Episode 16 Your Ceremony, Your Voice: The Brofficiant

What if your ceremony felt unmistakably like you—without forcing you to perform? We sit down with Leroy, the “bro” officiant behind Proficient, to unpack how he turns a familiar ceremony structure into a personal, present, and effortless experience for couples and their guests.

Leroy’s path from DJ to officiant shapes everything he does: he reads the room, sets the tone, and builds a flow that balances warmth, humor, and reverence. He shares the simple three-question framework he gives couples to shape vows and voice—what I love about you, my intentions for our marriage, and my promises to you—and explains how to decide between handwritten vows, repeat-after-me, or private letters that still feel central to the day. We dig into unplugged ceremonies done right, including a clear welcome that invites guests to put phones away and lean in, and we map out ways to include family with readings, handfasting, or candlelighting without losing momentum.

We also get tactical. No planner on site? Leroy outlines how he quietly quarterbacks the processional, mic handoffs, and transitions so couples don’t have to. He’s transparent about rehearsals, why he books one couple per day, and how a simple CRM plus “Wedding Wednesday” keeps communication timely and stress low. And for couples with opposite personalities, he shows how to keep both comfortable—crafting short, confident public moments or longer storytelling arcs that still feel balanced on camera and in the room.

You’ll walk away with real ceremony ideas, vow prompts you can use today, and a better sense of how to choose an officiant who can carry your story with care. If you’re planning a wedding, filming one, or simply love the craft of a great ceremony, this conversation will help you build something guests remember and you actually enjoy.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a friend who’s planning, and leave a quick review to help more couples find thoughtful, practical wedding advice. Check out the links for Leroy below!

https://www.instagram.com/thebrofficiant

https://luhluhleeroy.com/weddings/inquiry

https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/leeroy-williams-mechanicsburg-pa-2040021

https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/leeroy-williams/236def7346372c33.html

Transcript

Meet Leroy, The “Bro” Officiant

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to The Preferred List, a podcast about the people behind best wedding days. I'm James, a wedding filmmaker. I've spent years in the industry working alongside incredible vendors, and this show is all about real conversations with the ones who make it happen. Whether you're a vendor or a couple, you'll get honest insight, good stories, and maybe a little inspiration along the way. Let's meet today's wedding vendor. Hey Leroy, how's it going? It's go. How are you? Good. I'm so glad to have you on. And guys, Leroy, I asked him to be on the podcast over Instagram. And he hit me back with the best video response. And he's like, Is this what you want for the podcast? And I'm like, absolutely. Heavy energy. Way too much. We were zoomed in really far at the start, but we figured it out. It was it turned out great. Yeah. Um, so I'm so excited to have you on LeRoy. And uh Leveroy runs Proficient. He is an officiant of the bro category. We we're figuring them all out as one and only. Um and so I'm so excited to hear more about the way that you craft your wedding ceremonies and how you work with couples and kind of the heart behind your business. Yeah. Um, but before we do, before we jump into that, we're here at Hazelwood Weddings. Hazelwood Weddings is a modern wedding venue in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, specializing in weddings, micro weddings, and equipment with easy access to Gettysburg, York, Lancaster, and Baltimore. It's built specifically for weddings, and you'll find an intentional variety of bright open spaces bathed in natural light and surrounded by stunning woodland views. Hazelwood is the perfect backdrop for your day and an even better backdrop for your photos. And I know you know Kate really well. Yep. Just such a great human, right? Absolutely. Um, and I'm so gr glad, grateful, glad all the things to be able to be here and uh be able to meet new vendors like yourself.

SPEAKER_01 1:48

This is amazing, a great opportunity and just shenanigans right and left. So let's just do it.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

All around, maybe up and down. I don't know. We're gonna figure it out. All the directions. So, Leroy, tell me a little bit about how proficient your business officiating started and and kind of like where it came from.

From DJ Booth To Officiant

SPEAKER_01 2:07

Yeah, honestly, though it's crazy if you think about it. So shockingly, um, back in 2013, I was picked up uh to DJ weddings. I was at a wedding and a company found me, said, Hey, you want to DJ? I said, sure. Loving that, hyped it all up. You get to see ceremonies, cocktail hour, and receptions. Fast forward to about 2018. Uh, my best friend from high school and college was getting married, and she said, Hey, will you DJ my wedding? I said, in a heartbeat, I would love to be out there twerking on the dance floor with all of you. Um, and as they were doing the planning process, is when we finally found out that she needed uh an officiant. So she called me and said, Hey, we would love for you to be our officiant. Would you get ordained for us? And I said, say less. Got ordained. It was the 21st of September, Earth Wind in Fire. Um, and I did their wedding as my first one as an officiant. And ever since then, it's just been an amazing flow and journey of just learning couples from the beginning to the end.

