Love is Love is Love!

“Love is love is love.” It makes me so happy to see folks show their support during Pride month by offering this phrase. When I notice friends who are allies post “love is love is love” on their social media feed, I know they’re going out of their way to share that they view all love stories as equal and worthy of celebration. As a queer woman, I truly do believe that love is love is love. And, at the same time, I know there are specific questions and considerations members of the LGBTQIA+ community must consider when planning a wedding. I am thrilled to be a part of ElopeRVA, an organization that is here to consider all of these questions with couples and help them plan a wedding that perfectly reflects who they are, both as individuals and together.

For most of recorded history, marriage was a ritual only available to straight couples, and often our language at weddings reflects this. There are assumptions that there will be a “bride” and a “groom” and most traditional wedding ceremonies use phrases such as “man and wife.” At ElopeRVA, we are committed to being creative and to crafting custom ceremonies that reflect the beauty, boldness, and bravery of ALL partnerships. When you choose us to officiate your wedding we will meet with you, get a true sense of who you are, and write a wedding ceremony from scratch that authentically celebrates you and your partner. Whether you are “partners,” “spouses,” “husbands,” “wives” or “husband and wife,” we are here for it and we are here for you!

ElopeRVA was created because we saw a need for officiants who truly understand how to celebrate ALL couples and craft ceremonies that reflect the diverse beauty of ALL marriages. This Pride month as we celebrate marriage equality, we also want to take a moment and celebrate the distinctive beauty and creativity central to LGBTQIA+ marriages. Love is love is love and LGBTQIA+ love is unique and sacred and we are here to celebrate it with you.

Jamie Lynn is a chaplain for spiritual but not religious students at a local college. She loves trying new recipes, good music, whisky, hiking and relaxed nights in her backyard with friends. A member of the queer community, she believes that love is love is love and is ready to celebrate you and your partner.

She is ordained in a progressive Christian tradition and has officiated countless weddings over the past ten years. She also offers premarital counseling and is ready to work with you to plan a perfect, custom ceremony.

Premarital Counseling with ElopeRVA

The months before a wedding can be stressful, exciting, and filled with so much to do. There are often invitations to send, receptions to plan, and a ceremony to coordinate. With everything planning a wedding entails, it can be easy to forget about the one thing that truly matters: you, your partner, and the relationship you’re continuing to build together.

ElopeRVA wants to help you do it all! We want to be there to assist you in planning the perfect wedding and we also want to help you take care of your relationship and one another.  As we work to better support you, we are thrilled to announce a new premarital counseling service, available only to ElopeRVA clients. Research published in the Journal of Family Psychology demonstrated that couples who opted for premarital counseling reported higher levels of marital satisfaction and experienced a 30 percent decline in the likelihood of divorce over five years.

What is premarital counseling?

Premarital counseling invites you and your partner to better prepare for marriage. It involves setting time aside for meaningful conversations about “big topics” that are mediated by a trained facilitator with experience in premarital counseling.  Rev. Jamie Lynn Haskins is an ordained Chaplain and certified premarital counseling provider and is excited to offer this opportunity to our clients.

Rev. Jamie Lynn Haskins ; photo by Heather Frable

Why choose premarital counseling with ElopeRVA?

Our premarital counseling is research-based and customized to meet your needs. Each couple will take an assessment separately that points to strengths as well as possible growth areas for both individuals and for the relationship. Following the assessment, Jamie Lynn will provide custom resources and lead you in conversation that helps you go deeper as a couple and come to a clearer understanding of what you both want and need.

 What should we expect at our first session?

Premarital counseling involves four 60-minute sessions. During your first session, you will be provided with the results of your assessment as well as resources tailored to your needs as a couple. In conversation with Jamie Lynn, you will create a counseling plan and decide what you’d like to address in your time together. After designing your plan, you will jump right into conversation about what matters most—who you are as individuals and who you are together!

What will we discuss in premarital counseling? 

Counseling is tailored to each couple and your needs. Common topics can include: relationship dynamics (including strength and growth areas); communication, conflict resolution, couple dynamics as they relate to family-of-origin dynamics; financial management, relationship roles; sex and affection; children and parenting, and spiritual beliefs.

If you are interested in premarital counseling with ElopeRVA please fill out our contact form so that we can set up a time to talk. We would love to be apart of your day and help you take care of your relationship and one another.