who am i?

Hey there!
I’m Amanda, the face behind Vows by Van Otterloo. After working in ministry for almost a decade where I helped plan and coordinate weddings, as well as doing some makeup artistry for brides and bridal parties, I finally decided to take the next step and become an officiant.

I wanted to make this change because I believe words matter. I believe each and every wedding is unique, and your ceremony should be as well. The ceremony is where everything slows down for a while, you take the center stage, and speak about your love out loud in front of the people who matter most to you. This day will be remembered for the rest of your lives, and I would be honored to be a part of it.

A little about me: I’m originally from California, but have lived in the Midwest for the majority of my life. I like to think I have sun, ocean, and hippie values in my blood despite South Dakota and Iowa trying to freeze it out of me. As mentioned earlier, I worked in ministry for 8 years as a worship director who also managed social media, tech, weddings, and funerals. Prior to that, I was a music teacher for adults with disabilities. My husband and I have been married since 2018 and we have one dog, four cats, and almost 20 nieces/nephews.

Whether you want an intimate or packed ceremony, traditional or quirky, religious, spiritual, or secular, my goal is and always will be the same:
help you speak from the heart in a way that feels right to YOU.

My ultimate goal is for your wedding to feel intentional, personal, and deeply human. Allow me the honor of helping you find the right words, for the right moment.