Congratulations!

Congratulations on your recent engagement! I am honored to be considered as your wedding minister. As the officiant of your marriage, I will guide you both through your ceremony and vows, as you pledge your love for each other in front of your loved ones as witnesses. The journey starts with a consultation, where we discuss your needs and wishes, and we work from there to create the ceremony of your dreams!

About Reverend Alegra

I became an ordained minister in 2005 when my cousin asked me to officiate at her wedding. A student of poetry at the time, I worked closely with her to understand what she dreamed of for her wedding, and with her help I wrote a ceremony to represent the union between the bride and groom.

As other close friends and family got married, I was asked to preside over their weddings. Officiating these celebrations was a natural fit. I found an opportunity to join my spiritual beliefs and my love of people with my writing and speaking skills. I have been asked to take place in many weddings now, and also baby naming and welcoming ceremonies, leading communities of friends and families as they celebrate unions and welcome new members.

As my passion for the ministry grew, I knew that my circle of clients would have different needs. Shortly after my first ordination with Universal Life Church, a Christian ministry, I also joined the ordained clergy of Spiritual Humanism, a spiritual organization not affiliated with any church. My own beliefs encompass the philosophies of many religions, and having these two ordinations more fully represents my own spirituality, which is influenced by many faiths.

Wedding Ceremonies & Vows

Wedding Ceremonies, and especially the vows, are a reflection of a couple's intention for their relationship and commitment to each other. As a non-denominational minister ordained with both a Christian ministry and a non-Christian ministry, I can lead you through a ceremony that reflects your personal beliefs.

Most Wedding Ceremonies are created from the same basic components. Within these basic components, however, is room to build the ceremony of your dreams. The basics include:

Declaration of Consent (Giving Away the Bride)
Greeting & Welcoming
The Charge (Question of Intent)
Wedding Vows
Exchange of Rings
Benediction (Blessing)
Pronouncement as Husband and Wife

Additional aspects can be added, or an entirely different ceremony can be written. These are limited only by your own love and imagination, but may include:

Civil Ceremony (signing the license)
Sand Ceremony
Rose Ceremony
Unity Candle Ceremony
Wine Ceremony
Hand-fasting Ceremony
Blessing of the Hands
Tying the Knot Ceremony
Specialty Readings
Wedding Poems
Butterfly Release
And many more!

The ceremony is an important part of any wedding, and one that should not be forgotten in the midst of the party. I am an experienced wedding minister, and I have led dozens of couples through the creation of their ceremonies and the pledging of their commitment. I can offer advice and keep the ceremony running smoothly, always keeping the vision and vows of the bride and groom as my focus.

All my couples also receive a copy of my wedding ceremony planning guide. This breaks the ceremony down into simple components, and gives couples options to choose the pieces that are right for them. Together we can use this tool and my large repetoire of writing to create a ceremony that reflects the love you share!

Alegra's Wedding Services

Classic Ceremony
This is an elegant twist on a traditional marriage, based on my most popular wedding ceremony! The couple receives my wedding ceremony planning guide and outline, and we use that as the starting point to create the wedding ceremony.

Every wedding couple receives a hand-bound copy of their ceremony as part of the wedding package. This is printed on high quality paper with a calligraphied cover, suitable for adding to a wedding album or keeping on your bookshelf. The keepsake copy of your ceremony and vows is hand made by San Diego book artist Jenny Yoshida Park.

Champagne Ceremony
You choose and create your own ceremony from a book of my own writings or write your own personal ceremony. On the day of the wedding, I provide two champagne glasses and a chilled bottle of Domaine Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley méthode champenoise sparkling wine - a favorite! This is perfect for elopements.

Custom Ceremony
Want a completely unique wedding ceremony with vows written just for you? With a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Poetry, I can write this special ceremony! I can tell your guests how you met, or explain the significance of your wedding location, or add any important story you wish to tell. This is an option that can be discussed during the initial consultation.

Rehearsal
We meet at the Wedding Location and run through the ceremony and set up the entrances and exits. Always optional.

Contact me to discuss the details of your personalized ceremony! (Email here or call 817*851*7187.)

Baby Blessings & Other Services

In addition to wedding ceremonies and services, I have experience leading groups in the ceremonies listed below.

Baby Naming or Baby Welcoming Ceremony
This community ceremony is usually done after the baby is born, though you can also choose to celebrate with a baby welcoming ceremony as part of (or instead of) a baby shower. Gifts can still be an important part of this rite, either before or after the baby has arrived. The parents can choose to take a pledge to their baby, offering their best as parents, the baby's name can be decided on or announced, and the family and friends generally gather around to celebrate the new arrival.