Making Ceremonies Deeply Personal

SPEAKER_00 3:12

It's so fun how like businesses can be built out of like the simplest, most innocent question of like, hey, could you do this for me? And you're like, yeah. And then it's like, let's make it a business. Right. How how did it go from that one wedding, seeing that it was fun, enjoying that whole process, to like, let's make it a full-blown business and do it do a ton more of it.

SPEAKER_01 3:36

Right. So how I ended up getting into more ceremonies was really the comments from their family and friends at the end of their ceremony. We did the recessional, everyone left, they went for pictures. Um, and I am grateful enough to have had that friendship with them both. Um, that when their family and friends were like, hey, this ceremony was them, you nailed it. That started to just kind of snowball into more and more ceremonies where I said, you know what, I think I think I want to keep doing this. And by word of mouth, referrals and and other friends and family that were getting married, they said, Hey, we'd love for you to be our efficient. It just kind of became a thing. And I loved every single one of those um couples that came through. And really that mentality is what stuck to it. And it was, how do I make this ceremony about you two? I want your your family and friends to be able to say that was that was them. Um the funnier side is I want those family and friends to be like, so how long have you known them? Some of them I've known since high school and college, others I met online. Yeah. And it's just a funny, funny story when they're like, You must have known them for years. I'm like, like no. Yeah, sure. No, no, just met me.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

Well, I I would say from my perspective as a videographer, I love, I love, love, love when the ceremony, the officiant, um, oftentimes it's because they know them in some capacity, but when it's personalized, when there's stuff about the couple in there, when there's like specific notes, nods to where they came from, how they got here, that just like crushes in our films. And so I'm like, kudos to you for going that extra mile. Cause you could very easily be the officiant. You could have this fun, bubbly personality, right? But you could go in and kind of just say the same thing, right? Like run through the formalities. There is some formalities in the ceremony. You gotta do the rings, you gotta, you know, there's some things you have to do. But um, what is it about learning the couple's story that's just so fun and exciting and something that like kind of keeps drawing you back in? Yeah.

Comforting Shy Couples

SPEAKER_01 5:47

Oh, this is one of my favorite things to ever answer. Um, we do discovery calls and consultations and we talk throughout the planning process. I do let all of my couples know that, hey, you can talk to me as much or as little as you need to as we get to your wedding day. And as you said, there's a cookie cutter skeleton to every ceremony, just like there's a cookie cutter skeleton to every day. And it's our job as vendors to figure out what that looks like. So for their ceremonies, I love, and I say this all the time, I love love, but that word is used so much. You know, I love Buffalo chicken dip, I love basketball, I love football. But for my couples, and we have these conversations, I asked them, I was like, I want that four-letter word to mean so much more. And I want you guys to try and explain to me what that means to you both and how that flourished from the beginning of your relationship up into this celebration at your ceremony. Dang, this is so good.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

So deep. This is so good. I'm like, can you follow me around and help me get audio for my films?

SPEAKER_01 6:46

Oh, absolutely. That would be amazing. Yeah, yeah. It's it's a lot of fun to really hone in on that because as a wedding, it's it's one day for all of us. And I always say by the end of the reception or by the time they do their first dance, that's my exit. Like that's where our relationship in the aspect of what we've grown ends. Do I have to cry? Sometimes do they let me stay and dance with them? Absolutely. But it's creating that uh that atmosphere with them that allows us to have that celebration from the moment their guests arrive at the ceremony, which is the most the reason we're there, the biggest reason is to celebrate them. So how do we, how do I, as your efficient, make that celebration what it needs to be when everyone gets there first?

SPEAKER_00 7:34

Yeah. So you mentioned um giving couples a space to either talk a bunch to you or maybe not talk to you much. I'm assuming maybe you enjoy when they talk to you a little bit more. All the time. All the time. How do you how do you help like if there's a couple listening that's like, hey, that sounds awesome, Leroy, but like I don't I don't like really being like open and like because you gotta get a little bit of the backs, like they have to be willing to kind of open up to you a little bit. For those that are listening that are like, oh, I just don't know how I feel. Like, how do you kind of make them feel comfortable enough to give you the stuff that you need to make it a really personal ceremony?

Vows: Write, Repeat, Or Private

SPEAKER_01 8:14

Yeah. So typically most of the couples that come to me do want that love shared. But I do get a several couples that are like, hey, we're very, we don't want to be the center of attention. Um, but we understand it's it's our ceremony. So how do you, how will you navigate that? Uh we customize it, we make it very unique to them. Like, do you want to recite your vows in front of your family and friends, or would you recommend doing private vows uh separately? And my job as your official is to help that flow happen. If you don't want to talk about, you know, you two and get real deep and have to repeat a bunch of words, we'll make it about you. I've had weddings that have gone, you know, 27 minutes of just them talking and really being about them. And I've had some that have gone as fast as nine minutes and they were just like, we want to be married. There are some important structures within each ceremony that have to happen. And then my you know, flow is to make that fit what you're looking for.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

Yeah. I mean, it feels like you're you're kind of like a choose your own adventure for each couple.

