Can you have an easy going ceremony rather than traditional?   Traditional wedding ceremonies aren’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean an easy going ceremony isn’t meaningful. For example, formal language like “thee” or “thou” and the patriarchal practice of giving the bride away to the groom is considered traditional. There may or may not be humor in the ceremony. An emphasis may be put on a masculine God-figure and the importance of religious practices. Our easy going ceremony style accentuates your friendship with each other, and how your love makes the world a better place. We believe your commitment… Read More »

The trend is simple ceremonies “We just want something short and simple,” is the answer to my question, “What type of ceremony are you looking for?” I receive more often these days. There’s nothing wrong with simplicity, even if it’s motivated by being shy, nervous or linking the concept of simple to affordable. What my task is as an officiant is to understand and define what simple means to you, so that short, sweet, simple, or to the point, doesn’t devolve into boring.     Consider these three points People come from far away to not only celebrate, but also… Read More »

Bad weather can be a real joy killer for the long awaited outdoor wedding. That’s why one month before the ceremony, I bet 95% of all couples begin to check their weather app every hour. Because “Let’s move the ceremony inside” due to bad weather is the last thing any couple wants to say, especially if you’re paying a hefty fee for your venue’s outdoor view.   One of my personal favorite locations has a chairlift and requires two mechanics at the bottom and the top of the lift. Getting to the site is a unique experience that is nothing… Read More »

Your Short and Simple Ceremony   Besides being asked what my fee is to officiate a wedding, the second comment I receive most is, “I just want a short and simple ceremony.” Which leads me to ask, “What do you mean by short and simple?”   Defining sweet, short and simple Wedding ceremonies for someone who comes from a traditional background, short and sweet could mean one hour and lots of references to Lord. That’s because traditionally led wedding ceremonies can last several hours and are sometimes designed to be testimonials to a particular theology. For the people who spend… Read More »

Question #6 — What’s your refund policy? Here’s the next question in our series, 10 Questions to Ask instead of How Much Do You Charge.   Heaven forbid you have to cancel or postpone your ceremony for any reason whatsoever. BUT it’s better to know what an officiant’s refund policy is in advance so you know if you can get your money back or not.   Expect the unexpected is a lesson we all learned, is it not?   The Impact of the Pandemic on Wedding Vendors Many officiants lost weddings to the impact of the pandemic. Yes, we know… Read More »

Changed Life by Your Pet Here’s an invitation to share the name of an animal who changed your life. I’ve had many. Like the white dog pictured here. That’s Mugsy. I saw him born, he traveled with me, and put up with me. He and I walked miles and miles and miles together. is long-tailed fluff ball made my Dad learn to love small dogs. How about you? What pets made a difference in your life? I’d love to know the name of the lucky dog or horse, snake or parrot who made you a calmer, gentler, more fun-loving person.… Read More »

Questions You Should Be Asking When You Interview Officiants By far, the most common interview questions I get asked are: How much does it cost for a simple ceremony Can you get our marriage license for us Do I have to sign my new name or can I keep my maiden name Do you require premarital counseling All great questions! And all important when you’re interviewing an officiant to hire for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding ceremony. But you know that whole concept of “you don’t know what you don’t know”? I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. And here’s the… Read More »

Too many years ago, the way I wanted to own my moment on my wedding day, was to wear jeans and no veil. And my bridesmaids would be dressed in the colors of a political movement I supported. But that was again, way back when. FYI- My folks would have nothing of that plan (they’d have paid the bill) so not only did that design fail, but my boyfriend and I decided NOT to get married period. We’d keep living together. Which, BTW was a much bigger deal back then, than “cohabitating” is today.  Own Your Moment — What excites… Read More »