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Weddings

About

On WeddingWire since 2022

Last update: March 2025

Weddingbella is a Marriage Officiant business based just outside the city of Winnipeg near Birds Hill Park (Manitoba). We also have Officiants based in the city of Winnipeg. Our team of licensed and experienced Marriage Commissioners helps to reduce stress for our couples by providing them with a one-stop experience. From the aquisition of a Marriage License, to the rehearsal and ceremony, plus assistance with completion of the Marriage Certificate Request form, we ensure that your ceremony needs and all legalities are taken care of so you can concentrate on other Wedding Day details.

Services Offered

Weddingbella offers services for single-faith, multi-faith, and non-religious ceremonies as well as civil unions and vow renewals. We love incorporating cultural elements and traditions as well. If to-be-weds want to be wed by a loved one (personal officiant), our team also offers "Helping Hand" services by being the legal signatory and other assistance, such as vow creation, assisting with writing a ceremony or simply providing resources to help their personal officiant create a wedding ceremony that looks and feels like a professional officiant. Every couple can anticipate a ceremony that truly reflects their wishes and needs, tailored just for them.

SERVICES AND FEES; Effective January 1, 2024

Uniquely Yours Ceremony

Wedding ceremonies are a personal and intimate exchange of love, which is why the Uniquely Yours ceremony is a favourite choice amongst couples. Your ceremony will be a reflection of you, incorporating cultural traditions, faith-based beliefs, or traditional elements. Weddingbella will schedule a Zoom meeting with you, then customize your ceremony down to the smallest detail ensuring that it is Uniquely Yours!

Mini-Matrimony Ceremony

The time-saver ceremony. You provide us with your vow and ring exchange selections (don't worry, we have resources to help you with that), and we'll write you a beautiful ceremony approximately 10 minutes long. Before you know it, your "I Do's" are finished and you're ready to continue the celebration with your loved ones!

The Quickie Ceremony

No need to shake the nerves off for this ceremony....it's not a ceremony at all. A quick exchange of verbal and written legalities in front of 2 witnesses (and your officiant) and your married!

If you want to do a vow and ring exchange, the legal exchanges will be used (no personal vows or ring exchange)

Perfect for couples planning a destination wedding and want to "make it legal" before their tropical sandy beach wedding.

Wedding Rehearsal

The Wedding Rehearsal is an important service to consider when planning your wedding. A one-hour wedding rehearsal is usually sufficient in ensuring that the ceremony goes smoothly. While not mandatory, a rehearsal is encouraged if you have a medium-large wedding party or have incorporated additional elements in your ceremony (practice makes for a perfect wedding ceremony)

Helping Hand

The Helping Hand service is often used when couples select a friend or family member to officiate their wedding. We will assist your Personal Officiant by providing our advice and guidance on creating the ceremony, or review the ceremony to ensure it includes all the legal requirements. We will also assist them with running your rehearsal.

To legally marry you and your fiancé, your Personal Officiant will require a Temporary Marriage Officiating License from the Province of Manitoba. For a few dollars more, we can provide the legal signature at your ceremony, saving your Personal Officiant's time and anxiety of applying for their own license. We also take care of all the legal paperwork, ensuring error free forms are sent into Vital Statistics in a timely manner. Your friend or family member still performs the ceremony, while we ensure the legal obligations are met.

Depending on how many services are requested - bundling discounts applied. Contact Weddingbella for a quote and a list of all Helping Hand services.

Mileage fees: apply to rural Wedding Rehearsals and Ceremonies only

Marriage License:

Before tying the knot, a Marriage License is required. Weddingbella can provide this service to you.

Marriage Licenses must be purchased at least 24 hours prior to the ceremony and are valid for 3 months.
When you meet with us for your Marriage License, you will need the following:

  • Identification
  • Parental Names and Place of Birth (biological parents only but also applies to deceased parents)
  • If previously married, an "original" Divorce Certificate or Decree (no other documents accepted)
  • If widowed, proof of passing
  • E-transfer only



Frequently asked questions

What types of weddings and events do you provide services for?

Civil union
Single religion
Interfaith ceremony
Non-religious
Vow renewal
Ceremony rehearsal

What services do you provide?

Licensed
Allow couple' own vows

What religious affiliations do you serve?

Agnostic
Anglican
Baptist
Lutheran
No denomination
Presbyterian
Evangelical

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

What is the starting price for your wedding services?

$150

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$150

If you offer pre-marital counseling, what is the starting price for (per session)?

$15
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Any other questions?

Reviews for Weddingbella

K
Kailey Sent on 10/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect officiant for our big day

We are beyond grateful that we chose Shawna to be our officiant. From start to finish, she was nothing short of incredible. Her professionalism, warmth, and expertise made us feel completely at ease throughout the entire process. The ceremony script she created was absolutely perfect, so personal and heartfelt, it felt like she had known us for years. Shawna is approachable, genuinely kind, and truly invested in making your special day unforgettable. We honestly can’t imagine what our ceremony would have been like without her. We 100% recommend Shawna. You will not regret it!
C
Christa Sent on 12/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Great experience!

Shawna was our officiant for our elopement ceremony. She is truly so kind and great to work with! We loved that we got to customize the ceremony with the different options provided. Our day was exactly how we envisioned - thank you so much Shawna!!
K
Kasia Sent on 02/11/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely wonderful

We absolutely loved our short and sweet ceremony. Shawna has been right on top of everything from our first conversation to the wedding day, making sure everything was perfect. We highly recommend her for your special day .
S
Shelby Sent on 02/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Shawna is fantastic!

