Kind Words From My Clients
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Wedding Ceremony Testimonials:
Most Meaningful Experience of our Lives
From the moment we met, we knew Joanne would provide an absolutely amazing experience for our marriage ceremony. She was so thoughtful and thorough in her preparation for our big day, ensuring every detail reflected each of us as individuals, was meaningful to us as a couple, and inclusively embraced our family, ensuring each of our children as well as our guests played a special role in our wedding, warmly surrounding us in a literal circle of love on winter solstice. Her bespoke ceremony creation and expert coaching on our vow construction made for the most meaningful and memorable experience of our entire lives, something we will always remember moving forward through each day of our marriage.
~ Matthew and Jennifer (Winter Solstice 2023)
Best Experience
We had the best experience using Joanne for our wedding date. She guided us and helped us so much with our ceremony & made our vows come alive. I had the privilege seeing her for my brothers wedding and had to have her for mine. Thank you for all your help!
~ Alyssa and Matteo (September 2023)
Kept the Ceremony Flowing Flawlessly
Hey Joanne! Thank you again for being a part of our special day! You had everyone laughing and crying (tears of happiness) and you kept the ceremony flowing flawlessly. So many people have said lovely things about you since! Thanks for helping ensure we had the best day ever!
~ Adriana and Justin (September 2023)
Received Many Compliments
Joanne delivered a beautiful ceremony. We had many compliments. She was very open to our edits and we were able to mold our ceremony into a memorable experience.
~ Tobias and Cheyenne (October 2023)
There For Us Every Step of the. Way
Joanne was the officiant for our wedding. She guided us step by step and helped us have a wonderful experience. We found a lot of value in the Prepare and Enrich program which is a form of pre marital counselling. It was incredibly insightful and we would recommend doing it.
I would recommend Joanne to anybody who is looking to have a customized ceremony with a unique twist. She was there for us every step of the way, incredibly knowledgeable and encouraging. We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant.
~ Timothy and Casey (October 2023)
Highly Recommend
Joanne was an absolute pleasure to deal with throughout our wedding process. We had many people comment on how much she personalized our ceremony, and said she was the best officiant they have ever seen or heard. We highly recommend her services for your wedding! (Carter)
Joanne was nothing short of amazing. Our guests said they had never seen such a personal ceremony before and how she included our friends and family in it was incredibly special to all of us. Even our vendors commented on how organized and awesome she was, to send them all timelines, info etc. They told us they don't usually get that stuff from an officiant. She had everything down to a science and left us with no questions in the end of what was expected of us all. She made our day so perfect and personalized to us and our love story, I couldn't have asked for anything more. Thank you so much Joanne, we appreciate all the effort it took to make our day as incredible as it was. I highly recommend her services. (Ciara)
~ Carter and Ciara (September 2023)
A Pleasant Experience from the Start
We had Joanne with Circle and Ceremonies officiate our Ceremony of Love. Joanne and her work really originated with our love story, and it was a pleasant experience from the start. We had a very unique request and a personal theme we wanted for our ceremony and Joanne was able to implement it all so easily! She was able to support us through the whole process and answer any questions we had. It was also a very stress-free experience with the rehearsal and the day of the ceremony. Everything was so beautiful and emotional; we were able to stay true to ourselves and tell our love story, all thanks to Joanne! If I could relive it, I would! :)
~ Darlene and Lyle (August 2023)
Thanks a million!
Joanne was such a pleasure to work with! We had many questions and didn’t really know the direction we wanted to take with our wedding ceremony. Joanne came prepared, and helped us to customize the entire thing. The couple’s questionnaire she provided was thorough and we felt like she really got to know us and our relationship. This made it easy for her to deliver an amazing service for us! We didn’t want to do vows, so she provided multiple different options for us. She was amazing and we would definitely go back to her for other services! Thanks a million Joanne!!
~ Carley and Jesse (August 2023)
Amazing job!
Joanne did an amazing job for our wedding ceremony and I would highly recommend her! She really takes the time to get to know you and makes your ceremony so personal to your relationship. It was sweet and lovely and also made people laugh. She was also super helpful at the rehearsal and made us feel so much more comfortable going into the day."
~ Michael and Michelle (August 2023)
So special
Joanne customizes your ceremony so it is written specially for you. There’s a lot of cookie cutter weddings out there and she definitely makes you feel like you stand out. Absolutely professional and unlimited edits make sure your ceremony flows perfectly. Very accommodating with changes and so patient when you’re indecisive. So, so happy.
~ Raelee and Jordan (August 2023)
An amazing woman!
Joanne did an amazing job with our ceremony! Without even meeting us she was able to tell our story as if she had known us our whole lives. She works with you to ensure you get exactly what you're looking for! I highly recommend Joanne!! Thanks again for an amazing day!
