Sue Sutherland-Hanson

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Introduction: I am an experienced professional. Couples see me as articulate, thoughtful, and creatively able to both listen and help them create a ceremony that consistently pleases. Couples tell me that I help them feel comfortable before and during their wedding. I support marriage equality. I love being involved in significant life-events like a wedding. I find couples involved in planning their marriage to have a lovely energy.

Overview

Hired 8 times

1 employee

11 years in business

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Featured Projects

8 photos

Reviews

Excellent 4.9

15 reviews

93%

Margie M.

Dec 4, 2014

When we first discussed our wedding, the one thing we both agreed on was that a meaningful ceremony was more important than the location, clothing, flowers or photos. Once we made this decision, we proceeded down the path of elopement. There are a lot of options to choose from when you elope, but after some conversations with Sue, we knew we had found the person who would make our celebration special. We are both very informal, so Sue guided us through an outline of how typical ceremonies flow. From there, we added our personal touches and she added her special touches. Our ceremony was very personal and above all, very meaningful. Our small gathering of family and friend left the ceremony feeling very touched. It was everything we hoped it would be.

Claire W.

May 11, 2015

Sue at Resonant Officiant was truly the perfect officiant for our wedding. We decided to do a very intimate and brief ceremony so every word that was said counted. I am grateful for Sue's words to have been a part of our special day. Sue was highly attuned to who we were as individuals, what our hopes and desires were for the event and truly enhanced the whole experience for us. Not only were her words profound, she also just had just a beautiful vibe about her! I experienced her as being genuine and heartfelt.. she truly seemed to be enjoying the moment she was sharing with our small group. I have already recommended her to several friends, and will continue to do so--- she is lovely!

Natalie T.

Sep 7, 2015

Sue performed a wonderful and touching wedding ceremony for us. What we wanted was something very unique -- a spiritual but not religious, nontraditional ceremony that included everything that was important to us. Sue listened and supported us through the planning process, without rules or judgment, and she happily went along with our wedding vision and what we had planned. She also wrote a beautiful story and infant blessing for us, which included our new daughter in the process and made it so special for everyone. Many of the guests were deeply moved and said it was the most heartfelt and genuinely enjoyable wedding ceremony they'd ever attended. We couldn't have done it without Sue. She was also very warm, affable, and easy to work with during the planning process. We really felt like she supported our marriage and our family; it was nice to have a friend, confidante, and guide at every step of the way.

Casey S.

Oct 29, 2015

Sue was the most kind and helpful person we found when looking for an officiant. As soon as I spoke to her I felt the right energy that I knew would be perfect for who we are. She was so warm and helpful when we first spoke, I made an instant decision. We were planning everything from NYC and getting married in Washington so it was not the easiest feat but Sue was very accommodating and helped us feel that everything would be perfect. When we met in person it was so great to meet her and talk to her, we all felt like we were longtime friends. She asked such great questions to incorporate into the ceremony, things that we don't typically say to people about our love. It was very special to hear it come together. The ceremony was perfect and Sue didn't miss a beat, even though it started raining on us! We were so appreciative for what she said and how she translated our love into her speeches. It was perfect!

Annie R.

Nov 1, 2015

Sue is awesome. When I went to meet her, I knew right away that she would be the person we chose to perform our ceremony. She is kind, open, and sincerely wants to create a ceremony that is true to you. She will provide material for the ceremony or let you use your own pieces. Sue created a little story about us as a couple and it was sweet and funny. Our friends and family gave us so many compliments on it, many saying it was the sweetest, most unique, and most touching wedding they'd ever been to. Sue was very professional throughout the whole process, kept in good touch, and did a fantastic job helping us create a wedding ceremony we will never forget. Hiring Sue was one of the best decisions we made, and the entire experience was wonderful.

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I have three pricing options ranging from Elopement Simple, Best Buy, and No Holding Back. Since couples often use Thumbtack for great pricing, I include a Thumbtack discount. Prices may be less depending on ceremony needs.: *Small Wedding Simple - $200-300.00 / With Thumbtack discount 200.00 This one is good for elopements, small weddings and tight budgets. *Price includes 1-Planning via email/phone 2-Simple Ceremony with traditional non-traditional, or personalized vows 3-Licence filing **Best Buy - $400-500.00 This one is good for weddings under 150 guests 1-Initial consultation to meet/review planning steps 2-Early planning via email/phone 3-Meet for further planning and interview for personalized talk during the ceremony 4- Rehearsal 5-Officiate Ceremony with traditional, non-traditional, or personalized vows 6-License filing **No Holding Back: $600-700.00 This is the super offer for that large event over 150 guests 1-Initial consultation to meet and review planning steps 2-Early planning via email/phone 3-Two relationship -insight sessions 4- Interview for personalized talk about couples story in ceremony & planning 5- Rehearsal 6-Officiate Ceremony with traditional, non-traditional, or personalized vows 7-License filing/calligraphy for decorative license 8-Parting gift *Services outside of Kitsap County may incur expenses for my travel time. The cost is $50.00 per hour from Poulsbo. ** Couples are welcome to discuss above services a la carte for a customized fit.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I like to meet couples in person or at least over the phone in order to get a sense of who the couple is and what kind of service they were thinking of. During this initial meeting, I give them an idea of the planning steps and the time-table. If the couple has chosen the best-buy or full-service options, we meet within a month of their wedding, so I can ask them about their story as a couple and finalize the ceremony plan. There is usually a fair amount of follow up via email at this point. I incorporate their story in a very personalized ceremony. We meet for the rehearsal or if there is no rehearsal, I always arrive early enough to do at least a verbal run-through with the wedding party. Even with a rehearsal, questions arise on the wedding day and I make sure to arrive early enough to answer those. After the ceremony, I help the couple navigate to a quiet place with their witnesses and we sign the wedding license. And then, voila, they are married! At this point, I enjoy interacting with the couple's guests. I love meeting the family in this festive atmosphere!
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Couples have watched me fold surprises and last minute changes in the service with a calm humor. This helps them enjoy it all no matter what surprises arise. I got a lot of practice for this when I was a college instructor working with internationals for many years. Besides a graduate degree in language, I have a Masters of Divinity which is a degree in ministry. I studied how to assist people in the moments of life's deepest importance. Weddings qualify as one of these moments! I continue to assist with services and classes in a variety of churches and community events. I am also a writer. I draw on this in preparing my words for the ceremony or helping couples with their vows. I often am complimented on my eloquence as a speaker.