SPEAKER_02 9:11

I've never thought about it that way. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

Yeah. Cause it if they're if they do want that big long sort of drawn out storyline, if you're gonna have all that information from them, you can do that for them if they if they want the formalities done in a little note of like, hey, glad you guys are all here, but let's get right into this, then you can do that for them too. Exactly. Um, when you're in that planning process, is it pretty quick for you to realize kind of like what type of kind of couple they're gonna be in terms of like the a ton of story and kind of like not much story?

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Yeah, yeah. So when we are in that planning process, it is actually pretty, pretty quick in flow. And that's that goal is really to find out what they want. And and I find that out even when we do our initial discovery. Like, do you want the drawn-out or are you more laid back? You know, how do you want me to do this? Now we do talk about like a quick getting to know you, it's a questionnaire that they just kind of tell me, you know, how your love story began. Uh, and then I ask the simple questions, you know, what's the reason you love each other? Uh, and we dive into that as we get closer to the wedding day. And then, of course, you know, what's the reason, the biggest reasons you guys have and want this celebration, this ceremony to be what it is? And there's little check boxes, you know, I just want to spend time on my boo thing. And others is, I just want to party with my friends. And we come together by the end of our phone calls, our video chats, um, sometimes in person, and just figure out where that goes.

SPEAKER_00 10:34

Yeah. For the couples that are thinking about like, do we do handwritten vows? Do we do like a call and response type of thing for that specific moment? What's your advice for picking the kind of route that they go? And then if they do like a handwritten thing, what's your best advice to kind of do that really well?

Balancing Warmth And Professionalism

SPEAKER_01 10:54

I love this one for the simple fact that it is, I ask up front, and it may change, you know, from the the moment we start, they're like, we might want to write our vows. Okay. And sometimes they switch, like, hey, we don't want to write our vows, we just want to repeat after you. Um, and I'm like, okay. So I send them an email, a questionnaire that just answers three questions. The first one is, what do I love about my person? The second is what are my intentions for this marriage? And my third is what are my promises to you? And they all they have to do, it's their homework, is answer three sentence, two to three sentences on each of those. And that helps me create the flow of their ceremony. And then we decide, do you guys want to do the vows by repeating after me, or do you want to do some private letters to each other? But this at least gives you a nice little chunk of what you want to do and want to say to each other for videographers who want to have those private moments where they don't have to overthink it, but it still centers it around them.

SPEAKER_00 11:48

And I will say, because you've you've mentioned a couple of times, it can change. And we've even had like so you mentioned it in the sense of like they might want to write them and then they don't, and then they do and then they don't. But we've even had where they have handwritten vows that were supposed to be read in the ceremony, and then the bride's like, I don't want to read them in front of everyone, I want to just do it like uh private during the first look or something. So just say that. Yeah, just let us know. Exactly. Because it sounds like for you too, it's like, I just need to know what you guys want. Correct. And if you're gonna change it, just tell me and we'll make it work.

SPEAKER_01 12:22

Yes. And it's happened to me many times in ceremonies, and it's they're like, Well, what do you do? And it's super simple. I mean as the per as the voice for all of you is to share with your family and friends what happens. If you were going to do vows privately, and that's that was your choice. My job, my role is to let your family and friends know why and what's happening next. I want them to know that there were vows that were said between each other. They're not happening here, but they said them somewhere, and that's what me is most meaningful to them and to you too. And that allows a couple of people in the crowd to be like, oh, you know, that makes sense. This guy's he's he's figured it out. He's on to something. Yeah, he that's some friends and family are like, well, why aren't they repeating anything? Yeah. They didn't want to. Yeah. And that's okay because the vows is for them.

SPEAKER_00 13:06

And it doesn't make it any less or more special to do a vow, handwritten vow at the ceremony or during a first look or during the getting ready process. Like if you don't want to see each other, you like there's so many options that you can do. But it sounds like you're willing to kind of walk them through the process on like how to write those and how to make them kind of fit together. Yes. Um, you know, the last thing you want is one person to say, like, I love you. Right. Cool. And then the other person have this like big long drawn-out storyline.

