About Maureen
When my daughter was in kindergarten, she completed a project that was entitled "The Most Important Thing About Me". It was a great idea, because it taught the kids to really sift through the many facets of their lives and produce one "best" thing. I guess if I had to tell you the "most important thing about me" in regard to my role as the owner of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants, it would be that I am passionate about my work. I love what I do and it shows in the quality of the work that Lyssabeth's offers. I love the creativity that our officiants get to express through a wonderful and innovative ceremony; I love getting to know new people, learning about them and their "stories" and how those can be incorporated into a memorable ceremony.
I take particular delight in trying new things for ceremonies and sharing ideas that have worked for other couples. There is simply no better "job" than working with a couple to create a joyful, unique and memorable wedding day experience.
When my daughter was in kindergarten, she completed a project that was entitled "The Most Important Thing About Me". It was a great idea, because it taught the kids to really sift through the many facets of their lives and produce one "best" thing. I guess if I had to tell you the "most important thing about me" in regard to my role as the owner of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants, it would be that I am passionate about my work. I love what I do and it shows in the quality of the work that Lyssabeth's offers. I love the creativity that our officiants get to express through a wonderful and innovative ceremony; I love getting to know new people, learning about them and their "stories" and how those can be incorporated into a memorable ceremony.
I take particular delight in trying new things for ceremonies and sharing ideas that have worked for other couples. There is simply no better "job" than working with a couple to create a joyful, unique and memorable wedding day experience.
In addition to my daughters, I inherited an amazing stepdaughter, Ariela, when I married Jeremy--just one of the perks of a second marriage. Bethany and Jason have given me two
Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants About Maureen Thomson
Maureen's Crew: Jason, Bethany, Alyssa, Joel, Maureen & Jeremy. Kaydi is in front. My beautiful stepdaughter, Ariela could not make it to Alyssa's wedding, above, as she was stationed in Iraq. That's her photo, left.)
Jeremy and Maureen's Wedding Ceremony 12/18/2007 in the beautiful 16th Street Mall, Denver
Kaydi helps "Grammy" Yeah--like the award!) bake a cake!
Maureen with the newest member of our family, Robert Michael Leyshon, born July 15, 2010.
Maureen, Beth and Alyssa on Beth's wedding day. (I probably won't get this dressed up for your wedding--unless that's a requirement!)
My history is irrevocably intertwined with the history of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants. I won't repeat that entire story (it's here) but will instead tell you a bit about me personally.
Gosh, where to start? (I gotta tell ya--this feels a little like writing an ad for the personals column. "I like karaoke, red wine and long walks on the beach...") I am a native New Englander, born and raised in Rhode Island (yeah--they "tawk" funny, but I've managed to lose most of the accent so I don't totally embarrass myself at weddings). I spent my thirties living in Vermont, reveling in the beauty of that gorgeous state. It was a great place to raise my daughters--whose names are Bethany and Alyssa, and if you don't know that by now, you haven't been paying attention. Yeah--that's where the business got its name.
Gosh, where to start? (I gotta tell ya--this feels a little like writing an ad for the personals column. "I like karaoke, red wine and long walks on the beach...") I am a native New Englander, born and raised in Rhode Island (yeah--they "tawk" funny, but I've managed to lose most of the accent so I don't totally embarrass myself at weddings). I spent my thirties living in Vermont, reveling in the beauty of that gorgeous state. It was a great place to raise my daughters--whose names are Bethany and Alyssa, and if you don't know that by now, you haven't been paying attention. Yeah--that's where the business got its name.
In 1995, I moved to Colorado and had the joy of living in another beautiful state for fifteen years. It's there that I started Lyssabeth's and fell passionately in love--both with the man who was ultimately to become my (last!) husband and with creating and performing memorable wedding ceremonies for others. My job is not work--it is simply what I love to do! My education and training are in the areas of human service and social work, and if you've read the history of how Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiant's came to be, you can see how those talents easily lent themselves to officiating.
I married the love-of-my-life-and-my-reason-for-living, Jeremy, on December 18, 2007, two years to the date after we met. I figured by getting married on the same date that we met, he'd be more inclined to remember our anniversary. So far, so good. In 2009, after youngest daughter's, Alyssa's wedding, we finally became full fledged empty nesters and Jeremy and I moved to Portland, Oregon to be nearer to my beloved ocean (it's not the same ocean of my childhood, but an ocean's an ocean and I simply thrive when I know the water is less than two hours away).
I married the love-of-my-life-and-my-reason-for-living, Jeremy, on December 18, 2007, two years to the date after we met. I figured by getting married on the same date that we met, he'd be more inclined to remember our anniversary. So far, so good. In 2009, after youngest daughter's, Alyssa's wedding, we finally became full fledged empty nesters and Jeremy and I moved to Portland, Oregon to be nearer to my beloved ocean (it's not the same ocean of my childhood, but an ocean's an ocean and I simply thrive when I know the water is less than two hours away).
So now I happily manage Lyssabeth's--which currently serves Colorado, California and Oregon--from my home office. In 2009, Jeremy quit his job to officiate and to co-manage the business with me. We both officiate weddings in the Portland area as well as on the Oregon coast, but much of our time is spent in overseeing what all of the Lyssabeth's Irreverent Reverends are up to.
I do have other interests besides running Lyssabeth's. Now, let me see...darned if I can remember what they are...it's been a while. No, not really. Jeremy and I love to travel and given that the business is fairly portable--all we need is an Internet connection--we often travel for extended periods of time. I'm also an avid reader and am on a first name basis with the librarians at the Multnomah County Library. I can whip up a home cooked meal with the best of them, love, love, love the ocean and I'm a walk-a-holic. I sometimes go weeks without taking my car out of the garage.
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©Copyright Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants 2002-2012
©Copyright Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants 2002-2012
to-die-for grandchildren, Kaydia and Robert (but you can call them Kaydi and Bobby). No babies from Alyssa and Joel yet, but they haven't been married all that long, so I'm cutting them some slack.
I speak to every client personally. I'm the only one that answers the phone around here! The officiants that work for me are too amazing for words and while I know that each couple who comes through our metaphorical doors will be in excellent hands with any one of them, I do like to interact with each of our couples personally as much as possible. I do so love hearing all of your stories, as I hope you have enjoyed mine and if we haven't chatted yet, I look forward to doing so soon!
I speak to every client personally. I'm the only one that answers the phone around here! The officiants that work for me are too amazing for words and while I know that each couple who comes through our metaphorical doors will be in excellent hands with any one of them, I do like to interact with each of our couples personally as much as possible. I do so love hearing all of your stories, as I hope you have enjoyed mine and if we haven't chatted yet, I look forward to doing so soon!
