Planning Your Wedding Ceremony
Beginning the Process - Our First
Meeting
The first meeting that we have is crucial. At this meeting the couple determines
if there is a fit between what they are looking for in a minister and what I
have to offer. The minister is only in your life a short time, but plays an
intense, intimate and important role in just a few hours. Besides, after the
ceremony, the minister's presence remains in your lives in the video,
photographs, and the tales that are told of the wedding. So trusting your
intuition and judgment at the first meeting is very important.
Later in the conversation I will initiate a summary. "It feels like we have
a pretty good fit happening here." I will see if that is your feeling too.
Then we would proceed to filling out some contact information and a personal
services contract. I would collect a non-refundable deposit that secures your
wedding date and time. Some couples prefer to interview several ministers or to
have a private conversation about their experience with me, and thus choose not
to make a deposit. As a professional courtesy I will write your wedding date and
time in my planner in pencil which gives you priority should a second inquiry
about that date and time arise. I will call you should that situation occur.
What next?
I will provide you with a comprehensive ceremony-planning guide to assist you in
creating a personalized wedding ceremony. We will then determine a date and time
for our first ceremony-planning session. This session usually happens several
months prior to the ceremony. The second ceremony planning session usually
occurs several weeks prior to the ceremony, and becomes a 'mini-rehearsal'
wherein you may practice your speaking parts in my presence. My experience is
couples find this helpful to overcome any jitters or giddiness.
Rehearsal
Typically, the extensive planning sessions prepares couples well enough
so that rehearsals are not required. Furthermore, I am available for
consultation for issues pertaining to the ceremony right up until the wedding
day. In some cases, however, a rehearsal may still be desired and can be
scheduled for an additional negotiated fee. It is best to schedule a desired
rehearsal early to ensure my availability.
Unique Ceremonies
Wedding ceremonies that take place outside of the Puget Sound area or
involve extensive time commitments will also have an additional fee, depending
on the circumstances.
Marriage License
It is my responsibility to complete the marriage license documentation
and to prepare them for signature on the wedding day and then return the signed
documents to the County of origination. I ask couples to bring the license
package to the second planning session. A Washington State marriage license is
valid for sixty (60) days after an initial three day waiting period.
Wedding Day
On the wedding day I arrive no less than thirty minutes prior to the
scheduled ceremony start time. I coordinate with the various professionals,
particularly the photographer and disc jockey. Some couples appreciate what I
call a 'walk-through' of the ceremony, which could be the three of us or the
entire wedding party.
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