At the beginning of the wedding planning, I wasn't sure how I felt about finding someone to marry me over the internet, but as neither my husband nor I belonged to a church, it was what I had to work with. Rev. Jim put all our fears to rest from the second we sat down with him on our very first meeting, which was over a full year before the wedding. Between that first meeting and the big day, Rev. Jim would call periodically to keep in touch, and every time we talked it was like speaking with an old friend. He even came to our apartment the week before the wedding to go over some last minute details, which helped us out a lot because it was the week before the wedding and I had a lot of work left to do. Our ceremony was everything I wanted it to be; heartfelt, Christian without being overbearingly religious, funny, and, most importantly, personal. Rev. Jim used all the knowledge he'd built up over the time before the wedding and made what could have been a fake sounding ceremony into something incredibly personal and touching. He joked about our jobs, mentioned our cat, and in general just did a really great job at keeping the energy and atmosphere up during the ceremony. I had people come up to me afterwards who just assumed I went to church regularly and had known Rev. Jim for years because of how well he seemed to know us. I would highly recommend Rev. Jim to anyone who doesn't want a cookie-cutter ceremony. He did a wonderful job making us feel like we were the only people on his schedule and was instrumental in making our wedding that much more personal and special. read more

What an honor it was to have such a great man, Reverend Jim, preside over our ceremony. He's truly is remarkable. Our first communication with Reverend Jim was via telephone as we discussed the origins of our relationship and our feelings for one another. After our initial conversation, we talked a few more times over the telephone, each time getting more and more familiar with one another. We live out of state and wanted to meet with Reverend Jim, in-person, prior to our ceremony, to finalize the details. We agreed to meet at a location halfway between where we were staying and Jim's home. Immediately, as he walked into our meeting place, his smile personified his character. Within seconds, he made us feel very welcomed and comfortable and his caring nature is clearly evident. He was very open and inquisitive into our religious orientations and clearly accepting of all religions. During our ceremony, August 31, 2014, Reverend Jim incorporated every aspect of every telephone call and meeting in the sermon and even threw in a few jokes about the groom's profession. Standing up with him felt very comfortable and every one of our guests clearly enjoyed the ceremony as he had everyone in the room laughing at times. After our ceremony, many of our guests asked us how we found Reverend Jim and commented on what a great ceremony he conducted. It was really unbelievably comfortable and smooth experience with Reverend Jim. We would not hesitate to give Reverend Jim AKA "Rent-A-Rev" our highest recommendation as not only a justice of the peace, but as a wonderful person. read more

My husband and I found Rev Jim through an advertisement in a bridal magazine and the name of his company, "Rent-A-Rev" immediately caught our attention. We set up an initial meeting with him and knew right away that he would be the perfect officiant for our wedding. He spent the majority of the meeting getting to know my husband and I, learning about our families, careers, interests and talking about how we envisioned our wedding ceremony. He is experienced, organized and took a lot of notes to capture all of the details of our conversation. Closer to the date of the wedding we met again to iron out the details and timing of the wedding ceremony. I was impressed that he remembered the fine points that we had discussed months earlier. My husband and I both come from divorced / blended families and he helped us navigate through some tricky family dynamics as it related to the ceremony with ease. He was also very helpful in guiding us through the format of the ceremony and we incorporated a couple of readings and a unity cup ritual that he suggested, which made our ceremony personal and unique. Rev Jim led our wedding rehearsal and was skilled at corralling a very large wedding party, commanding everyone's attention and making sure everyone knew the drill before the big day. He married us on July 19, 2014 and the ceremony was perfect! Rev Jim made it very special, high energy and memorable. I highly recommend Rev Jim...you will not be disappointed! read more

