Unfrequently Asked Questions, Vol. 1
“So… who are you, anyway?”
Fair question.
You may have landed on this page because you’re getting married, thinking about getting married, or helping someone else get married. Or maybe you were making honeymoon plans, typed in “best honeymoon countries,” and ended up here in Wedding Country, wondering where on earth this place is — and if Rick Steves gives tours.
Whatever brought you — welcome.
You’ve probablyhave already seen the Frequently Asked Questions section of my website, where I answer things like “How do I pay?” or “What happens if you get sick on the day of our wedding?” But there’s another kind of question couples often don’t ask — either because it feels too awkward, too personal, or too vague to put into words.
Questions like:
- “Your company seems nice, but… do you actually know what you’re doing?”
- “Are you, like, a real officiant?”
- “What’s your story?”
- “Why did you choose this?”
This series — Unfrequently Asked Questions — is where I answer those quiet, sometimes awkward but perfectly reasonable curiosities.
So, what’s my story?
Well, I’m a guy named Scott. My last name is Slaba — pronounced Slayba (I mention that because most people have spent my entire life pronouncing it Sloba).
I’ve worn many hats: retired Certified Public Accountant, public servant, Master’s Degree in English, Lutheran seminary student (until I realized church life wasn’t for me). I teach at our local community college, umpire baseball in the spring, work out daily, read, study, and share morning meditations with my wife of nearly 40 years.
How I Got Here
I’d call it a calling I stumbled into — something Andy Rooney once helped me understand. Rooney, the curmudgeonly 60 Minutes commentator from 1978 to 2011, told the story of a friend who became a heavy equipment operator with zero experience. He’d answer job ads, last a few minutes before being fired, but each time learn a little more — how to climb into the cab, where to sit, how to start the machine. After months of this, he was fully proficient.
That’s more or less how I found my way here.
I’d done a few weddings during seminary. My wife and I created a ceremony for our own wedding — and to my surprise, it was actually fun. That was my first glimpse that sacred doesn’t have to mean stiff. Years later, when my son and his fiancée asked me to officiate their wedding, I decided to squeeze every bit of meaning, joy, and fun out of the ritual.
From Sacred and Stiff… to Sacred and Alive
In the old days, ministers often saw weddings as “spiritual combat duty” — an obligation wedged between Sunday services and hospital visits. The ceremony was sacred, yes, but also something to endure until the real celebration began.
I wanted something different.
Through Mark Allen Groleau of Unboring Wedding Academy, I learned how to balance sacred with fun, while putting the spotlight squarely on the couple. That’s what I mean when I say this is a calling — creating ceremonies that honor the courage it takes to make a promise in this world, while filling the moment with joy, laughter, and deep presence.
What I’m Not
Am I a polished pro with a Hermes leather briefcase, a pocket square, a suit worth more than my car, and a Rolex I don’t know how to set? Not quite. My approach is down-to-earth, light-handed, and deeply respectful. There’s a saying in the world of umpiring: If no one notices you’re there during the game, you’ve probably done a pretty good job. I’m not here to steal the spotlight — just to shine it gently where it belongs: on you two.
So no, I don’t have a hundred reviews or a viral video (yet!). But I do have heart, curiosity, and the kind of reverence that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
And if that sounds like someone you’d want standing beside you when you enter the country of marriage — well, let’s talk