Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Keri Klein of Rochester

Keri Klein shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Keri, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Some people think that an officiant just stands there for 20 minutes, reads off a piece of paper, signs the marriage license, and goes about their day. I think of it like the picture of an iceberg where you only see the tip above water and the part of the iceberg underwater is massive. What isn’t seen is the time spent talking to the couple to understand their love story, what they want (or don’t want) to include in their ceremony, helping them choose readings, music, or unity ceremonies to include, helping them obtain their marriage license, helping them navigate family dynamics and that doesn’t include the time spent actually crafting the ceremony. I spend hours on the back end to ensure my couples have the ceremony that is couple-centric and special to them.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Keri Klein and I am the owner of Flower City Ceremonies. I am a Humanist Celebrant who creates personalized, inclusive, meaningful services based on humanist principles of reason, compassion, and human connection. While the majority of my ceremonies are weddings and elopements, I am also trained to perform funerals/celebrations of life, baby namings, trans naming ceremonies, or any other milestone moment someone would like to mark. Because we custom-write all of our ceremonies, no two are alike.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most helped me see myself is the one I share with my husband, Eric. He has shown me what love without an agenda truly looks like—steady, unconditional, and accepting of all parts of who I am. Through him, I’ve learned to feel safe in being fully myself.

I would also say my children, Morgan and Aaron, continue to shape how I see myself. They remind me daily to look at the world with wonder and curiosity, and they inspire me to be brave—to take risks, to grow, and to model courage for them.

Together, these relationships have grounded me while also pushing me to see new possibilities within myself.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
One of the defining wounds of my life was losing a child at 18 weeks pregnant. That loss, along with years of infertility treatments and several failed adoption matches, left me carrying a deep ache and a constant question of whether I would ever become a mother. Those years were filled with hope and heartbreak in equal measure.

Healing began the moment I met my daughter, Morgan. In her, I saw the dream I had carried for so long finally come alive. She was, and still is, the embodiment of my deepest hope—my dream of motherhood fulfilled. And then, when Aaron arrived, I discovered the missing piece I hadn’t even known I needed. From the first time I held him, I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Together, Morgan and Aaron brought light and wholeness to the places that once felt impossible to heal.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie in the wedding industry is that everything has to be “Pinterest-worthy” and that couples should go into debt to achieve that picture-perfect look. That is simply not true. Too often people lose sight of the real purpose of the day: to marry the person you love most in this world. Comparison is the thief of joy, and when couples measure their day against someone else’s, they risk missing the beauty of their own unique celebration. The heart of a wedding isn’t in the centerpieces or the price tag—it’s in the commitment you’re making to each other.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What false labels are you still carrying?
A false label I am still carrying is Imposter Syndrome. Despite my years of experience, officiating over 450 weddings, and awards I have won, there are moments when I still question whether I truly belong or if I’ve earned my place. It’s a quiet but persistent voice that tells me I’m not enough, even when evidence shows otherwise. I know this label isn’t rooted in truth, but letting go of it is a work in progress—one that challenges me to practice self-compassion and to own the value I bring.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
first photo credit is Garrett Maynard Photography
Picture of my family credit it Teale Brown Photography
Fifth photo down credit is Rachel Ann Photography

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