Celebrant James

Celebrant James A Master Celebrant/Officiant who loves to co-create ceremonies with heart and humour. All love celebrated here. Elopements, vows, big love parties. my philosophy?

Serving Vancouver Island and beyond. Let's make some magic together. i'm james latour, your ceremony celebrant. your ceremony should be as awesome and authentic as your story. no stiff formalities here—just pure joy, genuine emotion, and maybe a few tears (the good kind!). my path to becoming an officiant has been a pretty wild ride. when i realized my true north i bravely stepped out and embraced

a life guided by openness, compassion, authenticity, and inclusivity. and guess what? that's the vibe i bring to every single ceremony i officiate. i’m a pro licensed to make marriages legal in stunning british columbia! i’m here to ensure your ceremony feels intentionally personal, reflects your values, with laughter, warmth, and no boxes, no pretending, just pure, unadulterated you. seriously, i absolutely love what i do. i have the best job ever. I can't wait to connect with you, hear your adventures, and dream up a ceremony that's as unique as you are!!

Been working on the couch instead of my desk because I just can’t bring myself to disturb him
05/14/2026

Been working on the couch instead of my desk because I just can’t bring myself to disturb him

05/02/2026

If you are feeling shaky before the ceremony, you are normal.

Even the most confident couples get hit with a wave of nerves when it becomes real.

Here is my simplest, most practical advice.

Eat something!!

Not a full meal, just enough that your body is not running on adrenaline and empty stomach.
Drink water. Dehydration makes anxiety louder.
Then do one minute of breathing. In for four. Out for six. The longer exhale tells your nervous system, we are safe.

And remember this. You do not have to be perfect. You do not have to deliver a performance. You just have to be present with your person.

If you want a ceremony that feels calm, steady, and human, send me a message and let’s build it that way.

My husband and I got married this past weekend at Neck Point Park and were privileged to have James as our celebrant.Jam...
04/28/2026

My husband and I got married this past weekend at Neck Point Park and were privileged to have James as our celebrant.

James went above and beyond for us. We met with him months before the wedding and he wrote us a personalized ceremony intertwining our beautiful beach setting in his words.

James is so humble and genuine and when we first met with him it was like we had known him forever. My husband and I were so nervous to read our vows but having James standing there with us he made us feel so calm. His presence is warming.

We just wanted to say thank you sooooo much for making our day so amazing! So many people were commenting on how amazing James officiated our ceremony. From his sweet words to even offering up his umbrella to my aunt while it rained.

We feel so lucky we found James for our wedding and will never ever forget him. So thank you 10000x and everyone please consider getting an officiant that you can meet before your special day as you will feel like you have a lifelong friend marrying you!

James we miss you already! 🖤🖤🖤

04/24/2026

Being the center of attention is not everyone’s dream.

For a lot of couples, it is the part they are quietly dreading.

The good news is you do not have to “get over it.” You can design the ceremony so your nervous system stays regulated.

Here’s what works.

Build pockets of privacy inside the public moment. Stand close. Hold hands. Breathe together. Choose a simple home base cue you can return to when the nerves spike, a thumb press, a hand squeeze, a glance that says, I’m here.

This is also one of the reasons I step away for a good part of the ceremony. I want you focused on each other, not on me, and not on the crowd.

When you have space to stay in your own little bubble, the ceremony suddenly feels less like a performance and more like a moment you are actually living.
You do not need to be perfect. You just need to be present. And we can build the ceremony to help you do exactly that.

If you want a ceremony that feels calm, intimate, and not like a spotlight, contact me and let’s talk.

04/20/2026

The most common ceremony mistake I see is couples trying to perform “a wedding” instead of having a wedding.

It usually shows up in the words.

People choose lines they would never say in real life, add traditions that do not fit them, and start sounding like they are reading from a script written for someone else. Then they wonder why it feels stiff or awkward up there.

Choose words and moments that feel like you two on your best day. Not like you are auditioning for anyone’s approval.

If you are funny in real life, we let it be warm and funny. If you are quiet, we keep it intimate and grounded. If you want non religious, we keep it honest and non religious. If you want meaningful without being cheesy, we use plain language and real life promises.

