AMM Minister Raquel Solomon Proves You Can Do Anything You Set Your Heart To

Minister Close Up: AMM talks with California Wedding Officiant Raquel Solomon about her call to service and how she turned a new dream into a sustainable business 

 

by Jessica Levey

 

On the rise 

 

The first thing you notice about AMM Minister Raquel Solomon is how funny and warm-hearted she is, two traits that are quickly matched by her clever wit, attention to detail, and undeniable business savvy. 

 

It’s this extraordinary combination of talents that have made her one of Sacramento’s most sought after wedding officiants just 2 years after being ordained with American Marriage Ministries, with a busy year-round wedding schedule and a string of 5 star reviews and happily married couples to prove it. 

 

Last year, she launched a training course for new officiants (The Efficient Officiant), and has already taught over 100 students around the country a set of skills she calls the “special sauce” of officiating.

 

This year, Raquel was asked to be the voice of the new Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell University, and has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Law, Sacramento News Observer, and BIN: Black Information Network on I Heart Radio. 

 

It’s this academic experience, along with her ordination through American Marriage Ministries, that Raquel credits with her rising success as an officiant. 

 

 

Officiant, Notary, and Instructor Raquel Solomon

Continuing education for success 

 

The Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship is a collaboration between Bank of America and Cornell University that provides tuition-free business education online to women entrepreneurs.

 

When Raquel first learned about the program, she was already serving as a notary and wedding officiant but recognized that additional business training could help her take her career to the next level. 

 

Related: AMM’s Professional Wedding Officiant Certification Course

 

Over the following 12 weeks, she learned skills in how to excel as a woman in business, how to streamline her funds, how to file taxes, how to be professional, how to partner successfully with other professionals, how to write a business contract, and much more. 

 

Soon after, Raquel’s business grew to new heights, and she was approached by Bank of America and Cornell to represent them in their national messaging efforts to support other women.

 

 

@ceremoniesbyraquel

 

Call to service: 
Ordination with AMM makes dreams come true

 

Raquel credits much of her success to her ordination with American Marriage Ministries. 

 

“It’s because of you guys that I can do what I do.

It changed my life,” she told us.
“It turned out my dream was marrying people.

I really love it!”

 

After 37 years working as a single mom and government employee in California, Raquel was ready to add something new to the mix. She wanted to do something she felt passionate about. She tells us that she “loves love,” and is someone who naturally spreads “good spirit and love.”

 

Serving as a wedding officiant was a natural fit  – she’d found her calling! 

 

She was ordained online with American Marriage Ministries in January of 2020, and says that one of the many reasons she chose AMM was because it felt “warm and welcoming,” and is very interactive on social media – frequently liking, posting, and resharing the work of its ministers. 

 

She’s been on a path of love ever since.  

 

Raquel spoke with other officiants to find out the average rates in her area, and chose a flat rate that felt worth her time and energy. Her first wedding ceremony was a sweet but informal affair in a parking lot outside a County Clerk Recorder’s office… and she loved it.

 

Since then, she learned much by trial and error – forgetting to sign a license, making a few other embarrassing mistakes, and fending off drunken family members during a ceremony or two. Her hands-on education has been supplemented by AMM’s online Minister Training materials and her business training with the Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship. 

 

 

Raquel and Erika; Erika provides bilingual wedding services to Ceremonies By Raquel

 

Passing it on and serving with love 

 

Now, Raquel is thriving professionally and personally and sharing what she's learned with others. Her wedding business is booming as she continues to serve couples with grace, professionalism, humor, and warmth.

 

She officiates ceremonies of all sizes throughout Northern California and the Central Valley, and will be officiating a wedding in another state for the first time this August, when she performs a destination wedding for a close family friend in Hawaii. 

 

Related: A Wedding Officiant's Guide to Performing Destination and Cruise Ship Weddings. 

 

Raquel tells us that her career helps her to do the things she loves, including international travel and fine dining, while serving people in her community with love and respect. 

 

She says that her experiences along this path have proven one thing:  

 

“You can do whatever it is you want to do!” 

 

 

@ceremoniesbyraquel

 

Get ordained with American Marriage Ministries and learn how to perform weddings in your community.

 

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AMM Minister Raquel Solomon featured in : 

 

Forbes: "Why We Should Empower Women Entrepreneurs"

 

Bloomberg Law: "BofA Doubles Capacity for Ivy League Female Business Program"

 

Sacramento Observer: "National Course Helps Local Entrepreneur Grow Business"

 

I'm Loving Me Project: "Women in Business Wednesday: Raquel Solomon"

 

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Connect with Raquel 

 

 

Raquel Solomon runs Ceremonies by Raquel, Raquel’s Notary Service, The Efficient Officiant Training course, and is a member of the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO). 

 

Find her on Facebook &

Instagram @ceremoniesbyraquel & @raquelsnotaryservice

 

Raquel is based in Sacramento and performs wedding and notary services in Northern California and the Central Valley, as well as other exciting destinations around the country. 
 

 

From the AMM Minister Directory: "I received my ordination because I feel I have a lot to offer new couples. I have always enjoyed watching couples plan out their weddings no matter how big or small. I feel I bring patience and understanding to the planning of their vows. I also am a great listener when it comes to consulting with a couple. It’s really all about getting to know what they want and being able to deliver."

 

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Asked to officiate?  

 

You only get one shot to deliver a perfect wedding ceremony.

 

There’s no ‘take-two’ when it comes time for a couple to say ‘I do’--  Wedding officiants only get one shot to perform a perfect wedding ceremony. 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL WEDDING OFFICIANT CERTIFICATION COURSE 

 

 

 

Give yourself the tools and training you deserve to succeed as a wedding officiant, so that you can stand beside the lucky couple with complete confidence on their big day.

 

LEARN MORE

 

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See more AMM Minister Features. 

 

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