Friend Officiants And The “Bro Flow”

SPEAKER_01 13:36

Like, yeah, exactly. You're right. And then it's I've every once in a while, if I do send that out, I'll get like my one will eventually be like, I love you. And I'm like, well, I need a little bit more. Give me those two to three sentences and we'll work from there. And honestly, just being surrounded by that ability to communicate with them and figure out what they want to do, we do get to eventually figure out like, does it flow? I've had several couples reach out to say, Hey, is this good? And I say, It's your voice, it's your tone. I can't change anything. There maybe put a comma here, but other than that, like it's it's your voice and it sounds amazing.

SPEAKER_00 14:12

Yeah. I think it's helpful for them to have an opportunity to show it to you if they want to. Right. Because you obviously have done tons of ceremonies and you know, like, hey, maybe that sentence just needs to be reworded a little bit. Kind of sounds funny. Um, if they want to. If they don't, like it's obviously gonna be in their voice and kind of their thing, anyways. Um was there a moment in that first ceremony that you did where you were standing up there and you were like, yo, this is like a thing that I want to do again?

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Yeah. Um I remember standing next to Lindsay and John in front, and I remember the one thing she said to me was, Hey, I want this ceremony to be about us, but I don't want to cry. I want to make it emotional, but I don't want to be sappy. You can make us laugh. And I'll never forget, I went out and I bought a I bought a a bow tie that had astronaut kitties on it. So they both came up and those teary eyes came up, and I remember them both saying, We want this to be about us. And I said, I need to break this before the tears happen. And I said, Lindsay John, I got a surprise for you. Look at my tie. And when they looked at it, they cracked up. I think it's still my profile picture on the proficient. That is them laughing at that bow tie. And that just feeling to watch them flow out into like this is our ceremony. Now we're gonna get through it, knowing that I'm their bro. I have your back. What do you need from me? What can I do to make this about you and make it what you need? And that just feeling happens at every single ceremony. What can I do for you? How can I be your bro?

SPEAKER_00 15:45

Yeah, I love that. Yeah. It all it's all making sense now. Yeah, it's all making sense. I love it. Is there um a part of it? I feel like uh as much as it could be fun and upbeat, um, there's a part of I feel like the ceremony process where you might need to be a little bit more professional. Absolutely. Um, there's a part of it maybe you're a little bit more warmer, inviting. How are you balancing kind of all of those things while still um being lively, right? Slightly entertaining in some way or another, but also kind of keeping that like professional um way about you.

Including Family In The Ceremony

SPEAKER_01 16:22

So one thing that I really love doing for all of my couples is just ensuring that we have an unplugged, unplugged announcement. It's my favorite thing to do. Uh it's a good welcome to all of your family and friends. You got the BRO of bro, but I got I've been thinking about it in my head. It's called the unk. It's your unplugged, your need, and then your ceremony. So unplugged announcement is what it is. That's how I welcome everyone, just immerse themselves, even if they have a sign. Then the end, of course, is the need, and that's me making sure to those family and friends, like I need you to be immersed in this so that we can just flow and just enjoy this love, and then our ceremony begins. Um, and I think that really balances out where my bubbly personality comes out. And then, of course, getting into the welcome, that's kind of where we do have that warmth and some humor. But the most important part where we get serious, like right before we get into your vows or whatever it is that flows, we do talk about the reason that we're here and that celebration. Um, and then we just flow through it. I mean, you know, you got your, you know, your your vows, your ring exchange, your declaration of intent, and all of that stuff can be intertwined and mixed to fit your flow. Once we get to uh the final remarks, that's usually where I'm like, I'm grateful. I say it probably two or three times in a ceremony. Thank you for letting me be here. Thank you, family and friends, for coming and celebrating. Um, and then of course I have to bring out my own personality. Like, I definitely, as your officiant, do not want to be in that picture. So I might do something silly, but I'm gone. I walk away, I make uh you can have that moment, and then when you're ready, I'll come back, make sure you're facing your family and friends, and we send you back up.

Planning Without A Planner

SPEAKER_00 17:52

Yeah. How important do you think it is like for the couple to be like selecting someone like yourself, or if they're even thinking of like a family member or a friend, how important is it for them to get the right person to do the ceremony?

SPEAKER_01 18:10

Yeah, I think it's imperative. I mean, uh when I prioritize weddings from a vendor standpoint, I I always put like your planners and coordinators first, and then your entertainment, and of course your photographers. That's your top three. From there, your planner will tell you exactly who needs to come next. Um, but when it comes to picking your efficient and and what you need for your day, it's really being able to find somebody that's going to make this about you and make this flow happen and make it uh your your day.

