Our Team. Your Special Day. Your Choice.
The Marrying Athens team of officiants is comprised of people from all walks of life, from numerous faith backgrounds, and each with a unique perspective on love and how it has influenced their lives. Please take a moment to get to know us. We can hardly wait to meet you!
Mr. Cameron Harrelson, Founder
The creator behind Marrying Athens, Cameron Harrelson is ordained and in good standing with the Universal Life Church and believes in its mantra, “we are all children of the same universe.” He decided to become ordained due to his love for seeing people truly happy and after gaining a knack for public speaking after years of political activism and involvement in the world of pageantry.
Since that time, Cameron has taken part in numerous wedding ceremonies ranging from those which focus on the spiritual realm or simplicity, to those which remind us that “love is love”. In his spare time, he enjoys playing piano, enjoying time in downtown, being involved in politics, and spending time with his "chosen Athens family."
Favorite Memory from a Ceremony- "Now, that's a hard one. Each ceremony is unique, special, and memorable. There is nothing quite like seeing two people profess their love for one another before myself and those in attendance. Interestingly, however, I once officiated a wedding in front of the white tiger cages at a wildlife preserve. As the ceremony was preparing to begin, the tigers decided to growl, sending this officiant into a state of caution! Who knew those cats could be so vocal and photogenic? The day ended with me holding a python, alligator and hedgehog. Who would've ever thunk it!"
Since that time, Cameron has taken part in numerous wedding ceremonies ranging from those which focus on the spiritual realm or simplicity, to those which remind us that “love is love”. In his spare time, he enjoys playing piano, enjoying time in downtown, being involved in politics, and spending time with his "chosen Athens family."
Favorite Memory from a Ceremony- "Now, that's a hard one. Each ceremony is unique, special, and memorable. There is nothing quite like seeing two people profess their love for one another before myself and those in attendance. Interestingly, however, I once officiated a wedding in front of the white tiger cages at a wildlife preserve. As the ceremony was preparing to begin, the tigers decided to growl, sending this officiant into a state of caution! Who knew those cats could be so vocal and photogenic? The day ended with me holding a python, alligator and hedgehog. Who would've ever thunk it!"
Reverend Jennifer Price Smith
Jennifer has been a minister since 1987 and a therapist since 1991 and has had the opportunity to work in various settings with a diverse population. She approaches ministry and therapy with a non-judgmental, caring attitude, believing wholeness and healing occurs if individuals, couples and families can acknowledge their strengths as well as learn from their weaknesses.
She has been an ordained minister since 1987, and believes that grace and forgiveness are components to ultimate healing. She does not impose any set of beliefs, and meets her clients where they are with regards to their own spirituality. She works with individuals, couples and families, and could offer a few sessions of premarital counseling prior to your ceremony if you choose.
Jennifer stated, "I believe in the institution of marriage and believe that the ceremony is an important moment in time that can be a reminder of the commitment you made when marriage has its inevitable challenges. My husband Charles and I were married in the summer of 1987 and I have wonderful memories of that day. I would be honored to share your important day with you as your officiant.
• Bachelor of Arts, Religion, Carson-Newman College, 1983
• Masters of Divinity in Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1987
* Ordained by my home church in Abingdon, Virginia, 1987
• Post Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Studies, UGA, 1992
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: Virginia 2000, Georgia, 2011
* Currently employed at Counseling Associates for Well-Being, Athens and Madison
She has been an ordained minister since 1987, and believes that grace and forgiveness are components to ultimate healing. She does not impose any set of beliefs, and meets her clients where they are with regards to their own spirituality. She works with individuals, couples and families, and could offer a few sessions of premarital counseling prior to your ceremony if you choose.
Jennifer stated, "I believe in the institution of marriage and believe that the ceremony is an important moment in time that can be a reminder of the commitment you made when marriage has its inevitable challenges. My husband Charles and I were married in the summer of 1987 and I have wonderful memories of that day. I would be honored to share your important day with you as your officiant.
• Bachelor of Arts, Religion, Carson-Newman College, 1983
• Masters of Divinity in Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1987
* Ordained by my home church in Abingdon, Virginia, 1987
• Post Graduate Program in Marriage and Family Studies, UGA, 1992
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: Virginia 2000, Georgia, 2011
* Currently employed at Counseling Associates for Well-Being, Athens and Madison
Reverend Judy McNichols
Judy's goal as a wedding officiant is to provide the couple with a special and meaningful ceremony they will always remember.
