The Sandbox Celebrations
There are countless joy-filled moments in our lives. And, as you likely know by now, The Sandbox is all about JOY! For this reason, we can’t help but want to celebrate with families and couples as they hold weddings, vow renewals, and other special occasions.
Mara is an ordained officiant, and as with everything at The Sandbox, she customizes the ceremony to fit the needs, personalities, and dreams of those she serves.
An occasion in point! In December 2022, at A Weekend of Believing, Executive Director Mara Campolungo officiated the vow renewal ceremony for a remarkable Sandbox family.
If you’re interested in learning more about The Sandbox Celebrations, contact us at Info@WhatsInYourSandbox.org or via phone at 980.224.0231





Click To Read Our Celebrations Testimonials…
Cait Smith, Bride
I am writing to offer my unreserved recommendation for Mara Campolungo, currently a wedding officiant in the Carolinas.
I first met and heard the words of Mara at my friend’s wedding in which I attended. Her words not only made us laugh but made us cry and really spoke about my friend’s love story. So of course a couple years down the road, Mara was the first person who came to mind for my wedding day. I just knew she would be the perfect person to officiate our wedding ceremony.
Our initial contact and meeting with Mara was by FaceTime. She accommodated our busy work schedules and made it so easy to connect with her. She was so fun and spunky and so easy to talk to. She made it such a safe place to talk about our love story and what brought us together.
There are so many things about Mara that stood out to me and helped make my day special. She did a wonderful job at our rehearsal and was very clear at directing us through our ceremony. She was very patient with our extremely excited, rambunctious group of bridesmaids and groomsmen. Additionally, Mara has a calming presence that worked wonders in keeping me calm and steady during the ceremony and vows.
The ceremony itself was breathtakingly beautiful. I sit here everyday and wish I had it on video. Her words not only spoke of our love story but she went out of her way to ensure we received our sunflower proposal that I had always dreamed of. We continue to receive endless compliments about how amazing and true her words were and how it complimented our love story so perfectly. We truly could not have asked for a more perfect wedding ceremony.
Renee Kievit, Mother Of The Bride
Mara is an amazing person and we are so glad she has become a member of our family. We pray God’s blessings over her and her husband for everything they did together to make our daughter’s wedding so special.
When Mara dreamed up that Jeremy would propose again in a sea of sunflowers, her husband teamed up with her to make the vision come alive during the ceremony. Neil was a great team player making sure all the sunflowers were distributed quickly and to Cait & Jeremy’s total surprise.
Rachel Curtis, Owner at Elegant Insight Events
I can speak to the wonderful personality that Mara offers as an officiant. She brings warmth, laughter and a calming presence. She really goes the extra mile to get to know her couples and provide them with a very genuine and individual experience. She has excellent communication. As an event planner, my experience has been that couples fall in love with her the minute they speak with her.
Ebony, Founder Rae Images; Headshot & Branding Photographer
I’ve worked with Mara at multiple wedding ceremonies. I love how Mara really takes time to get to know the couple, their interests, and their love story. She always finds creative ways to weave their love story into the ceremony, making the day even more special and memorable. If you are looking for a unique and personalized ceremony, you will not be disappointed.
Rachel & Sal Marino, Bride & Groom
My husband & I were recommended to reach out to Mara as an officiant through a mutual family friend. After texting back and forth a few times, all 3 of us went out for coffee in Waverly. A quick introductory meeting turned into about 2-3 hours of chatting! Immediately after meeting Mara, we all just clicked like we’ve known each other for years. Working with Mara was so easy, and natural. I never once had to worry about anything – she had it covered!
On the wedding day, Mara delivered the most beautiful ceremony – something we will cherish forever (and still talk about!). In just a few outings together, Mara captured us perfectly. She has a beautiful way with words and makes the ceremony extremely personal to you. My husband and I were bawling our eyes out! Mara made us laugh, cry and smile until our cheeks hurt during the ceremony. I would absolutely recommend Mara to anyone who is looking for an officiant. We will forever cherish the ceremony she created for us and the friendship we made with her!
Jim Graziano, Groom
Mara officiated our wedding seven years ago on my in-laws’ lakefront property in Mooresville. It was amazing and memorable. She met with us beforehand to discuss the ceremony to take our requests and make sure it would be exactly as we wanted. It was. Mara possesses the perfect combination of professionalism and personality, her excellent sense of humor added a perfect touch to the experience. It is something we will never forget.
Lottie Young Keziah, Bride
“Mara officiated our wedding and saved the day when our plans fell through with my brother who was going to officiate. Mara was able to swoop in and make us feel like she had been with us throughout the entire planning process. I am absolutely thrilled to share my wonderful experience with Mara. From start to finish, she went above and beyond to make our special day unforgettable, and I would recommend her to anyone looking for a personalized, heartfelt ceremony.
When we found ourselves in a bind and needed an officiant at the last minute, she stepped up to the plate without hesitation. She was incredibly responsive, professional, and accommodating, working quickly to ensure that everything was in place and that our ceremony would be perfect.
But what really blew us away was the ceremony itself. She took the time to get to know us on a personal level and crafted a beautiful, emotional ceremony that truly captured the essence of our relationship. It was clear that she put a lot of thought and care into every aspect of the ceremony, from the readings to the vows to the overall flow of the service.
Throughout the entire ceremony, she had a wonderful presence that made it feel like she truly knew us and was invested in our love story. Her words were so moving and heartfelt that there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. We received so many compliments from our guests about how personalized and touching the ceremony was, and we have her to thank for that.
Overall, I cannot recommend this officiant enough. She went the extra mile in every aspect of our wedding, and it was truly a pleasure to work with her. If you want a ceremony that is as unique and special as your love story, look no further than this incredible officiant.”
The Capoziellos, Bride and Groom
Mara officiated the wedding between my high school sweetheart and I in 2020. She made the entire process easy going and filled with light, especially during a pandemic! Throughout the ceremony she created her magic and told our love story in a way that was so unique, special and specific to us. She communicates and pays attention to every detail! We were lucky to have her officiate our wedding, we more than recommend her to officiate yours!