What are your fees?
Wedding Ceremonies $300.00
Commitment Ceremonies $250.00
Vow Renewals $250.00
Additional Services
Rehearsal $100.00
Simple Ceremony / Elopement / Last Minute - Contact me.
Memorial Service - Contact me.
Holidays (New Years Eve, New Years, Christmas Eve, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Easter) will incur an extra $100 fee.
Travel Fees: Free Mileage in service area—50 Cents a Mile after.
Ceremony Retainer Required: $150.00 (this will reserve your date/time, is applied to total and is non-refundable). May pay below with PayPal.
Will you allow us to write our own vows?
Most definitely. I also have options you can choose from if you wish.
Will you marry couples of same sex, different faiths, no faith or previous divorce?
Not a problem. (For Wisconsin residents, be aware that if you are divorced, you must wait 6 months before you can be remarried and remarrying outside of Wisconsin prior to 6 months is also not allowed).
How long does the ceremony usually last?
About 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the ceremony and music.
Do you get the marriage license for us?
I'm afraid not. You are responsible for obtaining the marriage license from the correct authorities. I can help to point you in the right direction. License info here. Also be aware that there is a 3 day waiting period from the time you apply for a license to when you receive it for WI. In MN there is no waiting period. You must have a marriage license for the state that the marriage will be taking place in.
Do we need witnesses?
In MN and WI you will need two witnesses (besides the officiant. In WI if one person being married is active military, then only 1 witness is needed.). In MN they need to be at least 16 years of age and in WI they need to be 18 years of age or older.
How long after the ceremony do you file for the official marriage license?
As soon as possible. Wisconsin requires it to be returned in 3 days to any county in the state. Minnesota within 5 days to the county where the marriage license was obtained.
How do I go about getting the certified copy of the marriage license after the ceremony?
In Minnesota, 1 copy will be automatically sent to you by the county the license is returned to. In Wisconsin, you will have to request it (for a fee) from the county recorder in the county the marriage took place in (you may be able to prepay at the time of your license application). I also have a Wisconsin state form (that I believe the county will give you as well) that can be filled out prior to going to the county recorder that I can send you.
Can we read our ceremony before the wedding day?
I will send you a draft copy (several times if necessary) to review for corrections and updates.
Can we have someone else do a reading for us?
If you would like a friend or family member to do a reading or poem they are more than welcome to. I can also bring copies of what they are going to read, just in case they forget!
What do I get for my fee?
You will receive a wedding ceremony crafted to your liking, either from your ideas or from sources I have. I will show up 30 minutes prior and perform your ceremony at the location and day of your choice and you will be given a copy of the ceremony (extra copies can be made as necessary for accompanists to follow). Mileage to/from your ceremony is included if within my service area. I will ensure that the paperwork is filled out completely and that it is returned to the proper authorities. You will also receive a keepsake certificate from me with your witness's signatures.
Any supplies (unity candles, sand, cords, stands, etc.) are to be supplied by the couple.
If the number of your guests gets to be larger than what I can reasonably speak to, I do have a small speaker system and wireless microphones that can be used if you don't have your own system provided.
Any wedding day tips you have for us?
If you are having your ceremony outdoors in a grassy area, save your money and skip the aisle runner. I have yet to see one that works very well on grass and any breeze will move it out of place.