A Blessing From Above Ceremonies & Services

Patrick and Launa were wonderful to work with. They really listened to what we wanted and offered suggestions and advice where needed. I would definitely recommend them!

We had the pleasure of being married by Reverend Launa. She is absolutely amazing! During the age of technology, SKYPE was our best friend! She answered all of our questions and guided us when we didn't have a clue. Our wedding ceremony was beautiful and emotional, and most importantly everything I ever wanted. Our guests loved her. She is truly a blessing from above!

Rev. Launa Byrd truly is a blessing from above! She is so kind and patient, and worked close with my husband and I to ensure that our wedding ceremony was exactly how we wanted it to be. She allowed us to piece together our ceremony from a number of different options, and then with her brilliance, she put it all in the perfect order to make the ceremony suit our needs - not too religious, not too stiff, but still romantic, sentimental, and captured the love between us! . She was also super patient with us while we worked on writing our own wedding vows. I loved that she gave us a packet of our wedding ceremony afterward, so that we have it to look at it anytime we want to relieve that day!
Launa is truly like a wedding coordinator - without the extra cost! She was there early to set up, she made sure things were in order, and she helped calm and help my family through both the rehearsal and wedding ceremony. Launa was so helpful that when my french bustle didn't turn out so good on the first try, she was right there with my mom to fix it and get me out on the dance floor!
We are so grateful that we found Launa to be our officiant - and her and her husband were a perfect team! With Launa as our officiant, and Patrick Byrd as our DJ, our night was definitely one to remember! This is definitely a duo you cannot do without - and with their package deal, the price is unbeatable! We definitely picked the right pair for our wedding day, and have made wonderful friends along the...

Rev. Launa Byrd was truly amazing. From the time of original contact, she was informative, friendly and very punctual. She helped me to create a personal and modern ceremony that best represented my husband and myself. I've had many guests ask for a copy of our ceremony because it was so touching and special! Thank you, Launa. My ceremony was absolutely perfect!!

Rev Launa Byrd provided a wonderful service for our wedding. She took all the time we needed to prepare for it and offered us many suggestions to make it perfect for us and who we are. She provided us with options for things to include in our service and still managed to make it a one of a kind sermon. She provided guidance on vows and provided reassurance when we though the words just were not good enough. The services she provided made it truly a memorable experience. Many of our guests complimented on how beautiful the ceremony was. We can only credit it to Rev Launa.

We were truely blessed the day we met Launa and Patrick at a wedding show. We knew within seconds they would be the officiant/DJ team we had been looking for to help make our special wedding an event of a lifetime. They were not only extremely happy to help with our same sex marrige, but made the event an opportunity to prove to family and friends that our wedding was as important at any other. Our wedding was the day of the hurricane in 2011 and through the storm they made in through the Hampton Roads Tunnel (with their kitten in tow) to our wedding. It was a service that was amazingly beautiful and personal and there was not a dry eye in the room. The reception was a party indeed, where there were people dancing all night long. We were so blown away by their skills and their passion in what they do that we even hired them to throw a surprise dance party for our son a few months later. Whether it was our wedding or the birthday party, they have always gone above and beyond to make unforgetable memories. We are proud to refer them to anyone who is looking for an amazing ceremony!

Matthew and I are so grateful to have met you and thankful that we chose A Blessing From Above to officiate our weding. We feel like we've made a friend through the process. Reverend Launa, you took the time to get to know us as individuals and as a couple, allowing you to customize every piece of our ceremony to fit us. Your delivery was flawless! Having a keepsake copy of the ceremony was, as they say, "icing on the cake." It's well designed and professionally printed. I love that we can go back and relive that moment whenever we want through the exact words spoken. A heartfelt thank you for the many hours you invested in making our day so extra special. Keep doing what you do. You definitely have a gift.

Rev. Launa was fantastic! She was extremely flexible and made sure our ceremony was just how we envisioned it. We met a couple different times and communicated by email for the small changes to our ceremony script. Thanks to her, our ceremony went off without a hitch despite the fact that neither the bride or groom made it to the rehearsal (long story!). Our guests loved the ceremony too; we received tons of comments on how personal and special it was! We wouldn't change a thing about our ceremony! And now we have a printed copy to always remember it :-) Thank you!!!