Shawna was such a joy to work with! She went above and beyond by marrying us on her own birthday, which truly shows how selfless and caring she is. From the very beginning, she made the process of creating our ceremony seamless and stress-free. She is professional, warm, and personable, and her kind, calming presence instantly put us at ease. Shawna is incredibly well-spoken and did a beautiful job delivering our ceremony, while also being flexible and adapting to the moment when needed. We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for someone who will make their day truly special.
O
Olivia Sent on 15/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

What an incredible experience!

We hired Shawna for my son's wedding and we couldn't be happier. Shawna was on the ball with responses, follow-ups, making sure the kids knew what they needed to do. She directed the entire bridal party, made suggestions, honestly it would likely have been chaos without her. We couldn't possibly be more impressed by both her professionalism, work ethic, and kindness. 10/10 in every way.
R
Rachel Sent on 17/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

We loved Shawna!

Shawna was fantastic to work with. She was flexible and accommodating and helped us figure out exactly what we wanted for a smooth sailing ceremony.

Shawna is very personable, yet professionally and helps ease the nerves of such a big & important day.

I don’t have any other experience with officiants nor did I really do researching on prices but for the amount of work Shawna did for us as well as how wonderfully she treated us, we’d pay top notch dollar! She understands how hectic the wedding world can be.


10/10 recommended!
Samantha
Samantha Sent on 14/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Fantastic service

Having Shawna as an Officiant was wonderful. She was easy to talk to and communicate with. Her openness to create the ceremony we wanted while also giving us options and structure helped a lot. We really appreciated her work on the marriage certificate and the legal aspect. The last thing a busy bride needed when deep in wedding planning was worrying about the legal portion, but Shawna took care of all that! For a stress free ceremony book Shawna.
S
Susan Sent on 05/08/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Our wedding

We had a very small wedding and quite impromptu, the price was quite reasonable. Shawna was outstanding! It was raining quite a bit so we had to find some cover. Shawna took care of that for us and kept smiling all the way through the ceremony keeping us all uplifted. We would definitely recommend Weddindbella! Thank you so very much!
❤️

Darryl and Sue
Brit
Brit Sent on 01/08/2025
4.8 out of 5 rating

Short wedding

She really made time for us. She did a very good job in her professionalism and with how much she helped me out. I had no idea what I was doing. I would definitely recommend Shawna for anyone who wants to get married and needs an officiant.
M
Melissa Sent on 23/07/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Shawna - Weddingbella Officiant

Shawna is amazing, she made everything seem so easy and calm during a time that we felt like we were chickens running around with our heads cut off. She was extremely helpful, prompt, and genuine. The day went off without a hitch thanks to her. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

38
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Are you interested?

Meet the team

Denise Borowski
Denise Borowski
Marriage Officiant / Marriage License Issuer

I'm happily married to my husband of 35 years and have always been an active member of my community while raising two children.

I currently volunteer for Prairie Strides as a side-walker, which is an extremely rewarding opportunity.

In the winter months, I spend time at the curling rink and enjoys a long bike ride in the summer.

My spare time is spent with family and friends, which is especially important to me.

I has also had a lengthy career at the University of Manitoba and remains there today.

I met Shawna in 2019 and soon after, became a member of the Weddingbella Team. It has been a fun filled adventure, working alongside Shawna doing what we both love to do.

Meeting new couples in love, both excited and nervous as they start planning their wedding, warms my heart and I am always honored to have a role to play.

Sorting out the details, and designing a ceremony unique to them and their relationship is a privilege and a job I do not take lightly.

In the end I am blessed with the front row seat on one of the most important days of their lives and for that I am thankful.

Mat Pilgrim
Mat Pilgrim
Marriage Officiant / Marriage License Issuer

I grew up in Altona: a small town in Southern Manitoba, where I learned the value of community and the importance of family. In later years, after I married my husband, I moved to Winnipeg where the hustle and bustle of city life taught me how to pivot quickly to life's little (or big) hiccups.

It was our own wedding that seeded his desire to become a celebrant. Our wedding was simple, fun, yet elegant. It was officiated by a family friend who showed us that weddings don't have to conform to a cookie cutter, but can be the special day you want it to be.

So what is a celebrant? Some say it is the person who performs a wedding ceremony. Others broaden that further to say a celebrant is a person who performs a rite or ceremony. I would say that a celebrant is the Lead Celebrator; the person that sets the tone for the celebration. I really wants to be that person for you.

Shawna Peterson
Shawna Peterson
Owner / Marriage Officiant / Marriage License Issuer

I was Manitoba born and raised, and have lived most of my life here (with the exception of a very long six months in Richmond, BC)

I am married to Dave, my awesome partner in life of 35 years. I enjoy being a Nana to 4 beautiful grandchildren, ranging from newborn (January 16, 2024) to 11 years old.

I have always loved and lived life to the fullest. I wrote an entertaining book in 2015 which depicts some of the funniest (and most embarassing) moments in my life. I view life through rose-colored glasses and believe the glass is ALWAYS “almost full” (half glass full is for skeptics) and believes there is light in every corner of darkness.

My faith, steadfast belief in love and the constitution of marriage, coupled with the natural gift of serving others, makes Marriage Officiating a match made in heaven for me.

My first wedding was in 2014 when I had the honour of officiating my niece Robyn and her fiance, Brad’s wedding. This began to fuel a passion as I officiated several weddings for family, friends and colleagues (includng my 78 year old dad and new bride).

In 2018, I retired from my 28 year career in the Federal Public Service, and shortly thereafter, created Weddingbella,

Denise, Mat or myself would love to chat with you about your wedding plans and create a masterpiece ceremony that your Wedding Day deserves!

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18 Louise Street R1C 0H2 Winnipeg (Manitoba)

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