Santa Cruz Officiant

Pricing

Prices start at $600

Packages

Prices start at $30

About Santa Cruz Officiant

Santa Cruz Officiant

Officiant, celebrant and business owner

Hi, I’m Naomi—a multi-award-winning wedding officiant known for ceremonies that feel like soul nourishment. I’m part marriage midwife, part storyteller, part fierce, loving mama bear. I help couples stay grounded, connected, and deeply seen on one of the most important days of their lives. Guests swear I must be a family member or close friend because of how well I get to know the couples I work with. I’m re-imagining ceremony for a secular world, and creating ceremonies that feel transformative to you, and unforgettable to everyone else. The best way to reach me is directly through my website.

I have a degree in creative writing, a background in theater, and a gift for crafting ceremonies that feel both transcendent and down to earth, and emotionally deep while still feeling lighthearted. I'm a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern love, tradition and innovation. Ceremony is my art form. I’m not a plug-and-play-script reading, transactional officiant, I’m someone who creates an atmosphere and curates an experience. Please message me directly through the contact form of my website and NOT via Zola. You can read over 100 more reviews about my work on online.

In three words: Creative, Innovative, Supportive

Services

Ceremony types

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

Religious affiliations

  • Interfaith
  • Jewish
  • Other
  • Pagan
  • Secular
  • Spiritual
  • Unitarian
  • Wiccan

Santa Cruz Officiant packages

Pre-written Ceremony Scripts

Description

Having a friend or relative officiate your ceremony? Two multi award winning officiants created a modern and unique collection of ceremony scripts. They are inclusive, LGBTQIA+ friendly, non patriarchal, and absent of dogma and doctrine. All the scripts are free of the usual insincere, tacky or cliche wedding ceremony elements. We have scripts in English, Spanish and bilingual. We also sell a super pro vow writing tutorial. Zola couples receive 20% off at checkout with coupon code ZOLA20.

What’s included
  • Ceremony Script/Officiant Speech
  • Customization Tips & Additional Resources
  • Professional Vow Writing Guide
  • Self Solemnization Ceremony Guide
  • Spanish and Bilingual Ceremony Scripts
  • Commercial License for Officiants

Micro-weddings and elopements

Description

Includes a "secular-meets-sacred" ceremony that is full of presence, connection, acknowledgement of the natural world and the power of pausing to mark our big, important milestones. It is dogma, doctrine and deity free, cliche free/non-gimmicky/non-cringe, egalitarian and inclusive. It has this special way of speaking to everyone, regardless of background or belief. Preview available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TB6VEp8CQk&pp=ygUJI3RlbG9wZXlh

What’s included
  • Selection of non-traditional vow samples
  • Ceremony questionnaire
  • Information about obtaining your marriage license

Custom Ceremony Package

Description

Requires a free 45 minute Zoom meeting to assess fit.

Reviews

Write a review
Rating: 5.0

5.0 out of 5

3 reviews

  • WM

    Wesley & M.

    Rating: 5
    •Oct 22, 2025

    An Unforgettable, Grounding, & Cherished Presence

    Naomi was beyond incredible. From the very first meeting, she made us feel so comfortable and cared for, and it truly felt like she really took the time to understand who we are as a couple. Naomi has a unique world view that made us feel gratitude for every moment of the process but also for our lives leading up to our wedding and meeting her. It made our connection with her far deeper than we had expected - once you meet her, you will feel it too. Naomi was extremely calm, organized, and so grounding; from the start of the planning process to the rehearsal to the big day, she truly set the tone and was a guiding light throughout, even quietly reminding the groom to breathe as his bride appeared, which was unexpectedly necessary! The ceremony she wrote was everything we could have hoped for and more - personal, heartfelt, and full of meaning. It felt completely “us,” as if she had known the two of us for years already! And our friends and family couldn’t stop talking about how beautiful her words were and how she created such an intimate, warm atmosphere, too. We went with her custom ceremony package, which included reflection questions, vow-writing help, marriage license guidance, and multiple meetings. Beyond having a copy of our custom ceremony, another fun keepsake we now have from working with Naomi is both of our responses to the premarital reflection questionnaires she had us complete separately, since we’re now saving our answers to read together on our one-year anniversary (we seriously can’t wait!). Naomi was listed as the preferred officiant for our venue (Waterfall Lodge & Retreat in Ben Lomond, CA), and it’s clear to see why! Having her know the venue and most of our vendors made things feel that much more seamless, which was wonderful since we’re not local to the area ourselves. But on top of her being our venue’s preferred officiant, it was her reviews (and our wonderful first meeting with her!) that made us ultimately choose her to be the shepherd of our big day, and we’re so glad we trusted those reviews! We’re beyond grateful to her for helping make our ceremony so magical and forever cherished. If you’re looking for an officiant who is kind, professional, and genuinely cares about making your ceremony feel personal and memorable, Naomi is it.

  • AW

    Aubrey D W.

