What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
As an ordained minister, it is imperative that I remain accountable to God and International Ministerial Fellowship. I am required to submit quarterly reports and renew my ordination annually which entails a fee and a phone interview on the status of my ministry. I am accountable to the fellowship in moral, legal and ethical behavior as a Christian minister. I have recently become a Chaplain and received my credentials through Chaplains International, Inc.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your service? If so, please share the details here.
We DO NOT have a complicated pricing system! Very straightforward, affordable and honest.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
Being an ordained minister of praise and worship for almost 25 years, our church moved and we moved leaving me feeling rather empty. A co-worker had asked me to perform his wedding. I told him I had never done a wedding and he said, well, you are a minister, so you surely can do my wedding! That day, I found my calling! I loved it and God has blessed it from that day forward.
What types of customers have you worked with?
Beautiful Wedding Ceremonies! We offer inter-denominational, Christian, inter-faith. If you aren't sure what type of ceremony you would like, let's discuss it.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Read their reviews! Not just the ones they post on their own website, but google them and find out what others have to say. Speak to friends and relatives that have had a positive experience with their wedding minister and ask for a referral. Also, if you are getting married at a hall, golf course, or any type of venue that may have worked with an Officiant in the past, ask them for a recommendation. Confirm how many years they have been performing weddings--talk to them! If they seem haughty, unapproachable or unsure, move on to another minister.
What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
That not all wedding ministers are alike. In all honesty, we had heard some pretty bad reports from couples attending other ceremonies that just make us cringe! PLEASE ask where and how they received their ordination and check out if their credentials are legitimate! There are websites that issue internet credentials for a flat fee--no training, no experience, no knowledge of wedding protocol . . it is scary what couples have run into! You could be their first victim!
