AMM Minister Performs ‘Hocus Pocus’ Celebrity Wedding in Salem

The purrrfect Salem-meets-Hollywood wedding for Halloween season! Hocus Pocus star Larry Bagby marries Veronique Dumont with help from AMM Officiant Brian Sims

 

Check out this spooky celebrity wedding officiated by AMM Minister Brian Sims, better known as Salem’s favorite green-skinned witch, BORAH! (as seen in People magazine!)

 

On October 5th, Officiant Brian helped Hocus Pocus star Larry Bagby and his partner Veronique Dumont (now Veronique Bagby!) tie the knot at the historic Pickering House in Salem, Massachusetts. Larry Bagby, who played Ernie (aka "Ice") in the 1992 cult classic, met Veronique in a Hocus Pocus fan group three years ago. The couple quickly fell in love and were engaged soon after. 

 

 

(Above: Officiant Brian Sims officiates ring exchange for Hocus Pocus star Larry Bagby's wedding to Veronique (Vero) Bagby (née Dumont) on October 5th, 2025 at Pickering House in Salem, MA. Photo courtesty of the officiant, taken by Jenna DeGrazio of Degrazio Photography) 

 

 

Officiant Brian’s alter-ego BORAH!, aka Borah Brewington Snaggletooth XIII, is both beloved and feared* by the epic crowds that visit Salem, Massachusetts every fall. But BORAH! isn’t just a seasonal sensation – this character witch spreads ghoulish hijinks and happiness year round in The Witch City and beyond, with an endearing cackle and grotesque – er, gorgeous profile. 

 

*feared only in the fondest of ways

 

Brian is the founder of Salem’s Black Hat Society, and has been officiating one-of-a-kind weddings, both in costume as BORAH! and out, since 2017 after being ordained with American Marriage Ministries. And THIS wedding was certainly one for the history books. 

 

 

Read the interview below for all the heartfelt, campy, and comedic details that went into this custom Hocus Pocus wedding theme!

 

► See exclusive photos from the wedding in the Instagram post below, shared by Larry Bagby (@larrybagby) & Veronique Bagby (@mrs_vero_bagby), photos by Jenna DeGrazio (@degraziophotography /Degrazio Photography) as featured in People.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jenna DeGrazio🕷️ (@jennajd)

 

Among the celebrity guests were the Sanderson Sisters characters – Winifred, Mary, Sarah – summoned in their witchiest wedding attire; and a coven – uh, couple – of Bagby’s former Hocus Pocus costars, including Vinessa Shaw, Jason Marsden, Omri Katz. 

 

The spooky ceremony was held at The Pickering House, and streamed live online for fans. The Pickering House was the perfect choice for venue – a historic home built around 1660, with a unique mix of Gothic Revival and Colonial styling. The house was owned by 10 successive generations of the Pickering family, for over three and a half centuries, before finding its new incantation – we mean incarnation – as a museum and occasional wedding and events space, owned by historic preservationists and occupants Vijay and Chrissy Delima. 

 

We love a witchy wedding and couldn’t wait to get the full scoop on this spellbinding ceremony, including a cauldron-full of themed wedding elements and fun surprises.

 

Take a look!

(Interview edited lightly for clarity.)

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AMM interviews Brian Sims, artist & performer behind witch BORAH!, officiant for Veronique & Larry Bagby’s Hocus Pocus wedding in Salem, MA

 

AMM: Tell me your favorite memories from the day! How are you feeling after officiating such an awesome, fun, and heartfelt wedding?

 

Brian: Favorite Memories? Having Larry's fellow Hocus Pocus cast members present – Jason Marsden (voice of Binx), Vinessa Shaw (Allison), Omri Katz (Max) – and seeing their faces light up, smiling, crying, laughing, clapping, and being completely engaged and enthusiastic about Larry and Vero’s special day. 

 

I’m feeling overwhelmed, thankful, humbled, grateful and ssoooo happy. I feel like I’m still in a dream state-of-mind from ALL the press coverage and kind words from followers and everyone that has reached out to us all.

 

 

AMM: What were some of your favorite elements in the ceremony? 

 

Brian: When Larry and Vero lit the Black Flame Candle (made by Jessica Fischer, from TheCandleShopFLX on Etsy)...

 

Having "Gerald" the Pumpkin decked out in his new Jack Skellington tux and boutonniere, all created by Dan Wicked (danny_wicked on Insta)... 

 

Of course when the Sanderson Sisters appeared (Sanderson.Sisters on insta) , asking for their [spell] booOOOK back – that I was reading [the ceremony] from – and when they presented the wedding rings attached a deadman’s toe! (Spellbook crafted by Chrissy Delima of The Pickering House, and deadman's toes created by artist Uncle Boogieman @uncleboogieman)

 

 

(Left: The couple lights the black flame candle during their unity ceremony, photo by @degraziophotography, featured in People; Right: the Sanderson Sister characters grabbing a sweet post-wedding snack, via @sanderson.sisters)

 

AMM: What special touches did you include for the celebrity couple?

 

Brian: One special touch [I included was in the vows]: When I was preparing their wedding, Larry told me “Vero loves me just right.” So, during the vows, as I was having Larry repeat after me, “You are my dream come true”...“You are my fairytale”...[I added], “Thank you for loving me just right.”...He cried in a few parts of the ceremony, and this was one of the times.

 

[And with] Hocus Pocus being a Disney movie, I quoted one of Walt Disney’s and one of Cinderella’s famous quotes. 

