Venturous Vows is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit ministry, registered in the state of Washington that proudly functions nationwide. We specialize in officiating and honoring unions that fall outside the narrow confines of traditional marriage, while ensuring that every ceremony we conduct is handled with both spiritual integrity and legal clarity.
We exist for the feral and the free—for those whose love, partnerships, and ways of living cannot be contained by conventional definitions. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities by validating their unions as sacred, sovereign, and worthy of dignity.
Our Beliefs
Founded by Joie Leigh, Venturous Vows ministry is not tied to a single sect or religion.
Joie was raised in the Lutheran tradition and has studied world religions both academically and independently, arriving at a simple but profound truth:
Truth lives between the pages of all traditions.
Truth also resides within us, as creations of God.
Joie holds that all of creation is God experiencing it's creation through the perspective of each individual being. Each soul carries divine wisdom, and every union expresses a sacred aspect of that unfolding truth.
For this reason, Venturous Vows serves no singular sect but instead honors the shared human spirit, meeting every bond—romantic, platonic, communal, or beyond—with reverence.
Legality and Integrity
All Venturous Vows ceremonies are officiated by Joie Leigh, an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church (ULC). ULC ordination is legally recognized in most U.S. states; however, some states—including Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and certain jurisdictions in New York—have placed limits on its recognition.
To ensure clarity and compliance, Ventrous Vows always:
Encourages couples and partners to verify local marriage laws.
Separates the legal license signing (when required) from the sacred Ventrous Vows ceremony if state restrictions apply.
Recommends consulting licensed attorneys for immigration or complex legal matters.
This transparency ensures that every union celebrated with Venturous Vows has both sacred meaning and legal clarity.
What We Offer
Ventrous Vows celebrates unions in many forms, including but not limited to:
Citizenship Unions (supporting stability and residency)
Polyamorous Partnerships
Lavender Unions (companionship & security)
Kink & BDSM Ceremonies
Nudist Nuptials
Platonic & Co-Parenting Partnerships
Sovereign Unions (living apart, together)
Safety & Stability Marriages
Cannabis & Psychedelic-Inspired Ceremonies
End-of-Life Unions
LGBTQ+ Community Unions
And More
Each ceremony is customized to reflect the authentic story of those involved and must be based on a bona fide commitment to shared life and mutual care.
Our Commitment to Community
Our Commitment to Community
Our Commitment to Community
Ventrous Vows is more than a ministry—it is a movement of reciprocity. As a nonprofit, any financial surplus from ceremonies is redistributed back into the communities where unions take place.
For example, if a polyamorous partnership is celebrated in Maryland, Ventrous Vows will connect with local pro-polyamory advocacy groups, assess their needs, and invest directly into their work.
This ensures that each union not only empowers those joined, but also strengthens the wider community.
Our Philosophy of Union
Our Commitment to Community
Our Commitment to Community
Ventrous Vows believes a union is not simply a contract to be overseen by governments, but a sacred act of liberation and love.
We do not teach that “two become one.” Instead, we honor the coming together of sovereign beings who freely choose to unite in ways that uplift themselves and their communities.
Every Ventrous Vows ceremony is an unapologetic declaration that love, in all its forms, is its own authority.
Our Vision for Humanity
Our Commitment to Community
Our Vision for Humanity
It is natural to feel frustration at society’s intolerance of individuality. Yet we believe anger alone cannot transform the world. At Ventrous Vows, we choose to lead with love—even toward those who cannot yet understand us.
We believe the evolution of humanity depends on those who have been rejected standing tall and living as examples of compassion, sovereignty, and authenticity.
To deny another’s path is to waste one’s own. The greatest gift humanity holds is the freedom to choose and to live authentically.
Venturous Vows, led by Joie Leigh, exists to honor that freedom—one union at a time.