FAQ’s

Email me! bill@billhulseman.com

I’m based in Seattle and can travel easily within 15 miles at no additional cost.

I’m happy to travel anywhere else at extra cost to cover travel and accommodations.

I am happy to officiate a ceremony anywhere my ordination is recognized.

That’s up to you! Indoors, outdoors, a private home, a public space…we can design a ceremony for whatever location works best for you.

If you’re planning a very small ceremony (fewer than 10 people), we could even hold the ceremony at our home in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. If the weather is good, our roofdeck has a beautiful view of Lake Union, downtown Seattle, and Mount Tahoma/Mount Rainier.

No, I just do rituals. But I do want your ceremony and any other festivities to complement each other, so I’m happy to work with you, your event planner, and any other vendors to make sure it all flows.

Absolutely. I strongly recommend a rehearsal to make sure everyone understands what they’re doing and why they’re doing it, especially if other friends or family members have roles.

A rehearsal is included in The Complete Package and is an additional fee for other packages.

Yes! I love working with couples to write their vows and to ensure that the whole ceremony reflects the promises you make. For me, vows are the most important element of the ceremony. Everything else should lead up to or flow from your vows, and your vows, your public declaration of what you’re committing to, should reflect your identities, your values, and your experiences, not just generic and outdated language. Some couples prefer long, explicit vows; others keep them short and concise. We’ll find right right language and format for you.

A couple of years ago, I reflected on my own wedding and the process that we engaged to write our vows. If you want a deeper insight into my approach, read “Say what you mean, mean what you say.”

Whatever you want me to wear. I can wear a black, blue, gray, or tan suit with a tie or an open collar. I could wear shorts and a t-shirt. My sartorial goals are to reflect the tone and mood you want to set, to blend in, and to not ruin any of your photos.

I bring a unique perspective that is informed by my personal, academic, and professional experiences. Personally, I’m a cis, gay, white man, and I know that my particular intersection of identities has helped me to empathize with others and build cultural awareness and sensitivity.

I started playing the piano when I was 10 and training as a singer at 15. With college, opera company, and community choruses, I’ve been able to sing in the world’s best concert halls. I don’t play the piano so well any more, but I’m still a pretty good singer. These experiences not only exposed me to a broad range of musical styles and helped me develop aesthetic sensibilities; they also made me comfortable performing before a big group of strangers.

In college, I majored in religious studies with minors in Judaic studies, English, and philosophy, and in grad school I pursued the comparative study of religion. That introduced me to the study of ritual, and I channeled my personal, intellectual, and artistic passions into understanding and constructing rituals that shaped individual perceptions, communal bonds, and cultural norms.

I worked as an educator for many years - first as a teacher and campus minister, and later as an administrator. Each role gave me a new perspective on people and a deeper understanding of how culture is constructed.

All of this informs my approach to designing rituals and officiating weddings. I see each wedding not just as a significant change in the lives of two people - I see it as an opportunity for those two people to impact the world we all live in. To do this authentically (and to avoid the extremes of being overly formal or being super cheesy), I don’t start with the practices and customs that are familiar or that the wedding industry wants you to use. I start with you - your identities, your experiences, and your values.

I’ll confirm my availability when you reach out to schedule a free consultation. Once we review the services I offer, you can secure the date with a 50% deposit (the rest can be paid no later than 1 week before the ceremony).

Sure! I’m happy to work with you to design the ceremony and to help another officiant and other participants prepare for the ceremony. See Weddings Services Page for more info.

Yep! If you want to use a simple template for the ceremony, cool. If you already have a ceremony to use, cool (if it is rooted in a particular cultural or religious tradition, as long as it’s appropriate for me to lead it, cool).

Yes! Too often, interfaith and intercultural ceremonies feel like a hodge-podge of unconnected practices and ideas. We’ll design a ceremony that respectfully integrates aspects of your religious or cultural backgrounds that are meaningful to you and the people who surround you on your wedding day.

I’m happy to design and officiate a ceremony that reflects your religious identity and beliefs, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to lead rituals from traditions that aren’t my own.

Yes! My priority is to design a ceremony that reflects your values, your identities, and your experiences.

Yes, wherever my ordination by the Universal Life Church is recognized

Define “short.”

Because I really emphasize the process of preparing for a ceremony, and I’d like enough time for us to get to know each other, I ask for at least two weeks to schedule and prepare for your ceremony.

But if your circumstances don’t afford much time to prepare, reach out to see if I’m available!