I couldn't have asked for a better officiant for our September 2013 wedding! We wanted a ceremony that was short and sweet but also meaningful... and we got that and so much more! I found Reverend Rehnberg through wedding websites, emailed him, and he called me within hours. At our meeting with the Reverend, we felt like we had known each other for years. He was very easy to talk to and we had some good laughs too! Since we met with him months prior to our wedding, he was great about "checking in" with us up until our big day. Our ceremony was funny, personal and unique! Our guest were shocked to find out that we had only known Reverend Rehnberg for a few short months... they thought he was a family friend! EVERYONE was commenting on how great our ceremony was at our reception! I read that others commented about his cost.. we thought that he was very reasonable! We had met with other officiants that were MUCH more expensive and wanted to charge us extra to PERSONALIZE our ceremony.. um, excuse me, but it's OUR wedding ceremony, shouldn't it be personalized? Reverend Rehnberg never treated us like a "business deal" and get this, his one cost included a personalized ceremony!! During our ceremony, he talked about how we met and even let us use our own vows! I can't say enough good things about Reverend Jim Rehnberg! He's a great man and will absolutely make your ceremony unforgettable! Thanks again Reverend!! read more

My husband and I were married on August 29, 2014 at The Grove in Glenview and the ceremony was not only perfect because of the venue's beautiful grounds but also because of Reverend Jim Rehnberg! We were referred to the Rev by my cousin who he married 17 years prior and the wonderful things she had to say about him still hold true to this day. The first day we met with him we knew he was the right person to marry us just because of how passionate he is about love and marriage. He was always prompt in replying to my emails or voicemails and when I did speak with him I always smiled from ear to ear purely because of how excited he made me feel about my upcoming wedding. For our much needed rehearsal dinner he drove all the way to Roger's Park from Algonquin and did two run-throughs with our group and even stayed for dinner after I insisted he try the best BBQ in the Chicagoland area. Rev. Jim only met my husband and me twice and based on the ceremony you would think he knew the both of us our entire lives. He made the ceremony so personal and entertaining that our guests were coming up to us the entire night complementing on his service. I would highly recommend him to any couple that wants a dream wedding ceremony but still in need of an officiant! Thank you Rev. Jim!! read more

Rev. Rehnberg is amazing! When we were looking for an officiant for our wedding, Rev. Rehnberg was recommended to us. We arranged a meeting with him and met at his home. It was a very comfortable atmosphere. He made us feel right at home. He asked us questions about our relationship but really, it just felt like conversation with an old friend or family member. Afterwords, he assured us that there is no commitment yet and he encouraged us to look around to find the right fit. We told him that there was no need to look around, we would be honored to have him officiate us. During the course of our wedding planning, he kept in touch via phone and email to ask us how the wedding planning is going. He even asked us how our pets and family were. The day before the wedding, someone from his faculty ran the rehearsal. She was very professional and the wedding ran exactly how she explained it. The day of, Rev. Rehnberg made our wedding so very personable. It was a perfect combination of love, compassion, and humor. Everyone at our wedding kept telling us how it was the best wedding they've ever been to and how amazing that the reverend included so many personal things about us. Our wedding was perfect, all because of Rev. Rehnberg! read more

We found Jim under recommendation from the Morton Arboretum's preferred vendors list. We wanted an officiant that was a very good orator, that could speak in a way that really represented us as a unique couple in the world, all while remaining mostly non-religious. We talked to two or three officiants for our ceremony. After talking with Jim over the phone, and then meeting with him in person, we immediately felt comfortable with him. We felt that by hiring him, our entire ceremony would be in expert hands. We worked with Jim to put together our own unique ceremony (no cell phones or cameras, wine box ceremony, our own reading, blessing, etc.), and Jim was more than helpful and accommodating with the process. Jim was present, prompt, and professional at our event. Everything at the event went very smoothly under his direction, and we wouldn't have wanted our ceremony to have been officiated by anyone else. After the event, Jim processed our marriage license papers in very short order. Book Jim as your officiant if you want the sweetest, most eloquent speaker for your ceremony, or if you want a customized, no-hassle experience. read more

We were fortunate to have Reverand Jim, the "Rent-A-Rev", as our wedding officiant. Initially, we we looking for a judge or wedding officiant that could "get the job done" at a lower cost but we quickly came to realize that you indeed get what you (are willing to) pay for. While other officiants were more than capable of marrying us, Reverend Jim met with us for over an hour at a local hotel a few months prior to our wedding. He asked us questions and took the time to know us, our families, and how we met. Once we decided to enlist his services, he was easy to reach and responsive. He also checked in a week before the wedding to make sure everything was on track for the ceremony. On our wedding day, Reverend Jim was incredible with family and friends. He tailored the ceremony to us and made us feel at ease. He's a great public speaker and had our guests laughing and crying. It's obvious that Reverend Jim is passionate about his work as he comes across as a genuine, compassionate individual. We are happy to say he was a part of our wedding and will fondly remember his contribution. read more

