Officiant Background & Experience

How are you eligible to officiate weddings?

• I am an ordained minister through both the American Marriage Ministry and Universal Life Church.

Can you officiate in any state?

• I can officiate in most states; requirements vary by state. I am an ordained officiant in Massachusetts and can readily perform ceremonies in Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Island. If you are getting married outside this local area, let’s discuss further as I am registered in many other states.

What is your experience as a wedding officiant?

• As you will see on my website, I have worked with several couples to create customized, meaningful ceremonies that have been well-received by the couples and wedding guests. I have decided to expand my business and look forward to serving additional couples.

Do you have experience speaking in public and are you comfortable in front of crowds of varying sizes?

• I have presented in public forums for over thirty years and have appeared in front of crowds of varying sizes. My passion for being an officiant is evident during the ceremonies I perform. 

The Process

Do you meet with prospective clients

• The opportunity for couples to meet with me is crucial in the process. I always first meet with couples virtually for a chance for the couple to get to know me and determine if I am the right officiant for them.

Are couples obligated to hire you at the first consultation?

• Absolutely not and I encourage couples to think about it before deciding. The person who officiates a couples’ wedding must be trusted by the couple and should be the right person to bring them together in the way they envision.

Are you offended if a couple does not hire you?

• No. The couple needs to choose the officiant that is perfect for them, and different couples want different things in the officiant. 

Have you ever been “ghosted” by a couple that has hired you?

• It has happened to all of us. I would prefer a couple think about it before deciding and hire the right person. If you hire me before you sign the contract and then change your mind, just let me know. No hard feelings.  Couples should expect the same consideration from me. 

How much do you charge?

• My fee schedule is on the website and most costs are clearly indicated. There may be some things a couple wants that go outside of my listed prices and we can discuss that before we sign the contract.

What is included in your fee?

• Many things; my fees include unlimited emails, texts, phone calls and virtual meetings to create the perfect ceremony. Based on the type of ceremony selected, the fee includes traditional or customized vows, ring exchange and special features (unity candle, breaking of the glass, etc.). Travel beyond Greater Boston (50 miles) and attendance at the rehearsal are extra but agreed upon prior to the signing of a contract.

Do you require a contract?

• To protect the couple and myself a signed contract is essential. It defines what is expected and holds all parties accountable.

Do you require a deposit?

• A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required at the time of the contract with the remainder of the fee expected on or before the wedding date.

Do help the couple obtain the marriage license?

• The couple can obtain the license from the town or city in which they are getting married and pay any license fee directly to the municipality. I usually do not participate in this.

Will you file the completed marriage license after the wedding?

• I can assist with the filing.  In some cases, the municipality requires the officiant be the one to file the signed marriage license.  

Do you attend the wedding rehearsal?

• Typically, the wedding planner and vendor prefer to run the rehearsal as they are most familiar with the venue and the logistics. The rehearsal is to make sure you and your wedding parties are familiar with the venue and where to stand during the ceremony. As your professional wedding officiant, you can rest assured that I will work with your planner and/or venue concierge to receive all necessary details. If the couple prefers, VaVow offers options to attend the rehearsal and we enjoy the opportunity to meet your closest family and friends.

Do you attend the wedding reception?

• Only by invitation of the couple and if my schedule permits.  Also, if desired, I can offer the blessing before dinner. This is never an expectation as the officiant’s job has concluded at the end of the ceremony. We generally only attend receptions when officiating for friends or family. As much as we enjoy a good celebration, we appreciate that rehearsals are time for family and friends to celebrate with the couple. As we always want to customize your experience to meet your needs, we can discuss if you have wishes for officiant attendance or involvement in the reception. If attending, we generally request 2 seats for Officiant and an Assistant.

How often do you meet with couples?

• After the initial consultation and contract, there is always at least one face-to-face or video meeting that will last 30 to 60 minutes. This allows us to get to know the couple and they can learn more about us. This meeting is always to establish the details, get to know each other’s personalities, and answer question. Depending on the package and services purchased, there may be additional meetings to dive deeper into this process.

How do we book you as our wedding officiant? 

• My process starts with your inquiry, followed by one virtual consultation, and then a deposit to secure your date. Once you have hired me, I will create a digital portal for you to communicate with me for all files and ceremony inspiration. 

How far in advance do we need to book you?  

• We recommend that you hire us immediately after your venue is booked. Our ceremony writing is inspired not only by your love story but by the choices you make for your wedding ceremony. The planning details including your choice of colors, theme, venue, and music are all important to our process.  

Do you attend the wedding rehearsal?

• No. The rehearsal is to make sure you and your bridal party are familiar with the venue and where to stand during the ceremony. As your professional wedding officiant, you can rest assured that with my years of experience, I will work with your planner and/or venue concierge to receive these details. 

Do you officiate non-denominational and/or multicultural ceremonies?

• Yes! We customize it to match your backgrounds, personalities, cultural traditions that represent you and your loved ones.

Do you bring your own sound equipment?

• Typically, we prefer to use the established venue and/or DJ equipment; this reduces the stress of our couple as well.

Do you assist with writing vows?

• We can! We can share a writing guide and tips with you and are happy to answer any questions you may have. We want the vows to be your own words.

Do you travel outside of MA?

• Yes, as VaVows uses only ordained wedding officiants, our credentials through my denomination allow us to officiate wedding ceremonies within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Caribbean Islands. Of note, certain states require proof of ordination or an application to solemnize a wedding. We are happy to discuss your needs and will note if any limitations would exist for you to become legally married.

Do you travel outside of the United States?

• Yes. We recommend you have your marriage license filed in the United States first, then we can head to your dream location for the ceremony with your family and friends. We are happy to discuss these details with you and serve clients in many creative locations outside of the US.

Coaching Services

Who can start Relationship Coaching with you? 

• Relationship coaching is available for couples who are dating, thinking about marriage, engaged couples, and couples who are already married. Together, we will talk about your relationship goals and take it from there. 

What is the process for coaching?

• We’ll have several sessions to guide conversations. As a couple, you will complete an evidence-based assessment for me to use as a guide for our discussion sessions.  The assessment will provide an overview of your individual well-being, communication barriers, love languages, vision planning and other important domains.