Reverend Robert M. Bock

Reverend Robert Bock seems to fit everybody’s idea of the quintessential minister. Not only does he look the part—he’s tall, dignified and silver-haired—but by all accounts he lives the part. Legions of admirers swear that with Reverend Bock, what you see is what you get: a genuinely sincere, down-to-earth guy who “doesn’t change when the robe goes on.” Just about everyone who’s ever been married by him or worked with him says he’s “inspirational,” and he’s known for making each wedding fresh and meaningful despite the fact that he’s performed well over 6,000 ceremonies.

The first thing you notice when talking to Reverend Bock by phone is his wonderfully warm speaking voice. The second thing you notice is that his gentle humor and honesty put you immediately at ease. And when you meet with him in person, that comfort level grows. He’s a master at creating very personalized ceremonies. He involves the audience by weaving stories from the couple’s lives throughout the service and achieves, as one event professional put it, “a wonderful balance of humor and spiritual continuity.” His support for the couple begins well before their wedding, and his relationship with them includes being their advocate, empowering the bride and groom to make wedding-day decisions that are important, and helping both to stay true to their vision of their day—no matter what others may want for them.

Before the ceremony, Reverend Bock checks in separately with the bride and groom. “I might tell them a joke or two to get them to laugh,” he confides, “because I want them to be relaxed enough to experience their wedding, to live it and love it—to feel so good about it that when they look at their photos or video, it will all come back to them as a renewal of something positive and good.”

After years of education, professional training and life experience, Reverend Bock is well-versed in all the major religious traditions and can officiate at all types of weddings. Whether he’s presiding at a civil or interfaith ceremony, or a service full of Christian scripture, he gives you the sense that he really knows the people he’s marrying, and that the ceremony is unique to them.

He’s a seasoned minister, having worked for over 25 years at his parish in Studio City. Although it’s a Christian Church, it values individualism over religious dogma, leaving Reverend Bock free to officiate at ceremonies in the community without having to impose church doctrine.

Officiating at weddings is something that gives Reverend Bock great joy. He has two lofty goals for each ceremony: “I want the guests to feel that the wedding and celebration really reflected the couple, and I want the bride and groom to stay married.” We’re convinced that if anyone can make these two things happen, it’s Reverend Bock.