San Francisco

Weddings by the Bay

Paula Hollander

Referral Service and Foreign Language Referrals

Weddings by the Bay has provided the officiants listed below with ceremonies for civil marriages and domestic partnership, or gay and lesbian commitment ceremonies.  The officiant will meet with you for an interview, attend a rehearsal, and recite any ceremony you chose (or create) for a flat fee to be negotiated between you and the referred officiant.  Weddings can also be conducted in Spanish and Cantonese. 

                Larrisa Dotson

Larrisa Dotson was first sworn in as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner in December 1991.   In February 1993 Larrisa was ordained as a Minister of the Universal Life Church.    As a Minister, she can perform inter-faith ceremonies, commitment ceremonies (domestic partners) and non-denominational.   She has performed countless weddings in the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda.   She has also performed many weddings in the some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful locations (Golden Gate Park, Rose Garden, Sausalito, etc.)

Larrisa's Goal:

"Your wedding day is very special and precious day to each couple.   With this thought in mind, my goal is to make sure that everything regarding the ceremony is done to please the couple.   If they choose to change or even write their own vows, I will be more than happy to accommodate this request. It is important to me that the ceremony is handled in an elegant manner. I aim to please and to make this a 'day to remember'"!

         Alvin ("Rick") Hines

Alvin Hines is a Minister who performs Christian, non-denominational, civil, and interfaith marriage ceremonies.   He studied at Bay Cities Bible College, 1986-1987.   Reverend Hines is also a licensed Gospel Minister since October 13, 1996.

Alvin's Goal

"Every time I perform a marriage ceremony, I feel as if I am a part of something reverent and beautiful -- the continued flow of the life cycle and God’s great plan for us all."

            Noelia Rivera

Noelia Rivera is an ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church.   She has performed wedding ceremonies since May 1985 when she was initially sworn in as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for the City and County of San Francisco. Reverend Rivera is bilingual and performs ceremonies with equal ease in Spanish and English.

y en Espanol:

Noelia Rivera es Ministro, ordenado de La Iglecia Vida Universal. Ella ha oficiado ceremonias matrimoneales desde Mayo de 1985, cuando tomo el juramento para ser Diputado Comisionado e oficiar matrimonios, para la Ciudad y Condado de San Francisco. Reverendo Rivera es bilingue y oficia ceremonias in Espanol al igual como en Ingles.

Noelia's Goal

"Uniting people in love is one of the most rewarding aspects of my duties as a Minister. I will do all I can to assist you in making your wedding day a glowing tribute to your love and commitment to each other."

y in Espanol:

"Unir personas que se aman, es la recompensa mas satisfactoria que me da el dever como Ministro. Yo hare todo to posible, en ayudarles para hacer que el dia de su matrimonio sea un tributo glorioso e inolvidable, para su promesa de amor del uno hacia el otro."

Kim (Wan Kam) Chio        

Kam (Wan Kam) Chio is an ordained Minister of the Universal Life Church. She has performed wedding ceremonies since 1990 when she was initially sworn in as a Deputy Marriage Commissioner for the City & County of San Francisco. Reverend Chio is bilingual and performs ceremonies with equal ease in Cantonese, Mardarin, Fukchownese and English.

Kam's Goal

"To serve the Bay Area Community is my goal and especially if bilingual services are needed. I would like to conduct the ceremony in a warm, happy and more natural way on the most important day in your life. We will meet and discuss the details before the wedding and make it the most memorable day. "