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Officiant Accelerator is in DC on March 13th! Meet the Speakers for This Exciting Event

Published Wednesday, Feb. 7th, 2024


Promotional graphic for the Washington, DC wedding officiant training and networking seminar, Officiant Accelerator, shows the city from an aerial view with the text across it

Calling all D.C. wedding professionals: Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind wedding officiant training & networking seminar

 


AMM’s exciting one-day officiant training and networking seminar will be landing in Washington, D.C. on March 13th, 2024, at the Historic Dupont Church.

 

This seminar features presentations by nationally recognized wedding experts, hands-on wedding ceremony practice, and a lively Q&A session with our panelists. 

 

Meet the presenters below and check out the day’s itinerary.  

 

During this full-day event, you’ll gain valuable skills and meet other local D.C. wedding officiants and professional wedding vendors, for a chance to network, connect, and build a lasting community. 

 

This one-of-a-kind training event is made possible through a partnership between American Marriage Ministries (that’s us!) and the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO)... and participants like YOU. 

 

So grab your ticket today, and we’ll see you in D.C. soon!

 

 

PURCHASE YOUR TICKET HERE

 

Officiant Accelerator logo with two rings, blue and gold, interlocking

 

 

Meet the Speakers:

Washington, D.C. Officiant Accelerator

 

  • Laura Cannon: President of IAPWO, Entrepreneur, Officiant
  • Lori Prashker-Thomas: Officiant, Business Owner, Photographer
  • Cherise Klosner: Officiant, Business Owner, Storyteller
  • Bethel Nathan: Business Elevation Coach, Speaker, Educator
  • Jimmie Berguin: Officiant, Educator, Hype Man
  • Lewis King: AMM's Executive Director Officiant

 

To learn more about the Officiant Accelerator series and future events, visit the Officiant Accelerator website. 

 

 

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Rev Laura Cannon headshotLaura Cannon: 

President of IAPWO, Entrepreneur, Author, Officiant

 

Laura is the president of the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO), a global membership organization with hundreds of members across 6 continents. As a professional public speaker and member of the prestigious National Speakers Association, Laura frequently travels across the country speaking on topics of business, psychology, and mindfulness related to her recent book, The Conscious Entrepreneur.


Rev. Laura C. Cannon is an insightful and creative wedding officiant, and is the owner of Ceremony Officiants. She has personally performed more than 1,000 wedding ceremonies over a more than 15-year career as a professional officiant, and has a passion for creating interfaith and multi-cultural ceremonies. Her compassionate nature naturally puts clients at ease and helps to create a graceful ceremony. She supports marriage equality and honors all religious, spiritual and secular backgrounds.

 

Laura is based in Baltimore, Maryland. She and her associates (Ceremony Officiants) serve couples throughout the surrounding area.

 

Find Laura online: WeddingWire, Website, Instagram, IAPWO

 

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Officiant Lori Lori Prashker-Thomas

Officiant, Business Owner, Photographer

 

Lori isn't just an event professional -- she's a storyteller of love. As the creative force behind Ceremonies by Lori, she transforms wedding ceremonies into unforgettable experiences. With a passion for curating celebrations that reflect the unique essence of each couple, Lori has become a trusted name in the event industry. Her keen eye for detail and commitment to personalization have made her a go-to expert for those seeking a touch of magic in their wedding ceremonies.


Lori became ordained in 2011 and continued her education to become an ordained “Rabbi” in June 2013 with the American Marriage Ministries. She is also a Certificated Wedding Officiant through the Wedding Merchant Business Academy.

 

Lori is based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and now serves all of Pennsylvania and New England with her team of officiants (Ceremonies By Lori), with some services provided in the Southern U.S. 

 

Find Lori online: FacebookInstagram, Website

 

Read more about Lori: A Photographer’s Path to Becoming a Wedding Officiant & Advocate

 

 

 

 

Photo of Officiant Cherise Klosner, standing in a light moss green jump suit, smiling toward the camera

Cherise Klosner
Officiant, Business Owner, Storyteller


Cherise is the passionate owner and lead officiant of Another One Ties The Knot. Cherise discovered her calling in the world of wedding officiating in 2018 when she officiated her very first ceremony. From that moment on, she fell in love with the art of storytelling and its power to unite couples in love.


