ABOUT US
Our officients are Rebecca Ray, Laura Placeres, Ken Melvoin-Berg, and Troy Taylor. We are legally authorized to solemnize marriages in all counties of Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin, and most other states.
Rebecca and Laura are based in the Kansas City metro area, while Ken is in the Chicago area and Troy is in Decatur, Illinois. Although we are based in these areas, we are willing to travel almost anywhere to your wedding location, with travel expenses reimbursed. Some states require the filing of celebrant papers, and we can take care of that.
KANSAS CITY
REVEREND REBECCA RAY:
Rebecca's education includes a Bachelor's degree in Speech/Theatre. Acting as wedding ceremony writer and celebrant is her avocation -- she does it because she loves doing it.
Some people call it "choreography" when the members of the wedding party must know ahead of time where, when and how to stand and move during the ceremony. As an experienced director, Rebecca will treat your wedding ceremony as the production that it was meant to be. Taking your suggestions into consideration, she can give you clear advice on the flow of the ceremony. The rehearsal will be a satisfying experience that will allow each participant to come away confident in their role and comfortable with their responsibility.
Being theatrically trained and an experienced public speaker, Rebecca's voice is soothing and her enunciation is clear and distinct. She will attend to every detail to ensure that the presentation of the ceremony is flawless, and yet, relaxed.
LAURA PLACERES - Bio coming soon
CHICAGO
REVEREND KEN MELVOIN-BERG:
Ken is a Chicago based officiant that received his religious training at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ken has spent a number of years in wedding related fields and can help you with all aspects of your special day from invitations to wedding planning.
He has resided over a number of weddings throughout the years both in traditional ceremonies as well as some non-traditional themed weddings. Some of the more interesting themes we can arrange for you include Star Wars (Jedi, Darth Vader, Storm trooper), Star Trek (Klingon or Federation officer), Halloween, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings themed weddings are some that the Reverend Ken offers.
We also have access to Ken and Troy's company bus from Weird Chicago that can be used for weddings at an additional charge. We are always professional, courteous and on time.
Ken is a professional speaker that has been seen on TV (SciFi, National Geographic, Biography, A & E, Discovery, NPR) and lectures at Universities and the Discovery Center in Chicago.
DECATUR, IL
REVEREND TROY TAYLOR:
Troy Taylor is the author of nearly 60 books on ghosts, hauntings, and the unexplained in America. He is the founder of the American Ghost Society and the owner of the American Hauntings Tours, which offers ghost tours around Illinois and haunted overnight excursions to haunted spots around the country. Born and raised in Illinois, he grew up fascinated with "things that go bump in the night", In school, Taylor was well-known for his interest in the paranormal and often took friends on informal ghost tours of haunted places all over downstate Illinois. He would later turn this interest into his full-time career.
Along with writing about the unusual and hosting tours, Taylor is also a public speaker on the subject of ghosts and hauntings and has spoken to literally hundreds of private and public groups on a variety of paranormal subjects. He has appeared in newspaper and magazine articles about ghosts and has also been fortunate enough to be interviewed hundreds of times for radio and television broadcasts about the supernatural. He has also appeared in a number of documentary films, several television series and in one feature film about the paranormal. He currently resides in Central Illinois with his wife, Haven, in a decidedly non-haunted house.