We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amber Shurr. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amber below.

Amber, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I choose this category because I feel that as an officiant I am not just providing a service but rather I am a storyteller and I work with each couple to create what their unique story sounds like and how they want it best told through their ceremony script. This makes for each wedding to be a “meaningful project” and I love receiving feedback on how personalized the guests felt that the experience was or how at ease the couple and their families felt and especially how each couple feels best represented through their story or ceremony script. Each wedding is such an individualized and detailed moment as well as a precious story that gets told hopefully for decades or a lifetime so it shouldn’t be about how long and boring it was but rather about how the entire day flowed together to paint a beautiful picture of the couple and their love story.

Amber, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Having worked every facet of weddings from the decor to the catering, from the sound and music to the planner and coordinating for over 28 years, as a Creative Director, it was a natural next step to become a wedding officiant. In 2020 when the world shut down, I was in the process of pivoting in my career and some friends who owned a Wedding Officiant company encouraged me to work with them to officiate weddings. Prior to working with them, I had performed a few weddings and memorials but had not found the creative beauty in it. Working with them helped me to realize that I could apply my love for the creative and all of the other skills that I had learned from being involved in the industry. In 2023 I stepped out on my own to run my own Professional Wedding Officiant Company which has been a big move and adjustment. A ceremony doesn’t have to be long, boring and cookie cutter, but rather it was an opportunity to come alongside of couples to individualize this aspect to match the rest of their big day.
I work hard to understand each couples uniqueness and not only do I provide a “choose your own adventure” script sample format but also leave plenty of room for them to craft it just the way that they want it. I personally spend time researching ways to incorporate the people or elements that they want involved and to bring them options and solutions to everything from co-officiating with a friend or family member to suggesting restaurants and activities in the area.
I ask each couple what their theme and colour palette is so that I can blend best with their aesthetic, I do not wear bold prints or colours unless it is specifically requested. I am out of the way for all of the intimate ceremonial moments so that all attention is pointed to the couple and I work with their vendor team, photographer, DJ, videographer, coordinator etc. to make sure we are all on the same page to ensure best angles, lighting, cues and transitions. I take it upon myself to know venue information to best direct the guests and host with a smile knowing that I help set the tone for the ceremony. I believe professional can be authentic and approachable and each wedding requires adaptation to bring that element. I absolutely LOVE doing weddings and I am always up for whimsical, themed and the outlandish to complement my roster of elegant and traditional.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

The best resource is the relationships with venues and other vendors. The level at which you serve your clients only goes so far but the level at which you collaborate and serve their vendor team can make or break the event as well as provide an indispensable referral system.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a Professional Wedding Officiant is the relationship built with couples and hearing how the ceremony not only exceeded their dreams and expectations but also receiving updates on Anniversaries or babies born etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ambershurrweddings.ca
• Instagram: @ambershurrweddings
• Facebook: Amber Shurr Weddings

Image Credits
Fedora Media McCormick Photography Erin Blackwood Photo