{"id":20892,"date":"2026-10-22T09:05:23","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T13:05:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=20892"},"modified":"2026-10-23T09:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T13:37:58","slug":"where-vows-meet-lessons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/22\/where-vows-meet-lessons\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Vows\u00a0Meet Lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column20892_240219-c9{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column20892_240219-c9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column20892_240219-c9\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Michelle Ward<\/strong> can hold a room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an adjunct instructor and coordinator for Wilmington University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/partnerships\/index.aspx\">Partnership Community and Affairs Department<\/a>, Ward brings wedding-day presence to the Wilmington University classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s because when she\u2019s not at WilmU, she serves her community as a professional wedding officiant. And when she\u2019s at work, she brings the same care to serving students, whether she\u2019s teaching, mentoring, or leading a class discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ward has served as a wedding officiant for five years. During that time, she has officiated many weddings \u2014 two for Wilmington University students:\u00a0 <strong>Jessica John<\/strong>, who earned her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/business\/marketing-curriculum.aspx\">bachelor\u2019s in Marketing<\/a> and graduated in 2025; and <strong>Hayleigh Hammel<\/strong>, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/education\/elementary-education-bs.aspx\">Elementary Education<\/a> alumna (2021) and teacher at the Capital School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn both settings, the work started the same way: listen first, then build an experience that fit the people in front of you,\u201d Ward says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The feeling is mutual for John and Hammel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMichelle came highly recommended to us on social media, so we scheduled a meeting with her,\u201d says Hammel. \u201cDuring that first conversation, I realized she was my professor during my freshman year in 2016, which immediately sealed the deal for me. Her First-Year Experience course was my very first class at WilmU, and I remember coming in as a freshman with little direction and not much excitement about school. Michelle completely changed that for me. I remember thinking that if all my professors were like her, I would have an amazing experience \u2014 and she truly shifted my outlook. It was an absolute honor to have someone who played such a meaningful role in my academic journey officiate my wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John echoes the sentiment. \u201cAs an instructor, Michelle created an environment where I always felt supported, encouraged, and confident in my learning,\u201d she says. \u201cShe took the time to genuinely care about her students, and that same level of care carried over into our wedding experience.\u00a0Having Michelle as both my University instructor and my wedding officiant was truly a full-circle moment for me.\u00a0Michelle took the time to genuinely get to know us and our story, which made our ceremony feel incredibly personal and heartfelt. Her words were thoughtful, sincere, and perfectly captured our love and commitment.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"307\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/michelle-ward-weddings.jpg\" alt=\"Above, Ward leads the ceremony for Hayleigh and Colby Mitchell, and right, she officiates Jessica and Kaleb Steele\u2019s nuptials.\" class=\"wp-image-20895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/michelle-ward-weddings.jpg 750w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/michelle-ward-weddings-250x102.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Above, Ward leads the ceremony for Hayleigh and Colby Mitchell, and right, she officiates Jessica and Kaleb Steele\u2019s nuptials.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an officiant, Ward specializes in ceremonies tailored to each couple\u2019s story. She meets with them, asks questions that move beyond logistics, and writes ceremonies that reflect their values and the life they hope to build together. While she always aims for warmth and authenticity, creating personalized services isn\u2019t easy; in fact, it\u2019s a high-pressure job. There are no templates here. Ward has to emulate a couple\u2019s voices while keeping guests engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo two love stories are the same,\u201d she says. \u201cIt brings me great joy to truly get to know each couple and create a ceremony that is written just for them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With a background that includes General Biblical Studies at the Texas Bible Institute, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/business\/marketing-curriculum.aspx\">bachelor\u2019s<\/a> and master\u2019s degrees in Marketing from WilmU, and professional experience with Disney, Ward brings a blend of faith, knowledge, story- telling and professionalism to her officiant work. The wife and mother of four has developed a perspective that has deepened her understanding of what meaningful moments can carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same skills that help her guide couples through ceremonies also lead students through lessons: clear communication, confident public speaking, and the ability to read a room and adjust in real time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her own experience as a WilmU student strengthened those skills. It pushed her to communicate with confidence in front of diverse audiences, she says. As an adjunct, Ward learned to listen closely, adapt to various personalities and needs, and create an environment where people feel seen, valued, and comfortable. That approach helps her in ceremonies, too,<br>particularly when family dynamics can lead to unexpected emotional scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officiating, Ward says, has sharpened her ability \u201cto stay present under pressure.\u201d Weddings rarely unfold exactly as planned. A microphone cuts out. A flower girl freezes. A gust of wind sends pages flying. The officiant\u2019s job is to keep the moment grounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For her, the ceremonies reinforce what she has always believed about teaching: people remember how you make them feel. Whether guiding a couple through vows or a student through a challenging concept, she wants the experience to feel intentional, well-prepared, and personal. In the end, Ward says, both roles honor people\u2019s stories and help them navigate life-changing moments with clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2014Maria Hess<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18054_056c48-40 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:273px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23{max-width:273px;}.image-is-svg.kb-image18054_2c3578-23{-webkit-flex:0 1 100%;flex:0 1 100%;}.image-is-svg.kb-image18054_2c3578-23 img{width:100%;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18054_2c3578-23 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-750x225.png\" alt=\"Wilmington University Logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-20626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-750x225.png 750w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-250x75.png 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-768x230.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18054_182255-65 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/category\/magazine\/\">magazine articles<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michelle Ward can hold a room. As an adjunct instructor and coordinator for Wilmington University\u2019s Partnership Community and Affairs Department, Ward brings wedding-day presence to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20893,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[1090,14,15],"class_list":["post-20892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine","tag-magazine-fall-2026","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":135,"label":"MAGAZINE"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1090,"label":"Magazine Fall 2026"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/michelle-ward-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":135,"name":"MAGAZINE","slug":"magazine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":692,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":458,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":135,"category_count":458,"category_description":"","cat_name":"MAGAZINE","category_nicename":"magazine","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":1090,"name":"Magazine Fall 2026","slug":"magazine-fall-2026","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1647,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":26,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":424,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":358,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20892"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20896,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20892\/revisions\/20896"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}