Dr. Michele C. Bell

In 1998, long before “end-of-life work” had a name, I found myself sitting with those taking their final breaths — holding space, listening, and honoring the mystery of transition. A decade later, in 2008, I became an ordained minister so I could stand with equal reverence at both thresholds of life: the sacred covenant of marriage, and the sacred silence of death.

I answered this calling not to collect titles, but to be fully present for others — in their deepest moments of love, and in their most vulnerable moments of letting go. Whether blessing a union or offering comfort at life’s close, I bring decades of lived experience, compassion, and spiritual depth to every ceremony.

I am rooted in New York, serving primarily in Westchester County and throughout the Hudson Valley. This region, rich with history and natural beauty, has shaped the way I approach ceremonies: grounded, authentic, and attuned to the flow of life.

Whether it’s officiating a marriage overlooking the Hudson River or offering comfort in someone’s home, I bring the presence of this place into every moment of service.

As a New York notary, I am already trusted with life’s legal milestones — but as an ordained minister, I can bring reverence to its most sacred ones. My hope is to craft ceremonies that are not only lawful but deeply meaningful: marriages that feel like covenants, and farewells that honor the fullness of a life.

Alongside my ministerial calling, I’ve been a proud member of the Daughters of Penelope since 1988. That lifelong affiliation reflects my devotion to community, service, and tradition — values I bring into every sacred space I enter.

I embrace all faiths, all traditions, and all expressions of love. My work as a minister is not tied to one religion, but to the more profound truth that every sacred moment deserves reverence. I am a spiritual empath, which means I meet people where they are — whether they come from a specific tradition, from many, or from none at all.

What unites my ceremonies is not doctrine, but energy: a presence that allows people to feel safe, honored, and fully seen. Couples often tell me that they can sense this from the moment we meet. My role is to hold the space so your love, your values, and your story can shine through — in whatever way feels most authentic to you.

What sets my ceremonies apart is not performance, but presence. My life’s work — as an author, a Ph.D., and a minister since 2008 — has been built on standing with others through life’s profound transitions. From sitting with those at the threshold of death to blessing the sacred covenant of marriage, I have learned that every passage carries both gravity and grace.

My role is to bring steadiness, reverence, and warmth into these moments. Couples often tell me that the energy I carry — calm yet intensely alive — gives them a sense of safety, grounding, and joy in a time that might otherwise feel overwhelming. Each ceremony is less about my words and more about creating a space where love itself can speak.

I love exploring all areas of New York — from the elegance of downstate New York to the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley and beyond. Each region has its own character, and I enjoy helping couples find the setting that best reflects their story.

That said, my work has also taken me far beyond New York. I’ve joined couples in St. Barths, Italy, France, and even on a cliff along the California coast. Destination weddings are not new to me — they’re an extension of my calling. Wherever love leads, I follow.

Whether for a moment or for a lifetime, I become part of each couple’s journey. You don’t just hire me to officiate; you invite me into one of the most sacred transitions of your life. And that’s where my presence, my energy, and my care make all the difference. (Travel expenses beyond NY can be discussed.)

Yes. What I want couples and families to know is this: a ceremony is not a transaction, it is a transition. It is a passage into a new chapter of life, and how that passage is held will echo long after the vows are spoken or the farewell is said.

What makes my presence unique is the energy I carry into the space. For decades, people have asked me to sit with them at life’s thresholds — in joy and in sorrow, in beginnings and in endings — because they feel safe, seen, and deeply honored in my presence. That same energy is what I bring into weddings, where nerves melt into calm and love becomes the true language of the moment, and also into end-of-life ceremonies, where grief softens into reverence and memory.

You don’t just want someone to perform your ceremony — you want someone who can hold the space. That’s where I come in. My nickname is MiMi, and time after time, people tell me, “We couldn’t imagine anyone else leading us through this moment.”