Robert Marrone

I originally became an ordained minister online because I wanted to be able to officiate weddings for friends or family if I was ever asked. I liked the idea of being able to be part of an important moment in someone’s life and help them make it personal and meaningful. It wasn’t about starting a church or becoming a traditional minister; it was more about having the ability to perform ceremonies for people I cared about.

Warren, Pennsylvania.

I’d like to be able to officiate weddings for friends, family, or people in the community and help make those moments feel a little more personal. I think it would be meaningful to be part of something that important in someone’s life and help give them a ceremony that actually feels like them.

I try not to make my role as a minister about pushing my own beliefs on anybody. I respect that people come from different religious backgrounds, and some people aren’t religious at all. For me, it’s more about meeting people where they are and helping them have a ceremony that reflects what they believe and what matters to them.

I think what would make my ceremonies special is that I’d really try to make them about the couple instead of just reading the same generic script every time. I’d want to learn a little about their story, their personalities, and what matters to them so the ceremony actually feels personal. I’d also try to keep people comfortable and relaxed, because weddings are supposed to be meaningful and enjoyable, not stiff or awkward.

I’m based in Warren, Pennsylvania, so I’m most comfortable traveling throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and into western New York. Places like Erie, Jamestown, and the surrounding areas are all within a reasonable distance for me. I’m also open to traveling farther for the right ceremony, especially if it’s planned ahead of time.

The biggest thing I’d say is that I want people to feel comfortable being themselves. I’m not there to judge anybody or force a ceremony into some specific mold. If a couple wants something traditional, funny, simple, personal, or a mix of all of it, I’m willing to work with them and make it fit who they are. At the end of the day, it’s their moment, and my job is to help make it meaningful and memorable.