~ Joan and Joel (July 2023)
Wonderful to Work With
Joanne was wonderful to work with! Although the "get to know you" questionnaire is quite lengthy, it is to ensure you get an incredibly personalized ceremony script, which is what we were looking for. Our families and guests all commented afterward on how great Joanne was as our officiant. Joanne kept us on track with deadlines to ensure everything was edited and completed to our liking. She communicated with all of our vendors to ensure everyone was on the same page for timing and to ensure our photographers and videographers knew what to expect. Joanne was also extremely helpful throughout our rehearsal to ensure our families and bridal parties felt comfortable and knew what to do. Joanne was great to work with! I do believe in investing more ($) into great vendors to ensure the day/planning goes smoothly and as stress free as possible. I would definitely recommend Joanne.
~ Stephanie and Zach (March 2023)
Wonderful Source of Ideas and Guidance
Right from the very first email Joanne was extremely professional, excited for us, and supportive. She knows, that planning a wedding is a stressful process and did a wonderful job of getting to know us, and what we valued in our ceremony. There were so many parts we were unsure about, and Joanne had fantastic suggestions that we were able to weave together to produce a breathtaking ceremony. She also assisted us with writing our own vows. Her experience really shone through during the rehearsal, listening and leading through many voices and ideas, to get the job done. Comments from our guests: "Wow, that was the most powerful ceremony I have ever been to. " "That was so deeply personal, I feel like I know you better." "Best wedding I have ever been to."
~ Bianca and Fraser (October 2022)
With Us Every Step of the Way
“Joanne was wonderful to work with- very professional, took care of so many details behind the scenes and really understood the type of atmosphere we wanted for our special day. We loved how personalized our ceremony was and how she was with us every step of the way- from the initial brainstorming to vow writing all the way to calming our nerves before walking down the aisle! Thank you, Joanne for helping to make our day everything we had hoped for!"
~ Cheryl and Jose (August 2022)
Very professional and Well Organized
We had to reschedule our wedding twice and working with Joanne was easy and she really made our experience personal! She followed up and sent us all the info and prep that we needed. Great contribution to our big day!
~ Kathleen and Steven (August 2022)
Our ceremony was PERFECT thanks to Joanne
My now husband and I enjoyed working with Joanne from our very first meeting, all the way until after our ceremony. The care and work Joanne puts into your ceremony is incredible, and her passion for her work is truly obvious. Our ceremony was exactly as we had hoped: personal, light, and sentimental. Her communication through the planning was great, we never felt lost or confused as to what our next step was. We can't wait to receive our ceremony keepsake! We highly recommend Joanne for any couples looking for their officiant, and cannot say enough positive things.
~ Taylor and Stephen (September 2022)
Incredibly Easy to Work With
Joanne was so incredibly easy to work with. We were left with such a wonderful feeling from the very first time we met with her through a zoom call. We knew that Joanne was the officiant for us. Joanne was extremely professional and made sure our ceremony was exactly what we wanted. Never once did we feel in the dark during the process from start to finish. Joanne gave us a sense of direction and made our special day perfect. We can't say enough good things about the service we were provided and are extremely thankful for all the effort Joanne put into our ceremony to make it a moment we will never forget.
~ Sean and Jenielle (September 2022)
Amazing!
Joanne did amazing to make our big day come true! I wouldn’t change anything to our wedding day! All my guests said, “it was completely different to what they had seen when they got married” but I got 100% good feed back from my guests and they absolutely loved it! Thank you so much and she went above and beyond for us! We both appreciated that!
~ Katie and Jake (September 2022)
Fabulous!
We were fortunate to have Joanne write and officiate our wedding ceremony in late August of 2022. We could not be more thrilled to have worked with her as she created the most perfect experience for us. We continue to have endless comments from our guests that our ceremony was one of the most unique and special ceremonies that they have ever witnessed. She really took the time to personalize our script and make it that much more meaningful for us. We are forever grateful to Joanne and would absolutely recommend her services.
~ Dianne and Alex (August 2022)
Five out of Five
From start to finish, Joanne was always ahead of the game, personable, and professional. Months in advance she asked us to fill out a questionnaire about our significant other and family. These answers were used to truly personalize the script for the ceremony, which I absolutely loved. Additionally, she sent a draft script for us to review, which was very helpful since we changed some of the "typical" verbiage. Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but with Joanne being experienced, providing us detailed instruction, and preparing well in advance (including reaching out to me each time I missed the deliverable date), the ceremony was never on our list of "what could go wrong"? Five out of five, would recommend Joanne.
