounding region, including the eastern West Virginia panhandle. Before this, I spent two decades building and running workforce and training programs, which meant standing in front of rooms of people and holding their attention on days that mattered to them. That turns out to be most of this job. A wedding ceremony is a short, high-stakes piece of public speaking in front of everyone you love, and doing it well is a skill, not a personality trait. Ceremonies start from who you actually are, not from a template. We talk, I listen, and what I write back should sound like the two of you on your best day — not like something read at a stranger's wedding last weekend.