All Faiths Ceremonies by Dr. Sheila Gay Gross

My husband and I were recently married on July 17, 2010. The person we thought would officiate the ceremony could not and at the last minute (as in two weeks prior!), I had to begin my search for an officiant. I found Sheila on a website and read other's reviews about her. Not wanting to throw all of my eggs in one basket, I made a note of her information and continued to search, but it brought me back to Sheila over and over as something wasn't quite right with others, and I just had a good vibe from her from our initial phone conversation. Sheila was so accommodating and honest, and that was what I most appreciated! She spoke with us, advised us, made time for us, answered every inquiry, even when I felt I was being a bug, she assured me I wasn't and anything I needed she was right there even though it was crunch time, but the most important thing was she gave us what we wanted. The ceremony was tailored and personalized to suit our spiritual needs and that meant everything to my husband and I. Her script was amazing, her professionalism outstanding, her price and value immeasurable! After the ceremony, many of those who attended asked how I found Sheila, complimented how wonderful the ceremony was and what a great job she did and I couldn't have been more pleased with the decision to have her as our officiant. Our wedding was small and intimate and it was the best day of my life to date, and I appreciate that Sheila contributed greatly to making it memorable. I hope my testimony will help others make their decision when searching for an officiant as it helped me. Thank you Sheila* I am happy to say my husband and I made a new friend in our search for an officiant. Forever grateful - Mr & Mrs C.Harris married July 17, 2010.

My husband and I are from two different faiths and really wanted a wedding ceremony that was about us and was warm and meaningful. From the first phone conversation I had with Sheila I knew she was the officiant we wanted to use. She went above and beyond our expectations and made time during the whole wedding planning process to sit down with us and really get to know our story. We had no idea what to expect but after speaking with her and having her there every step of the way we knew that this was going to be something so unique and special. I can't begin to explain how wonderful Sheila is. All I can say is that the ceremony we had was so far from ordinary and typical. Every single one of our guests said that it was so beautiful and they have never been to a wedding ceremony where they actually listened to what was said and weren't bored (We got married on July 4th and people are still commenting). She talked about my husband and I, how we met, funny stories, love stories, about our family and had some of our friends participate in the ceremony and speak. I think her ceremonies should be a standard for every wedding! She speaks to your guests and makes them feel like a part of what is happening and really takes it to such a personal place. She is great at reading the couples she is works with and creating something that is perfect for them and fits their personalities. I HIGHLY recommend her!!!! If you can imagine the best wedding ceremony ever you still wouldn't come close to hers.

Sheila invited us into her home for our first meeting. She was the first officiant we met with, so we weren't sure what to expect and we were a little nervous, but her openness and warmth made us feel right at home from the first moment. We spent close to 2 hours talking about ourselves, our relationship, our passions, and by the end she had very nearly crafted the whole ceremony. It was refreshing and wonderful to work with someone who listened so closely and understood our need for a ceremony that was not filled with meaningless ritual and truly reflected us. The way that she included my husband's Buddhist studies and beliefs by starting the ceremony with a koan really captured the feeling we wanted from the start. No other officiant had a reading like that ready - we would have had to find it ourselves. But when we told Sheila we had lived in Japan and he had studied Buddhism she had the perfect thing. Sheila told our story, included our friends and helped them to write beautiful and meaningful speeches and had all of our family and friends pronounce us husband and wife. It was so deeply touching - the whole ceremony was about us and our union, just the way we wanted it. More than one person told me that our ceremony made them want to renew their vows, but the happy tears were by far the biggest testament to Sheila's incredible gift as an officiant. We will forever treasure the words she spoke and how she helped to bring out the best in us on this most special day.

If you are looking for an officiant who takes the time to really get to know you as a couple, who truly cares, is creative, who is caring and loving, and will make your ceremony extra special, look no further!!At my first wedding I had a rabbi and priest. It was cookie cutter, cold, and actually the comments made by the rabbi were inappropriate and ruined my ceremony. I knew that for my second time I wanted someone who was going to make it special and intimate and Sheila did exactly that. She is an incredible woman and a true gem. She will make your ceremony a dream.

Sheila was just great. Upfront preparation was very good and easy, even between Europe and her based in NJ - the ceremony was just amazing, ourselves and also all guests said that it was so emotional and personal, you could believe Sheila knows us for years. I can STRONGLY recommend her.