~ Landon and Chelsea (August 2022)
Highly Skilled
Joanne made our ceremony and day so perfect. We had SO many compliments on the ceremony and specifically her officiating. The ceremony script was highly personalized, well structured, detailed (which helped our videographer, photographer, day-of coordinator, DJ, etc.) and the ways she incorporated our family in the ceremony made it even more special. She is highly skilled in her profession and several guests have asked us where we found her! :D
~Haylee and Craig (August 2022)
Wonderful and Personalized
Thank you again Joanne Van Beek for a very special Wedding Ceremony. Many of our guests loved how personal you made the ceremony. Everyone was very impressed. Katrina and I couldn't have been more happier with how it went. Thank you very much.
~ Keith and Katrina (June 2022)
Personalized & Meaningful
Not only did Joanne create a meaningful ceremony and beautiful vows tailored to us, but she made sure to speak with everyone involved to ensure our ceremony went off without a stitch. Thank you Joanne for making our special day so wonderful and something we will never forget and cherish!
~ Kimberly and Colin (July 2022)
Wonderful!
Joanne was wonderful to work with! Joanne was an excellent officiant and we are glad we chose her to be part of our wedding day. Great energy, very professional!
~ Steph and Brady (June 2022)
Thanks Joanne!
It was a perfect day & the ceremony was exactly what we had envisioned! Lots of compliments & tears!!
~ Patty and Dan (June 2022)
The Ceremony We Always Wanted
Joanne was fantastic to work with. My wife and I felt that she would be the one to give us a memorable wedding ceremony and she did exactly that. From our first consolation, Joanne took the time to get to know us as a couple. She had such a positive vibe and that resonated throughout the entire process, specifically on our wedding day. She helped us have the ceremony we always wanted that was unique to us. We had multiple guests come to us on our wedding night saying her ceremony was the best and most personable ceremony they have ever attended.
~ Denny and Lauren (June 2022)
A Beautiful Ceremony
As soon as we met Joanne, we felt comfortable and knew she would be perfect to perform our ceremony. Joanne really asked all the right questions to personalize our ceremony and was very open to any changes we had. She gave us great advice and suggestions for our ring exchange and for our vows and was accommodating in every way. A rehearsal is so necessary and Joanne made it flow so well; we were very thankful for her expertise! Our guests raved about the ceremony and how it was one of the nicest ones they have ever attended. Joanne really was an integral part of making our day so special and we are thankful to her!
~ Lorraine and Shane (April 2022)
We are so Happy!
Joanne was amazing through the whole process for our wedding. Her level of detail to write something completely original and capture exactly who we are as a couple was awesome. We couldn’t imagine a better officiant for our day”
Thanks so much, Joanne!
~ Beckie and Dalton (January 2022)
Made our Event a Breeze!
Joanne did an amazing job officiating our special day! She hit on mine and my wife’s interests and history in a beautiful and unique way, couldn’t be happier!
~ Austin and Victoria (2021)
Best Day Ever
Joanne made our wedding so special to us. It was so incredibly beautiful, we couldn’t have imagined a better ceremony! All of our guests raved how unique our love story and ceremony was. All the personal touches made the experience one to remember. Joanne is very easy to work with and very accommodating in any question you may have. Also she brings her own personal touches like the meditation bowl we had at the beginning of our celebration! You can’t go wrong with Joanne she’s sure to put a smile on your face and leave you feeling great about the one you love.
~ Clarissa and Jarred (2021)
Funeral / Celebration of Life Testimonials:
Compassionate and Caring
Joanne is a compassionate, caring, and a very organized professional. She goes above and beyond planning & organizing your memorial service. Joanne relieves the anxiety that goes with planning such a sensitive occasion. She is an excellent speaker that makes a memorial service proceed with ease and understanding. Joanne is there to help in your time of need.
~ Colleen (January 2024)
Professional and Kind
My family and I were so pleased with your professionalism and kindness in the planning of our Dad’s Celebration of Life. The biggest compliment would be that my Aunt (Dad’s sister) was shocked when she learned that you had never met dad. The way you spoke of him had many thinking that you were a long-time friend of the family. Thank you again for making a very hard day manageable.
~ Shaun (March 2023)
No Hesitation
I engaged Joanne to lead an interment ceremony for my husband's remains. Right from the start Joanne was responsive and professional, responding to emails promptly and providing clear information. When she came to meet me in person to talk about the ceremony, her warmth, creativity and good nature were evident. She put together a eulogy that was thoughtful and just right for the occasion. Everything rang true. I have no hesitation in recommending Joanne as a celebrant.
~ Sarah (June 2022)
With Appreciation!
Thank you for your guidance before and during the Celebration of Life for my dad. So many people told us it was beautiful, and one elderly lady told my brother it was the most comforting and life-affirming service she had ever attended.
