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About
The wedding ceremony shouldn’t be the thing that you and your guests have to suffer through to get to the good part.
We promise you a meaningful, enjoyable, ceremony that everyone will remember for years to come. You deserve the moment you become married should live on in your memory as the best part… of the best day of your lives.
Whether you want it short and sweet; traditional or out-of-the-box; secular, religious, or interfaith; literary or pop-culture themed; or simply and beautifully wrapped in your personal love story… We can do all of that and more.
Our ability to write meaningful ceremonies… Our attention to detail, calming presence, humor, skill and delivery is unmatched in the industry. With literally thousands upon thousands of ceremonies crafted and performed, we are poised to bring your ceremony to life and deliver it in a way that will be remembered long after your last dance.
Founded by Pastor Marie April Gismondi in 1997, The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways are an award-winning team of joyful, seasoned, and professional Pastors, Ministers & Rabbis, recommended by many of Long Island’s most amazing venues. All of our officiants hold Church of Ancient Ways ordinations and are 100% fully legal to perform marriage ceremonies in all jurisdictions of New York State and beyond. We primarily serve Long Island and the greater NYC Tri-State area, but destination wedding requests are welcome too!
Church of Ancient Ways was given 501c3 non-profit status by the Federal Government in 1997 as an Interfaith Religious Organization. All of our wedding officiants are 100% legally empowered to perform marriages on Long Island, in New York State and beyond. We do not employ officiants who are ordained online or through ULC.
We endeavor to embrace all Philosophies, Religions, Beliefs and Scientific Principles. Our mission is the pursuit of goodness and we are grateful to use the work we do as a vehicle for celebrating our common ground as human beings. As Pastor April used to say when the organization was just formed…
“Do the best you can all the time. If you find yourself doing less than your best, knock it off and start over.”
The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways are a team of seasoned professionals and are spot-on when it comes to details and organization. We’re creative and well-versed in everything from ‘Short and Sweet’ to Traditional, from Fusion to Pop-Culture, Art, Literature and everything in between. More than anything else, we love telling your personal Love Story… Are you more a minimalist? We can do that too. Whatever your desire is, it’s our mission to say, “Absolutely!” instead of “Oh… I don’t know about that…” There are a myriad of themes possible for a myriad of dreams, all of which become real with that first kiss… And only one of them is yours.
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Message vendorReviews of The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways
Review summary
The Church of Ancient Ways, specifically Reverend Joe, Brenda Santana, and others, received glowing reviews for their personalized and heartfelt officiating services at various wedding venues like Larkfield, East Wind, and Swan Lake Caterers. Reviewers appreciated the personalized ceremonies, professionalism, and the ability of the officiants to capture the couple\'s love story effectively. Guests were moved by the emotional and engaging ceremonies, with many commenting on the officiants\' abilities to make the ceremonies meaningful, seamless, and unforgettable. The officiants were praised for their calming presence, personalized approach, interfaith compatibility, and the ability to create beautiful and unique ceremonies, leaving a lasting impression on couples and guests alike.
June 2024 Larkfield Wedding Ceremony
Rev Joe is the best there is!!
From the beginning, Rev Joe was very organized, professional and helpful throughout the whole process. He really walks you through it and answers every question that you have. He wrote the most beautiful ceremony based on our words and experiences. It was beyond anything we could have ever dreamed of for a ceremony. The way Rev Joe speaks is like no other. He really pulls you in and speaks from the heart. We are so thankful to him for this experience and for sharing in our day. It would not have been the same without him!
Reverend Joe Iadanza
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Team
Pastor April has performed nearly five thousand ceremonies. As a writer, her talent for using rich and descriptive language to mirror her couple’s own thoughts, backgrounds and emotions is unparalleled. As a public speaker, she is warm and engaging; eliciting laughter and happy tears in all of the right places. Yet, it is her professionalism and vast knowledge that have made many countless couples happy; serving as the bench- mark that all of us at The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways strive to achieve.
Rev. Joe Iadanza served on the Board of Directors at the seminary where he trained and was ordained as an Interfaith Minister. Raised an Italian Catholic, he is an actual family member to Saint Padre Pio. Yet, with a focus on individual spiritual growth, music, and meditation, Rev. Joe is just as comfortable in the secular as in the spiritual. As someone with a performance background, he brings a heart-centered and joyful perspective to every ceremony while remaining detail-oriented, on-point and professional.
Rev. Aviva Sala was trained by Pastor April herself and has been working exclusively for The Officiants at Church of Ancient Ways for over a decade. Aviva is a great speaker who is lauded for her listening and writing skills. From traditional ceremonies to off-beat creations, she is truly at the top of her game right now. Aviva’s creativity and humor have made her a particular favorite of our non-traditional couples who seek her out for her ability to wrap their love stories around pop-culture themes; creating masterpieces that are recalled long after the final, “I do’s”.
Professional Network & Endorsements
7 Endorsements
I LOVE working with Pastor April. She's amazing, kind, funny. Truly gets to know her couples and makes each and every ceremony unique and special.
Absolute pleasure to work with!
April is amazing, every time I see her officiate a service I get excited. She talks about each couple as if she has known them their whole lives and keeps the congregation engaged throughout the entire service.
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