The goal is not to impress the room. The goal is to be present in your own moment.

Your guests do not need perfect. They need real.

If you want a ceremony that feels like you, not a template, let’s chat!

Hi everyone! I’m James, a Vancouver Island wedding celebrant, ceremony storyteller, and proud provider of tasteful drama...
04/18/2026

Hi everyone! I’m James, a Vancouver Island wedding celebrant, ceremony storyteller, and proud provider of tasteful drama for people in love.

I create custom, non traditional ceremonies that are personal, inclusive, and blessedly free of awkward copy paste energy. Your ceremony should not sound like it was assembled in a panic by a printer at Staples. It should sound like you. Your story, your humour, your weird little details, your tender moments, your chaos, your charm, the whole beautiful thing.

If you want something stiff, generic, and emotionally beige, I wish you well on your journey. If you want a ceremony with heart, wit, happy tears, and just enough sparkle to make your guests whisper, “Okay, this is actually really good,” then we should probably talk.

Whether you’re planning something romantic and intimate, bold and fabulous, or delightfully unhinged in the best possible way, I’m here to help make the ceremony feel like one of the best parts of the day.

If you’re still looking for a celebrant who brings warmth, humour, inclusivity, and a very healthy respect for good outfits, I’d love to connect.

04/16/2026

Biggest myth couples believe?

That the ceremony is the boring, formal part before the fun starts.

Nope. The ceremony is the meaning.

It is the only part of the day where we actually name what is happening, and why it matters.

When it is done well, the room softens. People lean in. And suddenly it is not a wedding you are attending. It is a marriage you are witnessing.

If you want a ceremony your guests actually remember, that is what I do.

If your ceremony feels like something to survive, it was built wrong.

The ceremony is the moment your people feel the why, not just hear the words.

If you want meaning, warmth, and a bit of humour, let’s chat!

04/13/2026

Here is the question I ask every couple, and it has nothing to do with fonts, florals, or whether you walk to an acoustic version of your favourite song.

What do you want your guests to feel in the first two minutes…?

Because the opening is the nervous system of the whole ceremony. It sets the tone in the room. It tells people, without saying it out loud, what kind of moment this is going to be.

Do we want the room to exhale and soften?
Do we want people to laugh and relax their shoulders?
Do we want it to feel quiet, intimate, and grounded?
Do we want it to feel warm and welcoming, like everyone belongs here?

Most ceremonies do not intentionally set that tone.

They just start. And you can feel it. People are shifting, whispering, looking around, waiting for the moment to begin.

I do not leave it to chance.

If you want warmth, we start with language that gathers the room and makes people feel included.

If you want humour, we use one clean line that makes everyone breathe, without turning it into a show.

If you want tender, we slow the pace and let the moment land, so it feels like meaning, not rushing.

If you want calm and simple, we keep it clear, clean, and steady.

Those first two minutes are not filler.

They are the foundation. When the opening is right, everything after it feels easier. Your vows feel less scary. Your guests listen. The whole day feels more real.

If you want a ceremony that feels good from the very first line,let’s chat!

We are so grateful to have had James as our officiant. He made our ceremony truly unforgettable.We had met with about ni...
04/11/2026

We are so grateful to have had James as our officiant. He made our ceremony truly unforgettable.

We had met with about nine other officiants before meeting James. We even traveled from Comox to Nanaimo just to meet him - and it was absolutely worth it. From that first meeting, we knew he was the one. Choosing an officiant was incredibly important to us, as they’re not only the person marrying you, but also the one telling your story. Our ceremony meant the world to us, and James delivered something more beautiful than we could have imagined.

James is the perfect balance of personable and professional. He has a calm, grounded presence and a genuine energy that draws you in. You can feel how passionate he is about his work. He’s also incredibly organized and uses a modern, easy-to-use portal that kept everything on track.

He crafted our love story and ceremony so thoughtfully and beautifully. It felt true to who we are, and it set the tone for the entire day. We are beyond glad that James was the one to marry us and we will forever be thankful for the care and heart he brought to our wedding.
-Zac and Rea

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Address

Nanaimo, BC

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 8pm
Sunday 9am - 8pm

Telephone

+12506199863

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