~ Colleen (April 2022)
Off the Hop She Stood Out
It was an honour to hire Joanne Van Beek; a most thoughtful, mindful, helpful and efficient Funeral Officiant for my sister’s funeral. Off the hop, she stood out. We requested her services at the last minute. She had only days to prepare, but she took care of everything – she was very professional and extremely courteous. She helped with the obituary; her beautiful poems; her compassion, and sense for the afterlife brought us joy, which we will carry in our hearts for eternity. We collaboratively worked together to make the vision for my baby sister's funeral a reality – it was all it could be and more. I felt genuinely cared for by Joanne, and thank her for facilitating such a beautiful service.
~ Karen (2021)
Warm and Caring
Joanne is a very caring person. She spent a lot of time talking to myself and the kids about my husband’s life to prepare for his Celebration of Life / Interment. The things we remembered most and what was really important to us. How he had contributed to the family, to friends and community. What his interests, hobbies, achievements and quirks were. We never felt rushed; Joanne was focused on making sure the ceremony reflected our values, needs and would honour him. Family members commented that the service was much nicer than a traditional funeral - that is truly honoured him. They said Joanne’s style of presentation came across as very warm and caring. She clearly has found her calling! Our family would highly recommend Joanne as a Funeral Celebrant to other families.
~Trudy (2021)
Rod’s Memorial Captured His Essence
If you or your loved one is suffering from a terminal illness and you know you need to start planning a memorial but have no idea how, I recommend you reach out to Joanne Van Beek. Joanne supported my husband and I through his death from esophageal cancer. About a month before he passed, Joanne spent time with Rod gathering stories about his life and hearing ideas about how we wanted his life to be celebrated. She listened deeply, and because of her caring, compassionate presence, the celebration she helped us put together and the eulogy she wrote, turned out to be more than I could ever have hoped for; it captured Rod’s essence beautifully. As well, Joanne’s prayerful presence on the night Rod passed blessed me deeply, and I know Rod was helped a great deal on his journey home because of her wisdom and kindness. So, if you’re looking for at least one bright spot during a very dark time, reach out to Joanne. You will not be disappointed!
~Mary Jane (2020)
Best Memorial Service
Joanne did a phenomenal job at my husband’s memorial. I had numerous people tell me that it was the best memorial service they had ever been too. We would absolutely use Joanne’s Celebrant services again. Joanne was very caring and sympathetic during our process and very respectful during our grieving moments. Joanne incorporated unique ideas that were very special to our family and made everyone very comfortable.
~Preslea (2020)
We Could Not Have Asked for a Better Memorial Service
I would highly recommend Joanne, as a Funeral Celebrant. During this very sad time, she took the time to meet with our family and get to know what made my son special; like special moments, memories, favorite sayings, what he enjoyed and things he loved to do. She planned the memorial service with our input. The memorial service was professional, touching and a fitting tribute to honour my son. She added in special touches, like my daughter-in-law lighting a candle for my son during the ceremony, and the opportunity of saying goodbye as a family, and having a Tibetan bell ringing out. It was very touching and we could not have asked for a better memorial service. We received many compliments on the memorial service and inquiries on how we found Joanne to do the service. Thank you so much Joanne, for the honourable tribute you helped us all to make for my son on such a difficult day.
~Theresa (2020)
A Blessing of Light
As we gathered around the hospital bed of a dear friend, wife, mother, sister, daughter… Joanne turned the lights down low, lit some candles, shared a few readings and then encouraged each of us to speak our final words of thanks and farewell to this woman we all loved and cherished. Joanne was attentive and sensitive to all that was asked of her during that difficult time. Joanne helped us to make our final goodbyes into a lasting and special memory.
~ Sarah
Other Ceremony Testimonials:
Life Milestones / Transitions / Healing
An Inspiration
I had the pleasure of having Joanne support me with planning and hosting a ‘threshold’ ceremony to mark the launch of my work as a certified Forest and Nature Therapy Guide. This was an unusual ceremony in that it was hosted outdoors on an icy cold late fall day. Joanne was incredible in adapting to the circumstances and helping me stay focused on the purpose and spirit of this event. What I loved about working with Joanne was her strong sense of presence, which in turn encouraged others to be present to what was happening. She was a wonderful inspiration for myself and others to sense the ‘sacred’ in this ceremony and allow the forest to celebrate with us as well!
~ Mary Jane
My 60th Birthday Event
“I was pleased to have Joanne facilitate a ceremony as part of my 60th birthday event. Joanne provided a wonderful balance between lighthearted celebration and meaningful reflection, as well as skillfully involving guests according to each one’s level of comfortable participation. Joanne turned what would have been a regular social gathering into a memorable event. Thanks Joanne!”
~ G.D.