"Ceremonies in Nature" since 2002, offering superior service at a fair price to all throughout New Mexico and the Central Coast of California (Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Monterey Counties including Big Sur) plus San Diego County.

Get Married in Truth or Consequences!  

If you get married in the city limits, that's what it will say on your marriage license ("Truth or Consequences"), no matter what county you obtained the license.

OR GET MARRIED ANYWHERE ELSE YOU CHOOSE! 
CELESTE WILL TRAVEL (HavePodiumWillTravel@gmail.com) TO ANY LOCATION WHERE YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY.

Celeste has officiated more than 450 legal wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies since being ordained in 2002.  She believes EVERY couple deserves a ceremony that reflects their wishes and desires, their beliefs and lifestyle.
 
Celeste has officiated at ceremonies many hours' drive from her home base in the small, quirky hot springs town of Truth or Consequences, situated on the Rio Grande between Caballo Lake to the south and Elephant Butte Lake--New Mexico's largest--to the north.  For couples who want MORE than the ordinary ceremony, Celeste strives to provide superior service at a fair price to all.  She truly enjoys working with couples to help create and orchestrate memorable ceremonies that will have your guests complimenting you throughout the reception and give you fond memories for decades to come!  She still hears from several couples she's married (even from years ago when she was on the central coast of California--she's been in New Mexico since 2006).

Celeste frequently helps orchestrate and officiate at more elaborate weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies, both here in Sierra County and as far away as you desire!  Many of her personalized ceremonies include one or more unique optional rituals, such as a 6+ sand Past/Present/Future or Family Sand-blending into your chosen Unity Vase, which you take home as a beautiful keepsake of the day for display in your home. 

Other optional rituals include Hand-fasting, Unity Candle (recommended for indoor ceremonies only), Ribbons of Hopes & Wishes, Wine-sharing/Sharing of Drink, drawing of the circle of life (Earth-based religions), Native American Blanket ritual or whatever you desire!  

If you want to elope or have a simple impromptu ceremony here locally, Celeste will chat with you briefly so she can use wording that would best suit your beliefs.  She can even provide the two required witnesses if it's a true elopement.  We suggest turning it into a mini-vacation/honeymoon by enjoying one or more of the places you can soak in the natural hot springs mineral water--or take some time at the lake!

Celeste has been officiating same-sex commitment ceremonies from way back in the early 2000's, so the change in law didn't mean much change for her.  She has always believed that "love is love" and everyone should have the right to marry the person THEY love!  However, once same-sex marriage became legal in New Mexico in 2013, she officiated more than 65 legal weddings for gay and lesbian couples in 2014 alone.  She is not someone who has had to adapt to the times; rather the times finally caught up with her long-held beliefs!

Celeste also offers digital photos on DVD, with photos taken in a photo-journalistic style during your ceremony, and all the traditional ones plus fun impromptu ones during the post-ceremony photo shoot for up to 45 minutes. 

There are great day trips to be had around Sierra County, too.  Visit www.sierracountynewmexico.info for more on that.  For booked couples, she is happy to provide you with recommendations for florists, cake makers, caterers, venues and more.  She receives no compensation from anyone she recommends; she simply wants you to have your choice of the best available for your weddings/reception style.

Please email HavePodiumWillTravel@gmail.com with info about your ceremony date, time and location, or call Celeste's cell phone at 575-740-3889; please leave a detailed message and she'll return your call as soon as possible.

LINKS TO MORE PHOTOS ARE IN THIS SECTION, TOO!  

