Frequently asked questions

Do you officiate same sex ceremonies?
As a Christian ordained minister under the ordination  of the The National Christian Ministers I do not perform same sex marriages. I do commitment ceremonies.

 How long will the ceremony last?

That depends on what we put into it. Typical ceremonies last from 15-25 minutes. I am happy to give you an approximate timeline once the final draft has been written. 

Can we read the ceremony first?
Of course! Some couples prefer to go into the ceremony not having seen the entire ceremony, while others like to read through it entirely to be sure it is exactly the way they pictured it. The choice is yours! 

Do you attend the rehearsal?
I believe that my attendance at your rehearsal is not only valuable for you, your wedding party and your coordinator, but also it is very valuable for for me as it helps me greatly with the wedding day logistics. 

How many people write their own vows?
Truthfully, not many couples write their vows in entirety.  Normally I provide you with several ideas and samples, and you can add your own personal touch to the template to create something unique and special to you.  Or you can leave it up to me, and I can write them for you.

Do you require premarital or religious classes? What are those requirements?
This part I leave to you.  While I do not require that you go through any particular kind of pre-marital counseling (religious or not) I do advocate for it.  You have so much to gain as partners by attending a pre-marital class together, and nothing to lose.

Can we choose a non-religious ceremony?
Absolutely.  Your wedding ceremony should be centered around your love for each other and your own personal set of beliefs.  We can tailor a ceremony for you that is beautiful and meaningful, whether religious or non.

We come from different religious backgrounds. Do you have experience with inter-faith wedding ceremonies?
I have been asked this very question many times in the past, and the answer is yes!  I will work with you both to create a ceremony that encompasses both of your beliefs and blends the entire ceremony together as one beautiful reflection of you both.

Should we bring you the marriage license before the wedding date? Will you mail it to the state for us?
While it is best to complete the marriage license before the ceremony, you may want to get with your photographer to decide if you want formal pictures of me signing you marriage license on the day of the wedding.  If so, it has been my experience that it is better to take care of this before the ceremony, as you are going to be very busy after I pronounce you husband and wife!

I am happy to mail in the license for you, however many couple nowadays prefer to do this themselves so that they can include their order form for official copies of their license and their check for payment.

Do you stay for the wedding reception?
I am always honored when I am asked to stay for the reception.  My belief is that feeding your minister should not be a part of your wedding budget, so normally I will stay for 20-30 minutes following your wedding to take any pictures that you may want with me, and to express my congratulations to your parents and immediate family.  However, if you would like me to be a guest at your reception I only ask that there be room for my beautiful wife, as we do like to have dinner together.

Is flash photography allowed during the ceremony?
Absolutely!  I have no problem with it, so please let your photographers know.  I also don't place a restrictions on where your photographers would like to take their shots from.  Please keep in mind that some of your wedding guests will also be snapping away during your ceremony.  I am happy to make an announcement that guests sitting near the isle please keep their devices out of the isle during the ceremony.  If you are having a "Unplugged" ceremony I will make an announcement just prior to the ceremony starting to remind everyone.

Will you wear a mic if the videographer requires one to capture the ceremony?
Yes.  I will coordinate beforehand with your DJ and videographer to sound check everything on the day of the wedding.