Judy has been serving people all her life. She has a Masters of Arts in Guidance and Counseling from Tennessee Tech and is also a Reiki Master/Teacher. In addition, Judy is a teacher with her women's spiritual studies group and attends the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens where she is co-facilitator of a Small Ministry Group and facilitator of the Committee on Shared Ministry. She is a former public school educator and school counselor from Fulton County Schools.
Judy lives on Stonehurst Farm with her husband, Carl, and their dogs, cats, and cows. She loves the farm and the closeness with Mother Earth that makes this a very spiritual setting. She also enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, spoiling her dogs and working with the flowers in the Stonehurst Farm Wedding Garden.
Judy has been serving people all her life. She has a Masters of Arts in Guidance and Counseling from Tennessee Tech and is also a Reiki Master/Teacher. In addition, Judy is a teacher with her women's spiritual studies group and attends the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens where she is co-facilitator of a Small Ministry Group and facilitator of the Committee on Shared Ministry. She is a former public school educator and school counselor from Fulton County Schools.
Judy lives on Stonehurst Farm with her husband, Carl, and their dogs, cats, and cows. She loves the farm and the closeness with Mother Earth that makes this a very spiritual setting. She also enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, spoiling her dogs and working with the flowers in the Stonehurst Farm Wedding Garden.
Ida Barrett
Ida Barrett is ordained and in good standing with the Universal Life Church. Growing up, Ida watched her family work in weddings as the florists, caterers, or event planners. She decided to become ordained because she has always wanted to "join the family" and be part of creating an amazing wedding experience for anyone wanting to celebrate their love!
Ida believes that your wedding day should be a celebration of your love and commitment to each other. She will work with you to facilitate a ceremony that is unique to your story and set the tone for your special day.
Ida has been an Athenian for the past ten years and loves this community. She has a servant's heart and regularly volunteers with the Junior League of Athens and Books For Keeps.
Ida believes that your wedding day should be a celebration of your love and commitment to each other. She will work with you to facilitate a ceremony that is unique to your story and set the tone for your special day.
Ida has been an Athenian for the past ten years and loves this community. She has a servant's heart and regularly volunteers with the Junior League of Athens and Books For Keeps.
Reverend Charles Smith
Charles moved to Athens in August 2019 and is currently employed as Development Director for Athens Area Habitat for Humanity. As a pastor for 25 years, and a youth minister and campus minster prior to that, Charles has been fortunate to officiate weddings on beaches; in the woods; in parks; at wedding venues; and in chapels and churches.
Because of his extensive experience, he provides a variety of options and encourages the couple to create their own ceremony which should reflect who the individuals are individually and also communicate who they want to be as a couple. The couple may choose the welcome, address to the assembly, vows, ring exchange, and other components from multiple ceremonies and create a ceremony that is unique to the couple. Just as every couple is unique, Charles thinks that every ceremony should be unique.
Since every person is a gift, weddings provide celebrations of joining two gifts together, and Charles counts it an honor to participate in these joyous occasions. Charles married Jennifer in 1987, and they have two adult children, Ally and Samuel, who also live in Athens.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Georgia, 1983
Master of Divinity, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1987
Ordained in 1987
Doctor of Ministry, Baptist Seminary at Richmond, 2002
Because of his extensive experience, he provides a variety of options and encourages the couple to create their own ceremony which should reflect who the individuals are individually and also communicate who they want to be as a couple. The couple may choose the welcome, address to the assembly, vows, ring exchange, and other components from multiple ceremonies and create a ceremony that is unique to the couple. Just as every couple is unique, Charles thinks that every ceremony should be unique.
Since every person is a gift, weddings provide celebrations of joining two gifts together, and Charles counts it an honor to participate in these joyous occasions. Charles married Jennifer in 1987, and they have two adult children, Ally and Samuel, who also live in Athens.
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, University of Georgia, 1983
Master of Divinity, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1987
Ordained in 1987
Doctor of Ministry, Baptist Seminary at Richmond, 2002