 

And also, we had a moment of silence for Larry and Vero’s family members that have passed on. This was a very special, touching moment because his family was present. 

 

Related: Romantic Disney Movie Quotes to Include in a Fairytale Wedding Ceremony Script

 

AMM: How long did you have to prepare for Larry and Veronique (Vero) Bagby’s wedding ceremony? It sounds like it all came together pretty fast, and at one of your busiest times of year!

 

Brian: I had less than 3 months to prepare. I usually work 6 months on each wedding. So when Larry and Vero asked me to curate and officiate their ceremony, I first got really nervous and was thinking that it might be almost impossible due to the time restraints. 

 

But, naturally, I said I would accept the challenge. It only took me about 3 weeks to create the actual verbiage. I have no idea how I did it. It was the most fun ceremony that I’ve ever written. It just all fell together naturally. Yes, it did come together VERY fast. Yes, although October is the business time of the year for me. 

 

I get overwhelmed starting in August and things ramp up in Salem in September, too. I’m gone almost every weekend in September, attending Halloween and horror cons in Massachusetts, LA, and Canada. 

 

► Below: Larry and Vero Bagby pose with the owners of the Pickering House as they prepare for the wedding day. 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Larry Bagby (@larrybagby)

 

AMM: You officiated this wedding out of costume, which sounds like such a treat given how much performance work you do as BORAH! You have so much incredible officiant experience, it’s cool that you were able to show up as yourself for this one. Were you still able to bring some witchy magic into the mix?

 

Brian: It was actually fun officiating outside of BORAH! And oh yes, I was still able to infuse witchery and SALEM magic into the ceremony. It was chock full of Hocus Pocus Easter eggs and much more, from tender heartfelt [moments], and hilarious moments.  

 

 

AMM: I’d love to hear how you got your start as a wedding officiant. What inspired you down this path? What do you love most about it now?  

 

Brian: When I created BORAH! back in 2016, I’d never officiated a wedding in my life. I knew NOTHING of weddings, nor what to say, or what music to play, or which side the couple stands on, or anything. CLUELESS!! I had been to weddings, but that’s it. I never paid attention to any of those details. 

 

In 2017, a follower asked me to officiate their wedding and I said, “Okay! I will…Let’s do this!” After I committed myself to the daunting and scary task, I freaked myself out because I had no clue what to do. 

 

So, I sent the couple a questionnaire and sat down with a pen and paper and just brainstormed. I came up with a witchy, Halloweenie ceremony and it turned out puuurfectly. 

 

The follower that asked me to officiate her wedding is what inspires me to continue officiating weddings to this day. I’m the first character in Salem to ever officiate weddings and I’m proud of that. 

 

I love that people put their trust in me to bring them joy and spooky fun while officiating their special day. I just love how fun it is to perform these weddings and how much excitement they bring to the couples. I love creating each wedding and the challenge that they bring to make each one uniquely different.

 

• Want Brian aka BORAH! to officiate your wedding? See his services here! 

 

 

OUR favorite thing about this wedding, here at AMM? 

 

After talking with Officiant Sims about this incredible celebrity wedding experience, we honestly love everything about this spooky, spellbinding, romantically-campy, custom ceremony. It hits every note. 

 

But one thing really stands out – besides the deadman’s toes – is joy! The joy of being present to officiate such a meaningful ceremony, the joy clearly felt by family and friends in the audience, the joy of the couple getting married, the joy of fans watching online, and the joy that continues to come from this special day through stories and memories! 

 

We also love Brian’s willingness to shout-out other local artists that helped bring the wedding to life – something that really captures the creativity and community spirit of Salem. This passion for community, joy, creativity – it's MAGIC. 

 

Congratulations to the newlyweds Larry and Veronique Bagby and their families, to the incredible Officiant Brian Sims (aka BORAH!), and to everyone else who made this awesome wedding possible! 

 

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Minister Spotlight
Officiant Brian Sims, aka Salem’s Favorite Witch BORAH! 

 

Brian Sims is the artist and creative mind behind the character witch BORAH! Equal parts street performer, witch educator, wedding officiant, purveyor of “perpetual misery & and unhappiness” (but also smiles), and founder of Salem’s Black Hat Society, located in Salem, Massachusetts. BORAH! is also a regular performer and presenter at Halloween and horror cons, and other special events. 

 

Brian was ordained with American Marriage Ministries in 2017 and has been officiating weddings in Salem and beyond ever since. 

 

Connect with BORAH! & Salem's Black Hat Society

SBHS Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

 

Check out BORAH! casting her magic for another couple in this romantically spooky ceremony held at Blackcraft Salem (@blackcraftsalem). taken by (Photo courtesty of the officiant, @salemsblackhatsociety taken by Keeley Productions / Alexa Keeley Photography @salemfootsteps)

  

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More Spooky Halloween Wedding Ideas from AMM

 

• Halloween Themed Wedding Vows for a Fun, Spooky, & Seasonal Ceremony
   
• Cosplay Wedding Ideas & Advice for a Fun Costumed Ceremony
   
• How to Officiate a Halloween or Samhain wedding
   
• A Witchy Halloween Wedding Ceremony Script with Handfasting
   
• Sweet & Spooky Horror Movie Theme Wedding Ceremony Script
   
• Jack & Sally Inspired Wedding Vows from The Nightmare Before Christmas
   
• Victor’s Wedding Vows From Corpse Bride
   

Looking for sweet & spooky ways to celebrate a Halloween wedding? Click the links above for inspiration and start planning today! (Image: Victor and Victoria, The Corpse Bride)

 

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