Having experienced the magic of her own love story, Cherise is deeply committed to helping others celebrate their unique journeys. She understands that each couple's love story is one-of-a-kind, and her ultimate goal is to ensure that their special day is a reflection of their personalities, values, and dreams.


As the heart and soul of Another One Ties The Knot, Cherise Klosner is dedicated to making each wedding ceremony a cherished and unforgettable experience. With her storytelling prowess, she weaves together words of love, hope, and commitment, leaving the couple and their guests touched by the magic of their love story.

 

Cherise is based in Lakewood, Washington, and serves couples throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

 

Find Cherise online: Instagram / Facebook / Website / WeddingWire / The Knot

 

 

 

Bethel Nathan headshot

Bethel Nathan
Business Elevation Coach, Officiant, Speaker, Educator


Bethel is a successful business owner, award-winning officiant, and WeddingPro Educator, and she knows how to build and run a successful wedding industry business. Focusing on her ideal couple and having a rave-worthy customer experience, as well as her strong support for marriage equality, Bethel has now married over 1200 couples over the past 14 years and has built up over 450 5-star reviews as Ceremonies by Bethel. 

 

Combining her background in both large Wall Street investment banks and small businesses with her experience building her own wedding officiant business, Bethel also enjoys helping other wedding industry businesses grow and prosper as a business coach, industry speaker, and educator under Elevate by Bethel. 

 

Bethel is based in San Diego, California, and serves couples in the San Diego and Temecula area and beyond.

 

Take Elevate by Bethel's Business of Officiating Course

Find Bethel online: Instagram / Facebook / WeddingWire / The Knot

 

 

 


Wedding Officiant Jimmie Berguin stands smiling in front of the camera, with his hands in his pockets, in front of a gorgeous mountain view with early morning sun

Jimmie Berguin
Officiant, Educator, Hype Man


Jimmie has made a name for himself in the wedding industry and on social media (Officiant Jimmie) by officiating visually compelling wedding ceremonies that resonate with couples who want something exciting and different.

 

He’s also become the face of AMM's Professional Wedding Officiant Certification course, raising the profile of wedding officiants across the country and promoting officiant best practices. 

 

Jimmie is based in Eugene, Oregon, and serves couples throughout the Pacific Northwest.

 

Find Jimmie online: Instagram / Facebook / Adventure Elopement Officiant Spotlight

 

 

 

AMM's Executive Director Lewis King smiles toward the camera in a professional headshot

 

Lewis King
AMM Executive Director


Lewis is AMM's Executive Director, and he has spent the last five years helping AMM keep up with its growing community of ministers, growing its outreach and education operations and advocating for ministers across the country.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIANT ACCELERATOR

WASHINGTON, D.C. : MARCH 13TH, 2024

 

 GET TICKETS HERE 

Officiant Accelerator logo of a gold ring and a blue ring interlocking, with 'Officiant Accelerator' written in cursive script underneath

 

Officiant Accelerator is your gateway to professional and personal success as a wedding officiant. Learn how to deliver powerful ceremonies, build a successful practice in your community, and join a network of passionate wedding professionals. Brought to you by American Marriage Ministries in partnership with International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO) Read more on OfficiantAccelerator.com

 

About the Venue: 

Join us at The Church of the Holy City on March 13th, 2024: 
1611 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

 

=Photo of the Church of the Holy City in DC Dupont Circle area

The Church of the Holy City, a Historic Dupont Circle church,  Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid / WikiCommons

 

 


Jessica Levey
Jessica Levey

Lead Staff Writer & Illustrator

Jessica loves exploring the history and magic of ritual, the connections between people and places, and sharing true stories about love and commitment. She's an advocate for marriage equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and individuality, and is an ordained Minister with AMM. When she’s not writing or illustrating for AMM, she enjoys city hikes, fantasy novels, comics, and traveling.

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