SPEAKER_00 18:39

Yeah. I it seems like a simple thing, but I've I think I've heard more not like horror stories as in like it's scary, but just like people thinking, couples thinking like, hey, this person's gonna show up and do a good job. Yeah. It's like, ooh, that wasn't really that didn't really hit. Um and so I I think it's is there like a a way couples are like, hey, I really want like Uncle John to do this ceremony for us because he's really meaningful, he's a big part of my life for whatever reason or or another. Um, is there like a litmus test that you have for couples that are thinking about that? You can just kind of give them some value of like, hey, if he is this type of person or has this type of personality, like it's probably gonna go well, or if he has these resources, it's probably actually gonna go better than than if he didn't.

DJ Energy And Reception Mode

SPEAKER_01 19:30

Uh as far as like a you know, litmus test, I I do like to ask. Uh um when we do have those calls and they're like, hey, we think we're gonna go with, you know, our best friend from from college. That's exactly the reason you know, I kind of got into it. So I'm like, how do I navigate this that it makes sense? And I want to provide value to those couples by just reassuring them like, hey, if that's one more box you can check off and you can get closer to your wedding day, I'm happy for you. I'm excited. You have my number. Please call me if anything happens. And we cross fingers and to. That there might be some availability still, but uh I always offer the opportunity if they would like that they could have their ceremony come to me. I kind of generate it, and then if they want to, we talk to their whoever their officiant is and have them like, hey, this is how you run a ceremony and flow nicely.

SPEAKER_00 20:18

Yeah.

Blending Opposite Personalities

SPEAKER_01 20:19

Um, so that's something I've been working on in the last, I think, six months. And it's just a really cool concept. And when I take a step back, it's kind of cool because it's like, I can't be your your officiant that day because you wanted someone else, which is great, but you still wanted that energy, that vibe.

SPEAKER_00 20:33

So how can I at least for people who are stepping into that role and maybe are like, oh gosh, what am I what have I got myself into? Yeah. Because they don't when you get asked, like I feel like when you get asked, you're like, yeah, totally. This would be great. And then you sit back and you're like, now I need to figure it out. Yeah. How do I start? What's the first thing I need to do? Almost like I don't know, is it a service that people can pay for? Yeah. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 21:05

Um over the summer, and then as the wedding season starts to bob and weave through the winter, um, it's just something I want to really spearhead and and make concrete where they can come in and almost pick and choose how a ceremony would flow for them, like we talked about.

SPEAKER_00 21:18

But you can help them really like develop it and have it be you know, not you, right but like the systems like like what you would do.

SPEAKER_01 21:26

Correct. It's it's the bro flow, which is weird to say, but it's the bro flow for your for like your family and friends.

SPEAKER_02 21:34

The branding on the bro flow right here. The bro flow. The bro flow. That one can't see that one. That one there, right? The bro flow.

Rehearsals, Transparency, And Trends

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Yeah, no, that's so cool though. It's like a such a good um service because there's gonna be as much as you would probably want to do all of those weddings that get done by you know family or friends, you're still still able to kind of put a little bit of the broness in all of that. Absolutely. Um for couples that are wanting, maybe they have you, maybe they have a friend or family that's doing the officiating, um, but they want to include like mom or dad or grandma or Aunt Susan, like what what are some good ways that those special family members that they want to include could be a part of it in some way?

SPEAKER_01 22:20

Yeah. So we call them, I call them interceremony um experiences. Uh and that really is anything from a reading, a scripture, a passage, a poem. Uh, we have hand fasting ceremonies, candlelighting. Um, so as couples are trying to figure out what they want to do, if they want to include fit family and friends, that's where I create those opportunities where they can ask them and we just kind of fit it into what matters most to them.

SPEAKER_00 22:47

Yeah. It seems like th there's tons of options. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Um so if you have someone that you want to put in there, like just say, hey, I want to use them.

SPEAKER_01 22:58

Sure. I'll figure out a microphone, we'll we'll talk to your DJ or whoever's in charge of mics, and we'll get it figured out.

SPEAKER_00 23:04

Yeah. Is there anything that couples or I guess even like the vendor side of things that uh vendors or couples could do to help you run like a smooth no hiccups type of ceremony?

One-Couple-A-Day Commitment

SPEAKER_01 23:18

There's two so there's two sides to this pillow. You know, the the best is the cool side of the pillow, which is having your planner or coordinator, someone who will help that flow happen so that your couple and you know, their guests and their wedding party don't have to worry about a thing. But there are moments when you go to specific venues where they're like, hey, we just didn't want a planner, but we do have someone who says that they'll be there, which is great. But that's where I step in. And I think it's the years of being in this industry and seeing weddings um as a well uh previously as as a DJ, but but now as an officiant, I'm seeing it more frequently where we have that person, but when it comes to a rehearsal, no one's telling you who's flowing with who, who's walking with who, what music, like all of those things that I've learned as a DJ, as an officiant, and and the wedding season is how do I provide a planner-esque style because we don't have one. Yeah. And that's a lot of fun. It's very stressful on the inside, but I always have a smile on my face. When I leave the ceremony, I got pit stains, but I'm like, but everything looked good.

