Below are just a few of the questions you should consider asking any potential Wedding Celebrant. It’s not an all inclusive list by any means. You should feel free to ask any questions that come to mind and you should feel comfortable with the answers. I’ve included my answers to the questions in italics.
· Is the celebrant available on your wedding date?
· Can the celebrant travel to your chosen wedding site?
· Are they recognized to officiate ceremonies in your State and County?
Obviously this is the first thing we’ll need to determine depending on the date and location of your wedding. I will perform weddings in Colorado and will consider arrangements to go just about anywhere else by request. I am licensed in Washington, DC and New York City and I am a recognized officiant in almost all 50 states.
Do you charge a standard fee?
Yes and no. Essentially, the cost will be determined by
· What you want me to do
· Where you want me to go
· The level of involvement you’ll need from me. (number of meetings, amount of customization, presence at/presiding over rehearsal, unusual or other than “normal” attire, etc)
I prefer to speak with you and fully understand your needs before
quoting you a price and for that reason there is some flexibility in my
pricing. That being said, my ceremonies generally fall into one of the packages and prices ranges detailed on the Ceremony Fees and Service Area page.
How flexible are you?
VERY.
• Will you marry us if we are of different faiths?
• Will you marry us if one or both of us have been divorced?
• Can we personalize our ceremony by writing our own vows or selecting specific readings or music?
• Can we choose religious/non-religious readings or music?
• Do you have sample wording/ceremonies/readings/vows to show us?
• Will you give a sermon during the ceremony? If so, can we have some input?
• Will we get a chance to read or hear our ceremony before the day?
• Will you work well with other vendors?
• Is flash photography allowed during the ceremony?
• Will you wear a microphone if the videographer requires one to capture the ceremony?
The answer to this group of questions is…YES. Your wedding day is about you, not me. I will do my best to work with you to produce the wedding you want. I will try to honor all reasonable requests and maybe even some seemingly unreasonable ones. Don’t be afraid to ask.
Do you require premarital or religious classes? What are those requirements?
No I don’t require classes. I am not a counselor but I have been successfully and happily married for over 30 years. I don’t claim to know all the answers but I’m happy to provide advice. If you would like to have a conversation with me I’ll be happy to talk. Before your wedding day, or anytime after.
How will you be dressed?
In general, a dark suit or if you prefer a ministerial robe. Arrangements can be made if you’d like me to wear a tuxedo. Also, I have an extensive theater background so if you are having a theme wedding or are planning something unique I’m not opposed to costumes. I have done Doctor Who, Cowboy, and Zombies. Seriously. Just ask.
Will you run the rehearsal?
I will be happy to both attend and run your rehearsal if you’d like me to. There is an additional fee for the rehearsal that will be factored into the total cost.
Should I invite you to my rehearsal dinner or reception?
Will you play any role -- give a blessing or prayer before the meal?
Whether you invite me to your reception is entirely up to you. You are under no obligation to and I promise I won’t be offended if you do not. If you would like me to attend and deliver a blessing I would be happy to do that for you. I do ask however, that you please let me know in advance so that I can prepare.
A few more things to consider:
Do you feel taken care of?
Does the celebrant make you comfortable?
Does he or she seem genuinely interested in you as a couple?
Be sure you like and respect your celebrant -- and that the feeling is mutual.
Does the celebrant make you comfortable?
Does he or she seem genuinely interested in you as a couple?
Be sure you like and respect your celebrant -- and that the feeling is mutual.
Do you like the celebrant's voice?
