Who We Are


	Wedding Officiants in the Greater Sacramento Region Creating magical moments to treasure for a lifetime.

	The beginnings of "Loving Celebrations"
	Bob and I found one another at a dinner party hosted by a friend over ten years ago. We then became best friends, finding joy in simple togetherness no matter what we were doing. We have even learned to appreciate our fights because they have strengthened our bond. Appreciating commitment as we do, helping others to proclaim theirs is deeply satisfying to us.

The following has been part of Bob's bio for awhile now. When creating this website, I asked him whether we could publish it here to describe our philosophy.

"I have seen too many marriages end in divorce. I lived through one myself. So for me, your compatibility and the depth of your devotion to each other matter more than the amount of money you spend or the size of wedding you host for your family and friends.

That said, friends and relatives can be a vital source of support and perspective when times are tough. I hope you have some. In my view, a wedding ceremony is more than a celebration of the love between two people. It is more than a solemn vow to remain faithful despite sickness or poverty. It is also a humble plea, made to those you have invited, to help you stay in love, to help you keep talking, and to help you stay married in the years ahead--even when you don't realize or won't admit that you need such help. In this way, a wedding ceremony builds not only a family, but a community.

That sounds awfully preachy, I know. But a ceremony that emphasizes your membership in a larger community need not be dull and humorless. Indeed, it can be fun to assure a groom that friends will be there to restrain his bride's shopping sprees and equally heartwarming for a bride to know that her new husband will forever be under social pressure to pick up his dirty socks or change dirty diapers.

In this mundane way, I prefer not to call upon God to grant you a life of wedded bliss. Instead, I lightheartedly call upon you and your loved ones to embody holiness yourselves, to remember what's important and what isn't, to fight fairly, and to appreciate little things like sticking out your tongue to settle trivial disputes -- an endearing practice I learned from Lori."

Lori Levisen

I became a non-denominational minister in 1991 through the Universal Life Church. At the time, I was a massage therapist where I enjoyed an intimate, heart-level connection with my clients. After 22 years, I am no longer an active therapist.

I have held other positions before, during and after my tenure as a massage therapist. Positions of teacher, convention and meeting planner, speech therapist, and that of a program director for a massage program. There has always been some essential-to-the-wellbeing-of-my-soul connection missing.

For the past several years, I have felt truly blessed because I have, once again, found a profession that "feeds my soul" and where I have a heart-level connection with the couples I marry.

The picture I've chosen is from one of the weddings I performed in Santa Cruz. I'm the short blonde one...

Bob Waegell

I am a farm-boy at heart, an orchardist with a small experimental orchard of stone fruits like apricots, plums, Pluots, Apriums and prunes.

I am part of the third generation working this land and know first-hand the challenges and rewards of working with and living close to an extended family.

I was inspired to become a wedding officiant by witnessing just how much Lori lights up when performing a wedding. A profession that brings that much joy was enough for me to overcome my fear of public speaking!

The picture I have chosen was taken as I completed the paperwork after the first wedding I performed.