Chanelle Carlin: Your Wedding Officiant and Celebrant for Life™
“Chanelle was absolutely fabulous! She went above and beyond our expectations, highly recommend!” – Darryl and Kaitlyn Wood
Hi! I’m Chanelle. Simply put, I love love and life. Thank you for taking the time to explore my story and learn about my journey to becoming a wedding officiant and your Celebrant for Life™.
Over my 56 years of life, I’ve traveled the world, lived in Ireland for eight years, and now call Okanogan County, Washington, my home. Nestled in a serene valley surrounded by the Omak and Tiffany Mountains, my family and I enjoy the beauty of nature year-round. Springtime fills our yard with shade trees, lilacs, wisteria, lilies, orchids, and daffodils. It’s truly magical.
A few of my favorite things include Christmas, orange cats, dachshunds, hiking, traveling, and watching old musicals. I cherish quiet mornings with coffee at sunrise and evenings with a glass of wine as the sun sets. These moments inspire my belief that life—and love—should be celebrated every day.
As your wedding officiant in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, I’m passionate about helping couples craft ceremonies that reflect their unique love stories. Let’s create something extraordinary together!
My Journey to Becoming a Wedding Officiant
People often ask how I began officiating weddings. My journey started during a time of personal loss. After my mom passed away, my family struggled to find the right officiant for her funeral. I realized then how vital it is to have someone who truly knows and honors your story. This sparked my commitment to ensure no one else would face the same difficulty.
I became an ordained minister—just in case. Weddings started finding me soon after. My first ceremonies were for couples facing unique challenges. One couple’s officiant had passed away, and their backup disappeared six weeks before their wedding. Another found me just two days before their big day! Helping these couples inspired me. I discovered the joy of celebrating one-of-a-kind love stories.
Six Years and Counting
In the past six years, I’ve officiated nearly 200 weddings across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Each ceremony has been unique and tailored to the couple’s vision. This work fills my heart with joy and purpose. I love sharing love stories, celebrating milestones, and making wedding days unforgettable.
My passion and dedication have been recognized with the Best of Weddings Award from The Knot for four consecutive years. I’ve shared my experiences on industry podcasts like Best Made Weddings and Get to Know Your Wedding Pro, and I’ve even written for Okanogan Living Magazine. Every step of this journey has been incredible, and I’m honored to do what I love.
From shy teen to confident celebrant
Celebrating love as a wedding officiant has been a surprising and rewarding path. I’ve always been shy by nature. As a teenager, I was clumsy and terrified of public speaking. Life experiences, like soloing in high school jazz choir, working as a camp counselor, and living abroad in Ireland, helped me grow into a more confident person.
Today, I speak in public for a living and share the love stories of amazing couples. It’s a dream come true. Being honored with awards like The Knot’s Best of Weddings and receiving heartfelt testimonials from my couples make this journey even more rewarding. My husband likes to joke, “Is that even a thing?” It absolutely is!
Your Celebrant for Life TM
The best part of my role isn’t just being your wedding officiant—it’s being your Celebrant for Life™. As your Celebrant for Life, the success of your marriage matters to me just as much as your wedding day does. That’s why my commitment extends beyond your ceremony.
When you book me as your Officiant, you gain a lifelong celebrant. I’ll support and celebrate your love through anniversaries, milestones, and the Moments that Matter. During your first year of marriage, I’ll check in regularly and offer coaching to help you treasure the big and small moments. Beyond that, I’ll be here for anniversaries, baby blessings, housewarmings, and more.
The Heart Behind “Celebrant for Life™”
The title “Celebrant for Life™” came from my time in Ireland. There, priests often celebrate all life events for their parishioners. I wanted to bring that sense of continuity and connection to my couples, even if they don’t have a church community. I send anniversary cards, holiday greetings, and even help celebrate babies, retirements, and graduations.
Being part of your life’s milestones is an honor. I celebrate your love and the Moments that Matter, creating meaningful memories for your family.
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“Chanelle really took the time to get to know us and created a ceremony that was so personal, beautiful, and heartfelt. She captured exactly what we envisioned! – Gabi and Matthew
What You Can Expect from Me:
As your wedding or elopement officiant, I promise:
- To listen to your stories and honor your unique journey
- To collaborate with you to create a ceremony that reflects your vision
- To answer your questions honestly and promptly
- To be fully prepared on your wedding day
- To make the process fun and enjoyable
- To prioritize your well-being and encourage self-care
- To fulfill every promise and agreement we make
- To celebrate your love before, during and after your wedding
For adventurous, romantic couples seeking thoughtful ceremonies filled with personal meaning, I strive to make every step of the process smooth and memorable. I honor your values, from celebrating your cultural heritage to embracing your shared passions. Your ceremony will feel authentic to your love story.
Ready to Celebrate?
Let’s chat and create a one-of-a-kind ceremony that you’ll remember forever. Whether it’s your wedding, an anniversary, or another milestone, I’m excited to celebrate with you as your Celebrant for Life™.