We had the good fortune of connecting with Rich Satnam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rich, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Honestly, I never saw this as a career until it was. My wife, Shelby, and I eloped in Canada where we purchased an all-inclusive package that included an officiant to marry us. His name was Aiden and he was full of joy. I couldn’t believe that he did this for a living. When we returned back to the states, I thought, “Hey! I bet I would really enjoy that and it really fits my personality. Let’s do it…differently!” I was already ordained from my time in the Army as a Chaplain, so I started to advertise and test out the market. I really wanted to be different from the jump, which is something that has also developed organically. For instance, I take all of my couples out for coffee or drinks to get to know them and plan out their ceremony. I remember the first time I took out a couple (Christine and Chad out) for coffee, I was hooked! It was the first time in my life that I could authentically be myself while working. The tattoos, the beard, and out-of-the-box thinking doesn’t fit well in the corporate environment. I remember coming home to Shelby and saying, “This is it! I loved that!” That was a huge turning point for me. I mean, I didn’t even have a name picked out or anything, but started to pour myself into the business and came up with Let’s Knot and Say We Did, LLC. It wasn’t until after starting Let’s Knot that I realized my WHY. I spent so much of my life asking, “Why am I here?” and “What is my purpose?” I know my why! It hit me when I was at a coffee shop with a couple, Laura and Hope. They were telling me about how they fell in love and I immediately went outside my mind, where I felt like I was transported to another realm. It was at that moment I knew. My wedding day is a day I would live over a million times. I even smile at the memory as I write. I want to give other couples a memory they would want to go back and live a million times over. I have been encouraged time and time again to chase after joy. I have never fit in the box and always tried to be someone else or forced to drink the corporate Kool-aid. That’s not for me. I believe we are all free beings and having my own business is living out part of that belief.

What should our readers know about your business?
At Let’s Knot and Say We Did, we believe in the power of love, connection, intention, and ceremony. We started off as an officiating company. We quickly realized that we had more to offer. For instance, we noticed how many of the adventure style, elopements, or micro-weddings were using a bluetooth speaker to play the songs for the ceremony. With Shelby being a talented musician, we started adding custom, acoustic music. The couple gets to choose what song they’d like to walk down the aisle to and what song they’d like to share their first dance in the desert to. Shelby is also a yoga instructor so we decided to add more zen to wedding days by offering couple’s or bridal party yoga. But we didn’t stop here! We’ve recently launched all-inclusive elopement and micro-wedding packages! This way we can create a joyful and intentional experience where the bride and groom (and up to 20 guests) just have to show up! We believe in creating memories and experiences. We do this by being very intentional with each couple. We also encourage couples to bring out their authentic ideas for their wedding day. Whether it’s saging the rings before the exchange, playing Africa by Toto as your entrance song, mixing a margarita for your unity ceremony, or involving your kids in your vows, we want couples to do what THEY want. We bring their vision into reality. Eventually we would love to have a venue in Arizona where we can collaborate and create with other vendors on our own space. This is a year of expansion for us and we can’t wait to grow with you!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Funny you ask! We’ve got to do this with our friends who’ve come out to see us from the Midwest. Arizona has so many beautiful places to see. I love that you can drive 2-4 hours and be the mountains, the desert, the beach, or even skiing. Some of our favorite cities to take our friends to are Sedona, Flagstaff, Payson, and Page. Our favorite spots for camping include some of the farm roads in Sedona or Flagstaff. We also enjoy camping at The End of the World or on the Mogollon Rim! To be honest, Shelby and I love being in our home. We play cards, dance around the living room, or make something tasty for everyone to try. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Often I wonder how I ended up where I am today. There have been times in my life where I look back and question why I worked at certain jobs or studied specific subjects. But at this point in my life, it’s all starting to make sense. I shoutout to all my past sales jobs. The long hours, micro-managing bosses, and ridiculous goals. It was in these places I learned how to work with people with different mindsets, backgrounds, and culture. I have always been excellent in sales and used to have a strong desire to be in that industry. That has really subsided since stepping into my authenticity. I shoutout to my undergraduate degree in marketing and the skills I learned in how to market and create a brand. I shout out to my graduate degree in Divinity (my halo is the same as yours). This season of life taught me how to develop my own beliefs and how to stand in them. It also taught me how to work with others who think or believe differently than I do. I shoutout to plant medicine for opening my eyes to the love that’s all around. Plant medicine and integration has helped me immensely in self-love, forgiveness, joy, and trust. Trust that I can go outside the box. Trust that I can help others find their identity. Trust that I am free and loved beyond measure. Trust that I will be taken care of. Always. I can’t say thank you enough for what this medicine has done for my life. I shoutout my wife, Shelby, who has pushed me to pursue joy in all things. Thank you for believing in me and seeing in me what I couldn’t see in myself. Shelby is the creator of the brand, the website, the IG, etc. Thank you for your creativity and brilliant mind. Together we can do anything! I shoutout to all the vendors I’ve worked with along that way who have become more like family to me. Vendors like Michael Moyer from Custom Fit DJ, Ben and Courtney from Sand and Stone Media, Brittany and Alex from Chasing Sunsets, Kristen from Kristen Marie Photography, Kim from Beauty by Kim, and Broc Barton from Elevate. The advice you’ve given, the laughter, the tears, the memories. Thank you for being you and helping me believe in what we do! Shoutout to all the couples we’ve met who have become amazing friends! Let’s Knot believes that what we do as a company is a tremendous honor. We give so much thanks to you all!

Website: letsknotandsaywedid.com
Instagram: @letsknotweddings

Image Credits
1st Image: Chelsea Kaufman Photography Black and White Photo, Chasing Sunsets LLC Sage photo with Shelby: South of Indigo Photo with Bryce and Sita on Cathedral Rock: Chelsea Kaufman Photography Bell Rock Photo: Image and Dust Photography Superstition Photo: Image and Dust Photography

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