Wedding Officiant FAQ's

I have finally gotten around to putting together a list of frequently asked questions. I hope this answers any questions you might have. Please contact me directly if you need more information. Thanks!

What kinds of weddings ceremonies do you perform? I perform religious and civil ceremonies, interfaith, intercultural, and interracial ceremonies, and anything in between. I have many ceremonies in my armory and can send them to you in word documents. You can mix and match parts, change wording, or introduce original content at will. I want you to be perfectly happy with your wedding ceremony. Typically you would send your rough draft to me for review once you’ve pulled it together. If I have any suggestions or comments on length or flow I will let you know. If not, then we’re all set. Of course, I am available by phone and email to help if you need me at any time.

Can we write our own vows? Yes, although I suggest you read over lots of other vows before doing so. That way, you can get the feel of how vows are structured, which is in a sing-song way, with short bits that can easily be repeated as opposed to long, prose-like sentences without natural breaks for repeating. I will often make suggestions for changes to your vows to make them more repeatable but I think it is wonderful that couples want to write their own vows and I encourage it wholeheartedly.

Can we read our vows to each other instead of repeating them after you? Yes, some brides and grooms choose this option. Keep in mind that the audience probably won’t be able to hear your vows as clearly as they would in the traditional “repeat-after-me” scenario, but that is your choice. I do NOT suggest you try to memorize your vows. Sometimes couples do not want to repeat after me at all and want to say as little as possible during their ceremony. For these situations we usually skip the repeat-after-me part and put all the important sentiments into the question that you answer, “I do.” I have also performed weddings where the couple will exchange their vows which they have written on little scrolls, which they simply exchange while I tell the audience that they are now exchanging vows that they will share with each other later in private.

How do you determine how much to charge for a wedding? I base my prices on how far the wedding venue is from my home, whether or not you need me for a rehearsal, and whether it is an actual wedding or an elopement (see below) I know I’m not the cheapest officiant available but that is not my goal. My goal is to be the BEST wedding officiant you can choose. Please see what other couples have to say about my services by visiting my Google Maps page.

What is an elopement? An elopement is a small wedding with very few guests (fewer than 20). Instead of entrances or exits, I simply place the couple in front of me. There are no bridesmaids or groomsmen walking in and out (although it is good to have one of each in place beside the couple to hold the rings and the flowers), no ring bearers or flower girls and no musician or DJ to coordinate with. In this scenario I can arrive later and there is less work involved for me, so I can charge a bit less. I do perform elopements at my home for a very reasonable price but you must limit your wedding party to a total of six adults as my living room is only so big.

Is my deposit refundable? No. Once I book a wedding I generally start turning down other brides and grooms and sometimes can put quite a bit of work into a wedding whether it ultimately happens or not. I keep my deposit amount low so that you don’t lose too much money if you have to cancel but the deposit is non-refundable.

Why do you ask for the final payment before the service? I ask that you give me the final payment and the license before the service because you will be busy with photographs and family after the service.

Do you require a meeting in person before the ceremony or to book you for our wedding? No, I do not require a meeting. For out of town weddings I often work with the couple by phone and email only as we put together a service. If you want to meet me I am happy to make time for you if you are willing to come to the Athens, GA, area. I usually meet my victims at the Starbucks located at 1761 Epps Bridge Pkwy, Athens, GA, 30606, but any coffee shop or restaurant in the Athens/Watkinsville area is fine with me.

Do you have any restrictions on who you will marry? No. I will marry any bride and groom who seem willing to be married. The only time I would refuse to perform a wedding is if I thought one of the participants was being coerced and not completely willing to marry the other.

Will you perform a wedding if a couple lives together already? Yes. I am very happy to marry you even if you have lived together for years and maybe even have children together already. I am always happy to help create a more solid family unit.

Will you perform a wedding if there is going to be alcohol at the reception? Yes. What happens at the reception is no business of mine.

Do you stay for the reception? Generally I do NOT stay for the reception for a number of reasons: I have other weddings to perform; I want to spend what is left of my weekend time with my family; I am on a restricted diet and cannot eat the rich food that is often served; and sometimes people feel like they can’t cut loose and have fun if the minister is there. Honestly, if I stayed for every reception for every wedding I perform I would be as big as a house and an alcoholic so I generally don’t stay.

What do you wear to perform a wedding? I wear a dark, gray suit with a white dress shirt and black tie. If you would like for me to dress down, please give me an example of what you would like for me to wear and I will do my best (for example, dress shirt and pants with a tie, or jeans and a tee-shirt).

How and where do we get the license? You can get your license by going together to your local probate court with your drivers licenses and birth certificates OR your passports. If either of you have been married before you may have to have a CERTIFIED copy of your divorce decree. I suggest calling the probate court before making the trip or looking them up online. Most have a website with information regarding obtaining a marriage license. If NEITHER of you are residents of the state of Georgia then you MUST get your license in the county in which the wedding is performed. If either of you ARE residents of Georgia then you can go to any probate court and get married anywhere in the state with the license you receive.

After the wedding, how long does it take to get our marriage certificate? I fill out your license and send it back to the probate court as soon as I can after your wedding. It typically takes two to three weeks for the probate court to generate your marriage certificate. As you make application for your license you should ask about getting multiple certified copies (at least three) and you should ask whether they will be mailed to you or if you have to go and pick them up at the end of the process.

If we don’t have a coordinator, can you lead the rehearsal? Yes, I am happy to lead the rehearsal if you do not have a coordinator. I do ask for a phone conversation in the days leading up to the rehearsal so I can be more prepared for your rehearsal. I do not charge extra to lead a rehearsal.

How long does a rehearsal take? The typical rehearsal takes anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour depending on how many bridesmaids and groomsmen, ring bearers, and flower girls you have in your wedding.

Is it an accepted practice to tip the officiant? If you are especially pleased with my services then I gladly accept tips. Tips are not expected but are certainly welcomed and most definitely appreciated. I try to keep my prices as low as possible in order to serve as many couples as possible. I don’t have a church that provides a full time income beyond my weddings. Due to rising prices, the seasonal nature of the wedding industry and the fact that there is a limited number of Saturdays in a year, my income potential as a wedding minister is limited. I don’t perform weddings because it is lucrative; I do it because I love it.

-Rev. Sam
www.revsam.com