Sheila put together a fantastic and deeply personal ceremony for us. Someone told us that even our DJ misted up! Everything went according to plan and I think our families really appreciated feeling so included. We have a big blended family and Sheila found something for everyone.Sheila is a little more expensive than the other officiants we spoke with, but from our first meeting it was clear that she is head and shoulders above the rest. Some of the best money that we spent on our wedding!

Sheila performed our wedding ceremony on April 24 and she was excellent. For us, these were her major strengths as an officiant:- Willingness to incorporate spiritual elements in a secular ceremony. We don't belong to a church but believe in God and being part of a larger world, and she takes the time to understand, honor and fit the couple's beliefs.- Great speaking style with the just the right amount of formality. She sounds polished and prepared, but speaks simply and in a modern way that reaches out to all guests. No "thou shalt" cheesy, overly flowery wedding language or any hint of "going through the motions" in her tone or delivery.- Creativity - our ceremony included a special blessing related to New Jersey (our lifetime home and part of our wedding theme). She created a structure, coordinated our friends as speakers and it came together beautifully. She suggested that my father and mother walk me down the aisle, which we all loved, and she engaged the entire audience in pronouncing us man and wife! The energy in the room was fantastic and I'll always remember it.- Personalization - She told "our love story" in a humorous but gentle way in which friends and family could learn more about us, based on a previous interview in her home.I would encourage anyone to consider Sheila as their officiant. Many guests told us how much they enjoyed the ceremony and how unique it was, and I thought it really fit us as a couple. As a public speaker, I will say she has the gift of gab, so if you are shy don't let that deter you from speaking up about what you want to have happen in your wedding ceremony. :) If you don't have ideas, she is ready to give you many, but she genuinely seems to care about doing what the couple wants.

Reverend Dr. Sheila Gay Gross was our minister for our wedding we had on 3/26/2010 in Belleville, NJ at Nanina's in the Park. She was truly amazing at what she did and has a true gift for her job as a minister. She was able to bring out our love and describe our personalities in a way I never thought was possible for a wedding ceremony. There was not one person who didn't come up to us after the ceremony and say hands down, it was the most personal and best ceremony they have ever been to and this wouldn't have been possible without Sheila. She involved our guests and allowed our family and friends to speak about my husband and I during our ceremony. She even allowed them to speak over the time she allotted for them and did not cut them off. She incorporated important parts of our lives into our ceremony and geared it totally to our love and life. Sheila made our day so special and we would recommend her as the absolute first choice for anyone looking for an officiant for their upcoming wedding. She was always quick to respond to any emails or concerns I had about the ceremony and was extremely organized, warm, and an overall wonderful person. My husband Greg and I actually feel like we gained a friend from this experience and our wedding was the best day of our lives. We want to thank Sheila for helping to share in our special day and help to enhance it even more.

I can not say enough good things about Sheila. My husband and I were married in February with 100 of our friends and family. After the ceremony, we went into the cocktail hour and were blown away by how many people told us they were brought to tears by our ceremony or how it was the best most genuine ceremony they have ever attended. Everyone wants to think that there wedding is something special that everyone will always remember, but I honestly believe that ours will, and I know it is because Sheila is such an amazing officiant. When we first started looking for an officiant we were discouraged by what seemed like an impersonal, generic process. My first contact with Sheila was a breath of fresh air. She was the first officiant to want to talk to me on the phone. After an hour conversation we set a date for her to meet me and my fiance. We spent two hours talking and laughing, sharing stories and getting to know each other. She shared her ideas for our ceremony in a way that accommodated every need and want for our day. She even flew back from her Hawaiian vacation early just to officiate our wedding! You can't get more accommodating than that! Our ceremony is something we will never forget. Every detail was flawless and personal. We can't wait to see the video so we can experience it over and over again. We will always be grateful to Sheila for making our day so memorable!

Sheila was so wonderful - from my first conversation with her until even after the wedding. Everything I had read about her was confirmed before, during and after our ceremony. My husband and I had a small intimate affair in November and Sheila was our officiant. We are planning a more elaborate ceremony with a priest and we have asked Sheila to officiate with the priest for that affair as well. I am Jewish and my husband is Catholic and I always thought that I would have a Rabbi present, but Sheila is able to bring in many of the traditions that a Rabbi would have and I know she will once again do a wonderful job.She incorporated so many aspects of our lives into the ceremony and involved members of both of our families into the ceremony. She did so many special things that made everyone a part of our wedding more than simply being there as guests. I can't wait to have her officiate over our ceremony in October because I know it will be just as special as the first wedding and even more so since we will have more people that we love in attendance.

