This is one of the questions we love most because it gets to the heart of what we actually do.

We don't start with religion. We start with you. In our planning process, we take time to understand what each tradition, faith, or cultural lineage genuinely means to both of you, not what your families expect, not what looks good on paper, but what actually lives in your bones and matters to your souls.

From there, we weave the elements that carry real meaning into a ceremony that feels cohesive, intentional, and wholly yours. If one partner carries a Catholic lineage and the other a Jewish one, we don't split the ceremony down the middle. We find the thread of love, devotion, and sacred witness that runs through both traditions and build from there.

The result is a ceremony that honors where you come from without being defined by it. One that your families can feel seen within, while remaining centered entirely on your union.

Absolutely, wholeheartedly, and with deep reverence. Love is love. We celebrate and honor all expressions of committed partnership: same-sex, opposite-sex, non-binary, polyamorous commitments, and any configuration of humans choosing to bind their lives together. Our ceremonies are customized to reflect your truth, your pronouns, your identities, and your love exactly as it is.

Yes, we travel! We are based in Chicago and Texas, but facilitate ceremonies throughout the United States and internationally. Travel fees apply for ceremonies outside a 50-mile radius of our home bases. Destination weddings are welcomed and celebrated.

We offer ceremony-only packages for couples who have their logistics handled (DIY, family help, or separate coordinator) but want the sacred ceremony design, officiation, energetic work, and ritual facilitation that makes Conscious Matrimony unique. Investment starts at $2,500 for ceremony-only services.

Absolutely. Many couples choose to have an intimate legal ceremony (courthouse, small family gathering) and then celebrate with a larger group later. The sacred ceremony and community witness matter regardless of legal timing. We also facilitate vow renewal ceremonies for couples who want to recommit or didn't have the ceremony they wanted the first time.

Full Planning means we're with you from the beginning: venue selection, vendor sourcing, design direction, timeline creation, and everything through day-of coordination. This is ideal if you're starting from scratch or want comprehensive support.

Each level is designed for a different point in the planning process.

The Threshold is for couples who have done the planning work themselves and want a calm, skilled team to step in for the final four to six weeks. You handle the decisions, we hold the finish line.

The Conscious Journey is for couples who want meaningful support through the final two to four months. Your major decisions are either made or in progress, and you want an experienced guide to help you bring it all together with intention and ease.

The Sacred Experience is full service from the very beginning. Venue selection, vendor sourcing, design direction, ceremony creation, and everything through the wedding day. This is for couples who want every detail held from the first conversation forward.

All three levels include our signature ceremony guidance and energetic presence. The difference is simply how early we come in and how much of the logistical weight we carry alongside you.

Yes. We facilitate commitment ceremonies, handfasting rituals, and soul union celebrations for couples who choose not to legally marry but want to honor their partnership with sacred ceremony. Love is love, and commitment deserves witness regardless of legal status.

We recommend booking 6-12 months in advance to allow adequate time for both logistical planning and energetic preparation. However, we have facilitated ceremonies with as little as 3 months notice when the timing is right. Intimate ceremonies (under 20 guests) can sometimes be arranged with shorter timelines.

Yes. Crystal is an ordained minister who can legally officiate weddings throughout the United States. We are based in Chicago and Austin and travel regularly for ceremonies both domestically and internationally.

For ceremonies beyond a 50-mile radius of either home base, travel costs including flights, lodging, and meals are billed separately and will be outlined clearly in your proposal. We always confirm travel logistics well in advance so there are no surprises.

If you are planning a destination wedding or a ceremony in a state with specific legal requirements around officiants, bring it up on your consultation call and we will walk you through everything you need to know and research any specific location requirements.

Our coordination covers everything it takes to design, manage, and hold your wedding from vision to finish line. The vendor services themselves are contracted and invoiced directly by each vendor to you.

Vendor Services and Products:

• Venue rental fees

• Catering and bar service

• Photography and videography

• Florals and decor (we direct and coordinate, vendors invoice you directly)

• Rentals including tables, chairs, linens, and sound equipment

• Entertainment including musicians and DJs

Guest and Legal Costs:

• Guest accommodations and travel

• Marriage license and filing fees

Additional Expenses:

• Travel costs including flights, lodging, and meals for ceremonies beyond a 50-mile radius of Chicago or Austin

Think of it this way:

We are the conductors. We design the score, coordinate every musician, and make sure every note lands exactly where it should. The musicians send their own invoices. Our fee covers our expertise, our presence, and our full devotion to your wedding from the first call through the final song.

100%. Every Conscious Matrimony package is customized. We start with your vision, your budget, your needs, and build from there. Want more integration sessions? Need help with guest travel logistics? Want to add a post-wedding couples retreat? Want ceremony only, no coordination? We'll design it together.

