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About
Humanist Celebrants are approved by the American Humanist Society to legally perform secular (non-religious) ceremonies in all 50 states. I perform weddings, unions, elopements, vow renewals, and engagement ceremonies. Please note that I provide officiant services only for people who wish to have a non-religious cermony - ceremonies that do not include prayers or mentions of God. If your event info lists a religious affiliation (such as Catholic, Christian, Muslim, etc) for the Service Type in your Thumbtack request, I will have to decline the referral unless your message to me specifically says you want a non-religious ceremony. I am available to travel within about an hour (60 miles) of Durham.
Whether you’re looking for something quick in your own living room, garden, or park or something traditional in a wedding venue, I will help you create a beautiful, warm and unique ceremony that reflects you and your partner. I am a psychologist, professional writer and experienced public speaker who is easy to work with and well-organized; I am also deeply committed to inclusion and diversity and open to all types of unions. My prices start at $350 for a wedding ceremony. Rehearsal attendance is $185. As a licensed Clinical Psychologist, I am also available to do expert pre-marital counseling to help ensure that your marriage starts off on the best footing.
I greatly enjoy my work as an officiant because I get to know and work with wonderful, interesting couples. It feels very touching and meaningful to share one of the most important days of their lives with them. As a psychologist, my usual work involves helping people who are in difficult circumstances; my work as an officiant is so joyful - it creates a great balance in my professional life. Finally, working as a secular officiant who embraces inclusion and diversity allows me to integrate some of my most deeply held values into my officiant practice.
Overview
Hired 21 times
4 similar jobs done near you
Background checked
1 employee
8 years in business
Business hours
Sun8:00 am - 9:00 pmMon5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle.
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2021
Services offered
Type of ceremony
Service type (affiliation)
Interfaith
Non-religious (no mention of God)
Need help writing vows?
I can work with couples who need help writing vows
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for work quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
22 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Krystene L.
Sep 10, 2018
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Hired on Thumbtack
Laney was very helpful and easy to work with! When our friends couldn't make it work as our officiant, we worried about what our ceremony would be like. But luckily we found Laney and she delivered a beautiful ceremony for my husband and I!
Details: Elopement • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 20 guests or fewer • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Emily B.
Sep 2, 2020
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Hired on Thumbtack
We could not have chosen a better officiant! I highly recommend Laney Margolis. We used the vows that she wrote because they were so beautiful and thoughtfully written. It rained on our wedding day and Laney was more than accommodating with her positive attitude and patience. Look no further, you’ve found the golden officiant!
Details: Wedding • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 20 guests or fewer • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal • Officiant does not need to be present at rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Dawn B.
Apr 24, 2024
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Hired on Thumbtack
Lanny was an excellent choice for us! I'm a little late in writing this review, but she was able to accommodate us during the hight of COVID restrictions in 2020. She was kind, thoughtful, and efficient. As a Humanist Celebrant, Laney brought joy and serenity to our wedding. We are so thankful that she was able to make our day special. Thank you Laney!
Details: Wedding • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 20 guests or fewer • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Bonnie N.
Apr 20, 2020
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Hired on Thumbtack
We cannot say enough praise about Laney Margolis, our weddingofficiant from the Humanist Society. When the magistrate’s office closed due to the COVID pandemic, we had to put together a ceremony literally at the last minute, to be done in our garden with two witnesses and physical distancing. We also wanted to send it out to friends and family via Facebook Live. Laney worked with us to come up with a beautiful, humanist, handfasting ceremony that said all that we wanted. Thank you, Laney for a remarkable event under trying times.
Details: Commitment ceremony • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 20 guests or fewer • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal • Date and time has not yet been chosen
Wedding Officiant
Adym R.
Oct 24, 2020
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Hired on Thumbtack
Love in the time of Covid comes with it's challenges! We were concerned about all the logistics of not only a wedding, but one with the extra considerations of the times we live in. Thank goodness for Laney! The words were moving and beautiful, everything was timed just right, and the help with ideas for our vows was so very appreciated. We chose to have the ceremony at our home and have family and friends join us by Zoom so there was a bit of a learning curve for the technical aspects. Even though we had no rehearsal, Laney met with us beforehand and put our minds at ease with all the important details of how the ceremony would go. She was right on time and we were so happy to have her share in our special day. Thank you, Laney!
Adym and Julia
Details: Wedding • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 20 guests or fewer • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal • Officiant does not need to be present at rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Credentials
Background Check
Arlane Margolis
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I provide officiant services and premarital counseling (as a licensed Clinical Psychologist). My prices for premarital counseling are $125 per session.
My prices for officiating weddings (and vow renewals) are $350 to officiate and $185 if you want me to attend a rehearsal. I include 50 miles of travel for each.
Prices for funerals, baby-naming and other ceremonies are provided upon request.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Typically, I email with customers back and forth once they make initial contact and if they would like to work with me, we will set up a video chat to discuss the wedding or other services (such as premarital counseling or a memorial service) so I can give accurate pricing and understand their expectations. If there is little time between inquiry and the wedding or other ceremony date, we may decide through email to work together and then have a phone call later. If the service is premarital counseling, we will set up an appointment. Once a decision is made to work together for a wedding or other ceremony, I will email a contract and send an invoice for a retainer fee (half the cost of my services) and once I receive these things, the date is reserved. Typically, I will meet with the couple to get an idea of the wedding, their relationship, and what they want to include in the wedding. There will be other contact via email. About one month prior to the wedding, I will put together a wedding script draft and send it to the couple and we will communicate about changes. The wedding script will be finalized at least one week before the wedding. Payment for the remainder of the wedding fee will be invoiced one week prior to the wedding. I will perform the wedding and file the wedding license. The couple will provide a couple of pictures from the wedding when they are available shortly thereafter. This timeline changes if the wedding was booked with shorter notice and there are only weeks between contract and wedding. In any case, things happen as they should and the wedding will be wonderful.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA in writing and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and have been a writer, clinician, professor and public speaker for all of my career. I have been through a training program with the American Humanist Society specifically related to performing secular services. I am uniquely qualified to provide both secular officiant services and premarital counseling.
