As we close the final chapter of 2025, the Now You May Kiss™ Podcast ends the year with a heartfelt, reflective conversation—one rooted in gratitude, wisdom, and the deep joy of ceremony.
For this special year-end episode, wedding officiant and host Chanelle Carlin is joined once again by her dear friend and colleague Christopher Shelley of Illuminating Ceremonies, marking his fourth appearance on the podcast. Together, they reflect on the weddings that shaped the year, the lessons learned along the way, and the privilege of serving couples at one of the most meaningful moments of their lives.
This episode is both a celebration of what has been—and an intentional invitation into what’s possible for couples and wedding professionals stepping into 2026.
Reflecting on 2025: Wedding Stories That Stay With Us
Every wedding season leaves its imprint.
In this conversation, Chanelle and Chris share memorable stories from the ceremonies they officiated throughout 2025—moments of laughter, reverence, surprise, and profound connection. These aren’t just events on a calendar; they are lived experiences that remind us why ceremony matters.
From intimate elopements to joy-filled gatherings surrounded by family and friends, each ceremony reinforced the same truth: when couples feel truly seen and supported, the room changes.
Lessons Learned as Wedding Officiants
After years of experience—and another full season behind them—Chanelle and Chris reflect on what 2025 taught them, both personally and professionally.
Some of those lessons include:
- The power of presence over perfection
- The importance of trusting your professional instincts
- The responsibility (and honor) of holding emotional space for couples and their communities
- The reminder that ceremony is not about performance—it’s about meaning
These insights serve not only couples, but fellow wedding professionals navigating their own growth and evolution.
Gratitude: The Foundation Beneath the Work
Gratitude is a central theme of this episode.
Chanelle and Chris speak openly about:
- Gratitude for their spouses and personal support systems
- Gratitude for the couples who trust them with their stories
- Gratitude for wedding colleagues who collaborate with integrity and care
- Gratitude for the ability to do work that is deeply human, relational, and joyful
As both officiants reflect, we get to do this work—and that is never taken lightly.
Encouragement for Wedding Professionals Heading into 2026
This episode also offers grounded encouragement for fellow wedding professionals.
Key takeaways include:
- Keep learning—your craft and your people skills both matter
- Don’t wait for perfect conditions; growth comes from action
- Trust that experience compounds over time
- Simply put: “Do it!”
For those building or sustaining a career in the wedding industry, this conversation is a reminder that longevity comes from curiosity, courage, and care.
Advice for Couples Planning a 2026 Wedding
For couples planning their weddings in 2026, Chanelle and Chris offer practical, reassuring guidance rooted in years of experience:
Trust Your Gut
You know what feels right for your relationship. Listen to it.
You Can Have Your Wedding, Your Way
There is no one “right” way to get married—only what reflects who you truly are.
Hire Professionals—and Trust Them
Your wedding team is there to support you. Let them do what they do best.
Allow Yourself the Luxury of a Wedding Planner
Hiring a planner isn’t an indulgence—it’s an investment in peace, presence, and joy on your wedding day.
When couples are supported by experienced professionals, they’re free to be fully present—and that changes everything.
The Role of Officiants: Fostering Joy in the Room
At the heart of this conversation is a shared belief: officiants help set the emotional tone of a wedding day.
As Chanelle and Chris reflect, officiants don’t just lead a ceremony—we foster calm, connection, and joy in the room. Through intention, presence, and thoughtful ceremony design, we help couples and guests alike feel grounded in the moment.
It’s not just what we say.
It’s how the space feels.
And that feeling stays with people long after the last kiss.
Planning a Wedding in 2026?
If you’re planning a wedding or elopement in 2026 and want a ceremony that feels grounded, personal, and deeply meaningful, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Your ceremony sets the emotional tone for your entire wedding day—and when it’s thoughtfully designed, you and your guests feel present, connected, and at ease.
Chanelle Carlin specializes in creating highly personalized wedding and elopement ceremonies, offering vow writing guidance, and supporting couples who want to feel confident, calm, and fully themselves as they step into marriage.
Whether you’re envisioning an intimate elopement or a wedding surrounded by family and friends, you deserve a ceremony that reflects who you are—and who you’re becoming together.
A Meaningful Close to 2025—and a Beautiful Beginning
This final episode of 2025 is a pause for reflection, a moment of gratitude, and a hopeful look ahead. Whether you’re a couple planning your wedding, a fellow wedding professional, or someone who simply believes in the power of love and ceremony, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective, and inspiration.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of the Now You May Kiss™ Podcast wherever you stream podcasts.
About the Host
Chanelle Carlin is a Professional Wedding Officiant, ceremony coach, and the host of the Now You May Kiss™ Podcast. Through Chanelle Carlin Weddings, she creates deeply personalized wedding and elopement ceremonies, offers vow writing guidance, and serves couples as their Celebrant for Life™—supporting them through marriage milestones well beyond the wedding day.
🔗 Learn more: https://chanellecarlin.com
📸 Instagram: @chanelle.carlin
🎙 Podcast: Now You May Kiss™