Meet Sabra Dettore

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabra Dettore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, I didn’t set out with a business plan or a grand vision. I’ve always been a bit of a hustler, selling vitamins, makeup, working the nine-to-five jobs, sometimes juggling two or three jobs at once. On top of that, I was also a mom and a wife, doing my best to hold everything together while figuring out what felt right for me. For a long time, I worked off and on for a local chiropractor, and even when I stepped away to try something new, he always welcomed me back. I think that came from my willingness to jump in and help whenever someone needed a hand.

But everything shifted the day I officiated my first wedding. That one ceremony turned into another, then a handful, and eventually it grew into something I never expected. Since becoming ordained in 2017, I’ve signed over 650 marriage licenses. At first, it was a hobby, a meaningful side gig that brought in some extra income, yes, but also something deeper. There was joy, of course, but also this surprising sense of rightness. Like I had finally landed where I was supposed to be.

The real turning point came when I decided to learn more about officiating funerals. I took the Master Celebrant Certification course through the Celebrant Academy, and that experience opened up a whole new world. It gave me the tools to serve people through life’s hardest goodbyes with the same heart and intention I brought to their happiest beginnings.

That was the moment I started seeing what I was doing not just as something I loved, but as a business worth nurturing. This work is about more than ceremony. It is about meaning, connection, storytelling, and trust. And I am honored every single time someone invites me to be part of their most important moments.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a secular celebrant, not just a wedding officiant, but someone who has studied and truly understands the art and meaning of ceremony. I work with couples getting married, families saying goodbye to a loved one, and people stepping into the role of officiant for someone they care about who want a little guidance to feel confident.

Weddings and funerals may seem like complete opposites, one filled with joy and the other with grief, but both are deeply human moments. They are about honoring stories, holding space for emotion, and creating a ceremony that feels honest, personal, and real.

What sets my work apart is how personal it is. I take time to really know the people I am working with, whether it is a couple in love or a family experiencing loss. I ask thoughtful questions and shape each ceremony with care and intention. No two are ever the same, and that is exactly how it should be.

Since becoming ordained in 2017, I have officiated over 650 weddings and more than 30 funerals. I am proud of those numbers, but what matters most is the trust people place in me during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. When someone says, “That was so us,” or “You captured them perfectly,” I know I have done what I was meant to do.

It has not always been easy. Running a business, holding space for big emotions, and keeping everything in balance has taken time. I have undercharged, overbooked, and questioned myself more than once. One of the biggest challenges has been breaking into the funeral industry. Many clergy accept small donations for services, so stepping in as a celebrant who charges for the time and customization I offer has required confidence and persistence. I have a few wonderful funeral directors who call on me, but most of my work comes from promoting myself online and helping people see the value of what I do.

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that presence matters more than perfection. People remember how they felt, whether they were seen, loved, and understood. That is what lasts.

What I want people to know is that ceremony matters. It is not just a formality. It is a chance to pause, reflect, and honor the people and the story at the heart of the moment. I do not just perform ceremonies. I create them with care, love, and intention. Whether I am celebrating a marriage, honoring a life, or helping someone prepare to officiate their first ceremony, I bring my whole heart. This is not just what I do. It is who I am. And I am truly grateful to do this work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is such a great question. I actually have two of my celebrant friends coming in from out of state next year, and I’ve already started planning. I want them to have the best time without spending the whole trip in the car, so I’m thinking a mix of local favorites, easy day trips, and time to relax and catch up.

We’d start with a visit to Victoria Wedding Chapel in Waterford. It’s such a beautiful spot right on the water, and I love sharing one of the spots where I get to do this work. If they’re here on a weekend, I’d love for them to see it all in action.

Since it’ll be summer, we might catch a Tigers game in Detroit. There’s something classic about watching baseball with a cold drink and the city skyline behind you. For food, we’re definitely getting Hungry Howie’s in Holly. My husband has been a supervisor there for over 30 years, so it’s kind of a family tradition. After pizza, we’ll stroll around downtown Holly, grab a coffee, and stop in some of the local shops.

I’ll find a brewery for Sabrina and a museum for Sarah. We’ll go tubing or floating on the river at least once, and maybe add a little adventure with a ropes course or outdoor park. If there’s live music, a street fair, or something quirky like drag queen bingo happening nearby, we’re going.

