Good morning! We are so excited to share one of our favorite people on the blog today: Maria Northcott of A Sweet Start. We have had the honor of working alongside her at a few weddings and her presence has just made every ceremony so beautiful. We can’t wait for you to read all about her below. Enjoy!

“My name is Maria Northcott and I am the owner of A Sweet Start. I’m loving, cheerful and full of joy! I’m also grounded, calm and organized. I have three kitties and a husband who challenges me, supports me and encourages me to grow. Love is the center of my personal and professional universe. I believe gratitude is the secret to life. Being a professional officiant is my calling!

I became a professional wedding officiant by accident. For my old job, I had to become a notary public. During the course the instructor explained that Maine is one of only 3 states that allow notaries to perform wedding ceremonies. The second I heard this it was like fireworks in my chest! I knew this was what I wanted to do. That was in 2010 and I’ve been officiating every since!

I have a unique approach to wedding ceremonies. Not only is crafting the ceremony script an important part of what I do, I also provide my clients with support, guidance and grounding. I don’t just read a script, I create an experience for my couples and their guests. I create an atmosphere of peace and joy! If I do my job right, my couples feel a sense of calm leading up and right through their ceremony. I do this by managing the flow and all the details around the ceremony. This allows them to let go and just BE!

My first wedding was September 4, 2011. I published my first blog post on September 27, 2011 and have been blogging almost every week since then. My blog www.asweetstart.com/blog is jam-packed with useful information for couples getting married and especially couples getting married in Maine. Check it out!”

______________________________________________________________________________

And, there you have it. Thank you so much, Maria, for being a guest on our blog today. If you are still in the planning process and looking for the perfect officiant, make sure to contact Maria. She really cares about her couples and making their day beautiful in every way. To learn more about her visit her website by clicking here!

Here are a few photos of Maria doing what she does best at the wedding of Leanna & Randy at Bear Mountain Inn.