Vendor Spotlight | Okanagan Celebrant
We are thrilled to start off our Vendor Spotlight Series with one of our favourite Okanagan wedding officiants, Sondra Richardson of Okanagan Celebrant!
Why is she one of our go-to officiant referrals? Well, the list is long, but to start, she is so incredibly personable and has a beautiful aura about her that overflows to your wedding ceremony in the perfect way! She is prompt and eager to make your ceremony unique, which, to us, translates to a vendor who is passionate about her craft!
Sondra began her venture of Okanagan Celebrant in 2016. Sondra is based out of Penticton, BC but joyfully travels all over the province and beyond!!
We interviewed Sondra for her spotlight and loved getting to know her even more!
What is your proudest accomplishment within your company? Launching my company and surpassing all hope and expectations within the 2nd year. It affirmed that I truly was on the right path, with all of my varied, wacky, life puzzle pieces coming together, offering something that people wanted and needed.
If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be? I feel blessed as I have already achieved it: Having the gift of celebrating life and love, I am at the top of my field in the Okanagan. I meet the most amazing humans every day, I am in service to my community through my ministry and celebrant work, I help create meaningful moments no matter the occasion… birth, death, weddings…life. Livin’ the dream!!
Where would you like your company to be in 5 years? In 5 years, I would like to travel internationally for work more… I have been fortunate to offer my celebrant services in different countries already, and more of that would be great! Specifically, I’d love to be working consistently part-time in Mexico, offering my services to the community in which I used to live. Mexico and my ‘family’ in Baja has a special place in my heart, and I would love to share what I do more often, with people who choose to celebrate the milestones in their life there. …Plus palm trees and sunshine year-round makes me happy!! :)
Describe your dream couple/client: Whether it is in telling a life story or a love story, my dream couples/ clients are people who value integrity, individuality & inclusivity… Celebrators of life and love in ways that are unique to them. They honor what and who is important in their lives in ways that are meaningful to them and their loved ones. They embrace this beautiful, crazy magic carpet ride called life!!
Where do you feel your company stands out most? For my business, I feel it stands out most with trust., consistency, dedication, and professionalism, offering a premium “white glove” service for a fair price. For me personally, it’s my work ethic, my energy, aesthetic, joy, enthusiasm, ideas, support, ability to listen and apply what a couple wants… thinking outside the box, being open, connecting and accepting of everyone and their ideas, beliefs, and “however they roll” personally.
What is your favourite quote? RUMI: “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground; there are a thousand ways to go home again.”
Who inspires you most? My husband, Bruce, inspires me the most… He is an ‘ideas guy’, and he always manages to push my mind and spirit to imagine bigger and bolder than I do myself… and then he supports me as I navigate the stepping stones of growth.
Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? Karot Chocolate Boutique and cafe… best chocolate shop in town, & I feel like I’m in Paris!! :) Ohhh… DINING..!! I enjoy all kinds of cultural cuisine ( I love food and eating!!), but some of my top places are El Taquero, Yamas, The Bohemian Cafe, & BNA Brewery for all-round vibe, food, and fun.
Tell us a little about yourself: I’m a designer, a storywriter, a crafty-thing-maker & repurposed-stuff-creator. I’m a painter of abstract and semi-representational art, and represented by a gallery in SJD, Mexico. I’m a philanthropist, with a major soft spot for animals of all kinds. I’m a passionate trial-by-error gardener, who’s thumb is getting drier and greener with time. I’m an experimental cook, a thrift-store-vintage-treasure-hunting-junkie, a traveler, an adventurer, a happy wife, and doggy-mama, and last but not least, an exuberant human and frequent laugher… who’s crazy about licorice and salt & vinegar chips – together or separate.
Tell us 3 fun facts about you: I lived in Mexico full time for 10 years, and speak fluent Spanglish. I frequently burst into “kitchen song & dance”, creating my own lyrics and spectacular spontaneous interpretive moves. :)) I love using power tools and know how to ‘build & fix stuff”
THANK YOU so much, Sondra, for sharing with us!! And to all those who read to the end, thank you!! Stay tuned for more vendor spotlights!!