ULC - IN THE NEWS - 2024
Basically Inseparable From the Start
Thirty minutes into her first date with Karli Gray, Ellie Smith texted her friends to let them know she was falling in love. The couple were married two years later by Lesley Wise, ordained by the Universal Life Church, at Lavender Owl Farm in Canby, Ore., with 45 guests in attendance.
Source: The NY Times
After a Rock-Climbing Date, Their Relationship Reached New Heights
Ona Ferens and Samuel Haselden may have unknowingly crossed paths at the same gym before ever meeting each other. Mr. Haselden’s best friend, Griffin Triplett, who was ordained for the occasion by the Universal Life Church, officiated with his wife, Samantha Sudduth, by his side. Mr. Haselden had officiated Mr. Triplett and Ms. Sudduth’s wedding in August 2022.
Source: The NY Times
In Sync on the Ice and Off
Madison Chock and Evan Bates found chemistry when she picked him to be her ice dance partner in 2011. Then they found even more. In 2024, the couple were married in front of 90 guests by Steffany Hanlen, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
Sparks Flew All Over the World
Aggie Lal and Jacob Riglin first met as travel influencers in Thailand, got together in California and got back together in Bali. When it came time to tie the knot, the two chose to be married in their West Hollywood home by William Concoff, a Universal Life Church minister. They later celebrated with friends and family in Italy.
Source: The NY Times
A ‘Soul-Mate’ Connection Forged From Opposite Coasts
Tyler Eyre and Yasmin Khorram, whose family fled Iran four decades ago, describe the connection on their first date as 'like lightning.' After a whirlwind romance, the two were wed at the El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel in Santa Barbara, Calif. Mr. Hillman, the restaurant host, officiated. He was ordained through the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
Discovering ‘This Was a Forever Romance’
Once Timothy Murray landed a date with Michael Bullard, the two were inseparable — except when they were separated by their work as actors. The two were wed by Jeenie Yoon, a mutual friend who was previously ordained by Universal Life Church Ministries.
Source: The NY Times
When ‘Girlfriend’ Just Isn’t Enough
Jen Tullock and Marie Ronn met through a dating app, but didn’t start dating until months later when they saw each other at a film premiere. The couple were married at a private social club by Riley Berris, one of Ms. Tullock’s oldest friends. Ms. Berris was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
First She Scored a Spot at Her Restaurant. Then She Won a Place in Her Heart
The actress Maria Bello and the Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn said they owe their journey to the “three C’s”: cancer, Covid and, now, commitment. The couple were legally wed in the backyard of their Los Angeles home by Seano McFarland, a close friend who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
After Living Much of Life at Sea, Captain Sandy Finds Love on Land
Sandy Yawn of “Below Deck Mediterranean” married Leah Shafer on — what else? — a superyacht in Florida. Nadine Rajabi, the showrunner of “Below Deck Mediterranean,” who is ordained by the Universal Life Church, married them on the yacht’s bridge aft deck.
Source: The NY Times
A Broadway Star Gets Married on Her Day Off
Lindsay Mendez, nominated for a Tony in “Merrily We Roll Along,” married actor J. Alex Brinson in a Monday ceremony officiated by castmate Jonathan Groff, who is a seasoned officiant with the Universal Life Church. Daniel Radcliffe was their ring bearer.
Source: The NY Times
The Plot of a Rom-Com, In Real Life
Rober Lawrence and Shawna Rodrigues, high school crushes, waited until after graduation to make their love story official. After years of admiring each other from afar, the two came together after 25 years of being apart — this time, for good. Mr. Lawrence’s nephew, Caleb Lawrence, was ordained through the Universal Life Church to marry them.
Source: The NY Times
How a One-Month Fitness Pass Turned Into a Lifetime Commitment
Andrew Matt met Kayla Dye six years ago at an indoor cycling studio in Dallas after signing up for a class she was teaching. Both instructor and student were immediately smitten. After dating for four years, the two tied the knot on April 20, 2024. Ms. Dye’s friend Elizabeth Furlong, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated their wedding.
Source: The NY Times
The Two-Week Sublet That Led to Love
Wiktor Freifeld lived in Tusia Dabrowska’s apartment when she left Warsaw for New York. The two maintained a long-distance relationship for years—first as friends; later as more. They moved back to the U.S. and decided to get married, and were wed by Elissa Jiji, a mutual friend who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
A Steady Stream of Road Trips Made Falling in Love Easy
As Deborah Yarchun and Benjamin Parr traveled across the country during the pandemic, their bond became stronger at each stop. They were married in Austin, TX in front of 91 guests by Christina Beleck, a Universal Life Church minister and the mother-in-law of Ms. Yarchun's younger brother, Daniel.
Source: The NY Times
A High School Reunion Reignites a 50-Year Crush
Elaine Hall and Roland Passaro, both 88, met in junior high school in 1950 but lost touch before acting on their connection. They finally did, five decades later. James Passaro, Mr. Passaro's son who was previously ordained through the Universal Life Church, officiated their wedding in front of an intimate audience of loved ones.
Source: The NY Times
He Offered Her a Seat at His Table, and Later, a Place in His Heart
Arnim Kaiser and Pamela Grace were both out-of-towners dining alone in Arles, France. Mr. Kaiser offered Ms. Grace a seat at his table, sparking a romance. Both were previously married and, despite neither believing they would ever remarry, the couple was wed a year later by Jane Croft, a Universal Life Church minister found through an internet search.
Source: The NY Times
Once in a Blue Supermoon, a Lifelong Commitment Is Made
Just a few weeks after meeting, Tiffany Langlinais and Michael Graves evacuated New Orleans ahead of Hurricane Ida. A tumultuous two weeks on the road solidified their relationship. In August 2023, Mr. Graves proposed on a beach in Door County, Wis., while watching the blue supermoon gleam above the water. The two were married by a friend who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
The Proposal Expert Gets Her Own Surprise Ring
Ben Cohen wanted to make sure Lexi Tobin, a wedding influencer and proposal planner, got the proposal of a lifetime. After solving a series of clues that led her to a romantic destination, Ms. Tobin was met with an unforgettable proposal. The two were married by Ms. Tobin’s uncle, Erik Powers, who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
A Wedding Do-Over After a Broken Heart (Not the Kind You’re Thinking)
Just minutes after Eli Newell and Dr. Erika Amundson exchanged vows last spring, he was rushed to the hospital. Their second go-round was far less traumatic. At the first wedding, they read handwritten vows before their guests and Matthew Donnelly, the Universal Life Church minister and friend who married them.
Source: The NY Times
I Now Pronounce You, Whatever the Hell You Want
Singer Cassadee Pope shared her distress at Tennessee’s new marriage law, which states that public officials are no longer obligated “to solemnize a marriage.” Pope voiced her support for same-sex couples, 'if you run into any issues, I’d love to help you out,' revealing that she received a Certificate of Ministry from the Universal Life Church in 2020.
Source: Billboard
