Non-Religious Wedding Officiant in Wisconsin
Schwa Potter is a non-religious wedding officiant in Milwaukee who marries couples across Wisconsin. No prayers. No scripture. A ceremony built from your story, your values, and your people.
"If you're looking for a queer friendly, secular friendly, friendly officiant, Schwa's your guy!" - Kris Garmon, Google Review
What Is a Non-Religious Wedding Ceremony?
A non-religious wedding ceremony leaves out prayers, scripture, and references to any faith. Some people call it secular, non-denominational, or civil. The idea is the same: the ceremony is built around your relationship and what matters to the two of you.
It can still be emotional. It can still be meaningful. It can even feel spiritual, if that's your thing. Nobody tells you what to believe or which traditions to keep. You decide every piece.
Schwa Potter has officiated 500+ ceremonies since 2015, for couples of every background. Some want five minutes and a kiss. Others want a 20-minute love story with handfasting and personal vows. Both are great. It's your wedding. Do it however you want.
What Goes Into a Secular Wedding Ceremony?
Welcome & Opening
A warm welcome that sets the tone and pulls every guest into the room with you.
Your Love Story
In a Signature Ceremony, Schwa tells how you met, what you've built, and why it works. Your history, your inside jokes, your people. All of it goes in.
Vows & Ring Exchange
Write your own, use Schwa's, or keep it to "I do." Declaration of Intent, personal vows, rings. Your call on all of it.
Unity Ritual (Optional)
Handfasting, sand, candles, a wine box, or something you invent. Add one if it means something to you. Skip it if it doesn't.
Pronouncement
A closing wish, the legal pronouncement, and the kiss. Then the party starts.
All the Paperwork
License guidance before the wedding. After, Schwa files the signed license with the Register of Deeds within 3 days. You don't have to think about any of it.
Who Hires a Secular Wedding Officiant?
Couples who aren't religious and want zero prayers or scripture in the ceremony. Easy.
Couples who want to rewrite tradition. Keep the parts you like. Drop the rest. Schwa can help you decide which wedding gender norms to break, and when.
Couples from two different faiths who want neutral ground. A secular ceremony gives both families a place to stand.
Every kind of couple. Schwa has married couples of every kind: gay, lesbian, bi, trans, nonbinary, straight, interfaith.
Couples who want laughter in the room. A ceremony with all the feels that sends everyone off fired up to party all night.
Your Non-Religious Ceremony Options
The Quickie is nonreligious from the start. The Signature is written from scratch and can be fully secular. Both are legal, and both come with a phone or Zoom call before you book.
Quickie Ceremony
5-7 minutes
Not available Saturdays after 1pm
- ✓ Short, pre-written nonreligious ceremony
- ✓ Option to add your own vows
- ✓ Script review before your wedding
- ✓ Marriage license guidance
- ✓ Any day or time: Tuesday at noon, Sunday afternoon, 9am before work
- ✓ Same day possible if you have your license
- ✓ License filed with the Register of Deeds within 3 days
Signature Ceremony
15-25 minutes
- ✓ Custom ceremony, fully secular if you want it
- ✓ Questionnaire for each partner
- ✓ Your love story woven throughout
- ✓ Draft 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding
- ✓ Unlimited edits
- ✓ Unity rituals and cultural traditions, your pick
- ✓ All of Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and destination weddings
Prices include tax. Rehearsal attendance is +$150. Travel is free within 30 miles of Milwaukee. Small travel fee beyond that.
What Secular Couples Say
"From the beginning, he focused on how to make the ceremony what we wanted. He asked us questions about ourselves that made us really think, and then used them to build a beautiful and deeply personal script (which he was happy to edit). He made sure to inject some fun and levity, and didn't try to add anything religious (which was really important to us)."- Ethan Cecchetti, Google Review
"Thank you Schwa so much for marrying my partner and me!!! He easily matched the vibe of our wedding; he gave us a short and quick ceremony (which we asked for explicitly), but still managed to make it fun and personable."- Kris Garmon, Google Review
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the ceremony leave out religion completely?
Yes. The Quickie Ceremony is nonreligious by default. A Signature Ceremony is written from scratch, so it holds exactly as much religion as you want. Zero is a perfectly good amount.
Can I include spiritual elements without a religious ceremony?
Absolutely. Plenty of couples want a ritual like handfasting, candle lighting, or a moment of gratitude without tying it to any faith. Schwa builds in the pieces that mean something to you, with no scripture and no obligation.
How much does a non-religious wedding officiant cost?
The Quickie Ceremony is $300. The Signature Ceremony is $950. Prices include tax. Rehearsal attendance is +$150. A 50% deposit holds your date ($150 or $475), and the balance is due on the wedding day. Travel is free within 30 miles of Milwaukee. Small travel fee beyond that.
How personalized is a non-religious ceremony?
A Signature Ceremony is written from scratch. After your phone or Zoom call, each partner fills out a questionnaire. Schwa uses your answers to write a ceremony that couldn't work for anybody but you. The draft arrives 6 to 8 weeks before the wedding, and edits are unlimited. A Quickie Ceremony is a short, pre-written nonreligious ceremony, and you can add your own vows.
Do you officiate LGBTQ+ weddings?
Absolutely. Schwa has married couples of every kind: gay, lesbian, bi, trans, nonbinary, straight, interfaith.
Do we need witnesses for a non-religious ceremony in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin law requires two witnesses age 18 or older, whatever kind of ceremony you have. They sign the marriage license with you and the officiant. Friends, family, or a friendly stranger all count.
Can we have a non-religious ceremony outside?
Yes. Parks, backyards, rooftops, beaches, barns, restaurants, your living room. No church or venue required. Schwa officiates across Wisconsin and northern Illinois.
How far in advance should we book?
Whenever you have a date. A Quickie Ceremony can happen the same day if you already have your marriage license and Schwa's calendar is open. A Signature Ceremony can come together with one to two weeks of notice.
Meet Your Non-Religious Wedding Officiant
Schwa Potter is a Milwaukee wedding officiant and former Broadway performer. He played Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins on Broadway, spent 30+ years in professional theater, and has officiated 500+ ceremonies since 2015. That training shows up at the front of the room. He knows how to tell a story, read a crowd, and land the big beats.
Non-religious, interfaith, and LGBTQ+ ceremonies are a big part of his work. For a Signature Ceremony, each partner fills out a questionnaire. Schwa turns your answers into a ceremony that couldn't work for any other couple.
A five-minute elopement in a Milwaukee park. A full Signature Ceremony at the Pabst Mansion or anywhere in Wisconsin and beyond. Schwa brings the same energy to both: warm, present, and focused on the two of you.