Dear Reverend Sheila, The wedding ceremony was.... and I am being so very honest when I say this....... the most beautiful wedding ceremony I have ever attended. And it wasn't because it was my son's wedding, that I say that. The ceremony was so personal with you sharing Joseph and Lynsey's thoughts, feelings and love for each other. And it was also very personal for the people attending because you included ALL OF US in the ceremony.... the parents coming up and placing our hands on our children.... the rings being passed/touched by the bridal party....and having all of us joining in and pronouncing Joseph and Lynsey as husband and wife. OH! Sooooo beautiful.... everyone was included in this wedding and it made such a very special and happy time.I love how you gave a little history of how and when Joseph and Lynsey met. It was as if they were telling us their story themselves and it was good for the folks attending who didn't know the history. It was also good for us who did know, because we remember when Joseph and Lynsey met.... and we watched them grow together. But we never really knew what they were feeling in their hearts - and maybe they didn't even know until you asked them both to think about what they love about each other... what they mean to each other... best friend... soul mate.... so touching. Your ceremony shared all of that and confirmed what we felt all along.. that Joseph and Lynsey were meant to be together!So with my whole heart, I wanted to say thank you again for such a beautiful and memorable wedding day for our children! Sincerely,Jean J.

We couldn't have asked for a better officiant. Sheila did an amazing job. We had met with several officiants and Sheila offered a service we couldn't find anywhere else. For her, each wedding is as unique as the couple. She sat with us and talked with us via phone and email several times before the wedding. Her approach is to get to know you as a couple, your story, why you love one another, and what your wedding will be like. She had us both write our own vows and not share them with each other until the day of the wedding, that was a gift we had for each other. This makes the ceremony completely unique and personal. Even the day of the wedding when I was frantic and stressed out Sheila was able to calm me down, make me laugh and get me back on track.During the wedding and even now, a month later, I still have people contact me about how wonderful and touching the ceremony was. I think one of the best compliments we received was that it was 'wonderfully refreshing'. People raved about our wedding and it was all thanks to Sheila.

Numerous guests commented on how touching and unique our ceremony was - it was all thanks to the dedication and time Sheila willing spent with us in order to ensure that we had a memorable experience. No matter how many questions I had and/or how much assistance I requested, Sheila was always by my side to share her valuable experiences and comments with me.

Sheila Is AMAZING !!! A special and unique gift to the world of unions and spiritual blessings. Our Wedding Ceremony will Forever be the most Awesome part of our whole day. After meeting with Sheila, we instantly knew she Had to perform our ceremony. We just got married October 23rd,2009 Outside..in Roosevelt park,Edison N.J. It was the Coldest day in Oct. and about to Rain or Sleet!! Not good for a shortsleeve dress....Anyway.. Sheila met us in the parking lot and assured us that she intends to perform the whole ceremony and would not " skimp" out, due to inclimate weather. What a Pro!!! we love her :) A few months earlier, we had found Sheila via the internet. We connected and met for a consult in her beautiful and enchanted home. Time flew by effortlessly as she really got to know us and got a feel for what we wanted to create. Sheila nailed It! On our special day- she performed the most Personal,Warm,and Unique ceremony which also included our 4 year old son Carter. Everyone Everyone said Our Wedding ceremony was the Best!!! I do believe it is because of Sheila's Awesomeness. Pleased Forever, Robert and Olivia McKeon and little Carter Too!

Our commitment ceremony was filled with joy, love and friendship all orchestrated by our wonderful Officiant Reverend Dr. Sheila Gross. On our first meeting, Sheila was able to capture our love for each other, as well as the love we wished to share with our family and friends. She was easy to speak with and advised how we could incorporate the ones we love, who were not among the wedding party. And like most couples in love and in disagreement, Sheila was able to counsel us on how we could celebrate those who had passed. Sheila is so warm and open she moved us to tears on our very first meeting.On the day of the ceremony, with her big heart and sincere tone, Sheila was able to envelope our family and friends with her words of kindness and inspiration, words meant not only for us, but also for everyone witnessing our union. From the ring warming to the seven Blessors, she took a piece of everyone’s emotion and transposed it into the most wonderful memory. And with that, she also stole a piece of everyone’s heart.Sheila made herself available to us and to all the speakers who sought her guidance.She moved everyone so significantly that they asked where we had found her. Sheila, thank you for making our wedding unforgettable and more perfect than we could have dreamed. Yours is a gift that cannot be learned, I’m sure you leave a piece of your soul and a blessing at every wedding ceremony, and we were honored to have you at ours.

