The leaves are falling, the weather is comfortable, the cider’s a brewin’ and the pumpkin pies are in the oven. Love is in the air and wedding season is official here. Are you looking for an ordained minister for a family member or yourself? Diane Demuynck is Northeast Ohio’s local gem, and you would be more than lucky to have her. Diane and I crossed paths as models walking in a local bridal show. As the night wrapped up, I couldn’t find my phone and she called it for me. We’ve kept in touch since then. Get to know 51 year old Aries from Fraser, Michigan and the in and outs of her craft.
Me: Why Did You Chose to become an ordained minister?
Diane: It’s funny how in life you think you choose to become something but sometimes it chooses you. Truth be told the story of how I became an ordained minister is as unique as many other things that happen in my life.
I was writing for Hudson’s Life Magazine for a person in the wedding industry and she had asked me yes I could fill in for her officiant for a photoshoot because her officiant “wasn’t quite photogenic”. I was looking for an additional part-time job and I’ve always loved the wedding industry. So, I responded with,” How about I’d be your Ordained Minister.” I still remember my first wedding like it was yesterday. It was no ordinary wedding because the bride was a cancer survivor and the couple had waited so long to finally get married. I remember being so incredibly nervous as the enormity hit me. I Was really presiding over a wedding! When ther ceremony was done and they had kissed, sealing their vows, I realized that I had gotten to be a part of such a beautiful, soulful event uniting two people in love-I knew there was nothing else I would rather do.
As I did more weddings my confidence grew and so did my business. One night after a few glasses of wine I looked at my girlfriends and I said I’m going to start a business and I’m going to call it Blonde and Ordained and I am going to showcase all of the couples that I preside over their ceremonies. My girlfriend who is an attorney looked at me and said, “we were LLC-ing that tomorrow!” It is now pending trademark approval and I should receive it at the end of this month. I truly feel like I have the best job on the planet,
Me: Can you officiate weddings in all 50 states?
Diane: I can officiate in Florida, California, Tennessee, and Ohio
Me: Why do you want a reality show and what would it consist of?
Diane: If Blonde and Ordained was a reality show it would showcase all of the amazing couples I meet and allow an audience to see the uniqueness of their ceremony. Wedding ceremonies are filled with emotion and sometimes climatic moments ( and tense moments)- I would love the opportunity to bring this to an audience. They would fall in love with my couples and the entire experience I bring for them to their wedding ceremony. The reality show itself would take an audience from meeting the couple and give an audience an insight into their unique love story and the process in which they collaborate with me to create the perfect ceremony.
Me: What are your top 3 favorite podcasts and why?
Diane: Ughhh my 3 favorite podcasts…… 1. My first. As cringy as it may be, it was taking a leap of faith. Sometimes you just have to go for it, and I did. 2. My interview with Mikie Russo- He is the wedding planner to the stars and I was beyond over the moon to speak to him and get his insight. and 3…. this is sooo tough it is a tie between the Hosts of Netflix’s Marriage or Mortgage and guests Pastor Cindy and her wife Karla. It is so wonderful to speak to them both. To be honest all of my guests are truly beautiful. It is so hard to pic favorites
Me: What are your top 3 wedding and why?
Diane: Ugh, Top 3 weddings…. I have to be honest, I can’t pick that! I have had so many amazing experiences with my couples. We have had a fun lighthearted weddings and romantic ones….
ok, 1. My disco wedding. This was a themed wedding and was head to toe disco. Steve and Amy were all in and their blended family made the ceremony and evening amazing. I seriously looked like a walking disco ball….and their ceremony reflected their love for one another
- The quiet elopement… I get to keep many secrets, but this one couple who I cannot name, married in their apartment because they could not wait. They married in front of their friends and family a year later. I presided over that ceremony as well. No one knew but me. shhhhhhh…….
- and finally my very first wedding. It was the one that changed my life. It was when it hit me. I was really doing this, and the day I realized my life would never be the same again.
Me: Your body is amazing! What do you do?
Diane: Omg! Thank you so much. I love working out and I lift weights, do cardio, and yoga!
Me: What advice do you have for newlyweds?
Diane: My advice for newlyweds is to never stop. Never stop trying, never stop communicating, and never stop being each other’s best friend. Always remember that marriage like life is a journey, not a destination. The treasures are found not just at the end of the journey, but along the way. Marriage was not designed to give you conflict-free living. A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who are willing to work on a relationship, fight for it, and never give up on it. This person is the one who makes life, come to life.
Diane’s podcast episodes consist of real relationship stories from everything from extravagant to simple weddings. Her nontraditional fun approach keeps her booked and podcasts constantly rolling. Here are the highlights of her first episode featuring the former babysitter for her kids Amber and her husband Dan.
Diane: What’s different from that day?
Amber: I don’t know if anything’s really different besides quarantining at home. We both work at home together. We have time to work on our communication and just growing from that.
Brandon: Agreed. Everything is the same besides the ring on my finger…things have just gotten better and better since we’ve been married.
Diane: Refresh my memory. How did you guys meet?
Brandon: We met at Silver Springs Swimming together
Amber: No, we met in junior year cooking class. I remember because you never did anything. …When the teacher would come around you would act like you’re doing the dishes.
Diane: When did you guys finally get together?
Amber: I broke up with my then bf, called my friend form cooking class and then planned a trip to the pumpkin patch
Diane: When did you first kiss each other?
Amber: I think it was a drunk encounter to be honest. I think we were in the kitchen having a Sunday funday.
Diane: What is this thing about you two almost getting arrested?
Amber: When we were in high school, there was this place called Hell Town… there was a group of us that went in my Mercury Sable…we parked on the top of the hill and a car with flashing lights appeared… it literally looked like something from The Hills Have Eyes. We all scattered and hid… the cop car came blazing down the street…we all met up in the middle of the road, got in my car and took off. The cop circles around and pulls us over explaining how we could all go to jail for trespassing. He just followed us home
Brandon: Luckily, we were all under 18 at the time.
Diane: Where was your first official date?
Brandon: Everything happened so nonchalantly. I can’t remember.
Amber: I don’t think we went on a date date. It was either bowling or the The Valley. Let’s just say bowling.
Diane: When did you know Brandon was the one?
Amber: We broke up for a little bit and I thought “What am I doing? I miss him.”
Brandon: I knew she was the one for me when we got back together, and she had me practice proposing. Little did she know I had already bought the ring. She was completely clueless.
Diane: Where did you propose?
Brandon: A trail by Indigo Farm on Martin Luther King Day
Diane: How did COVID-19 impact your wedding?
Amber: …My bridesmaids all had to measure themselves. We also had quite a few people cancel so we had extra food. We also streamed our wedding on Facebook
Diane: What was your favorite part of your reception
Brandon: Our first dance
Amber: The speeches
Diane: What advice do you give to couples planning their wedding?
Amber: The best advice I could give is to roll with it
Brandon: The day goes by so fast, so just take it all in and enjoy it. Don’t sweat the small things.
You can stream Blonde and Ordained on Spotify .
Instagram: @blondeandordained
Facebook: Blonde and Ordained
Website: Blondeandordained.com
