Today we’d like to introduce you to Reverend Dee DePriest.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I stumbled into the world of weddings in the summer of 2015, back when I was living in Northwest Florida. At the time, I was selling real estate, and let’s just say I wasn’t exactly knocking it out of the park. If not for my dear friend and fellow agent, April Peterson, I probably would’ve survived solely on caffeine and optimism. She was heading out on a ten-day cruise and needed someone to cover the ceremonies for her side wedding business.
During one of our midday chat sessions, I mentioned how much I loved public speaking. She remembered that and asked if I’d be willing to step in. She showed me the ropes, pointed me toward Perdido Key, and before I knew it, I was standing barefoot in the sand officiating my very first wedding. And in a wild little twist of fate, that couple was from Springfield, Missouri, the very place I would eventually return to.
In 2017, when I became a grandma, I felt the unmistakable pull to bring my life and my budding business back home to Missouri. The wedding community here welcomed me with open arms and a whole lot of heart. It’s been a beautiful ride ever since one I never could’ve planned, but one I’m endlessly grateful for.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? Absolutely not. In the beginning, everything felt steady. Even my move from Northwest Florida back to Missouri didn’t shake things up too much. But along the way, I made a mistake many entrepreneurs make at least once: I put my trust in the wrong person. And that choice cost me everything I had built. My reviews, my business name, and my website… all gone. And honestly? My confidence disappeared right along with them. I was suddenly standing at square one again, feeling like the rug had been yanked right out from under me.
And then COVID hit, which felt like life saying, “Let’s just go ahead and throw in one more plot twist for fun.” My dreams felt too heavy to hold. I went back to the private sector, working as a supervisor at a local hospital, trying to pretend I wasn’t devastated. I pouted, I sulked, I cried, a lot. For two long years, I tried to silence that voice inside me begging, “Just try again.” But every day felt like a piece of me was missing.
Then something shifted. A DJ friend, Dennis Cox, reached out and asked me to grab coffee. He told me I was missed in the wedding world. He encouraged me to let go of the heartbreak and rise up again, fresh, clean slate, a new beginning. And then, as if the universe decided to cosign the message, my phone rang. A couple wanted me to officiate their wedding.
I almost turned them down. I almost let fear win. But I’ve never been a quitter, even when quitting might’ve been the easier path. So I said yes. And that yes changed everything.
With the support of my friends, my family, and my incredible vendor community, I stepped back into the light. Rev Dee returned, this time wiser, stronger, and more anchored in purpose than ever.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been meaningful. And the biggest lesson I’ve learned is this: never give up on yourself, and never underestimate the magic of believing… just one more time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Reverend Dee Weddings & Elopements is, at its core, a love-driven, people-centered experience. I’m a wedding officiant, yes, but my work goes far beyond reading words at the front of the aisle. I specialize in crafting ceremonies that feel deeply personal, beautifully intentional, and entirely unique to each couple. Whether it’s an intimate elopement tucked beside a waterfall or a full-scale wedding surrounded by family and friends, my goal is always the same: to create a moment that feels like them.
I’m known for storytelling, weaving together a couple’s history, their quirks, their triumphs, and their hopes for the future in a way that feels elegant, romantic, and real. I take the time to learn who my couples are, what they’ve overcome, what they dream about, and what makes their love shine. Then I bring those details to life in a ceremony that honors their journey while keeping their guests fully present and engaged. No cookie-cutter scripts, ever.
What sets me apart is the combination of heartfelt artistry and genuine human connection I bring to the process. I don’t just show up on the wedding day; I walk alongside my couples from the moment they book. I guide, I listen, I adapt, and I create something that feels like it belongs only to them. My couples often say I bring warmth, calm, humor, and a groundedness that instantly makes everyone breathe easier, and honestly, that’s one of the things I’m most proud of.
Brand-wise, the heart of Reverend Dee Weddings & Elopements has always been authenticity. My ceremonies are romantic and elegant, but they’re also approachable and modern, with a dash of charm and personality. I want my couples to feel seen, celebrated, and completely at home in their ceremony, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what their love story looks like.
For readers, here’s what I want you to know:
I offer custom ceremonies, elopements, micro-weddings, vow renewals, personalized unity rituals, consultations, and ceremony crafting sessions. But more importantly, I offer heart. I offer presence. I offer a ceremony experience rooted in meaning, not just a performance, but a memory.
Love is sacred, love is powerful, and love is worth honoring in a way that feels honest and unforgettable. That’s what my brand stands for. That’s what I’m here to deliver.
And if you’re dreaming up a ceremony that feels like pure magic? Well… that’s kind of my specialty.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is connection, real, soul-deep connection, and the way it transforms people when they feel seen, valued, and loved.
This is why I do what I do. Weddings aren’t just events to me; they’re sacred moments where two people stand in front of their world and say, “This is my person. This is my home.” Being trusted to honor that moment is something I never take lightly.
I care about crafting ceremonies that remind couples why they chose each other, and remind the people watching that love is still the strongest, bravest force we have. I care about helping couples feel grounded when the nerves kick in. I care about families feeling included, supported, and understood. I care about creating a space where everyone feels the warmth and authenticity of the moment, no performance, no pressure, just real love on display.
Why does it matter so much?
Because I’ve seen what happens when people feel unseen or overlooked. I’ve lived through seasons where I doubted myself, my path, and my calling. And when I stepped back into this work, I realized that helping people celebrate their love with intention is not just meaningful,it’s healing, for them and for me.
Connection keeps us human. Love keeps us going.
And getting to honor that? That’s the heartbeat of everything I do.
Pricing:
- 5-minute “I Do” – $95
- Short & Sweet Elopement $185
- The Ultimate Micro-Wedding $275
- The Grand Elegance $375
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rev-dee.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revdeedepriest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reverenddeedepriest/
- Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/biz_info/8RYZD8ytltEfVYU8n3iq-A
Image Credits
Sheila J. Photography, Aaron Clark Photography, Shea Brianne Sudio
