Do you have a questions for me about my officiating services, your wedding plans, or interest in our other wedding services like simple photography? Please contact me and let me know what you are thinking and wanting to do for your special day! I will always be happy to answer any of your questions, even if I do not officiate your ceremony.
If you need an answer to a question that you are not able to find on this page, you can use the “Keyword Search” form in the top right hand column. You may also find an answer to question at my Blogspot, too.
Q: What are your wedding officiating fees?
A: My wedding officiating fees are based on what has typically been given in the past, what other wedding officiants are charging, and foremost is consideration of the demand for time in my schedule as it relates to the location of your wedding.
In general, daytime is always easier for me. My wife has a real job and I am Mr. Mom when it comes to getting our school age kids to and from school. Also, I do live in Mobile, so obviously, a trip down the road in Mobile is going to be easier to do in a 30 minute notice than dropping what I’m doing and meandering traffic down the interstate and across the bay.
(However, if I didn’t really enjoy doing this, I wouldn’t, and I have said to my wife and family that when officiating weddings is no longer fun for me, I will stop doing it.)
Here are my wedding officiating fees by general locations and times…
Gulf Coast Beaches…
Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Key, Fort Morgan, Fairhope, Daphne, Baldwin County areas, Biloxi, Mississippi and Perdido Keys and Pensacola, Florida areas east of I-110 or that is just over the Alabama state line. (Please see below for Dauphin Island).
Weekends…
Friday 12:00 PM - Sunday 9:00 PM | $200.00
Weekdays…
Monday 9:00 AM - Thursday 9:00 PM | $150.00
Mobile & Dauphin Island…
Locations for Mobile County, including homes, halls, parks, our chapel, and the beach at Dauphin Island, Alabama
Weekends…
Friday 12:00 PM - Sunday 9:00 PM | $200.00
Weekdays Afternoon/Evening…
Monday 12:00 PM - Friday 9:00 PM | $150.00
Weekdays Morning…
Monday 9:00 AM - Friday 12:00 PM | $100.00
* The times above are for general consideration. If you want a sunrise ceremony, I am happy to do that. If you have a time in mind that not clear, just let me know.
**You can check to see if I’m available to officiate your wedding by going to my Availability Form page.
Q: Do you require a tip, too?
A: No. I realize that other officiants ask or hint about giving a tip in addition to the fee, but I do not.
Q: Do you officiate formal church or hall weddings?
A: Yes, and although I rarely wear a tie and coat, I really don’t mind and will for your formal church or hall wedding.
Q: What do you provide as a wedding officant?
A: First and formost, I provide the peace of mind that a minister will be there and I provide the officiating service that will make your wedding ceremony legal. In addition to that, when you confirm my services…
- you get my time and your date in my schedule, which is my business and money.
- I don’t make women vow to “obey” their husbands, however, I will include it if you ask. Some religious background or perspectives do require this, I will certainly include it you want.
- legal filing of your marriage license with the courthouse where it was purchased.
- wedding ceremony coordinating (I can provide direction of wedding party and ceremony participants).
- location of wedding is your choice, I’ll come to you. If you need some help or options, just let me know.
- you can add or change your ceremony features without extra charges, like:
- sand ceremony
- communion service
- family blessing ceremony
- stone throwing ceremony
- honor a deceased family member
- bride & groom communion
- have a family member speak
- add special singing
- do the Irish jig
- form a Polish wedding polka line
- whatever – as long as it doesn’t require me to wear a tie!
- I can provide wedding planning help, if you need some ideas, feedback, or vendor suggestions.
- I can also take photos with your camera, if wanted.
- Follow-up availability of my Pastoral Care services, if needed. No cost or obligation.
Q: Do you set-up any kind of wedding arch?
A: I do not provide any kind of wedding arch, but you are welcome to bring your own or rent one. I just don’t provide it myself because of the extra time required to set-up and fight with the beach winds. Plus, if I did, I could not be be flexible in location, because you would have to come to my established beach spot for the wedding. The wind is usually strong at the beach and it can become a pain, unless you have a way to securely tie it down.
Q: What do you wear for a beach wedding?
A: I usually wear a solid color beach shirt or sometimes I wear a pattern style beach shirt and dark slacks. If you have a special color request, just ask me. Although, I usually don’t wear a coat and tie on the beach.
Q: What about size of my wedding quest or wedding party?
A: Wedding party size or number of guests, from just the couple to 100 plus guests, are fine with me and have no bearing on my honorariums…unless you want me to wear a tie.
Q: What is a Mobile “Courthouse” Ceremony wedding?
A: Because the courthouse judge requires a waiting period for non-Mobile county residents, I get calls from out-of-state couples wanting a simple quick “she does – he does” make it legal wedding. This is what I call a Mobile elopement wedding.
It happens in the morning or early afternoon, and I can meet you at one of the parks near the courthouse, and I show up wearing what ever my attire is on that day. I may show up in shorts, jeans, or dressed for a beach wedding, between Monday and Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Q: What about Vow Renewals?
