Advice for the New Hats
Greetings Fellow Gnomeans,
May the sunshine fill your gardens and warm your Souls.
Here we are, Freshly Ordained, ready to sieze the day and join some hands and hearts under the Sun and Sky, Surrounded by the trees and flowers of our gardens.
But wait.......Where are the papers!!!
This can be the hardest part of performing a wedding ceremony, with last minute running and checking and filing. This is why checking each state, county and city, as they each are different for what they require.
With that said I have some tips to help make this process easier.
Planning and Timing-
As soon as you are asked to perform a wedding the first thing I recommend doing is locate the local Government and find out what they require for weddings and officiating the weddings. This will give you the most amount of time available to get all the documents in on time.
Schedule weekly or monthly check-in's with the couple to ensure what you are in control of stays on task and meets their expectations.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
There is so much more advice I am sure. Please Fellow Gnomeans please add tips below for all.
Well Met and Gnome Blessings
Lord Reverend Adam
Every state has different criteria. I was asked, many years ago, to solemnize a marriage in Ohio. I had to send proof of ordination to the appropriate state office along with a nominal fee for registration. A few weeks later, my certificate granting license to solemnize marriages in that state came in the mail. On the other hand, California requires no evidence or license, only that one is clergy. Their reasoning is that it's none of their business to authenticate religions. Now, leave the USA for a moment. Anybody can have a religious wedding ceremony in Mexico, BUT ONLY a civil marriage is valid. The couple must bring their blood test and a completed form to city hall and sign in front of the government officer. So, here are 3 examples of very different procedures. Find out what is required in your jurisdiction. Usually a celebrant is not allowed to officiate if the couple doesn't have a marriage license -- and the license might have an expiration date. Be informed, be prepared.