SPEAKER_00 24:24

Everything looked good, yeah. Um I have to say, I think that you'd be the most fun DJ. I don't know. Do you still do it a lot? I do, I do, yeah. I do absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 24:33

It's wild. Um it's a lot of fun. Um I still get picked up to DJ for an amazing company right now, and then occasionally I'll do some where I'll do full service, and that's efficient and DJ, and it is just a a roller coaster of emotions. We're serious at the ceremony, cocktail hour. I get the marriage license figured out. I say I'll see you guys at reception, I line everyone up. We come in and it's we're going feral by 8 p.m. if grandma's okay with it, and we just we just have fun. Yeah, that's so fun.

Defining “Perfect” For Each Couple

SPEAKER_00 25:03

I I DJs, I think, have such a fun job. I just think it'd be it's just so fun. So fun. Like just like throwing the tunes out there, getting the party going. So there's probably a lot of couples that are listening that are like, okay, I'm like this way, and my soon-to-be spouse is completely opposite personality-wise. One might be bubbly, they both might be bubbly, one might be like super reserved, not really outspoken, introvert, extrovert. Is there a good way that you've found to kind of like do a ceremony that still kind of fits well with both of those kind of differing personalities?

SPEAKER_01 25:43

Yeah. I mean, honestly, it I look at both of them in the planning process at the rehearsal, if I'm there, or even the ceremony and say, it's just us three up here. We will figure it out. Um, whether one's introverted, one's extroverted, whether they're both bubbly, it it just works out. It's it when it comes to the ceremony itself, the only people who really know that are us three. And I tell them sometimes, you might black out in this wedding ceremony. You might not know what's going on next, but let me guide you through what's gonna happen by allowing you the ability to figure out where we're going. But it really hasn't, I've never come across a couple that's had two different extremes and it not flow.

SPEAKER_00 26:21

Yeah. I mean, it feels like with a lot of that, you're getting a lot of that information well before you would have to stand up and start and start talking.

SPEAKER_01 26:29

So if one was like what we said earlier, like if one was like, these are my vows, it's two sentences, and the other one's like, here's my novel, we have to find a happy medium. Yeah. Will we make this ceremony about both of you? I I want one of you, I want both of you to say enough. But if one of you is like, Ditto, I messed up somewhere because we didn't talk about it. So how do we make sure that that does not happen?

Handling Hiccups And Mindset

SPEAKER_00 26:50

Yeah. So is your service, your officiating service, does it always come with that kind of day before um rehearsal kind of thing? Or is it like separate, like and add that on?

SPEAKER_01 27:02

Yeah, so typically it can be added on. Um as we discuss things and with wedding trends changing, like a lot of couples are now having day of rehearsals, which makes things a little bit more of a challenge to provide the efficient there. Um and if that's the case, I can make those happen. I make those work. But uh venues like this one, who have amazing planning staff, I look at couples and say, you don't need me. I want to be there. I would love to hang out with you. It's so much fun. I want to, I want to be where you two are. Um, but the real transparency in that is that you are you are in the best of hands that I will still show up, I will be there. If you need me to grab you guys something on the way in, I'm your bro. Call me. Um, but when I show up, I'll find you both and we'll have everything figured out. Um so no, I never really have a problem or an issue when it comes to the rehearsals. It's just figuring out if they need it or if they don't and what those factors are.

SPEAKER_00 27:57

Yeah, I mean, it seems like you're taking a very like transparent approach. Oh yeah. Like if they do need it, you're gonna say it. If they don't, you're not you're not gonna be like, hey, you should probably have them there. Absolutely pay me extra money. Absolutely.

Pre-Ceremony Rituals And Focus

SPEAKER_01 28:09

No, I don't it's some couples are like, I'll never forget them. I do have one coming here actually. And they're like, We have Hazelwood and we have the bike event team. And I was like, you don't need me for anything except the I dudes. They're like, what? I was like, I cannot tell you how amazing that team together is that I want to be there. I would love for you to pay for me to be at the rehearsal, but there's no reason for me to be there because they're gonna have it all handled now. You can call me and say you need something in the morning, I'll go get it for you. But regardless, I will be there and you're in you're in the best of hands.

SPEAKER_00 28:41

Yeah. So you've been doing officiating for several years now. How much from that first one or that first, maybe like when you decided it was a business kind of thing, how much has your officiating like transformed or changed over those years?