A: My vow renewal ceremony is identical to my wedding ceremony, worded slightly different, but the same effort, time, and words. I do not need to see your previous Certificate of Marriage. I will provide you with a Keepsake Vow Renewal Certificate (view PDF sample here). Couples who have used me for their Vow Renewal service have remarked that it certainly was more than expected and perfect. Visit the testimonial page for more information.
Q: What if it rains the day of my beach wedding?
A: Normally rain comes to the beach in flashes and short periods of time. However, there are times when we get long periods of rains, and on those days, if we can’t get a break in the rain, most hotels and condo’s allow plan B’s to move it inside, but you would have to check with your location.
There are 2 good locations with public gazebos that are ideal for holding the ceremony under to avoid the rain. One is just west of the corner of Hwy 59 and Beach Blvd. and the other is across the Orange Beach Perdido bridge at the Florida Point Park.
Q: What about hurricanes?
A: Normally the hotels and condo’s will cancel reservations and evacuate all guests. The good news is that we get a few days warning on hurricanes, so watch the weather reports. In the past I have had weddings rescheduled and moved ahead in time to beat the hurricane.Usually when a hurricane is heading toward South Alabama, my family and I evacuate early with my wife’s company. We would just need to communicate if one is in the Gulf and your wedding day is nearing.
Q: Do you require a deposit ?
A: No. I do not require any deposits, but I do ask that I am presented with the honorarium and the marriage license immediately before the ceremony. (I use to not require this, but after being left waiting nearly 1.5 hours by one wedding and 2 hours after another wedding, I finally had to specify this.
Q: What if I need to cancel?
A: No problem. All I ask is that I you call or email me. I won’t ask why or stay awake all night wondering how I am going to feed our pet y vow renewal
Q: Do you file the marriage license afterwards?
A: The county clerks ask that the officiating minister return the marriage license. Military couples need to take a copy of the signed marriage license back the base, so they usually return by mail. There is no law against the couple returning it back to the courthouse and if you wish to, just tell me. Then, in about two weeks, you will receive the official Certificate of Marriage in the mail from the county clerk. Some counties require a separate order to be placed in order to receive your Certificate of Marriage. TheCertificate of Marriage is what you will need to change your name on documents.
Q: What area of the beach are we allowed to use for our wedding?
A: All public areas of the beach are available to be used for performing a wedding. If you are staying at a beach side condo or hotel, you are allowed to use those private areas of the beach. Visit the At Gulf Shores, Alabama page to learn more.
Q: What if we want to have our own vows ?
A: I have standard modified traditional vows or will welcome the use of your own personalized vows. That is your personal choice.
Q: What is is your ceremony like?
A: Please visit my Ceremony Overview page to get an idea of the flow of my traditional ceremony. I will add other features at the request of couples, such as special music, poems, scripture readings, unity candles, sand ceremony, stone throwing, some unique ethnic features, children inclusions, prayer of blended families, and various other things.
Q: Do you require pre-marital counseling ?
A: No. My pre-marital counseling services are optional and offered separate according to relationship challenges. If you are interested, I offer you both a Love Language assessment test which help you understand how to best love your mate after the wedding. This is something that can mail to you and when you both have completed it you mail it back or bring it with you for the wedding. I can also give to you to take with you on your honeymoon and you can mail it back to me at a later date.
Q: What are your pre-marital counseling fees ?
A: Again, an honorarium, which has generally been $50.00 – $75.00 for an hour and a half of time in-person or over the phone. (I should note that I offer the pre-marital coaching service even if I do not officiate the wedding.)
Q: Can we meet you in advance , even if we are not interested in pre-marital coaching?
A: Yes. If you are near or in Mobile, Alabama. Just know that the beach is about an hour and half drive for me. So it is the equivalent of a half days’ work for me. We certainly can talk over the phone as often as you may have questions.
Q: What about attending the wedding rehearsal?
A: Scheduling is the biggest challenge for me when it comes to wedding rehearsals. Often times I have a wedding scheduled, an event schedule, or family plans. If I can’t make your wedding rehearsal, I will gladly be available by phone to answer any questions or to point out the issues that would involve me at the rehearsal. During the ceremony I will coach the couple along in the ceremony, but here are some issues to think about:
- Bride’s entrance. If someone is walking the bride down, I just need to know if they want or are willing for me to say “Who gives this bride away.” And if someone is walking down the bride, they need to know to stop about 6 to 10 feet before more, in order to give the groom enough walking space to actually go and get his bride.
- Vows. If there is no preference, the majority of couples go with traditional vows with the bride and groom merely answer “I do.” But you can write your own or have the “Dr. Seuss Vows.”
- Vows. Also, you both will need to decide how you want to stand during the vows. You can remain standing facing the minister, turn to face each other, or slight turn toward each other but yet still toward the minister. Also, will you hold hands during the vows?
- Exit. After the minister pronounces you husband and wife and introduces you both as such, you will just need to know where or if you are going to exit or have friends and family come up to greet you in the front or or in the back.
Q: What are the Alabama laws for license, etc?
A: You must purchase your marriage license at any Alabama county courthouse, in order to be married in Alabama. The license is good for 30 days, only. To learn more, please visit my Marriage License Information page or click on this link: www.usmarriagelaws.com
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