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"If you're tired of starting over, stop giving up." -- Anonymous
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Who am I?

I am Michelle Allyson Szabo, though most people call me "Allyson" rather than "Michelle". At a young age, my interest in elaborate ceremonies to celebrate life changes was evident. As a youngster, I would marry my toys in long and complex ceremonies. As I got older, I spent many hours reading through religious texts, ranging widely from Bible to Koran to Torah, and eventually to modern pagan texts.

                                                                                 ​You can find me online at my FaceBook page, my WeddingWire account, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
How did I get here?
I performed my first marriage in the State of Washington in the early 1990s, for friends who didn't want a traditional ceremony. I had been studying modern religions for some time, and was accustomed to writing unusual services. They asked me to perform their marriage ceremony, so I got my license to marry from the Universal Life Church, registered with the county in question, and wrote my first unique wedding ceremony.

What do I do?
Since the 90s, I have performed many weddings, funerals, baby blessings, and a variety of other personal ceremonies for friends, family, and those who have requested my services. I pride myself on designing ceremonies that bring out and highlight the personalities involved.

Much of my service involves helping people create ceremonies to celebrate in a way that matches their beliefs, while honoring the paths that are taken by parents, relatives, and friends as well. It's a labor of love, which I enjoy doing.
Where did I learn?
I am ordained through Interfaith Community International and the New Vision Interspiritual Seminary, an interfaith and interspiritual organization and seminary dedicated to providing extensive training to ministers like myself, who feel a call beyond a standard pulpit. Through the educators and Deans at the seminary, as well as from my fellow students and Alumni, I learned countless styles of ceremony and belief. I received my ordination in the spring of 2011.

What do I believe?
I believe very strongly in the right to marry, either legally or religiously, any adult person (or persons!) you wish. I do not equate religious marriage with legal marriage, and am an advocate for the separation of the legal and the religious portions of marriage. I am proud to have performed joining ceremonies for lesbian and gay couples, even if those ceremonies had (at the time) no legal ground. I believe in the universal right to love whomever and however many you choose. I also believe that all love should be celebrated, and I revel in helping others celebrate their love with family and friends!