Wedding Officiant

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• Provider travels up to 50 miles

I am a priest in the Old Catholic Church, who is available to officiate at Catholic or Christian weddings in southern New Jersey and surrounding regions.

The wedding can take place at your home, a garden or park setting, a banquet hall or restaurant, or other on-site place of your choosing. I accommodate those who don’t belong to a specific church or denomination, but wish to have a traditional wedding ceremony. Those who have been previously married are welcome.

I offer ceremonies that range from basic Christian marriage ceremony to full-Catholic mass, with exchange of vows.

Know Who You Are Calling

In life, we typically get what we pay for, and when it comes to hiring an officiant for your special occasion, there is no exception to this rule.

Formally educated, well-trained and experienced officiants charge more for their services because the investment they have made in their profession is greater than those who are untrained, Internet ordained, or state officials working for the courts. It is important to ask the right questions when interviewing officiants.

Regarding All Types of Ceremonies

Questions You Need to Ask.

What are your credentials?

You may be surprised. With a click of the mouse, anyone can become an ordained minister over the Internet. Ask where they were ordained and how many years of formal ministerial education they received.

How much training have you had?

Training is very important. The officiant you choose for your ceremony must know the state laws particularly those pertaining to marriage. Your officiant should be able to explain the marriage license procedure to you and what their responsibility is regarding completing and filing the legal documents.

A trained clergy will know how to structure a ceremony properly, create and perform it with confidence as well as follow through, in a timely fashion, on any questions or concerns you may have.

How much experience have you had performing ceremonies?

Officiants who have been formally educated and trained in the administration of the sacraments find it easy to convert their classroom experiences into the real thing.

Common Questions:

* What religious affiliations do you serve?

Christian (no denomination), Christian - Catholic

* Can you accommodate the hearing impaired?

No.

* Are you willing to perform a ceremony at a non-religious site?

Yes. I officiate your wedding "on-site," such as banquet hall or restaurants, garden or park settings, your home, or other place of your choice.

* What is your attire for the ceremony?

I wear vestments--an alb, stole and a chasuble.

* Are you flexible in the wording used throughout the ceremony, including the vows?

Very flexible, but as a Christian priest, it will have a modicum of Christian language.

* Do you allow the couple to write their own vows, if desired?

Yes. It's your special day.

* Do you have a list of readings pre-selected, from which the couple must choose?

I have a choice of Bible passages to choose from.

* How long are your ceremonies?

It depends on what the couple wants. A basic ceremony of liturgy and vows runs about fifteen minutes. A ceremony that includes Bible passages and sermon runs around twenty-five minutes. We provide a full-Catholic mass runs around forty-five minutes to an hour depending on what the couple wants to add in terms of music and other elements.

* Do you require that premarital counseling be done?

No. I do like to talk with the couple before the wedding to find out exactly what they are looking for and to finalize details.

* Are you willing to perform pre-ceremony rehearsals?

Yes.

* Do you supply a sound system?

No.

* As a Catholic priest, will you marry someone who was previously married?

Yes. While we believe in the sacredness of marriage, we also understand that some marriages end in divorce. However, we also believe in the mercy of Christ. Therefore, we will gladly marry any who has been previously married, provided they are "legally" divorced.

Reviews

• June 24, 2010

  

  RJ did a great job at a friend's wedding last May, he did so well that there were two couples in attendance that asked him to do their weddings coming up later this year !
  I was told "We are so happy you sent him our way"
  
  Dave Bryce
  Elkton, MD

  – Dave

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