Reverend Lisa Phillian: Southern California’s Same-Sex Wedding Specialist 

Reverend Lisa Phillian: Southern California’s Same-Sex Wedding Specialist

By Dean Cooper

Rainbow-Weddings
Photo courtesy of Rainbow Weddings

Every wedding celebrates a couple’s special relationship. Reverend Lisa Phillian, founder of Rainbow Weddings, has spent 10 years helping gay and lesbian couples in Southern California share the ceremony of their dreams.

“I do unique, customized wedding ceremonies,” says Phillian, who exclusively performs same-sex weddings and has officiated more than 500 of them within a 60-mile radius of Los Angeles. “I tailor each ceremony to the couple’s spiritual and emotional needs.”

Reverend Lisa “will do what the clients want,” she says. This flexibility starts with the initial meeting—she’ll meet couples in person, by e-mail, by Skype or “whatever works best for the client.” Whether couples prefer a simple ceremony that incorporates basic traditions or want a custom one-of-a-kind event, Reverend Lisa can help. Whether couples know exactly what they want or have only a vague idea, she strives to deliver what’s needed, even when that means helping folks write unique vows.

Services can be performed in front of any number of guests and in nearly any setting such as a beach, garden or candlelit room. “The location is up to the client, I come to them,” she says, noting that her travel expenses within Los Angeles County are included in package pricing. What’s more, “I can bring what you need to create an atmosphere, such as a wedding arch.”

Rainbow-Weddings
Photo courtesy of Rainbow Weddings

When working with interfaith couples, the non-denominational reverend can “blend customs so both religions have emotional representation in the wedding ceremony,” she says. Romantic symbolic gestures such as blending colored sands, fastening hands with ribbon and lighting unity candles can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony. “These things take on personal meaning to the groom and groom or bride and bride,” says Reverend Lisa. “Every gesture we make in the wedding ceremony is specifically tailored to the emotional needs of the couple and how they want to express themselves to their family and friends.”

When searching for a wedding officiant, it’s important to consider qualifications and certifications. Reverend Lisa is licensed and bonded in the state of California and also certified as a special notary in the Los Angeles County. “The special notary certification means that I’ve gone through an F.B.I. background check and am above reproach and accountable for my actions—someone without that certification is not accountable,” she says. Domestic partnership forms require a notary signature, which Reverend Lisa is legally able to provide. While laws and legal definitions and requirements for marriage, solemnization, civil union and domestic partnership change within the state of California, Reverend Lisa says that she “keeps abreast of all the legalities to offer my couples the greatest legal option for their union.”

“Rainbow Weddings is a safe environment,” says Phillian. “Equality is the right thing to do. I deny spirituality and God to no one. If a loving couple has loving intent to spend the rest of their lives together then I will do everything in my power to make that a reality.”