Shelby Turner

I originally became an ordained minister because I wanted to be able to officiate weddings for the people in my life and help make such an important moment feel personal and meaningful. I loved the idea of being able to create a ceremony that truly reflects the couple, their relationship, their beliefs, and the life they are building together. Since becoming ordained, I’ve had the opportunity to be part of some incredibly special moments, and it has made me appreciate even more how meaningful this role can be.

I’m from Northern Michigan and have spent most of my life in this area. I currently live in Boyne City, Michigan, with my husband and our family. Northern Michigan is home to me, and I love being able to serve couples and families throughout the communities around me.

I hope to continue helping couples have wedding ceremonies that feel genuine, personal, and memorable. I want the couples I officiate for to feel like their ceremony actually represents who they are rather than simply following a script. I also enjoy incorporating faith and Christian traditions when that is important to the couple, while respecting that every relationship and ceremony is different. Ultimately, I hope to continue being someone couples can trust with such an important moment in their lives.

I think what makes my ceremonies special is the amount of care I put into making each one personal to the couple. I don’t believe a wedding ceremony should feel generic or like it could belong to anyone. I take the time to learn what is important to the couple, what they want their ceremony to represent, and what will make the moment meaningful to them. Whether they want something traditional, faith-based, simple, heartfelt, or a mixture of everything, I want their ceremony to feel like them. Being trusted to stand beside a couple during such an important moment in their lives is something I genuinely value.

I try to be as flexible as possible because I know every couple has a different vision for their wedding day. I’m willing to work with couples to create something that feels comfortable and meaningful to them, whether that means a short and simple ceremony or something more traditional and detailed. I can also include things like scripture, prayer, personalized vows, special readings, or a remembrance for loved ones who are no longer here. Most importantly, I want couples to feel comfortable coming to me with their ideas and knowing that I will do my best to make their ceremony exactly what they envisioned.