From the minute I met Rev. Launa I knew I had made the right decision. She is such a kind and warm person, exactly the type of individual I wanted to have officiate my wedding ceremony. My Husband and I loved being about to word our ceremony the way we wanted. Launa helped to create a wonderfully unique and personalized service that highlighted what we loved in each other. All of my guests commented on how beautiful and different our ceremony was. They all said that it was the most touching service they'd ever attended. Throughout the whole process ahe was easy to get in touch with, extremely helpful, and was wonderful when it came to suggestions for rituals and vows. She went above and beyond and exceeded our expectations throughout the whole day. I noticed her helping set up the centerpiece's and even put my cake topper on my cake. She was truely a lifesaver!! Without her help coaching my flower girl Im not sure she would've made it down the aisle. We loved having her and would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a very special and personal wedding! Thank you Rev. Launa

Laura was very easy to work with. We chose the package that allowed us write our own ceremony and she gave us great suggestions for wording. I am episcopalian, so it was important to me to have a religious ceremony. She has a lot of experience and worked well with the wedding coordinator. The only thing I was mildly upset about was that during my husband's vows, she referred to me as a man. It was definitely a laughing point during the ceremony, and I'm sure it is a mistake that ANYONE can make, but it embarrassed me a little. Overall, she did a very good job and I am happy with the service we got. I do recommend this officiant, especially if you would like to write your own vows or ceremony. Many officiants will not let you do that.

We were married last April at the Wyndam Hotel in Virginia Beach. We met Launa and Patrick at a wedding show and knew right away they were a perfect match for us. From the very beginning they were personal and paid great attention to detail and were like family to us from the get go. We had so many options and they were so patient with us when we even had to change the date! Their services are so much more than music and a wedding officiant… we also got a wedding planner, song advisor, dress coordinator and best of all new friends. We were given literally any option for music and felt we were in very gentle and capable hands on our biggest day ever. We were so happy and honored that Launa and Patrick were a part of our day, we didn’t realize how incredible it all was until it was all over and thought back and would trust them completely with any event and I don’t say that often. The music was beautiful and we even received a cd of our wedding for a keepsake. I do remember my dress had a french bustle that after the ceremony I had no idea how to put up as it was quite complex. I had not thought this out when I bought the dress and before I knew it Launa had it buttoned up and looking great for the reception! I can’t say enough good words…if we renew our vows we’d never use anyone else of course. We had a beautiful wedding and owe a lot of that to Launa and Patrick. They are professional, knowledgeable, extremely personable and really know what they are doing…. Well Done…. Thank You !!!!!!!!

Best,

Chris and Kim Loveridge

5 star rating just isn't enough! I am so blessed that I found Launa to officiate our wedding. We booked Launa a year in advance and throughout the year she kept in touch and met with us on several occasions to help us create our own special and unique ceremony. The ceremony that she helped us create was absolutely perfect and all of my guests raved about how elegantly she spoke and how beautiful the ceremony was. She took the time to interact with our 7 yr old daughter and making her feel comfortable. Launa isn't just an officiant, she plays many roles on your special day. She was very involved during the reception guiding us throughout the night on what was to come next as well as making sure that everything ran as smoothly as possible. It was as if she was our own wedding coordinator as well! She is very animated, fun and outgoing and even took to the dance floor with us throughout the night!
So the choice is yours...you can hire any officiant that will just pick any random boring ceremony unspecific to your needs and carried out in monotone voice and boring to your guests, OR you can hire Launa to help you create a ceremony that is meaningful to you as a couple and delivered elegantly and professionally. FYI... She works alongside her husband who is a DJ and they do offer a package if you are looking for both a DJ and officiant! He is just as animated as she is! :) If you are a bride hurry up and book her because she goes quick and I can assure you that you will NOT be disappointed!
Thank you Launa from the bottom of our hearts for making our day so meaningful and special! You have made numerous couples very very happy!

