Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Johnson.
Hi Leslie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Over two decades ago I officiated my first ceremony and it was a beautifully formative experience. My profession at the time was in restaurant management and I also owned a small event studio, but the memory of that ceremonial evening remained strong. The desire to pursue that interest in creating ceremonies became clear and I followed the calling of what has now been my vocation for fifteen years. My undergraduate degree, a BFA from MCAD, had introduced me to the humanities so expanding my interests in philosophy into the study of religion and theology was an intriguing step. In 2010 I attained my MA from United Theological Seminary, While I often work with couples who do not have a specific religious affiliation, I wanted to have that formal foundation which would allow me to respectfully bridge many faith traditions and spiritual perspectives.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I started out on a professional level, I had the personal skills which allowed me to work closely with couples; there is a lot of interviewing and deep listening involved which is then translated through my creative writing abilities into personalized ceremonies. My background in management and theater direction provides me with the ability to calmly guide the couple, their family, and their friends during what can be an emotionally heightened and sometimes stressful day.
That said, what I was not prepared for at the outset of my new career were all of the entrepreneurial business skills that would be needed! I was fortunate, early on, to take a great course through Women Venture and then continued learning through self directed education and great networking groups.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Writing, especially creating language for ceremonies, is my primary art form. The majority of those ceremonies are for weddings however I also sometimes work with the bereaved in creating deeply personalized memorial services. And, occasionally I am also called upon to create baby blessings!
While writing and officiating is very fulfilling, I also have a passion for creating the setting for these events. My background in fine arts, and small event production dovetailed nicely into providing decor and event design for many couples. While I am currently retiring my full service decor business, I continue to set the stage for small events such as the Charmed Petite Weddings, which I initiated back in 2015!
Another facet of my creative expression is taking part in the production, direction, and creation of spiritual workshops and gatherings and one, perhaps quieter, part of my profession is providing a series of spiritual lectures for recovery facilities where I present as a guest speaker.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
The role of a professional officiant can be underrated and many couples think they should simply have a family member or friend stand in as their celebrant. They may believe having someone they know might provide for a more personal ceremony, likely because they do not have insight into the joyful process of working with an experienced professional. As a result, they miss out on a lovely experience of letting themselves be guided through the intimate preparation for their ceremony. Having a seasoned officiant is akin to having a counselor, an instructor, a spiritual guide, etc., There are roles in life that call for trained perspective and planning which result in the calm and confidence a couple achieves from knowing that all accounted for details are well in place.
Pricing:
- $275 Civil Ceremony/Elopement
- $575 Custom Ceremony
- $275 Premarital Intro Course
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.positivelycharmed.com/home.html
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positively_charmed/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeddingOfficiantMN
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/positivelycharmed/
