- Are your ceremonies legal? As legal as religious weddings?
- Completely legal. If you'd like me to go outside of the state of Texas, I may need an extra day or two to contact the county clerks' office there. This also includes Canadian provinces! Inside or outside New York, the ceremonies are still legal as long as you have gone for your marriage license. Please bring the license to your ceremony.
- Do you do religious ceremonies?
- I am happy to give it a dedicated try, but for a truly religious ceremony you would probably do better to contact a local minister, rabbi, priestess or priest. If you're looking for a religious "ingredient" to your ceremony or representation, I'm happy to do so and happy to learn anything you'd like to teach me.
- Some couples like to have a personal/private ceremony with me (and two witnesses) and then have a large, religious, family-oriented wedding at a later date.
- Are kids allowed in our ceremony?
- Of course!
- Are pets allowed in our ceremony?
- Of course!
- Can I/we write our own vows? ~~~or~~~ Will you write the vows for each of us?
- Yes and yes! This is something we'll discuss the first time we speak or meet.
- Can you do ceremonies outside of Texas?
- Yes, but I will need to contact the local offices of your destination to pre-arrange, so it may take me a few extra days to collect paperwork. This would be the case in most counties in the U.S. and Canada.
- How far will you travel? Are you willing to fly?
- I'm quite willing to travel and/or fly! If I'm driving myself, I usually try to keep within a 65 mile radius of Waco, TX , but, depending on my schedule, I'll often do more.
- Do we have to be from Texas to have our ceremony in Texas? Is it still a legal marriage if we aren't from New York State?
- Many people come from all over the world every year to be married in Texas! What's not to love?! Neither of you have to be from Texas in order to be married here, however, you do have to have applied for and received your Marriage License within the state of Texas.
- Do I/we pick up my own marriage license?
- Yes. And please bring it to the ceremony with all of your individual parts of the form filled out. You can then take it to the county office after the ceremony. You need to have your license for at least 72 hours (from a county clerk) before the ceremony. You also have 90 days from the time you got it at the county clerk to have your ceremony performed.
- We've both been married once (or twice, or more) before. Is this OK?
- As long as you are both legally divorced and have already received your marriage license, it's all good. In Texas, you have to wait at least 30 days after your divorce is final before you can be re-married. When you go to the county office, make sure to bring your divorce certificate, or death certificate if you are a widow or widower. As your minister, I don't need to see them, but the county clerk does.
- Do you have a minimum amount of guests required?
- No. It can be anywhere from the three of us, to a triple digit guest list.
- Do you sing?
- No, lucky you! However, if you go to www.weddingwire.com, you'll find my listing, in addition to lots of musicians, DJs, soloists, and many more professionals to help you with all aspects of your wedding.
- Are the weddings you perform casual or formal?
- We can be as formal or as casual as you like. Some couples like barefoot and free-spirited, some like to feel like royalty on their special day and some people are found in between. I love to customize, be flexible and am always willing to make changes. If you're getting married in June, what you're thinking of doing in January, may be very different from what you've decided you'd like in May; and it could change again a few days before. That's totally OK, and we'll figure it out until it's exactly as you like it.
- How much will you charge when all is said is done? Are there extra charges?
- For the most part, usually people pay $250.
- However, if you need me buy something for you, order something on line for your ceremony, pay tolls (i.e.: interstate tolls) drive more than 65 miles, or fly, we can definitely discuss it. Basically, it would still be $250 plus any approved costs, so there will be no surprises.
- If you want a completely license-free ceremony (a renewal of vows or a pre, private ceremony before a larger one you may be having for family or religious reasons), the fee would be $100, in addition to expenses.
- How much notice do I have to give you?
- As much as you feel like giving me! On the other hand, I love to work with a little pressure so if I can do it, I will. In Texas, there is an exact 72 hour waiting period from the time you receive your marriage license at the County Office to the time of your ceremony, so keep County office hours in mind.
- Will you read one of our favorite poems, passages or authors for us during the ceremony?
- Absolutely! Poems, lines from songs, biblical passages...we'll work it right into the ceremony!
- What types of ceremonies do you do?
- Check out the tab at the top of this page called "About Your Ceremony". You'll find ideas, inspiration and pictures! Pinterest is also great!
- But to answer your question, I do legal marriages, civil unions, vow renewals (no marriage license required), baptisms, blessings and end of life ceremonies.
- Same sex, interfaith, atheist, agnostic/"creative civil" ceremonies, leather/BDSM, nudist/naturist, and, of course, your own unique relationship!
- Will you help us elope?
- As long as you have a legal marriage license, you can elope. If you want to have a private ceremony with the two of you and then have a larger one with family, whether or not you're licensed, I'm happy to help you out with that, too.
- You don't have to have a license to do the ceremony, but you do have to have the license in order for your marriage to be recognized as legal.
- Please check the county clerk you'll be visiting to see laws and rules about age requirements, and whether you'll need witnesses at the ceremony I'll be performing.
- In Texas, a blood test is not required in order to get married, and same sex marriages are federally recognized and legal.
- What do you wear?
- I'll do my best to accommodate you. Usually a dress with my hair up, but if you have a theme, costume or preference for what you'd like me to wear, let me know and I'll do my best! I've been known to dress in motorcycle leathers, as a pirate (complete with hook and beard), ready to hike, and ready for rain and mist, just to name a few, so please feel free to make a request!!
- Do you officiate funerals?
- Yes, however I do not do the legal paperwork, it is done by the funeral home or county clerk.