My Husband and I decided way before we were even engaged that we wanted a sunrise beach wedding. When the time came to plan the wedding we were concerned with finding a pastor/reverend to do the ceremony that would not charge us an arm and leg to go the whole way to Virgina beach for the wedding or find someone local that would understand we were coming from far away to get married. My husband found a blessing from above online and emailed them for more information. We got a very quick response and were able to make all the arrangements over the phone. We exchanged all paperwork through email and set up the time and date. We were only at the beach for a week and planned to return home (to pa) after the wedding for a reception that night. We met Launa on the beach at 530 am the morning of the wedding. We had picked the place we wanted while at the beach earlier in the week and called her with the location. We wanted to be married as the sun came up and that's exactly what we got! It could not have been more perfect in anyway. My husband and I had picked the simple package during phone conversations(with hubby and I both on talking to Launa) but we both still teared up during the ceremony. Right after the wedding ceremony was complete a school of dolphins started jumping in the waves right behind where we had gotten married. It was so amazing how everything just fell together. Launa stayed for pictures with us even though it was only 630 am. I dont think we could have found any other officiant who would have been willing to come out to the beach at that time of the morning to do a wedding with out a huge up charge and being in a bad mood. Launa was very pleasant to work with and even took time to interact with our slightly crabby 1 year old! Launa is a perfect choice for an officiant for that extra special wedding cause she will take the time and energy to make it everything you want it to be. She did with us!

I only wish there were more categories to rate the performance of Launa and Patrick. My wife and I had planned a large wedding and ended up canceling because we decided it just didn't fit us. Because we cancelled, we had about 2 months to set things up for our newly agreed upon location, my wife's parents' back yard. Launa was very flexible with the times she was able to meet with us and discuss the details of our ceremony, and when she heard we were having issues with our DJ, she suggested we have a meeting with her fiancee, Patrick Byrd.

We not only loved the way we were able to pick and choose our ceremony's details, but to have a DJ and Officiant who would be working in harmony with each other- that was key. Their communication with us and each other helped tie together the most important day of our lives. On the day of the ceremony, Patrick showed up early to set up his equipment and Launa helped iron out the final details and even helped with our food setup and the decorations. Having them there before the day got going was like having an extra couple of family members along to get things ready- and we knew they'd be on time because they were already there (which helps your peace-of-mind on a day like that).

Patrick was extremely good at his part, and kept things lively and sociable for the guests before and after the ceremony, and played everything we wanted in our ceremony from start to finish. Launa gave us time to regain our composures while she helped us through an emotionally charged and, especially on her part, outstanding delivery of our wedding ceremony.

Both are at once extremely professional and also very friendly and helpful in ways that aren't forced by a contract. They went out of their way to make our day, and we'll be forever thankful to them for guiding us through it all and helping our families enjoy our day. I haven't heard of anyone else who had such help from their Officiant and especially not from a pair who cover the roles of DJ and Officiant. They would be great individually, but together they're the best decision you could make when planning your wedding.

Rev. Launa was AMAZING! From our initial meeting to I DO, I was very pleased. She was attentive to details and always concerned about making our day exactly what we dreamed of. I could not have asked for more. I will not hesitate to recommend her yo friends. :-)

Rev. Launa Hulse is where its at it you are looking for a ceremony that's been completely personalized and is as unique as you are a couple!!!... She really knows her stuff and has plenty of experience from many aspects of the wedding process. She knows people, places, and things that will help to make not only the ceremony, but the rest of the wedding as well- exactly what you've imagined since you were a little girl!

Launa meets with the couple several times to completely CREATE a ceremony, she calls and follows-up with how things are going up until the day-of, and when the special day rolls around she is there to calm your nerves and tie the bow around your dress that no one else seems to be able to get right! Not only that- but when an unwanted, unexpected guest shows up at your wedding and reception, she will sit down next to you and tell you how beautiful you are and reassure you that the day is all about you...

Launa was not only a great officiant, but also a great asset to the entire wedding- before, during, and after..... We couldn't have rolled luckier dice when choosing her!

