Selecting the right person to officiate your ceremony is more involved than most people realize.
Most important is to be certain that you have a legally recognized minister. In Pennsylvania and several other states, Internet-ordained ministers are not legally recognized by the state, which negates the actual marriage.
It is important that you have a Church-ordained member of the clergy.
When you enter a working relationship with an experienced minister, you want someone who will take the time and care to get to know you as individuals as well as a couple.
You want someone with the experience and maturity to handle any situation with grace, diplomacy, confidence - and a little well-placed humor.
Additionally, you want a professional who has vowed by oath the respect and honor the dignity of the institution of marriage and all that it is has evolved to be in modern day. In short, you want a qualified and quality representation of your love.
Remember, this is the person who is going to stand with you and in front of your guests to represent the full value of your new life together.
Creating a successful ceremony requires the ability and willingness of your minister to create something unique for you, delivering precisely what speaks to your personality and your wishes.
I do not discriminate on any basis, including, but not limited to, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, creed, disability, military or veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. I respect an honor the right of all people to share in the joys and responsibilities of matrimony and have pledged to honor all unions with the most absolute of respect and dignity.
What separates me from many is first that I work with you on every aspect of your wedding day. I advise on licensing, provide helpful hints in planning, and offer couples counseling when requested. My concentration is always on your ceremony. I spend time getting to know you well enough to compose a personalized ceremony that speaks to you as individuals as well as a couple, and appeases your family and guests as well. That's no easy task! I compose your ceremony with you in mind all the way through, and offer a gentle sense of humor to combat the stressful moments and bring the joy and laughter to the moments that deserve it, while maintaining respect and reverence for the seriousness of your vows.
Your ceremony is a very important time, and you want it to be as unique and memorable as possible. It doesn't matter if you are having 200 guests or 2, your ceremony should speak to you in the way you want it to and be tended to with the loving care of a minister who is committed to the service of people and not just assigned as an employee for the day.
Far too many have created a business of marriage. You will see internet ordained officiants offer multi-tiered packages; Basic Ceremony, Family Package, Silver Celebration, Golden Gala, Platinum Jubilee, etc. Each comes with an increasing fee schedule and guilt the couple into feeling "cheap" if they don't pay up.
I refuse to do that. You get 100% of my dedication and ability from the very start at no additional cost -- ever.
These individuals will also ask the size of your wedding guest list and charge accordingly. The number of guests you have doesn't affect me. What I have to say is for you as a couple. The more people who hear it, the better, but I don't see the fairness in charging for more people to listen to me. After we agree upon the honorarium, I will ask how many we expect, but that is only so that I can gauge the diversity of the group and level of energy required in my performance.
My honorarium is well below the average fee that professionals charge, and my agreement with you is all inclusive. I provide unlimited consultations in person, by phone, and through email, all ceremony research, drafts, edits and rewrites, as well as full customizing with a personal touch, and anything else that arises as we work together.
This also includes the full services of my Parish Assistant, Frank Fiore, who also handles all of the fees, licensing details, and filing.
Frank attends on the day of your ceremony and assists in coordinating various needs and communication between you and your spouse, the venue staff, and your hired professionals. He confirms the accuracy of your license, serves as my courthouse witness, secures your certificate of marriage to you or your designee after the ceremony, and safeguards both the courthouse copy of the license as well as my file copy. The following business day, he retrieves the state copy from my safe and facilitates the filing of it directly with the appropriate courthouse.
Frank also has full access to my office and my files, with the exception of any sensitive personal information held in confidence. He is fully equipped and prepared to find a suitable, qualified, and legal replacement in the unlikely event that I cannot officiate due to circumstances beyond my control, and supply that person with a printed copy of your customized ceremony. My list of colleagues stretches across various church channels and organizations.
Lastly, my associate and I arrive approximately 60 minutes or more before the ceremony in order to set you at ease that I am present and to begin tending to and checking on the various needs of you and your vendors.
In its entirety, my commitments to you are a very small part of your wedding cost as the honorarium in the lowest offered by church clergy. With my services, you receive the full value and benefit of my experience, education, performance and passion in a unique, one of a kind ceremony.
Personally, I identify more as "spiritual" than I do religious. That is reflected in my ceremonies as many couples prefer a non-religious ceremony with the focus on the couple and the prominence f their love. Those who prefer a ceremony with other levels of religion benefit from my lifelong experience in the church as well as my capabilities as clergy. My commitment is to serve in a cross-denominational manner, meaning that - although my strength is rooted in Roman Catholicism and Anglican Protestantism - my work transcends the realm of all denominations and faiths.
In over thirty years of working with weddings in and out of the church, I've experienced just about all there is. I've learned from the best, and I've taken notes of caution from the worst.
I have seven years of seminary education as well as five years of intensive study in theology and psychology. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, a Certificate of Theology, and an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity.
My extensive experience in weddings has formed me to be exceptional at composing a ceremony to suit the individual dreams and spiritual needs of every couple. Despite my status within the church as a priest, many of my ceremonies are non-religious and most cater to the needs of those who identify as spiritual, agnostic, and even atheist.
The final piece here is that I am a true minister. That means that I have taken my own vows to minister to and serve people. I remain available to you throughout life to share in all that the universe throws our way - the good times as well as the not so good.
My life-long care for you and your growing family does not come with a fee. You owe it to yourself to explore what possibilities await you and feel secure with someone who has a true interest in your future.
