Shan AndersonPoet and counseling student in Philly



BIOAshanti Anderson, who goes by the name Shan (pronounced "Shawn"), is a Black Queer Disabled writer and a 2023 National Endowment for the Arts fellow. Shan is the author of Black Under, which won the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition at Black Lawrence Press. A two-time Pushcart Prize nominee, Shan's poems have appeared in POETRY magazine, World Literature Today, and elsewhere. Shan's other published and produced works include essays, research articles, stage plays, screenplays, and tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs). Shan is also a wedding officiant, writing consultant, and is currently studying to become a mental health therapist. Shan lives in Philly and uses he/they pronouns.


WORK WITH MEManuscript Feedback
(Poetry, Prose, Script, & Hybrid works)

1-49 pages: $2.50 to $2.75 per page
($25 minimum)
50-99 pages: $3 to $3.25 per page
100+ pages: $3.50 to $4 per page
Admissions Consulting
(personal statement and resume edits, interview prep)

Starting at $250
Resumes & Cover Letters
$25 per page
All work can be done via email. Video consultations available upon request.Email [email protected]


Teaching, Trainings, & Workshops
Topics: creative writing & expression, trauma-informed mental healthcare
Honorarium appreciated.
 

OFFICIANT SERVICES
For weddings, elopements, vow renewals, and marriage license signings.
I write one-of-a-kind ceremonies to match your once in a lifetime love story. Couples of all gender identities, orientations, ethnicities, and faiths welcome.I'm a perfect fit for couples who want to take a creative and culturally-affirming approach to their ceremony.


Ceremony ServicesAll ceremony services include:

  • fully customized ceremony script

  • unlimited script drafts up to 3 days before the ceremony

  • unlimited phone or video consultations (your preference)

  • unity ceremony of your choice

  • I’ll wear attire that matches your theme

  • I’ll arrive 30+ minutes before the ceremony begins

  • I’ll handle the license signing and filing

  • 50 miles of travel from Philadelphia included (additional travel $0.50/mi.)

 
30-minute ceremony $600
15-minute ceremony $400
Intimate Ceremony
For marrying couple and up to 10 guests
10-minute ceremony
$250
License Signing & Filing ONLY
(Only marrying couple may attend)
Good idea for destination weddings
$100



I don’t just tolerate your love,
I CELEBRATE it.
All wedding services require a brief no-cost consultation. Contact me to schedule.Call/Text (215) 821-9623
Email [email protected]
 

Do you officiate queer/same-sex weddings?Absolutely!

Can you help us write our vows?Vow writing support, including performance coaching, is included for both members of the couple in the cost of ceremony services. If you need vows completely written from scratch, I charge a rate of $100 per minute (speech duration).

Do you offer pre-marital counseling?I don't offer pre-marital counseling just yet. But I’m excited to share that I’m in graduate school, working hard to earn my counseling degree and become a licensed professional counselor! Soon, I’ll be able to help wonderful couples like you prepare for your union with pre-marital counseling.

Do we need to have you at our rehearsal?While totally optional, my attendance at the rehearsal is highly recommended. It helps everyone involved understand their roles and the flow of the day. By attending the rehearsal, I get a better feel for the tone of wedding, the venue and layout, and can help reduce stress. This can ensure everything goes smoothly. Rehearsal attendance is included with the 30-minute ceremony; for shorter ceremonies, rehearsal attendance requires an additional fee.

Can we write our own ceremony and have you perform it?My job is to make your dream wedding come true, and if that means reading YOUR script, I'm happy to do that. Contact me to negotiate pricing.

Do you travel?I would absolutely be thrilled to travel for your ceremony! All trips within 50 miles of Philadelphia are included in the ceremony package. Additional road travel is billed at $0.50 per mile, plus tolls/fares. If driving isn’t feasible, you’ll have to cover bus/train/air fare (round-trip) and lodging. But if I’m free, count me in!