Beautiful Nondenominational Weddings
In Redding, Shasta County, and Surrounding AreasIncluding Redding, Anderson, Red Bluff, Whiskeytown Lake, Shingletown,
Shasta Lake, Shasta Dam, Burney Falls, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, and Mt. Lassen
Leslye Layne Russell, one of the most experienced and highly regarded wedding ministers of Northern California and recipient of a 1999 “Best of Sonoma County” Award, has specialized in nondenominational wedding ceremonies since 1984. Until September of 2000, most of the weddings Layne performed took place in the North San Francisco Bay Area, primarily Sonoma County. Since November, 2000, Layne’s wedding services are available farther north in the areas of Redding, Anderson, Red Bluff, Shasta Lake, Burney Falls, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, and Mt. Lassen.Layne, who is also an accomplished writer and poet, is creative, flexible, and experienced in customizing ceremonies to fit the needs of each couple. Layne believes that a bride and groom should feel personally touched by all the words in their ceremony. This is the heart of Layne’s “Weddings Your Way” approach.Rev. Layne’s personal, loving, and thoughtful style brings an intimacy and joy that touches not only the bride and groom, but all their guests as well. She often includes in her ceremonies the poignant words of the great Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran and, at the close of the ceremonies, a beautiful wedding blessing from the Native Americans. She also has rewritten a lovely, optional “Wine Ceremony,” a special touch in which the bride and groom toast to one another and to their “long and happy marriage.” She also often includes “roses to the mothers,” the Unity Candle, and special gifts to the children. Layne’s ceremonies are filled with beautiful and unique wording, and readings done by the wedding party or other family members or friends are always encouraged and welcomed. She encourages couples to write their own vows too, if they are interested in doing so.  “I invite you to toast to one another
and to your long and happy marriage….”
(Layne a few years ago, before her silver hair took over!)From the most sophisticated of weddings to the more casual, Layne will help create a warm and joyful atmosphere. Layne’s voice is soothing and confident, and her ceremonies are performed with much eye contact and many smiles. She is known for her ability to calm and reassure nervous brides and grooms and help ease them through the pre-ceremony jitters and those marvelous peak moments of saying their vows.Layne will perform weddings large and small at the bridal couple’s choice of location, from chapel to hall, lodge or restaurant to country club, living room to forest, lakeside to mountaintop (Layne is a good hiker!).
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Layne is looking forward to participating in wedding ceremonies in the area of her new home in Shasta County. Even though she has lived elsewhere for decades, she is not really an outsider. She lived in Redding from third grade through high school (Shasta High Class of 1964) while her father (Bob Russell) taught and coached at Enterprise High (and later was principal for many years at Pioneer High). She is very happy to be back in this beautiful area! |
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