Honey in the Heart Ceremonies

Pricing

Prices start at $500

Packages

Prices start at $1,400

About Honey in the Heart Ceremonies

Honey in the Heart Ceremonies

Wedding Officiant

I believe that on the day you say your “I do’s” more love is brought into the world! I craft authentic, heartfelt, and unforgettable wedding ceremonies in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur. Since 2010, I've blended cultural traditions and personal touches to elevate celebrations beyond the ordinary. All love is welcome here.

What truly sets me apart is my calm presence, flexibility, and extensive experience in creating deeply personal and resonant ceremonies. I don't just officiate; I co-create unique experiences that genuinely reflect your journey. My commitment to going beyond the typical ensures your ceremony is filled with authentic and unforgettable moments. I'm readily available to connect via phone, text, email, or Zoom, ensuring your wedding day is everything you've dreamed of.

In three words: Calm, Collaborative, Creative

Services

Ceremony types

  • Civil Union
  • Commitment Ceremony
  • Elopement
  • Interfaith Ceremony
  • Legal License Signing
  • Multicultural Weddings
  • Non-religious Ceremony
  • Vow Renewal Ceremony

Religious affiliations

  • Buddhist
  • Interfaith
  • Pagan
  • Secular
  • Spiritual
  • Wiccan

Honey in the Heart Ceremonies packages

Elopement Package

Price$1,400

Description

For couples desiring an easy, sweet, and simple ceremony. We’ll discuss your beliefs, and I’ll perform a beautifully crafted pre-written ceremony straight from my heart. You may choose to bring your own vows or select from the samples I provide. Rebecca Stark,a Big Sur and Santa Cruz Wedding Photographer will capture your portraits for up to one hour covering your ceremony and the moments that follow. You’ll receive lightly edited photos in a downloadable format after your ceremony.

What’s included
  • Officiant and Professional Wedding Photographer

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

2 reviews

  • AL

    Amber L.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •Oct 3, 2026

    Loved the Process and Execution

    Donna was an integral part of our big day. I was nervous hiring a stranger to play such an intimate and critical role in such an important life event. Upon meeting Donna, those fears were gone. She was kind, warm, and took time to get to know us and our love story. We are both deeply spiritual, but not religious. Our love story was a journey. She gave us the tools and support needed and worked with us to create a ceremony was intimate, heartfelt, at times funny, and the perfect mix of tradition and us.

    Donna Gardner•Oct 5, 2026

    Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart. I know what a leap of faith it is to invite someone you've just met into one of the most tender moments of your life, and I'm so grateful you trusted me with it. Getting to know you and hearing the story of your journey together was a true gift. Your love has a depth that comes from walking a real path side by side, and it was a joy to help shape a ceremony that held all of it: the spirit, the laughter, the tradition, and most of all, the two of you. I'll carry the memory of your day with me. Wishing you a lifetime of love, adventure, and coming home to each other. With honey in the heart, Donna

  • MT

    Miles T.

    Rating: 5
    •Zola
    •May 22, 2026

    The most authentic and loving Officent out there!

    Working with Donna was one of the most loving and thoughtful parts of our ceremony experience. The care and attention she gave to truly getting to know us and curating a ceremony that felt deeply personal made such an impact every step of the way. We absolutely loved having her by our side throughout the process. If you have the opportunity to work with her, do it. We truly couldn’t imagine anyone else facilitating our ceremony and marriage. By the end, Donna felt like family. Lovingly carrying us across the threshold into this next chapter together.

    Donna Gardner•Oct 5, 2026

    Thank you both, so deeply. Inviting your parents to create a blessing for you before the ceremony was one of the most tender and beautiful moments of this whole journey, and it meant so much to me to be trusted with holding that space for you and your families. You're coming up on your first anniversary and I carry the memory of your amazing day in my heart with gratitude. Listening for the heart of your story and shaping a ceremony that truly felt like yours was a joy every step of the way. Your words "Donna felt like family" brought tears to my eyes, because the feeling is mutual. It was an honor to walk beside you and carry you across that threshold into your next chapter. Wishing you a marriage rooted in love, surrounded always by the people who blessed you into it. Warmly, Donna

Preferred vendors of Honey in the Heart Ceremonies

Planner
Coastside Weddings & Events
Rating: 5.0 (5 reviews)
Half Moon Bay, CA
Starts at $100
Venue
Waterfall Lodge and Retreat
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
Ben Lomond, CA
Venue
Shadowbrook Restaurant
Capitola, CA
Venue
Felton Guild
Felton, CA
Since 2010
Yes — your ceremony is about you, not me. I'm here to help you cross the threshold into marriage in a way that feels authentically yours. Depending on how involved you want to be, I can create your ceremony in Google Docs, which means you can be a real part of the process. You'll have access to the document so we can collaborate in real time, leave comments, swap out words that don't sound like you, and shape the whole thing together. If you want to write your own vows, I can can make keepsake Vow Booklets for you to read from. I also offer the option of adding your Bespoke Love Story for an even or unique ceremony!
Great question — and yes, rehearsals are included in certain ceremony choices that I offer. When we chat about what you're looking for, we'll figure out together which choice makes the most sense for you and whether a rehearsal is included. The best way to get the details sorted is to connect and chat through what you have in mind. I'd love to learn more about your day and find the right fit for you!
Absolutely — and honestly, you're in great company! More couples than you might think have already handled the legal side of things before their ceremony, whether it was a quiet courthouse moment, a practical decision, or just life moving faster than wedding planning. Whatever the reason, it doesn't change a thing about what we can create together. Here's the way I see it: the marriage license takes care of the legal part, but the ceremony? That's where the magic happens. No courthouse can replicate that moment. No piece of paper captures it either.
No, I don't require this.

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