Business Advice: Relationships First

SPEAKER_01 28:59

Yeah. Uh I would say it's honestly maintained the integrity of that transparency and of course being your bro. Like I want that to be the real thing that happens as we, you know, create your experience, your ceremony, the the celebration of your next chapter. Um, the the way that it's transformed is how do we make each and every one of these ceremonies unique to you? And that is a huge drive for me. Every time I get the opportunity to talk to a couple, I want them to know that they are my couple. Uh it's not a wedding date to me. I am not an officiant who will book two or three ceremonies in one day. I have one, it is you, we this is it, and we go on. That we move, we flow, we fire through. But I don't I want that very important feeling on their side as well as my side to know that I am your bro. You can trust me, I can trust you, we're gonna make this happen.

SPEAKER_00 29:53

If you had to describe to me like what a perfect ceremony. I know it's like I don't even want to really call it the word perfect, but um maybe even just like at the end of it, you're like, that went well. Like that was what it was supposed to be. What would go into a ceremony or or how would it flow for you to sit back and be like, yes?

Systems, CRM, And Wedding Wednesday

SPEAKER_01 30:16

It depends on the couple. It changes every single time. Some of my couples want to have a my favorite is the the first look when they have not seen each other until the ceremony happens. That is one of the biggest things I live for. And if I can help make that, orchestrate that, coordinate that to happen, an audible gasp from all of your guests because you turned and you saw your boothang at the top of the aisle, right there, when the music hits, and there are tears coming out of your eyes, and there are tears coming out of my eyes. That tells me that that particular ceremony hit the way you wanted it to. And I've walked up, I come back to those specific ceremonies, and I'm like, you did it. We did it, and that's and then we'll start. But I've got tears because you got to have that moment by yourself as you saw each other and it was just you two. And then I am crying because it happened and I made someone else cry. But it it can really change and vary depending on my couples. If I can make it happen with that, if I can make the flow happen, the perfection is really objective. You know, what is it that you want for your ceremony? My job is to coordinate with everyone that needs to be in charge and there to make that happen.

SPEAKER_00 31:32

Yeah. And I I hate even saying the word perfection, right? But it's just it's one of those things where I'm like peeling back the layers for you specifically in your business and the way that you do your ceremonies. Um, it seems like from everything we've talked about, you're putting a ton of intentionality into the way that you do things, the way that you set up for things, um, all the like planning process that goes into it. Uh, is there something that you want couples to feel with that whole process of working with you?

Where To Find Leroy And Closing

SPEAKER_01 32:03

Honestly, just knowing that I have their back, that what we discussed was delivered. It was put on business. That's the best way to put it. We did exactly what you were asking of me for your ceremony. Anything can happen, that's what Ellie Golding says. Um, but anything can happen on a ceremony day. And uh I have to still bring that ceremony, whether it's raining, whether somebody's running late, whether there's traffic, any element can mess up the ceremony time. But my job is to make sure that despite all of that, we make that the moment that matters most as we continue the celebration.

SPEAKER_00 32:46

Yeah, I mean, there's there is so much that could go wrong. Um, but it it all it always seems to come together. It turns out great. Yeah. It always seems great. Especially if the couples are in a position in a mindset of like, at the end of it, we're gonna be married. Right? At the end of the ceremony, like we will be married. All of our favorite people are gonna be there. Correct. And it's just gonna be what it is. Right. And uh there's some things that we can kind of help and and keep from going awry, but there's gonna be things that might just pop up. Yeah. Um, and if you have a team that you trust, yes, of vendors, a team of vendors that you trust, like you're talking about the team here, like they're gonna make sure that it basically goes unnoticed.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

Right, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 33:34

Um is there like a ritual that you have like day of to kind of get yourself like because you are you're public speaking in a in a way. I know it's a very specific style of public speaking, but there's something that like kind of gets you going to make sure you're like you're ready to go for the ceremony.

SPEAKER_01 33:53

No, I would honestly say it most mornings I do some kind of workout, get that blood flowing, just energy go out, look at my kids, do some silly shenanigans. But when it's it's that time to travel to my venue, man, I I'm just I get in my car and I put on emo music. I think that's it. Emo music or uh MGK and just jam out to that. When I get to the venue, I I take a deep breath, we're here, and we just go into the the ceremony itself.

SPEAKER_00 34:22

Yeah, I love that. I I feel like uh as a vendor, you gotta do something to kind of get yourself going. The day of the wedding, it's like you're hitting the gym, or maybe you're reading something, or just spending time with your family. Um I know like we're gone for like a lot of the day when we have a wedding. Um, but I think it's just so important to like get grounded before you go out and and jump into the hustle and the bustle. Yeah. And even just jumping into like the day is so important for the couple and even their families. Yeah. So, like I've said before, you've been doing this for several years now. You were in the industry doing the DJ kind of stuff beforehand, um, a little bit on your own kind of thing, a little bit for some other companies as well. Uh, in in business, if we could kind of speak to the vendors that are listening, what are some things that you wish you knew in business uh when you first started that you kind of have picked up on recently?