CELESTE SAYS:  Every photo shown here or on linked sites (e.g. pinterest or weddingwire.com) was taken by either myself or my photographer partner Chuck, whether booked for photography services or simply captured from afar during the ceremony.  Please feel free to ask me about any of the photos!  For example, perhaps you're curious about the ritual being depicted or where the ceremony location was.  Some of the photos here were chosen specifically to show you the wide range of styles of dress of some of my couples or just to show some fun after-ceremony photos.  If you see a photo with a child, most likely one was specifically chosen that hides the child's face; their are better ones that the couple received but we honor the parents' wishes in that regard.  You can click on either More Photos to view a few here, or check out on of my pinterest pages (New Mexico Weddings) (Weddings on the California Coast).  You can also see photos at snapfish by clicking here.   I also have photos on my weddingwire.com listing.  You can also view a music slideshow that I put together for a couple who included a Marriage Labyrinth in their Sandia Mountains wedding, using the photos we took, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c2tHq16-0c.  (One of these days I'll re-edit it with some additional photos, but I believe the couple enjoyed it.)  There are photos taken from a variety of locations, and the one with the couple and me in t-shirts was after a ceremony on New Year's Eve day at the Red Pelican; the couple works for the San Antonio Spurs and their boss wanted them to get a photo after the ceremony of all of us wearing Spurs tee-shirts!  The little Treasure Chest with rings in it belongs to me and is available for couples to use if they are including a ritual where a table is needed (as an option to having someone hold the rings).
         As you browse through photos, you may see local ceremonies from both Winding Roads above Elephant Butte Lake as well as lakeside, Elephant Butte Inn, Sierra Grande Lodge, Ralph Edwards Park, Riverbend Hot Springs, Fire Water Lodge, Pelican Spa, Blackstone Hot Springs, La Paloma Hot Springs, and Caballo Lake.  Other locations might include a mountaintop outside of Alamogordo only accessible by 4-wheel drive, Dripping Springs at the foot of the Organ Mountains outside of Las Cruces, some weddings from various locations in Ruidoso and Carlsbad, the City of Rocks, Gila National Forest, White Sands National Monument, Sandia Mountains and more!  I am quite adventurous and still have on my bucket list a hot air balloon wedding and one officiated while rafting a river!  So whatever or wherever you have in mind, let's talk!  : )  Carpe diem! 

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 Verbatim by email from:  Tom and Teresa

"Celeste,
You were a pleasure to work with!!  You were genuine and easy to communicate with.  We appreciate that you welcomed our input so that we could have a ceremony that was meaningful to us.  Thank you for being available and responding to our emails & telephone calls. Honestly, aside from the rain....it was perfect!!  Thank you so much for doing what you do :-)

Tom & Teresa"
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Rachel

Quality of Service (5.0/5)

Professionalism (5.0/5)

Value (5.0/5)

“Celeste was just what we were looking for. From the very first time we contacted her, until our ceremony date, she was so much help. She wrote a beautiful ceremony and somehow knew exactly what we wanted before we ever told her. We are forever grateful! It was absolutely perfect. We traveled from out of state and our few guests said that they have never heard such a heartfelt ceremony. Thank you Celeste and Chuck for being so loving and welcoming... Rachel & Lydia

Thank you so much for the excellent review! I so hope your big celebration back home on April 17th of 2015 went well and your Unity Vase had a place of honor with the colors of Wisteria and Grey you included being used as your Wedding Colors, just as you planned. Since we used your camera for photos, I unfortunately have none to post here, but Chuck and I remember you both fondly. Here's to 10 years together and many many decades more!”

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Carla & Ronda

Quality of Service (5.0/5)

Professionalism (5.0/5)

Value (5.0/5)

“There aren’t words to express the joy we experienced on Feb 18, 2014. Being a same sex couple not only is it difficult to be accepted in many states it is not legal for us to marry. When we found New Mexico made it legal for us to marry in 2013, Carla and I started to make plans. The first question is . . . . . Where do we start? Carla found Ceremonies In Nature, spoke with and exchanged emails with Celeste and she was amazing. We live in Texas and knew nothing about getting married. Carla explained we are a very casual, low key couple that has been together for 23 years. Celeste went above and beyond for us. She accepted our business, helped find a location, and provided information of everything we would need and where to get it. She even was kind enough to bring the witnesses we needed for our ceremony. Celeste made our day special by providing a beautifully tailored ceremony; truly caring witnesses who took wonderful pictures of our wedding, but most of all Celeste accepted our relationship and blessed us with a wonderful start to our new lives. Celeste you will forever be in our hearts as the beautiful spirited person who fulfilled our longtime dream of getting married. We love you and hope for many more couples find their way to you so they too can experience what an amazing person you are.

Oh my gosh, Ronda & Carla! Tears came to my eyes by the time I finished reading your review! As Chuck said, "That was very very sweet" (and I say beyond that : ). You two gals were so sweet, care-free and genuine, and I know it was also a very positive experience for both Chuck and Millie, who witnessed your being legally married after so many wonderful years together as a committed couple! I am so glad to have been a part of your ceremony--almost feet in the water--on the Rio Grande. Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review, and for such a positive one, but also for choosing me to officiate your wedding. I feel so fortunate. : )”

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Susan

Quality of Service (5.0/5)

Professionalism (5.0/5)

Value (5.0/5)

“Celeste was absolutely amazing! Worked with us on short notice! Definitely recommend her to my friends!”

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