Meet Rev. Whittney-Marie | Wedding Officiant | Chaplain | Spiritual Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rev. Whittney-Marie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rev. Whittney-Marie, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Over time, my understanding of work-life balance has completely shifted. In the beginning, I was caught in the cycle of being booked, busy, and broke—doing 5-7 weddings a month at rates well below the average for officiants in my area. I was constantly working but not seeing the financial return that matched my energy and expertise.

The turning point came when a vendor sister challenged me to truly consider my value and raise my prices. At first, the discomfort of hearing “no” from couples adjusting to my new pricing was tough. But with each “no,” I realized I was actually saying “yes” to myself—yes to self-care, yes to quality time with family and friends, and yes to a more sustainable way of working.

Now, I do fewer weddings per month, but my income is significantly higher. More importantly, I no longer feel like I’m running on empty. My balance came when I aligned my price tag with my worth, understanding that my time and energy are just as valuable as the love stories I help bring to life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When I was planning my wedding, my then-wife and I realized we were searching for someone who didn’t seem to exist—someone fly, ordained, a Black woman, and affirming of both our love and the Jesus who claims us and whom we claim in return. Finding an officiant who truly saw and celebrated us was harder than securing a venue or handling other so-called “stressful” details.

Out of that need, *Rev I Do Officiating* was born. I created [Rev I Do Officiating] (https://revidoofficiating.com) to be there for Black women and the people who love them—whether interracial, multicultural, queer, or simply looking for an officiant who honors their full humanity. My work is about crafting ceremonies that feel like home—personal, joyful, and deeply meaningful.

Getting here wasn’t easy. Early on, I was booked and busy but undervalued. I had to learn that my time, energy, and presence were worth investing in. Once I aligned my pricing with my worth, I found the balance I needed to thrive.

The biggest lesson? There is sacredness in saying *no*—no to undervaluing myself, no to traditions that don’t serve the couple, and no to anything that makes love feel smaller than it is.

What I want the world to know is this: Love is expansive. It deserves to be witnessed, affirmed, and celebrated in all its forms. At *Rev I Do Officiating*, that’s exactly what I do—one ceremony at a time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As a Black Queer Female Pastor, I have often found that art embraced my existence long before the world did. In stories where Black women loved, struggled, and thrived—where queerness was present without apology—I found a reflection of myself that reality was sometimes slow to offer.

Beyond their powerful portrayals of Black womanhood, *The Color Purple* and *The Women of Brewster Place* also held space for queerness in ways that normalized my experience through art—even when reality was slow to catch up.

In *The Color Purple*, Celie and Shug’s relationship wasn’t just about desire; it was about love, healing, and Celie finding her own voice after years of silence. Seeing a Black woman step into her queerness, in a story rooted in survival and self-discovery, gave me permission to see myself more fully. One of the most liberating lines comes when Shug tells Celie:

“I think us here to wonder, myself. To wonder. To ask. And that in wondering ‘bout the big things and asking ‘bout the big things, you learn about the little ones, almost by accident.”*

Queerness, like wonder, is expansive. It isn’t just about who you love, but how you love and how you see yourself in the world.

Similarly, in *The Women of Brewster Place*, the story of Lorraine and Theresa—two Black women in love—was one of the first times I saw queerness and Blackness coexisting unapologetically in literature. Even as they faced rejection from their community, their love was real, layered, and fully human. Theresa’s defiant words stay with me:

“I will not carry your fear. I have enough of my own.”*

These stories didn’t just reflect me—they affirmed me. They held up a mirror when the world wanted me to look away. They reminded me that my love, my voice, and my existence are not up for debate.

Website: https://www.revidoofficiating.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revido_officiating

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RevIDoOfficiating/

Image Credits
Redwood Sage Photo

Luminaire Images