SPEAKER_01 35:22

Uh relationships matter. That is the the biggest thing that I will preach until I'm done officiating and DJing. Uh, is just making sure that the relationships you build are the s people that you want to continue to thrive with. And that's creating a tribe. Um, your frienders, I know we've said that many times. Yeah. Um, but just people that are there for all the right reasons, and that's just ensuring that we have a smooth event, wedding, whatever it may be.

SPEAKER_00 35:50

Yeah, I think if you surround yourself with vendors that are there for the right reason, one, you're gonna have a more fun wedding. Yeah, absolutely. Just just as a as a person who's working, like you are working a job at that point. It's gonna be a more fun day, but you're also gonna know that they're there for the right reasons for the couple. They want to see the couple enjoy themselves, have a great time, um, and for it to run smoothly, like you said. Yeah. Uh are there other systems or things that you do in your business that kind of help keep you in line, keep you organized, yeah, keep you like not drowned.

SPEAKER_01 36:25

Yeah, I use a uh like a hybrid CRM. So um I like to still, because there's always a personal touch from the efficient standpoint, um, my CRM does allow me the ability to, it sends me notes on when to um send specific other emails. Some go automatically, others are like, hey, double check here. Um, actually just had a couple um actually two. They have the quote expiration. I tell them in our calls, hey, you're gonna get a reminder. I get dinged one too. It's not to stress anyone out, it's just it lets them know. And that transparency they really like. They both responded back with, no, you're not spammy at all. I was like, hey, I got the same email. Um, but that allows me as a as a business owner to be able to say, I need to check in more frequently, I need to be more intentional. Um, and then as we get closer to like wedding days, I get more automated reminders just to keep me in check. Um, every Wednesday is I call wedding Wednesday. I spend an hour just backend stuff and then of course coordinating schedules and following up with couples.

SPEAKER_00 37:22

Yeah, because it I mean you throw 20 different couples in there and you're trying to remember names and dates and times because all the ceremonies are are not at the same time. Correct. Um so you gotta be making sure you're going to the right place, showing up at the right time, and you know, talking about the right couple of things. The right couple, correct. Um have that those systems kind of developed over time, or did you jump right in and you're like, I'm gonna put these in place and and it's gonna be like organized from the start?

SPEAKER_01 37:50

From the start. I just from from the jump, it was just making sure the most important things that matter, because it is one day, that stuff hits first the date, the people, and the time. And then of course, as we do the planning process, it's just ensuring that the date's still the same, which most of the time it is, um, and the time may change and vary. And as long as they know that stuff, and I'm grateful that again, I only take one wedding a day, that if anything were to happen, despite that start time, I'll be available.

SPEAKER_00 38:19

Yeah. I love that. Well, Leroy, it's been so great having you on the podcast. Yeah. Um, the proficient.

SPEAKER_01 38:25

The proficient. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:26

I love it. It's so fun. It's so fun to hear the intentionality that you have with your couples and the way that you're taking officiating like really to another level. Yeah. It's not just like the ceremony. Yeah. It's way more than just the ceremony for you. Um, and I hope everyone that's listening has kind of seen that as well.

SPEAKER_01 38:44

I hope so too. This is a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00 38:45

So if they're like, yo, we need to get this dude at our wedding, where can they find and follow along and reach out?

SPEAKER_01 38:52

Yeah, best place honestly is uh Instagram at the proficient right there in the they people have the link in bio mine called a milkshake. Click that, it'll send you right to a booking location and the website. Everything other than that, send me a DM. I respond as fast as I can when I'm not wrestling with my kids, and we just go from there.

SPEAKER_00 39:10

Yeah, and all that stuff will be linked down in the description. So if you want to check out what Leroy is doing or reach out, ask him questions, check in on all the stuff that he's doing, uh, you can do that with the description. The link's in the description. Um, but I appreciate you guys tuning into this episode of the podcast. Um, this podcast is so fun for me, so fun to connect with vendors, hear the heart behind their businesses, and even just give them a chance to like like Leroy, just talk about the things that are exciting for him and his business. Um so if you're watching on YouTube, what's up? How's it going? Uh if you could like, subscribe, drop a comment, let us know how you liked the episode or if you have questions for either one of us. It'd be so fun to interact with there. And then if you're listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast, um it'd be awesome. It'd be so, so awesome if you could leave us a review. And just let us know how you're liking the show. I love getting to interact with people about the episodes and the guests that we have on. We have a ton more coming out. So make sure you guys are tuning in to those new episodes. But that's all for this one, and we'll catch you next time on the preferred list. See you later.