Rev. Jim married my daughter Liz and her husband Dave last fall on Sept.22, 2013. His joy, passion, and creativity for their wedding ceremony was amazing; and many guests commented about him and what a great job he did. My mother (the bride's grandmother) was entering hospice in an Assisted Living facility 5 months earlier, and we asked Rev. Jim if could marry Liz and Dave twice, once in a small ceremony for grandma, and again in the fall. Jim was honored to marry them twice, and at wedding 1 he did a special prayer and blessing for mothers and grandmothers. More or less brought the house down as they say. At wedding 2 during the ceremony he mentioned this very special party we had with Nana earlier in the year, and again, for those of blessed to have been at both we just grinned with our memories. Jim is very thoughtful in his approach, trying to personalize to the degree he can and make the event special. He is a busy guy and touches many; and we are so happy he was a part of both of our events. Bev Hudson, mother of the bride read more

Rev. Jim renewed our vows for our 10 year anniversary at Navy Pier in Chicago. It was a surprise for my wife as Jim and I had planned everything without her knowledge. I could not have asked for a more personal and professional ceremony. Jim made our 10 year renewal more personal than our original vows. Jim took the time to get to know us and he made the ceremony all about our journey together as husband and wife. My wife and I were blown away and it will be an experience we will never forget. Jim's passion for personal relationships and genuine desire to join the lives of two loving individuals as one really shines. I will drive to Chicago again to renew our vows, as I do not know how anyone could top what Jim was able to do for us. Thank you Rev. Jim for giving us an immeasurable gift. We are truly thankful. So if you are looking for someone for a wedding or vow renewal and want someone who cares and treats you as a lifetime friend, then look up Rev. Jim! You will not be disappointed. read more

Reverend Jim did a wonderful job at our Feb wedding! Everyone thought that he was someone I had known all my life, not someone I had only met once! He really knows how to incorporate the small touches that make your ceremony so personal. Every time I talked to Rev. Jim I teared up, he really has a way with words, so of course we both were a mess during the vows :) All the guests were tearing up! It was so great! haha As far as price goes, I think he was worth every penny. Plus, I understand that he is not affiliated with a church, therefore, this is his major income, and I think his prices are fair. Yes, they are more than if you were to go to a church and use their Reverend on hand. But since we did not have a church of our own, and we were not getting married in a church, I think he was just perfect. I had seen him years ago when I was helping film a wedding, and he stuck in my mind, and I knew that I wanted him to perform my ceremony. Thats how good he is. You won't regret him! read more

I looked up Jim after putting off having one of my friends ordained prior to our wedding. I was nervous about having someone marry us with the proper skills to entertain an audience. Jim met with us for one hour on a Sunday prior to the wedding and asked a lot of important questions. He could not make the rehearsal so he sent an employee to fill in the spot. This person is important to organize all of the bridal party. Beth did a much better job than a friend would have done. We finished our rehearsal in about30 minutes and it was painless. The next day our ceremony went great. All of our friends asked how we both knew a reverend that knew so much about us as our family friends knew we do not attend church regularly. Reverend Jim gets to know you personally in a short amount of time and turns it into a very personal ceremony. We were both thrilled with our ceremony that Jim put together after a very short interview and acted like a long time family friend. read more

I have known the "Rent-A-Rev" for a very long time. He has married two of my friends, my brother, and was supposed to perform my ceremony for my first (broken) engagement many years ago. Jim is a great guy. I was worried that I might hear the same stuff that I heard at all of the other weddings of his I've been at, and I did hear some, but he put so much in there that just pertained to us. He had everyone laughing and having a good time. You do get to meet him before the wedding, so he learns a lot about you then. For instance, I call my husband Bob because that's how I met him. But his family calls him Robert and his co-workers call him Rob. So, for the ceremony, when you have to repeat after the reverend, "I take you, Bob...", he had me say that, but after I said "Bob", he then said "Rob", and "Robert". Everyone got a big kick out of that, including me! He's a great guy! Worth the money IMO. read more