My wife and I had a very specific vision for our Wedding Day, a desire to revel in our appreciation of nature and our nerdiness. With such a unique theme for our big day, I really appreciated Lana and Patrick working so closely with us and so hard to make it come out perfectly. Lana did an amazing job at finding the right positive tone for our service, pulling from a wide variety of sources to craft a completely unique service for us that celebrated nature and genuinely brought tears to our eyes. The incredibly moving service was followed by Patrick's MCing, and he was wonderful in allowing us to pick the nerdy music we wanted for our reception as well as mixing in a large number of crowd-pleasing hits to get everyone out on the dance floor. Lana and Patrick make an exceptional team for crafting an event that was completely unique and incredibly attentive to our specific wants. We highly recommend them!!!

If you’re looking for the absolute best officiant in Hampton Roads, it’s Launa Hulse. The only thing that compared to marrying the love of my life was the ceremony Launa performed for us last year. She allowed us to create our own unique ceremony that was one of a kind, and will surely be remembered for the rest of our lives. I planned the whole wedding and was sure to investigate everyone we hired and Launa fits the bill. Not only that, but we were on a tight budget and her fee were the lowest in price with the most included. Till this day we still have family and friends talking about how much they enjoyed the ceremony. So if you want to be able to create your own dream ceremony, Launa is the person to fulfill it. She meets with you as many times as it takes until you’re completely satisfied and will perform any type of ceremony depicted by your religious views. She is so caring throughout the entire process, and works so well with other vendors to ensure your day goes according to plan. Also, she doesn’t ask that you and your partner have counseling beforehand, but she does offer it. This a good thing for those in the service that have limited time or crazy schedules like we did. I believe anyone would be honored to have her as an officiant on their wedding. I would, and always, will recommend Launa to anyone.

For a personalized, fabulously creative ceremony you can't get better than Launa! Launa is an absolute professional who listens carefully to your wishes, offers intelligent suggestions, and then crafts a beautifully written prose that captures the essence of your heart. Kind, knowledgeable, and open-minded, Launa will deliver a ceremony you'll remember always. I had the absolute pleasure of working with Launa. The first thing that I loved about her was her energy— she has this amazing aura around her that makes everyone at ease, especially the bride. The second thing that I immediately noticed was her attention to detail and attention to doing whatever she can to make her client happy. When we chose Launa, we had no idea that we were also hiring a party planner. She made sure that my MOH gave her toast, kept me on track with the bouquet throwing, and got everyone dancing throughout the night. I have no idea what I would have done without her. There are no officiants in Virginia or the east coast, that can come close to what Launa delivers. Launa sees the big picture, and makes that vision a reality. She goes above and beyond to work with the other vendors at the wedding to make sure that the client gets the wedding of their dreams and makes sure that everyone works as team to make the evening a success. My Husband and I could not imagine our wedding with someone other than Launa. She made my beach wedding truly magical. She is and will always be a true blessing to us. I wish I could give her a higher score than a 5!

This review is a long time in coming. I love Launa for allowing me to be myself. I was able to adjust the ceremony to make it personal for myself and my husband. She was always willing to work with me for any question that I might have or any change I wanted to make.
I enjoyed her services so much that I asked her to perform the baptism of our daughter October of this year. She is also my daughter's godmother! She attended my baby shower as well. I consider her to be a personal friend now. I recommend her and Patrick to anyone and everyone!

Launa is awesome!!! I heard so many compliments from guests about how she prformed the ceremony. She helped me get through the ceremony (I was extremely nervous). She is so professional, yet easy to talk to. I would recommend to everyone using her services. It was beautiful. Thank you Launa.

If you are looking for the perfect officiants for your ceremony, call Launa & Patrick Byrd of A Blessing From Above. In today's world of "cookie cutter" thinking, Launa & Patrick stand out. They take the time to listen and tailor your wedding ceremony to reflect your personalities so that all your guests will remember your vows. We consider ourselves to be extremely lucky because Launa & Patrick are not only "wedding industry" acquaintances, Custom Photography also photographed their wedding with a friendship of many, many years.

If you are looking for an outstanding Officiant for your wedding, look no further than A Blessing From Above. They are so down to earth and customize weddings to the bride and groom's needs. You can't go wrong with this team. They go above and beyond for their brides and all of my brides loved them.

Rev. Launa's script writing is perhaps the most beautiful I have ever encountered. She personalizes her script with the most important details that matter to a bride. No other ceremony service compares...