Some of the most popular components include:

Welcome
Prayer or Invocation
Blessing (often from friends or family)
Parent(s) Pledge
Poem or other reading (by honored guest)
Announcing Godparents / Godparent's pledge (or pledge by other family members)
Closing


Personalized Services
I am happy to guide you through a ceremony, rite, or ritual to suit your needs. These can include adopting a child, welcoming a stepchild, funerals, divorce, coming of age, or any kind of rite of passage or moment of celebration. Some services may be bartered. Just ask what might be possible for you!

Salt Parties
The Salt Party is a unique opportunity to celebrate friendship with a fun ritual. Join together with friends to celebrate a birthday, holiday, wedding, or other occasion. Each participant makes their own customized bath salts or cooking salts. Learn more here.

Testimonials

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As officiant for our wedding, Reverend Alegra did a wonderful job of tailoring the service to our personalities. She took what she knew about our spiritual beliefs and created a very moving ceremony on our memorable day. She was professional, warm and radiated calming love. I'd highly recommend her to any couple seeking an officiant.

~Sunshine, married October 2005


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


My husband and I shared the opinion that a wedding confined to a church wouldn’t reflect our style or priorities. The first images I conjured of my wedding day were that of a garden ceremony, though in relocating from Texas to France, a seaside wedding began to take shape. With nature as our church, under a canopy of clouds, we would pledge our love and exchange rings.

With that decided, I began to explore options and secure the various elements that compose a wedding. Familiar with the work she had done in writing and officiating unique ceremonies, I contacted Rev. Alegra to secure a date. Being an ocean apart, we began working together via email, bouncing ideas back and forth and writing the ceremony. As she had experience in the process, I found her a valuable resource.

The result of our efforts was a highly personalised, bilingual ceremony that framed vows in poetry and music. Every part of my memory of that day is bathed in resplendent beauty. Rev. Alegra’s participation in the process of our marriage was flawless, and I highly recommend her as an officiant for couples looking to escape the norm and create a wedding that is a reflection of themselves.

Sincerely,
Melissa, married May 2006


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Contact & Partners

(Email here or call 817*851*7187.)

Partners

Erin Bigley Photography - Amazing wedding photographer!
Jonathan Yu Photography - a special talent for Beach Weddings!

Nest Designs Baby - Gifts for baby. Handmade with love. 10% discount if you tell the designer that Reverend Alegra sent you!

Abbey Catering & Event Design - Specializing in full service wedding packages in San Diego. Ask for Marie and tell her Reverend Alegra sent you.

San Diego ASAP - San Diego CA Guide & Wedding Planning Guide

Booking & Prices

Booking
Though most people book well in advance, I am always happy to participate in last minute ceremonies and elopements, providing I am available! Please contact me to set a date. (Email here or call 817*851*7187.)

Pricing
Pricing can vary widely, depending on many factors, including location, creative effort involved in writing the ceremony, length of ceremony,and level of involvement of the participants or others, to name a few. Because these factors can be so diverse, I prefer to get an idea of the ceremony you have in mind before setting a price. That said, a basic ceremony can be as low as $275, but most weddings are in in the $300-500 range.

This always includes the ceremony planning guide and consultation as well as a laser-printed, hand-bound copy of your customized wedding ceremony & vows made by artist Jenny Yoshida Park.

Please email me for an estimate or to arrange a free consultation.

Champagne Ceremony
Include two champagne flutes and a chilled bottle of Domaine Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley méthode champenoise sparkling wine for $100.

Travel
Travel beyond the San Diego 92126 area is extra. Depending on where your ceremony is will determine the travel fee. I calculate the mileage with a mapping website, and then charge $2 per mile (one way). Within the City of San Diego this is very modest, usually much less than $50. Call or email for more information.

Deposit
I request a $100 deposit to hold the date; this is transferable to another date if changed at least fourteen days before the event. The balance can be paid on the day of the ceremony.

Wedding Ceremony & Planning Guide
This simple and easy to use guide gives couples a starting point for their wedding ceremony. It breaks the ceremony down into the various components and includes a classic ceremony as well as suggestions on how to customize the ceremony to reflect every couple's unique vision. Any couple that purchases the planning guide before booking my services can deduct the price of the guide from the total. Available from Lulu.

Your Marriage License

To obtain a marriage license in San Diego, both the prospective Bride and Groom must appear together NO MORE THAN 90 DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING DATE at one of these locations:

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION CENTER
1600 Pacific Highway, Room 273
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 237-0502

CHULA VISTA BRANCH OFFICE
590 Third Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
(619) 498-2200

EL CAJON BRANCH OFFICE
200 S. Magnolia Avenue
El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 401-5700

KEARNY MESA BRANCH OFFICE
9225 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 505-6262

SAN MARCOS BRANCH OFFICE
141 East Carmel Street
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 940-6868

San Diego County Clerk's Website

PLEASE NOTE: Some Clerk's Offices don't accept
debit / credit cards.

County Clerk Business Hours:
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, Kearny Mesa office only, excluding Saturdays before holidays.