Wedding Ceremonies

	Wedding Ceremonies
	Before we go any further, I want to thank you for taking the time to consider me as the officiant at your wedding. It's a big day for you both. I am always deeply honored to be involved in this way at such a crossroads in your lives. I'd also like to start by explaining that I'm not a wedding "vendor" such as you might find in Las Vegas. Nor am I a wedding planner, singer, or bride's consultant. I'm a simple person with a simple wish to be of service as two people begin their lives together.
	I do have legal authority to conduct your wedding ceremony. I am ordained in the Universal Life Church as Reverend James Jacobsen. The ULC does not dictate any specific doctrine, dogma, or creeds, other than to respect all paths as people come from many directions to find and walk a spiritual path. I am not affiliated with any other organized religion or sect or denomination within a religion. I am not here to judge or discriminate. My personal beliefs resemble closely those one might find in the New Thought movement. All of that is irrelevant, however, to your marriage. You will be the ones who will need to find and walk your own spiritual path together. My credentials authorize me to legally sanction such ceremony as you see fit to demonstrate that you wish to be united in matrimony to each other. These ceremonies are often scripted verbal agreements between yourselves, as well as some appropriate comments from the Officiant and/or other interested parties. When all is completed, the State of Washington recognizes the ceremony and vows to be legally binding documents between the two parties being united in matrimony.. (see page on legalities) I can't make it holy. That is between you and your God. I can't make your union last forever. That is between you and your partner. I will do my very best to make it as memorable as you wish, as beautiful as you are, and as happy and joyful as we together are humanly able.	top
	There are as many ceremonies as there are people to write them. If you were to choose to retain my services, here is what would happen as it pertains to my involvement: The first thing that would happen is that we would have to agree on a day and time to conduct the ceremony. We will both need to reserve the time so there are no conflicts that would detract from the meaning of the wedding. This includes pre-wedding ceremony consultations. You would make your first deposit at this time. (see section on payment and fees) There are usually a minimum of three (3) consultations prior to the wedding event itself. The first is an informal "getting to know you" type of appointment where we go over your basic ideas of how you would like the script to go. From that I create a draft script. The next two meetings are to plan and finalize the script and ceremony itself. I will provide one copy of the script to the bride and groom to use during rehearsals. (Larger weddings usually need one rehearsal, while smaller ones often need none) A final copy will be provided in a professionally prepared portfolio for the couple to have as a keepsake. (Note: If more appointments are needed, we would have to re-negotiate the fees based on an hourly rate.) From the "Dearly beloved" to your introduction as Husband and Wife, or Life Partners, (or however you would like to be known as a couple), it is your wedding, your marriage, and your ceremony. We want it to be memorable and special, so we won't want to just "throw it together" at the last moment.	top
	There are many things to consider as you begin to plan a life together. If there are children, you may want to include them. You may want a formal event, or a more intimate gathering. Marriage is a celebration of love and commitment. The ceremony is the expression of that love and commitment. In the pre-wedding consultation, we go over all aspects of what your new life together will be like, and how you want to share that with your friends and loved ones. The ceremony provides your personal community with an involvement that is the fabric of civilization itself. In marriage, the two become one, and as one, they go out into the world to bless it again and again as their love is shared and takes physical form.	top
	The pre-wedding planning consultation is for answering all the questions about who does what, where does it get done, what time should what get done, how are we going to..., and other assorted questions.
	Your wedding can be held anywhere you like as long as you have legal access. It can be a park or a home, a community hall, the beach, indoors or out. It can even be on a boat. It is your choice, and your day. Make it as memorable as you possibly can. Certain locations may cost extra. In such a case, It is the couple's responsibility to pay the Officiant's costs. Clothing is almost always planned for the wedding party, but not so for the person conducting the ceremony. I would normally wear a suit, but can accommodate other forms of dress when appropriate. If costume of any kind is required, such as one might wear at a Celtic wedding, I am happy to participate as long as the expense of any costume rental is added to the fee.	top
	In most cases, the ceremony lasts anywhere from 10 minutes to half an hour. Longer ceremonies usually cost more because more goes into the planning and execution of such events. In any case, at the conclusion of the ceremony, you will be provided with a beautiful Certificate of Marriage, suitable for framing, along with the wedding script on quality parchment to last the rest of your life.
	Travel to and from the ceremony and the pre-ceremony meetings is included in the basic fee, usually within a 50 mile radius of a central location such as the Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac) and as long as there are no extra costs such as ferry or bridge tolls. Further distances and fees would be the responsibility of the couple, and would be payable as they are incurred. A minimum of $30.00 deposit will be due prior to our first meeting. Half of that is refundable if my services are declined, and if there are no other meetings or expenses incurred. A formal fee schedule will be provided prior to our first meeting.
	There is so much more to consider and I'll be happy to work with you even though my website isn't fully functional regarding weddings yet. Just contact me through the email address below and let me know when and how would be the best time to contact you. This first telephone consultation is free, and should only take 15 to 30 minutes.	top