Donna Rose Gardner

Since 2010, I’ve had the honor of officiating weddings that blend cultural traditions, personal touches, and meaningful moments that go beyond the typical ceremonies that people have attended before. Couples often tell me they appreciate my calm presence, flexibility, and wealth of experience in creating ceremonies that feel authentic, heartfelt, and unforgettable. All love is welcome here. I embrace and celebrate couples of all beliefs, cultural backgrounds, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Santa Cruz, CA

Perform meaningful ceremonies for couples wanting to deepen their commitment in marriage, perform new parent and baby blessings, help those whose loved ones have transitioned with a beautiful Celebration of Life ceremony.

I believe that we all come from Love and are here to be Love.

With over 10 years of experience officiating weddings, I bring a warm approach that puts couples — and their guests — completely at ease. I believe a wedding ceremony should reflect the love that each couple shares by making it personal, joyful, and maybe even sprinkled with a little humor (because love is about joy). I take the time to offer ceremonies that reflect each couple's vision. I can make your ceremony engaging and personal whether it's just the two of you, or a gathering of many family and friends. Couples often tell me that my calm, grounded presence helps take the nerves out of the big day — so you can simply show up, breathe, and enjoy every moment of saying "I do." Having performed hundreds of ceremonies in natural settings, I know of locations where couples can have their toes in the sand, or be in the midst of a fairy ring of Redwood Trees. I truly bring my heart and creativity into each ceremony that I perform. Many couples let me know how much they appreciated how easy I am to be with and their guests also give me compliments afterwards as their hearts were touched too!

Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, Carmel, Big Sur, Silicon Valley in California

I love creating ceremonies that help people cross the threshold moments in life. I listen deeply, genuinely care from my heart, and have an ability to create rituals that bring more love into the world.