    Rating: 5
    •May 15, 2025

    Forever Grateful for Naomi

    Choosing Naomi as our officiant was one of the very best decisions we made for our wedding. She embodies so much warmth and wisdom and has an extremely thoughtful process of getting to know her couples. We wanted our ceremony to be the most special part of our day, and while we trusted her from the beginning, we couldn’t have imagined a ceremony as beautiful as the one she delivered. We wanted to really feel the transition, the peace, the profoundness of the moment, and Naomi gave us this and so much more. Every word was meaningful and deeply personal, not a single one wasted. She slowed everything down. She helped us and our guests all be still and truly present and to notice even the tiniest details that were made not so tiny by the awareness: the trees, the smell of the cool forest air, the crow flying overhead. She was a grounding presence that steadied us in a moment that is often nerve-ridden and blurry for many people. Friends and family all commented on how it was the most beautiful ceremony they had ever been to. One friend even said that he had never been to a wedding where the ceremony was the best part until ours. If you are looking for an officiant who can truly see you and your partner, someone who is capable of honoring your story and your dreams, someone to anchor you in a whirlwind moment while acknowledging how once in a lifetime it is, then run don’t walk to connect with Naomi. You will be so glad you did.

  • BB

    Breanna B.

    Rating: 5
    •Apr 16, 2025

    Wedding Officiant

    Naomi from Santa Cruz Officiant was an absolute pleasure to work with for our wedding. Her communication style was great - she was very personal in getting to know us as a couple, but never in an intrusive way. Naomi was diligent in following up on any phone calls or emails we had leading up to the big day. On the wedding day, Naomi's soft-spoken and calming presence really helped us feel grounded and present during the ceremony. She officiated our legal marriage and took care of submitting the paperwork for us. Naomi's words connected with us in a profound way, and I found myself balling with emotion just a sentence into my vows. Naomi offers a variety of ceremony options to fit different couples' needs and budgets, which we really appreciated. We highly recommend Naomi and Santa Cruz Officiant to any couple looking for a warm, personalized, and meaningful wedding ceremony experience.

Preferred vendors of Santa Cruz Officiant

Venue
The Holly Farm
Rating: 5.0 (2 reviews)
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
Starts at $57,000
Quick responder
Venue
Sand Rock Farm
Rating: 5.0 (4 reviews)
Aptos, CA
Venue
Waterfall Lodge and Retreat
Rating: 5.0 (1 review)
Ben Lomond, CA
Planner
Event By Dawn
Rating: 5.0 (12 reviews)
Santa Cruz, CA
Starts at $3,500
I started Santa Cruz Officiant over a decade ago.
I have officiated over 300 wedding ceremonies as well as elopements and vow renewals.
Yes! I have officiated many weddings for couples who were already legally married. Many couples do the paperwork first because of taxes or health insurance or for green card purposes, so it's not uncommon for couples to be legally married before their wedding.
I am not a therapist and don’t offer pre martial counseling as such, but as part of my custom ceremony package I offer a very in depth pre martial reflection process - what one bride described as “the emotional homework I knew I needed to do before getting married but previously hadn’t known how…" This process includes 50+ questions that help couples reflect on their relationship, contemplate their future, and think deeply and intentionally about their ceremony.
It depends. For micro-weddings and elopements I generally do not. I do attend rehearsals for custom ceremonies unless I am officiating another wedding ceremony on the day of their rehearsal. In all cases I prepare the couples I work with via email or Zoom, or by speaking with their planner/coordinator/site manager.
Yes. 100%. Every ceremony I officiate is welcoming and inclusive of all cultures, colors, creeds, abilities and orientations.
I provide a vow writing tutorial and offer 1:1 vow coaching support to all the couples who book me for a custom wedding ceremony package. For couples who are not writing their own wedding vows, I have a wide and varied selection of alternative vows for them to choose from.
Tipping is never required, but always deeply appreciated. If you’re tipping other wedding professionals—like your photographer, DJ, videographer, or caterer—it makes sense to tip your officiant too, especially if they’ve gone above and beyond to make your ceremony meaningful. If tipping isn’t part of your wedding plan just know that a heartfelt thank you (and a glowing review!) also means the world.
Yes! I am active on Instagram @santacruzofficiant.
The short answer is no, I am not a rabbi. The longer answer is that I have extensive experience officiating Jewish wedding ceremonies that honor Jewish traditions in meaningful, inclusive, and often reimagined ways. I come from an ultra-orthodox lineage of cantors and kohanim (Jewish high priests), so I bring a deep understanding of Jewish wedding customs, along with a passion for helping couples have fresh perspective about ancient rituals.
You can make your ceremony feel dynamic and interactive by integrating religious, cultural or secular rituals into your ceremony, including well selected readings and readers when appropriate, involving kids/step-kids and blended family rituals, and by including unique remembrances of loved ones (including pets.)
Have an unplugged ceremony. Don't be drunk, stoned or hungover for your ceremony. Skip the first look and see each other for the first time at the altar. Say your vows during the ceremony and not beforehand. If tears come, let them! Have the ceremony be the most magical, expansive part of your whole wedding day. It sets the tone for everything that follows it...

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