“Together, we’ll create a meaningful, fun, & memorable wedding experience!”
29 Years Serving Awesome Couples in Westlake Village, CA!
Wedding Officiant & Minister in Westlake Village, CA
“As a wedding officiant Westlake Village couples have trusted for 29 years, this city holds a deeper place in my heart than any other. It was the very first place I called home when I left my parents’ house at twenty-four years old — and thirty-five years later I still love it just as much. From the waterfall gardens at the Four Seasons Westlake Village to the romantic grounds of the Westlake Village Inn, from the private gates of Sherwood Country Club to the waterfront views at the Westlake Yacht Club — I’ve had the privilege of officiating incredible ceremonies here for nearly three decades. I’m the preferred officiant for Bella Vita Events, Southern California’s #1 rated wedding coordinator. Call or text me at (805) 300-4955.”
Finding the Right Wedding Officiant in Westlake Village, CA
I’ve been officiating weddings in Westlake Village for 29 years. From the waterfall gardens at the Four Seasons to the romantic grounds of the Westlake Village Inn — I know this city well and I love performing weddings here. Every ceremony I write is different because every couple is different.
My background in motivational speaking, ministry, and professional writing shows up in every word I put on that page. I’m the preferred officiant for Bella Vita Events, Southern California’s #1 rated wedding coordinator.
Westlake Village was the first city I ever called home as an adult — thirty-five years ago I moved here at twenty-four and never stopped loving it. When you ask me to officiate your wedding here it feels personal in a way that goes beyond the ceremony. Call or text me at (805) 300-4955.
The Benefits of Customized Ceremonies
Here’s what 29 years has taught me: couples don’t want generic. They want their wedding to feel like them. When you choose me as your officiant, I spend real time getting to know you — your personalities, your story, your humor, your values. Then I write every single word of your ceremony from scratch.
I’ve officiated intimate backyard ceremonies with 10 guests and elegant ballroom affairs with 300. The size doesn’t matter. What matters is that every person in those seats feels something. That’s my job and I take it seriously. It’s what sets me apart as the wedding officiant Westlake Village families recommend most.
Officiating Religious and Secular Weddings
My background is in Christian ministry, but over 29 years I’ve officiated ceremonies for couples of many faiths and backgrounds — Christian, Jewish, interfaith, and couples with no religious affiliation at all. Most couples I work with fall somewhere in the middle. They have values and beliefs but they don’t want a church service. They want something meaningful without feeling like a religious lecture. That’s exactly what I do. I’ll incorporate as much or as little faith as feels right for you — handled with genuine respect for who you are and what you believe.
5 Reasons to Get Married in Westlake Village, CA
As a wedding officiant Westlake Village couples trust, here’s what I tell every couple who asks me why Westlake Village:
1. A Genuinely Beautiful Community
Westlake Village is a quaint, safe, and beautifully maintained community tucked between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Conejo Valley. It has a charm that feels genuine rather than manufactured — and that quality shows up in every wedding I’ve performed here. Couples and their guests always notice it. There’s something about this town that just feels right for a ceremony.
2. World-Class Venues
Few cities in Southern California can match the concentration of truly exceptional wedding venues that Westlake Village offers. The Four Seasons, the Westlake Village Inn, Sherwood Country Club, the Westlake Yacht Club — each one is world class in its own way. More on all of them below.
3. Perfect Year-Round Weather
Westlake Village enjoys warm, temperate, and reliable weather virtually year-round. It’s close enough to the coast to benefit from ocean breezes but far enough inland to avoid the marine layer that can affect beach cities. For outdoor ceremonies it’s about as reliable as Southern California gets.
4. Close to Los Angeles Without the Chaos
Westlake Village sits just off the 101 freeway, making it easily accessible for guests coming from Los Angeles, the Valley, or anywhere in between — without any of the urban noise, traffic, or congestion. Your guests arrive relaxed and ready to celebrate. That matters more than people realize.
5. It Feels Like a Destination Without Being One
One of the things I love most about Westlake Village is that it gives couples the feeling of a destination wedding without asking guests to travel far. The lake, the mountains, the venues — it all combines to create an experience that feels special and elevated. Guests leave feeling like they went somewhere truly memorable.
Wedding Venues in Westlake Village, CA
Four Seasons Westlake Village
The Four Seasons Westlake Village is one of the most stunning ceremony settings I’ve ever stood in front of. The outdoor area behind the hotel features a beautiful waterfall cascading into a sprawling grass area surrounded by manicured gardens and mountain views. It is genuinely breathtaking — the kind of backdrop that makes every photo look like it belongs in a magazine.
I have a particularly memorable story from the Four Seasons. At one ceremony I officiated there, a very special guest was in attendance — the owner of an NBA team. As someone who has spent 44 years as a basketball official myself, that was a moment I didn’t take for granted. It’s that kind of venue — it attracts people who appreciate excellence.
Westlake Village Inn
The Westlake Village Inn has a romantic, timeless quality that works beautifully for both intimate ceremonies and larger celebrations. Its Mediterranean-inspired design and lush grounds create an atmosphere that feels both elegant and warm — never cold or corporate.
