Wedding Officiant

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Book an initial consultation as soon as you have a date, time, and place confirmed.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Two things come up over and over when wedding professionals meet: time and money.
1) Book an Officiant early! Wedding professionals have a limited number of bookings per day. Don't be left flat with a ton of money put out and no one to Officiate the ceremony.
2) You don't always determine level of service by price. Many expensive vendors may be difficult to work with and some cheap vendors just won't show up on the day of the event. Meet your vendors!

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Two decisions must be made when selecting a wedding ceremony: length and language, I would like my couples to consider how long the ceremony should should be and if "God language" is desired. There are so many forms and styles for ceremony!
A consultation is simple if the bride and groom have discussed these two requirements before the initial consultation.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am a religious professional who can correctly write an Interfaith ceremony. I understand how each religion performs a wedding ceremony and can combine two or more faith paths into a single, beautiful ceremony.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I am a storyteller and so I enjoy meeting bridal couples and hearing their personal love story. I work to translate that story into a memorable wedding ceremony.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Most questions from bridal couples revolve around price and availability. I am a mid-priced Minister with several packages available. My availability changes daily!

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Yes. Long story short: your dog is cool...but, he may not be the ideal ring bearer.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish more wedding customers knew how many non-professionals (people with no training for the job they are doing) work in the wedding industry. Couples are faced with giving deposits to people who never show up for the wedding or perform poorly.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I began my wedding ministry when a Catholic Priest who is a college mentor and friend could not return from the East Coast to marry his friends. He called and convinced me I would be perfect for the job. I have married family members before...but, had never considered performing wedding ceremony as a profession.
The couple was wonderful to work with and I was pleased by how happy my ceremony made both families. I was instantly hooked on Officiating!

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I am a member of Northwest WedPro, an organization of wedding professionals in Clackamas County,OR. I also stay current on wedding trends and changes in denominational wedding liturgy.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Simple and sustainable is in fashion! The trend to throw a mega-budget Platinum wedding is all but dead. Couples are choosing smaller events with fewer luxury favors and simple catering.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. I am proud to be a "Wish Upon a Wedding" Officiant. This is a non-profit organization which helps terminal paitents by providing free wedding services and products.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Cost: booking fee + ceremony + travel = total price
Booking fee: A non-refundable booking fee of $50.00 is paid at the initial consultation. This is a professional fee you pay to be placed on my schedule.
Ceremony Package: The price for a Cherish Ceremony is determined by a package system. The more services you desire...the more you pay.
Package prices range from $150.00 to $350.00 for an all-inclusive ceremony.
Travel charges: The first 50 miles (round trip) of travel to your venue is my gift to you.
Any mileage over 50 miles is charged at .50/mile.