Wedding Officiating & Marriage Counselling
YOUR SPECIAL DAY deserves to be a centrepiece as it begins a new phase of your entire life. Give it the attention and care it deserves. Pre-marital counselling provides the foundation for a strong, lifelong relationship together.
Wedding ceremonies should reflect the personalities and values of the couple getting married.
Ensure that the person guiding your ceremony has taken the time to understand what’s important to you and what elements you would like to include in your ceremony including the content of each element.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Often glossed over in many ceremonies, this aspect clearly communicates your desire to be joined together with another person. The Officiant will ask you a clear question of your intent, crafted in language that fits with your personalities and character. It usually ends with you responding with the well-known words, “I do.”
VOWS
The true heart of your ceremony, many individuals and couples choose to write their own vows. These statements you proclaim in front of your chosen witnesses and observers describing what you promise to do and be for your lifelong partner.
EXCHANGING OF RINGS
Most individuals choose, as demonstrated by our cultural tradition, to exchange a ring with their partner as a symbol of the vows they make on their wedding day. No law says it has to be a ring. Whatever is used, when it is exchanged, couples will state the purpose of the symbol so those present understand its significance. You may want to think meaningfully about what is said about any symbol you choose.
MAKING IT YOUR OWN
Each person and couple have unique backgrounds and values which should be central to your wedding ceremony. That might include faith perspectives, scripture or specific cultural aspects. These should all be considered when crafting a ceremony to meet the specific needs of each couple.
“Thank you so much for making our wedding ceremony meed our specific needs. It was amazing that you were able to take care of it all and in such a short time.”
Services
Restorative Family Mediation
Proactively improving communication within families. We’ll help you restore relationships and build a positive future with your spouse, partner, or other family members.
Marriage & Family Mediation
Divorce and Separation are hard. We help you navigate the conclusion of your relationship in a fair, equitable and honoring way, providing dignity for each partner.
Parenting Coordination
We can help you work through issues with a coparent for the best outcomes for your children. We support coparents struggling to understand each other. Save money on legal fees by resolving issues before having to go back to court.
Counselling Advising Services
Working with couples wanting to improve their relationship, before or after marriage, and seeking help through the many transitions and challenges of marriage and life. We will assist and support you in finding the best way to resolve conflict and enhance your relationship, whether with a spouse, partner, friend, or coworker.
Conflict Resolution
Find the best way forward through a conflict. We’ll help you work through individual situations, or help you improve relationships with others (partner, coworker, friend).
Workshops
Delivering workshops with a focus on:
Building communication skills
Understanding the dynamics of conflict to assist in conflict resolution
Using conflict as an opportunity to learn about ourselves and grow relationships
Are you facing seemingly overwhelming challenges in communication? We’ll help deepen relational ties for healthy, respectful relationships.
Dr. Wes Thiessen, PhD
Wedding Officiant & Marriage Enrichment Specialist
Dr. Wes Thiessen has been marrying people for years. Certified as a marriage officiant as part of the clergy, Dr. Wes brings a unique blend of personal care for each individual and couple, along with a desire to incorporate personal preferences specific to those getting married. Believing in the strength of relationship, Dr. Wes puts a high value on investing in relationship in advance through pre-marital counselling.
Dr. Wes, a native of Calgary, AB, has spent 17 years living internationally, and has over 20 years of experience in post-secondary education. His international experience enables him to understand unique circumstances of couples from a variety of backgrounds. He speaks English and Arabic, has good command of French and can also carry on conversations in German and Hebrew.
“My Dad who is not one for weddings or religious ceremonies, said if Wes is doing it, he doesn’t care how religious it is, he’ll be there. For me, I was really nervous about the ceremony and saying the wrong thing, and Wes made it really relaxed and enjoyable and I laughed so much I didn’t have a chance to think about being nervous. It was amazing.”
Make sure you have someone who is on your side getting you started on the first day of the rest of your life. Dr. Wes will be on, and by, your side.
Who are we?
Understanding the Other is owned and operated by Wes Thiessen, who believes in the hard work it takes to understand others. You can learn more about Wes and how he has developed these skills by clicking below.
Dr. Wes Thiessen has been trained in general mediation skills with the Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of Alberta (ADRIA; affiliated with the ADR Institute of Canada – ADRIC), specific mediation skills in Victim-Offender Reconciliation (Restorative Justice), Family Mediation (Family Mediation Canada), and is also trained in Arbitration (National Family Law Arbitration Canada). He has a PhD in Islamic History, has spent 15 years living in the Muslim world with over 20 years of experience in post-secondary education. He speaks English and Arabic, has good command of French and can also carry on conversations in German and Hebrew. He believes that language opens the heart to understand others.
Customer Reviews
“I never felt judged or ‘less than.’ He lifted me up when I needed reassuring. Today, my relationship with the person I report to at work is better than it ever has been.”
“I felt like Wes had a very solid intuitive understanding of the dynamics happening in my NGO situation and spoke insightfully, even during the first session. He understands each side and what it means for each party to have a voice. And I am grateful for his help!”
“Dr. Thiessen has restored my confidence in the value that mediation can bring to any team or organizational setting, and I give his services my highest recommendation”
Pre-Marital Assessment Package – $300
Purchased in advance, this package includes the pre-marital assessment, a report for the couple, and two hours of pre-marital counselling with Dr. Wes.
- An initial consultation;
- The online multi-facet assessment with a report;
- Two sessions of one hour each to follow-up the assessment, creating unique steps forward for you;
“Your time spent with us has been an invaluable investment into our marriage. I’m so glad we did that!”