We’d take some time to shop in downtown Rochester or Royal Oak, walk around, grab a pastry, and soak up that small-town charm mixed with fun local energy. If the weather’s nice, we might spend an afternoon on the beach or paddling a nearby river, just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.

At the end of each day, we’ll head back to the house, put on our pj’s, make some decaf, and sit on the porch talking late into the night. For me, the best visits are the ones filled with laughter, ease, and little experiences that stay with you in your heart long after the trip is over. Michigan has so much to offer, and I just want to share the places and moments that make my heart full.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
After 30 years together, my husband Tony is still, without question, my biggest cheerleader. He believes in me completely, talks me up to everyone he knows, and supports me in countless ways, both big and small. He may not always understand how my creative brain works, or why some days I’m home but not working until inspiration finally hits, but he never questions it. He trusts me, encourages me, and shows up in all the ways that matter. I’m so grateful to walk through life with him.

And of course, my kids. They’ve tolerated the nonstop wedding and funeral talk, the missed weekends, and the emotional weight that sometimes comes with this work. Their love and support mean everything to me.

Mary Green at the Victoria Wedding Chapel in Waterford was one of the first people to take me under her wing. She welcomed me into the world of weddings, let me shadow her ministers, and answered every question I had with such patience and generosity. I learned so much by watching and listening, and I’m so grateful for her early mentorship.

Mark Allan Groleau of Unboring Weddings played a huge role during the pandemic. His YouTube videos, then first online training, helped me grow my skills and confidence in real time when the world felt upside down. Over the years, we’ve continued to support one another, and I always look forward to catching up with him at Wedding MBA in Vegas and getting the chance to chat with his lovely wife Naomi.

Donna Forsythe of the Celebrant Academy has had a truly profound impact on my journey. She encouraged me to wait for the right cohort, and that one decision changed the course of my life. Since then, our connection has only deepened. I traveled to Scotland for a celebrant retreat with her and ten other incredible celebrants, and every year I join her, along with several fellow graduates, to help promote the Academy and staff the booth at Wedding MBA in Las Vegas.
Her support, insight, and belief in me, and this work have shaped not just how I approach ceremony, but who I am as a celebrant. The relationships I have built through the Academy, especially with my cohort, have become something truly special. Some of them I talk to every single day. They have become my people, my support system, and in many ways, like family.

Roy Langolf, a local funeral director I deeply respect, deserves a heartfelt thank you as well. He trusted me to lead ceremonies for families he cares about, and he’s always given me honest, thoughtful feedback. His support helped me grow into the funeral celebrant I am today.

Bethel Nathan of Elevate by Bethel started as my business coach, but she’s become a true friend. She guided me as I moved from side hustle to full-time career, and now we support one another not just in business, but in life. She’s someone I can bounce ideas off of, celebrate wins with, and trust completely.

As for books, The Complete Celebrant Handbook by Hans Hills is the one I return to again and again. If you’re just starting out, it’s like a toolkit in book form — full of wisdom, guidance, and inspiration.

Website: https://www.ceremoniesbysabra.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceremoniesbysabra/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ceremoniesbysabra/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeremoniesbySabra

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ceremonies-by-sabra-ortonville

Other: https://iapwo.org/membership/united-states/michigan/brandon-township/sabra-dettore/

Ceremonies By Sabra

https://www.engaygedweddings.com/michigan-gay-wedding/michigan-gay-wedding-officiants/ceremonies-by-sabra.html
https://equallywed.com/wedding-directory/listing/sabra-dettore-wedding-officiant
https://www.celebrantacademyresources.org/michigan
https://planning.funeralwise.com/search-app/celebrant/michigan/brandon-township/sabra+dettore
https://www.insightbooks.com/pages/find-a-celebrant
https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/ceremonies-by-sabra/f3eaf414fb74df2f.html

Image Credits
Headshot is Melissa Arondoski of Mojo Photo
DJ Harrington of DJ Harrington Photography
Tammy Lorencz of Reflections by Lorencz Photography
Mariah Lutz of Lutz Family Photographer
Kya Liann of Kyaliann Michigan Wedding Photographer
Stefanie Brewer of Stefanie Renee Photography
Heather Stern of Heather Stern Photography
Melissa Arondoski of Mojo Photo