Christy + Gavin’s Mountain Micro Wedding at Sapphire Point, March 10, 2019
Spring is Around the Corner:
Time to Come out of the Closet.
In light of the full moon on Monday and the power of its pulsation continuing to boldly shine through our bedroom window last night, the full worm moon -last full moon before the Spring Equinox, reminds us that it’s time to come out of seclusion, of hiding from that warm safe place underground and explore new terrain with the light of the sun and the change of seasons.
With this vibrant full moon, the launch of my new web site and the recent facebook post of a local seeking a wedding officiant, inspired me- nudged me again to come out of the closet- to re-emerging into the public eye to share my gifts and stories.
It’s time. It’s been 10 years since the first wedding I presided over. And I now realize that I’ve kept this truth kinda quiet by not sharing this with you my greater community via all the modern channels.
THE SPARK:
It all started in my early 30’s with a drop of nectar from the powers that be- an intuitive message deep within my being that bubbled up to the surface. Prior to that moment of this message during a deep connection with the Divine, I was unaware that my current direction was my destiny or my responsibility. Before then it was not on my radar in that clarity or that form.
LET THE INVITATIONS BEGIN:
Officiating Officially Began on the White Rim in April 2010 with a surprise Vow Renewal Ceremony to practice for what was to follow. On April 16, 2010 I had the honor of co-officiating for one of my dearest friends and soul sister in Mexico. Caren + Bills invited me in conjunction with Bill’s Father to offer help preside over the ceremony offing words of their earth connection and a blessing of the Four Directions. This was followed by another loud nudge from the universe. Thanks to Juli Rathke, (High Priestess of Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine) to provide the basic tools (a logo and a website) and the encouragement I needed to step over the edge and start Officiating ASAP rather than in retirement.( LOL) Carl Scofield offered to shoot some head shots down by the Blue River, which I would continue to use to this day. And to Dina Sanchez - former wedding coordinator and florist and Katie Girtman of Studio Kiva Photography, a friend from my outdoor industry days who generously referred clients to me in the preliminary stages of my career as a Wedding Officiant. Big thanks to Holly Resignolo from Mountain Town Magazine who jumped to my aid when my web site when down last winter.
PRESENT DAY:
10 years later I still love Officiating and I enjoy the process and the offering more and more with each year as I grow and mature and learn more about life and love, yoga and philosophy, partnership and commitment and the loss of those close to you.
I have officiated weddings on snow covered mountains tops (both off and on piste) and in intimate settings where it’s just the couple, their photographer and myself and the chipmunks. And I have officiated in large scale mountain venues including Keystone, A- Basin, Estes Park. Vail wedding Deck and private rental homes throughout the surrounding communities. Sky’s the limit of where I can officiate. Summit Celebrant has been featured in Rocky Mountain Bride, Mountain Town Magazine and written articles for MTM on Mountain Weddings and finding the right officiant.
A WOMAN OF MANY FACES:
Many of you have known me in my multitude of mountain Incarnations: BOEC Intern and Ski Volunteer, Summit Huts Hut Master and Gal Friday to Leigh Girvin, jewelry maker and worker bee for Fineline Studios, Mountain Guide and Telemark Ski Competitor, Founder of Babes in the Backcountry or Yoga Instructor and Yoga Studio Owner. All that is true and more. And my breath of my wings has for a long time expanded far beyond those labels and the roles I have played in this community, roles that have also overlapped in time.
YES IT’S TRUE:
For all of you that don’t know this YES I “Officiate Weddings”. Ceremony and spirituality has always been in my blood woven throughout all my endeavors. As a Universal Life Church Minister, I offer my services to couples of all religions and faiths and couples that prefer a civil, spiritual, interfaith or same sex union. I don’t come with a box that my clients need to fit into but rather they come to me with who they are and what they stand for and I design a ceremony that flows towards their hearts and beliefs and not my personal agenda. I can officiate a portion of the ceremony in Spanish, read + speak Hebrew and share authentically about Native American and Celtic traditions.
WHY DO I OFFICATE?
Because I was inspired by the divine to do so and because this offering allows me to incorporate all the things I am passionate about: writing, public speaking, the outdoors, connecting with people and places, combining my yoga + meditation skills into how I navigate through situations and off course dressing up. Learning about the unique stories of each couple, their values, their backstory, their hobbies and special aspects of their connection to highlight is what fuels my passion for Officiating. Being able to stand up for couples on one of the most important days of their lives together is a true honor and a gift. Writing and presenting the ceremony are both equally as rewarding.
WHAT I OFFER:
Summit Celebrant- my business, offers personalized custom wedding ceremonies for all size weddings for couples of diverse backgrounds and faiths, as well as script writing services for couples that have a close friend/family member presiding over the ceremony who may need some support in creating or orchestrating over ceremony. My services span from Intimate Elopements to Full Monty Ceremonies, Vow Renewals and 2nd marriages with children woven into the ceremony.
YOGA: So you and your guests can center, ground, rejuvenate for the next activity I offer yoga or meditation sessions for bridal parties, bachelorette parties or your whole guest list.
LIFE CELEBRATIONS: The Mindful Bride and Life Cycle Events are designed to help conscious brides and mothers to be to celebrate momentous occasions in a mindful connected thoughtful manner. For local expecting mothers in the yoga community, I have offered my ceremonial services and lead several Blessing Way offerings to honor the inner goddess and her circle of close friends and to welcome the new creation she is birthing. Each mother is gifted a birthing necklaces to be worn during the actual birth, assembled from the beads her soul sisters/friends had brought on her behalf, to remind her of the strength, love and community surrounding her during the birthing process.
END OF LIFE CELEBRATIONS:
And when the time comes to honor someone close to you that has left your body, Summit Celebrant can be the calm, neutral voice to support the special honoring through leading the memorial services ad end of Life Ceremonies to guided yoga, nature and mandala creation offerings.
LET’S CONNECT:
So I am coming out of the closet to share my “secret” so together we can spread the word. Please visit my web site or Summit Celebrant social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) and help spread the word to likeminded outdoorsy, adventurous, conscious couples seeking a heartfelt personalized ceremony to inspire them and their guests. If you have taken a yoga class with me or been at a wedding I officiated or If I was your officiant, I am grateful for your reviews to help share what I can offer to others down the road.
Blessings for an incredible rebirth this spring.
I am excited that on my upcoming 10th Anniversary of “Officially” Officiating, I am now reemerging with a new presence and deeper connection to our community through the relaunch of my web site designed locally by Shakti Creative, formalizing my additional services and my budding blogging offerings.
Thank you to all who have supported my growth as a Wedding Officiant and who continue to believed in the offerings I have to share.
Thank you for celebrating and supporting my exit from the closet, from the protection of the moist ground underneath the surface, so I can emerge with all my light and love to share so as a community we can get the word out to all those couples who are in search of the right fit.
Much Love!
Leslie Ross~ Your Mountain Wedding Officiant + Goddess of Ceremonies for Life Cycle Events
Please Note:
In honor of my 10 year Officiating anniversary, I have posted some photos here- a blast from the past- mostly taken from my early generation of an iPhone. More photos will be added to this blog to include yoga and more additional services.
Visit my web site for recent professional captured images of the weddings i have officiate
“All paths lead to the same place.
It is our choice on how we want to explore the journey.”