Reverend Rehnberg is amazing!!! We met him for the first time at a wedding show in Chicago. One of our big concerns about hiring someone where we had no history was that the ceremony would feel impersonal and bland. This could not have been further from the truth. The ceremony was above and beyond anything we could have ever hoped for. It was heartfelt, funny, upbeat... it was perfect. We knew he would do a good job, but we were absolutely blown away. He exceeded every expectation we had. Rev Rehnberg is an extremely captivating speaker who does not read from a script. He took details from our meetings and masterfully worked them into the ceremony. It felt like he had known us our entire lives, and there was not a moment where he was not smiling. Guests were coming up to us all night talking about what a wonderful job he did. We truly could not have been happier with Rev Rehnberg. read more

As a DJ since 1980 I have done dozens of weddings where Rev Jim Rehnberg was the officiate. He's WONDERFUL. As a vendor for the wedding, I get to watch from the wings, and he has brought me to sweet tears with each ceremony. I can't say enough about Rev Jim, also known as Rent-A-Rev, Rent -a- Rev or Rent a Rev. He's SO wonderful that the VH1 reality series My Fair Brady had him marry Adrian (America's Top Model) and Christopher Knight (Peter Brady). I think I cried more than Adrian did! Rev Jim is very busy; gets calls for all over Illinois, and if you want the most wonderful ceremony, you better call early! Besides weddings Rev Jim does: Vow renewal; Baptism; Baby Dedication; Funeral; Marriage/Family counseling; Mediation; Group Facilitation; House Blessing; and a little Stand Up Comedy. What more can you ask for? www.RentARev.com read more

If I could give Rev Jim Rehnberg 10 stars, I would. Without a doubt, this was the very best choice we could have made for our officiant. People who attended our wedding at The Herrington Inn in Geneva, IL in July 2014 continue to rave about him. Every person asked if he was our current pastor and how long he had known us in order to be able to deliver the wonderful ceremony that he did. The truth of the matter is that after spending a few hours with us on a sunny afternoon and getting to know our likes and dislikes, habits and feelings, and our wants and desires for our life together, Rev Jim put together a meaningful and touching ceremony that had us all both laughing and teary eyed from start to finish. He was truly outstanding. Please do not hesitate to work with "The Rent-A-Rev". It will be an experience worth every penny. read more

Rev Jim is the best!!! My husband and I were in need of an officiant and weren't sure where to start and I came across Rent-a-Rev while doing an online search. We were so happy he was available for our date, and once we met him we knew we had to have him to marry us. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know Rev. Jim during our first meeting- he has a great sense of humor and is extremely personable. He was genuinely interested in getting to know us too. I might be biased... But Rev. Jim conducted the BEST ceremony we have ever been to. Lucky for us, it was ours!!! He spoke beautifully about marriage and love but at the same time keeping it fun. We still have friends and family telling how awesome and funny Rev. Jim was 6 months after the fact. Stop thinking about it and book him!!! read more

I am not a fan of being the center of attention, so I was most nervous about the ceremony. However, Rev. Rehnberg lead the ceremony in such a way that it was the perfect mix of light/fun and deep/romantic, and I truly only focused on his words and my groom. The part I was most nervous about turned out to be my favorite part of the day! I was kept at ease the entire time (initial phone conversation, meetings, rehearsal, and, most importantly, the ceremony). He added the perfect personal touches to his words that made the ceremony specific to us but also general enough that everyone could relate. I received many compliments on the ceremony, and it was obvious everyone loved him! Thank you, Rev. Rehnberg, for making my wedding ceremony so beautiful and memorable! read more

Reverend Jim was our officiant on our Sept 15 2013 garden wedding. We wanted an intimate ceremony and Rev Jim did just that and more. He met with us a year prior and spent hours to get to know us. I think that's what makes him different frm the others- he does not only go through the motions- he really cares about the couple that he marries and wants to give them a personal ceremony that they will remember for the rest of their lives. He also patiently guides and walks you through the entire ceremony process so you know exactly what to do. We feel blessed that we had Rev Jim as our officiant and we would highly recommend him to our family and friends. Thank you Rev Jim! - Loren and Angelica read more