This venue holds my most personally meaningful wedding memory of anywhere I’ve officiated in 29 years. Twenty-one years ago I was asked to serve not only as the wedding officiant but as the best man at the same wedding. That had never happened to me before and honestly probably won’t again. It was one of the greatest honors of my career.
What made that day even more extraordinary was that my daughter Kaylin appeared in one of my weddings for the first and only time. She was four years old and served as the flower girl. I still remember watching her walk down that aisle and thinking — “The next time I see you walking down an aisle, you better be twenty-six, and I hope he’s a doctor.” It still makes me smile every time I think about it.
Sherwood Country Club
Sherwood Country Club sits behind private gates in the hills of Westlake Village and offers a level of privacy and elegance that very few venues in Southern California can match. The ceremony site looks out over the immaculate golf course and into the valley where some of the most stunning homes in the region are nestled. Cocktail hour at Sherwood is an experience unto itself — guests sipping drinks while taking in that view never want to leave.
Westlake Yacht Club
The Westlake Yacht Club puts you right on the water with views of the lake and the forested hills beyond that are genuinely hard to beat. There’s something about a waterfront ceremony that creates an immediate sense of calm and romance — and the Westlake Yacht Club delivers that in abundance. I’ve officiated beautiful ceremonies here and the setting never disappoints.
Westlake Village was my first home as an adult and it’s still one of my favorite cities to officiate in. If you’re planning a wedding here, reach out now — the Four Seasons and Sherwood book up well in advance and I want to make sure we can make your date work.
Find Your Wedding Officiant in Westlake Village, CA
My Experience
29 years ago I became a licensed wedding officiant with one mission: to make every ceremony 100% tailored to the personalities and uniqueness of the couple standing in front of me. No templates. No recycled words. Your wedding can be meaningful, memorable, creative, and fun. This is all about celebration.
The Locations
Southern California is one of the most beautiful and sought-after areas for weddings in the entire country and I’m proud to call it home. I officiate everywhere from large destination weddings to intimate backyard vow renewals and beach ceremonies across Ventura County and beyond. Need your marriage license? The Ventura County Clerk-Recorder has everything you need before the big day.
You!
No two couples are the same, which means no two ceremonies I write are the same. My responsibility is to understand your vision — 100% about your dreams, your story, your personalities. I will take the time to weave every wonderful detail into a ceremony that is completely and uniquely yours.
Your Personalized Wedding Minister in Westlake Village, CA
Finding the right officiant is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your wedding. I don’t take that lightly. Every couple I work with gets my full attention — from our first phone call to the moment I pronounce you married.
I spend about an hour in a personal interview with every couple before I write a single word of your ceremony. I want to know how you met, what makes your partner laugh, what your families mean to you, and what you want the people in those seats to walk away feeling. That’s the foundation of everything I write.
When you reach out I get back to you fast — within minutes, not hours. You’re about to ask someone you’ve never met to perform one of the most important moments of your life. The least I can do is pick up the phone. Check out my wedding packages to find the right fit for your day. Every couple I work with as their wedding officiant Westlake Village deserves my full attention.
Reach out to Dean Merrill Weddings Today
Westlake Village was the first place I called home as an adult. Thirty-five years later I’m still performing weddings in this city I love — and every single one feels special. Whether you’re getting married at the Four Seasons, the Westlake Village Inn, Sherwood Country Club, or anywhere else in the area — I’d be honored to be your wedding officiant Westlake Village couples have trusted for nearly three decades.
Call or text me at (805) 300-4955 or fill out my online form to get started. I follow up fast and I’d love to hear your story.
“My husband and I very easily decided to select Dean Merrill as our officiant after our first call with him inquiring about his services. We decided to proceed with his Personal package which led to a detailed and fun phone meeting with the three of us as he got to know us and to prepare for the ceremony. The day of our wedding Dean found is way to each of us prior to the ceremony to introduce himself in person and check in to see how we were doing before our big moment. Dean gladly joined my very close family and friends and I in a prayer to help guide us through the big day. During the ceremony Dean was calm and confident and very warm as he spoke about my husband and I. The ceremony was nothing but perfect. He did an amazing job sharing our stories and our love for each other to our friends and family. It has been two weeks since we were married and we still are receiving comments about how amazing and touching the ceremony was. I wish I could give him 100 stars if it were possible!”
Frequently Asked Questions
I am always available to answer specific questions or concerns. Weddings tend to bring up some common worries, so here are some of the ones I hear most often:
Will You Process our Marriage License?
I offer license processing in both my simple and personal wedding packages. All you have to do is apply and bring your license to the ceremony, where I’ll handle all of the necessary signatures. From there, I’ll mail it to the county clerk’s office within 24 hours of your big day, and you’ll get it back in one to eight weeks.
Do You Officiate Small Weddings?
I have tackled weddings of every imaginable size and given my all to each of them. I’m ready to design the ceremony that fits your needs, no matter how many people will be in attendance.
Can My Children Join in the Ceremony
Of course! I’ll gladly incorporate your immediate (or extended) family into the ceremony. The bottom line is that I want to do whatever will make you and your loved ones feel special on the big day, making it truly unforgettable for everyone in attendance.