Ashland Wedding Minister home page.

Khalil (Mark Elliott) has been a minister performing weddings for over 10 years. For the last 20 years Khalil has been an active student & teacher in the local community. He is the founder and leader of Ashland Sufi Heart Circle(an open, inclusive tradition). In addition to performing weddings, Khalil leads the Dances of Universal Peace, and ongoing Sufi classes & gatherings locally and around the country. Khalil is involved in Interfaith work and is a member of Rogue Valley Interfaith Ministers(formerly Ashland Interfaith Ministers).

Khalil has lived in the Ashland, Oregon area for over 30 years. He has two beautiful daughters, Mila and Hanna; and one glorious granddaughter, Bella. Khalil is also a master gardener and takes care of the grounds at the Heart Dome, which is home to Ashland Sufi Heart Circle.

Weddings are a favorite part of my ministry. It's wonderful to see the joy of the
ceremony itself, the beauty of a multi-generational event, and the
families feeling at ease.
A few words of inclusion at the right time can make the parents and
relatives of the new couple feel that they are a part of the ceremony, even
though there may not be any actual part for them to play. Of course, all
decisions being up to the bride and groom, anyone can have a part in the
wedding whether they are a relative or not.
I generally meet 1-3 times with the couple/family preparing before the wedding day.
The first meeting is usually about 4 to 6 weeks before. At this meeting we
talk about general ideas and how the day will unfold. We work out an idea
of how the ceremony will go: how much I talk, how much you talk, your own
vows, music, poetry, those kinds of details. I also will bring a list of
things folks might not have thought of yet, but will surely come up.
The second meeting is usually about 1 to 2 weeks before. At this meeting we
tie up any loose ends and go over the ceremony. The bride and groom let me
know how much time in the wedding itself, if any, will be left open for the moment.

What works best for the couple is what I offer.

Khalil's fee will be arranged with the new couple. It will
depend on a number of factors, including how many times Khalil meets with
the couple, how large the wedding is, what the overall budget for the
wedding is, and similar considerations. Khalil's desire in this is that both
he and the new couple will feel that the fee is fair to all concerned, and
balanced with the overall budget of the wedding.

Thank for you for understanding our coming together
..... the reunion of the human spirit
.....The Heart and Soul
....and on that day we all became about....
LOVE

Are you legal? Yes, I'm a licensed minister and I am as legal as any
other minister in Oregon.

What is your religious background or affiliation? I am ordained as a
Cherag (minister) in the Sufi Ruhaniat International. An inclusive order,
the Ruhaniat line of Sufism comes from Pir-O-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. The
focus of this mystery school is an initiatic relationship designed to awaken
in the student's heart the reality of God; to lead to spiritual liberation.
The teacher is as a cupid in this process, providing a key by which the
student opens a door to enter a new room of understanding, of knowing.
So I would say that my faith tradition is a spiritual path or a mystery
school more than a religion. However , these terms mean different things to
different people, so I don't get too picky about these names.

Where? I am licensed in Oregon and Jackson County and am willing to
travel elsewhere.

"Khalil, you made all of our relatives at our wedding feel at ease, which is
no easy task." Paul, from Ashland, Oregon

"We really enjoyed having you be such an integral part of our wedding. It seemed as though you were able to capture the essence of us and our direction as a couple. Not only that, but you did it such a personable way that everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. We felt as though some divine plan has led us to you to help us unite our families in such a maner. And we feel very thankful that everything turned out the way it did."
John & Shiela, from Southern Oregon

"Khalil, with my nervousness and the hectic pace leading up to the wedding,
your calm presence was so reassuring and such a blessing. Thanks once again
for everything." Jodi, from Ashland, Oregon

"A heart felt thank you for bringing us together! It was such a special day and you were
awesome!! Thank you so much for sharing yourself and your true essence with all of us. I believe you understand the coming together... the union of the human spirit....the heart and soul.... and on that day we all just became about love." Laura & Ellis, Gold Hill, Oregon

Welcome to Ashland, Oregon Weddings.