Honestly, you could say it’s entirely my wife's fault that I became a wedding officiant.

For a long time, I had tossed the idea around in the back of my mind. The catch was that I had never really watched someone perform a full, compelling ceremony from start to finish. Everything I had ever witnessed as a guest felt rushed, heavily scripted, and pretty generic—just cookie-cutter words that lacked any real heartbeat, if you know what I mean.

Then came the turning point: my sister-in-law officiated my son's wedding, and everything clicked into place. She didn't just read a script; she delivered an incredible, completely customized experience that was tailored entirely to who they were as a couple. Sitting there in the audience watching her, something just sparked. Right in that moment, I thought, "I want to do that."

Ideas started spinning in my head, and by the time the reception wrapped up, I knew I had to talk about it. I brought the notion home to my wife, half-expecting her to tell me I was crazy for starting something totally new. Instead, she just looked at me and said, "What are you asking me for? Just go do it."

With her encouragement and a little help brainstorming names, 2 At The Altar was born in October of 2021. I became officially ordained and certified through American Marriage Ministries, and I have been having an absolute ball ever since—meeting wonderful people, sharing in their biggest milestones, and helping couples navigate one of the most important, beautiful chapters of their lives.

Martin Good