Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri Marinaro.
Terri, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins with becoming a minister with the Universal Life Church in 2001 and also becoming a Florida Notary Public around the same time. With both of these credentials, I began officiating weddings. However, they were few and far between, mostly for close friends. In 2011, I opened a UPS Store franchise and offered Notary services to my customers. I found that many couples walked into The UPS Store to get married quickly, easily and without much ado. It was bizarre to me at first thinking, who in the world would want to get married in a UPS Store? I quickly realized there was a need for not just small but also non-denominational ceremonies. I trained my staff on how to perform quick but meaningful ceremonies and the proper way to notarize a marriage license. In 2016, I sold the UPS Store franchise and decided to design a website. I wanted to see if there was indeed a demand for these non-denominational ceremonies. I named the company Orlando Area Officiant because I believed this would be the keywords most often used on search engines.
By February of 2017, my website was up and running and the inquiries started flowing in. My service is utilized in a variety of fashions, consisting of just the bride and groom to rooms filled with over 150 people, inclusive of traditional, same-sex and vow renewal ceremonies. I have performed ceremonies in backyards, community parks, on area beaches, in hotel rooms, theme parks and formal wedding venues all over Central Florida. In just three years, I have tripled the number of ceremonies I perform and luckily, the inquiries continue to rise. I sincerely love what I do! Everyone is always happy, excited and thankful for my presence. I was a theatre major in college, a member of Toastmasters and a singer in Top 40 bands for several years. As a result, performing, enunciating, and eye contact with the participants are all part of my forte. I’ve received many comments regarding my calming and professional demeanor. This ultimately aids the wedding couple in remaining reassured and at ease during such a stressful yet exciting time in their lives. As part of my service, I provide unlimited email access to assist the wedding couple with the customization of their ceremony. I feel this effort facilitates in helping to create the wedding of their dreams. As a courtesy and for extra peace of mind, I also send the license back to the clerk of the court via Priority Mail, so the wedding couple have a tracking number. These little extra touches always seem to be appreciated. In retrospect, my business background has given me the building blocks to maintain a solid customer base, remain organized and focused on providing excellent customer service. Having grown up with the women’s movement, I felt I had no alterative but to be strong and diligent in starting a new business from scratch. It seemed like the perfect next step.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Cancellations, people running late, and/or not showing respect for my time have been my main obstacles. I eventually created a Letter of Intent that locks in the ceremony date and time. This provides an outline for the couple explaining what is expected from me and gives them a clear understanding of what I expect from them. I also now require a small deposit upfront. Mutual respect has never been an issue since this business development was put into place. Of course, natural disasters such as hurricanes and pandemics can unexpectedly occur. Since the onset of Covid 19, I have happily rescheduled numerous ceremony dates and times. All in all the bumps have been minimal and the positive outcomes have been many.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
First and foremost, I am a businesswoman. Among others, I have owned a property management company specializing in short-term rentals, a downtown Winter Park hair salon, and a The UPS Store franchise. Over the course of my career, I have also maintained my real estate license because you never know when that could become useful. I consider myself a problem solver and not one to put anything off until tomorrow! Challenges are stimulating and obstacles are not in my vocabulary. Looking back at my life, what fills me with pride is not the end result of the tasks I have achieved, the awards I have won or the accomplishments I have made. Instead, it is the relationships I’ve built that I relish the most and the friends I’ve made along the way.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
My motto is to get advice any place it can be found or from anyone it is offered. Listen and digest. Not everyone will stimulate you, but everyone has something to add. If you can open your mind, you will find little gems of knowledge that will help you along your way. Relationship building, I have found, is the very best sales tool.
Contact Info:
- Email: orlandoareaofficiant@gmail.com
- Website: www.orlandoareaofficiant.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/orlandoweddingofficiant
