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This week’s topics: personalized wedding ceremonies, luxury officiants California, writing meaningful wedding vows, storytelling in modern weddings, emotional wedding moments, Royale Couples Connect, how to choose a wedding officiant, vow writing advice for couples, elevating guest experience with custom ceremonies, wedding day speech coaching, officiant-led ceremony planning, inclusive ceremony trends, how to make your ceremony memorable
In this episode of Wedding Day Podcast, host Sonja Babich and co-host Amanda Holder, Publisher of California Wedding Day, sit down with Ryan and Valerie Kingsman — the powerhouse couple behind Weddings Royale. Broadcasting from 440 Elm in Long Beach, the conversation explores how this officiant and ceremony design duo helps couples craft unforgettable wedding ceremonies that are meaningful and highly personalized.
From their early days as a long-distance couple — Val working with children in Africa and Ryan chasing love across continents — their story is fittingly cinematic. Their own wedding day experience, which they admit lacked the personalization they craved, sparked their mission to help other couples feel truly seen and celebrated during their ceremony. Since founding Weddings Royale in 2017, they've officiated over 1,200 weddings, each intimately tailored to match the brides and grooms with whom they work.
Throughout the interview, Ryan and Val highlight the critical — yet often overlooked — role of the officiant. Their approach emphasizes collaborative storytelling, emotional resonance and honoring family dynamics with sensitivity. They also address common fears around vows and public speaking, offering tools and coaching to help couples express their love authentically, even when nerves are high. And they bring it all together with charisma, care and the kind of insight only earned through experience.
As self-described "love storytellers," Ryan and Val blend their diverse backgrounds in music, broadcasting, journalism and stagecraft to create immersive ceremony experiences that engage guests and reflect the uniqueness of each couple. Whether it's a 22-minute timeline down to the second, customized scripting or working alongside planners and sound teams to orchestrate seamless production, they bring theatrical finesse to every vow exchange. But their real gift lies in words — crafting stories that touch hearts, spark joy and leave a lasting imprint.
The episode explores how Weddings Royale goes beyond the ceremony itself, offering robust planning support and community-building through their Royale Couples Connect program. This monthly Zoom series tackles practical topics like marriage licenses, vows and speeches, with additional in-person events like first-dance workshops that foster connection among couples navigating similar milestones. It's a full-circle experience that begins with trust and ends in lasting camaraderie between them and their clients.
From scripting ceremonies to building community, the Kingsmans are redefining what it means to be a modern wedding officiant. Their belief that "every couple is royal" shines through in every word and every moment — and for couples seeking something unforgettable, their advice is simple: don't leave the most emotional part of your wedding day to chance.
This episode is powered by Dan Riggs Films, 440 Elm and Weddings Royale. Special thanks to members Linen Effects, Continental Diamond, Warpaint International.