When we met with Sheila for the first time, it was for about 2 hours. She had really positive energy and we felt welcomed in her home. She asked us some really interesting questions about how we met and what it was about each other that we loved. Very few people in our lives, even our really close friends had asked us these types of questions. It felt great to speak directly to one another about the qualities and characteristics we valued in each other.The ceremony was exactly what we expected. Our friends and family loved how personal it was - especially that they were involved in blessing our union. They couldn't believe we found Sheila on the internet. We would recommend her to anyone.

Our commitment ceremony was filled with joy, love and friendship all orchestrated by our wonderful Officiant Reverend Dr. Sheila Gross. On our first meeting, Sheila was able to capture our love for each other, as well as the love we wished to share with our family and friends. She was easy to speak with and advised how we could incorporate the ones we love, who were not among the wedding party. And like most couples in love and in disagreement, Sheila was able to counsel us on how we could celebrate those who had passed. Sheila is so warm and open she moved us to tears on our very first meeting. On the day of the ceremony, with her big heart and sincere tone, Sheila was able to envelope our family and friends with her words of kindness and inspiration, words meant not only for us, but also for everyone witnessing our union. From the ring warming to the seven Blessors, she took a piece of everyone’s emotion and transposed it into the most wonderful memory. And with that, she also stole a piece of everyone’s heart. Sheila made herself available to us and to all the speakers who sought her guidance. She moved everyone so significantly that they asked where we had found her. Sheila, thank you for making our wedding unforgettable and more perfect than we could have dreamed. Yours is a gift that cannot be learned, I’m sure you leave a piece of your soul and a blessing at every wedding ceremony, and we were honored to have you at ours. Sincerely,Laura & Thylene

My husband and I got married on August 16, 2009. It was the most amazing day of my life and largely due to Sheila. She made our ceremony so special, unique and personal. My husband is Catholic and I am Jewish and we both feel pretty strongly about our backgrounds and traditions. Sheila was able to creatively respect both of our traditions within the ceremony. Our guests raved about it. They loved how personal it was and how involved they were. One of my friends said she didn't want the ceremony to end! My favorite part of the whole day was when Sheila turned us to face our guests and had them pronounce us man and wife. I can chills thinking about it. Sheila is a special part of our lives and we will be seeing her in future for baby namings and other wonderful, exciting events in our lives!!!

Sheila was amazing! She personalized our ceremony beyond our wildest expectations, and left a lasting impression with all who attended. From our first phone conversation, I liked her, and after our face to face meeting, we knew she was a keeper. She has a vast knowledge of marriage rites from every culture and faith, so was able to make our ceremony reflective of our background and beliefs. She is also humorous and philosophical, so she had our guests laughing, thinking, and above all, engaged for the entire ceremony. We still have guests remarking on how our wedding was the best they'd ever attended, and many of our single guests "booked" her services for when their time comes. I'd 100% recommend Sheila Gross for your wedding.

First off, I have to say that my wife and I looked at other officiants and for the money they charged and what they offered it didn't compare to what Sheila was able to provide on our wedding day. When we first met her, she was very welcoming, asked very precise questions to really get to understand us as a couple, and we didn't feel like just another couple walking through the door; we felt like the only couple. We had some ideas of what we wanted to do and Sheila was very knowledgable about different cultural customs that could be done for a wedding. We knew we wanted to jump the broom and she knew about that. She even did further research and knew information that other officiants we spoke to had never even heard of! For example; tasting of the spices and the libation ceremony, which we including in our wedding. Therefore, we reached our goal of having a ceremony that reflected our African Ancestry. If you could speak to anyone from our wedding, they would say that Sheila was one of the highlights of our ceremony due to her originality, humor, and command of the whole process. Our wedding as a whole was a blast, and Sheila was the initial spark that ignited the fireworks. We would both highly recommend Sheila Gay Gross to anyone who wants to have a memorable wedding day. And when my wife and I have our first child, she will be there to do the blessing!