We intentionally limit ourselves to 6-10 Full Scale Conscious Matrimony ceremonies per year to ensure each couple receives our full presence, energy, and devotion. This isn't assembly-line work. Each ceremony is deeply personal and energetically intensive. Quality over quantity, always.

This is part of why couples hire us. We:

• Discuss family dynamics during initial consultations

• Identify who might need boundaries or support

• Create energetic clearing sessions specifically for family patterns

• Designate "support people" for challenging family members on the day

• Intervene with grace when needed (we're not afraid to redirect inappropriate behavior)

• Hold the container so you can be fully present, not managing people

We've navigated divorced parents who hate each other, family members in active addiction, religious relatives uncomfortable with "woo," and everything in between. You're not the first, and we've got you.

Yes! Every couple receives a complimentary 30-45 minute consultation call before booking. This is a sacred space to share your vision, ask questions, feel into alignment, and determine if we're the right fit. We also offer optional in-person meetings (local couples) or video calls for those wanting deeper connection before committing.

Deposit: To lock in your event date, we ask for a 25-50% deposit (based on size and scope of contract).  

Once the planning work begins, deposits are non-refundable but can be applied to future ceremonies if you need to reschedule. See our full Terms & Conditions for details.

Rescheduling Policy:

• More than 90 days before ceremony: May be rescheduled without penalty, subject to our availability

• 60-90 days before ceremony: Rescheduling fee of $500 applies to cover administrative costs and potential travel rebooking expenses

• 30-60 days before ceremony: Rescheduling fee of $1,000 applies, plus client is responsible for any non-refundable travel expenses already incurred (flights, accommodations, vendor deposits)

• Less than 30 days before ceremony: Rescheduling is subject to availability and approval. Client is responsible for all non-refundable costs incurred, including travel, accommodations, and vendor commitments

Travel Arrangements: Travel is typically booked 60-90 days before your ceremony. Once travel arrangements are confirmed, clients assume financial responsibility for any changes to non-refundable bookings.

Deposits: Non-refundable, but may be applied toward a rescheduled date when possible.

Cancellations: Deposits are non-refundable. Cancellations within 90 days of the ceremony may result in forfeiture of payments already made, as preparation work is underway and vendor commitments may be non-refundable.

Force Majeure: If we must cancel due to emergency, illness, or circumstances beyond our control, a full refund will be provided.

We always have a backup plan. We work closely with venue coordinators from the very beginning to ensure alternate arrangements are secured and ready if needed. For outdoor ceremonies, this means:

• Covered contingency location identified and confirmed during venue selection

• Tents or indoor space secured as backup (we coordinate sizing, setup, and logistics)

• Venue coordination for seamless pivots (we're in constant communication with venue staff about weather forecasts and timing)

• Flexible timeline that allows for weather-related adjustments without disrupting the flow

• Our calm, grounded presence when plans shift, holding the container so you can stay present

We build relationships with your venue team so that if the weather turns, everyone knows exactly what to do. The transition happens smoothly, communication is clear, and you never have to manage the logistics yourself.

Weather changes don't ruin ceremonies. Rigid attachment to specific outcomes does. We hold the flexibility, coordinate the contingencies, and work hand-in-hand with your venue so you don't have to stress about a single thing.

Good instinct. The current version leads with the most intense option first and uses language like "stronger plant allies" and "deep therapeutic processing" which will make a mainstream bride close the accordion immediately.

The fix is to lead with the gentlest options, reframe the language, and save the more advanced work for last where only those already curious will read it.

Do you offer plant medicine as part of wedding weekends?

For some couples, yes. And we have learned that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to this. Here is how we typically navigate it:

The most accessible starting point is a cacao ceremony. Ceremonial cacao is legal, gentle, and genuinely beautiful in a wedding context. It opens the heart, creates presence, and invites guests into connection without taking anyone out of their body or comfort zone. Many couples who were initially unsure find that cacao becomes one of the most memorable parts of the weekend.

For couples who want to go deeper, we can design an experience where participation is entirely optional. Those who feel called to it can engage fully. Those who prefer not to have their own ceremonial elements woven in. No one is ever asked to stretch past what feels right for them.

For couples who want a more intentional journey as part of their wedding weekend, we often recommend keeping that experience private, the night before or morning of, with just the two of you or your closest circle. The main ceremony the following day becomes a pure presence experience that everyone can step into together.

One thing that matters to us: when plant medicine is part of a wedding weekend, the intention is always to open hearts and deepen connection, not to facilitate intense inner work. The medicine serves the ceremony. Not the other way around.

If you are curious about what this could look like for your wedding, bring it up on your consultation call. We will help you figure out what fits.