There are many reasons why officiants should use a written agreement when working with couples. Yes, even if you think you don't need one. A contract or work agreement gives couples assurance that their marriage officiant won’t bail on them. Moreover, it also provides you with valuable protections. Clarifying Expectations Performing marriage ceremonies is a business, albeit a warm and fuzzy one. Therefore, laying out what each party can expect from the professional relationship sets expectations and avoids disappointments. Detailed suggestions to include in your agreement are available in the third article in this series. Minimize Disputes First of all, . . .
Member Support
Articles to improve your JPus experience and maximize the power of your membership
Support Topic: Client Contact
Contracts Part 2 – Presentation
Now that you understand why a written agreement is needed, this article provides tips to know how to present the content. Simple Language When crafting written agreements that you'll use with your couples, it is best to use simple language that everyone understands. A well-written contact will prevent problems, and be the tool to solve differences. NOLO, an organization dedicated to supporting small businesses with legal guidance, says that most contracts need just two components to be legally valid: All parties agree on the terms Something of value is exchanged. For example, money is exchanged for a customized wedding service. . . .
Contracts Part 3 – Content
When creating the written agreement you'll use with your couples, think about the different scenarios that you might encounter. Then, make sure that you incorporate them within the document. To help, this article provides suggested content to include. Consider your agreement a living document. Meaning, revisit it regularly. With time you will think of additional points you'll want to mention. Wait! You don't think you need a written agreement? Check out our article Contracts Part 1 - Why they are Needed. Part 2 of our Contracts series discusses how to structure the agreement, when to introduce it and different methods . . .
Contracts Part 4 – Retainers
You've connected with the couple and everything went terrific. Or, so you thought. You agreed upon the date and fees. You heard their love story and immediately the ideas started flowing. So, naturally you got right to work. Oh, the excitement. You could anticipate the emotions as the words rolled out. But then - an abrupt, "We've decided on a different officiant." Or worse, silence. Ghosted. When working with couples, it is important to protect your own interests. You are important. You bring skills and passion to your profession. Your time is valuable. Until you receive a signed agreement and . . .
LGBTQ Couples Welcome!
On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v Hodges made marriage equality the law of the land. Sadly, some marriage officiants continue to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary and queer couples. Indeed, sometimes loving couples share their painful stories about officiants refusing to perform their ceremony. With this in mind, letting LGBTQ couples know that you are inclusive can alleviate any unease they may have before they contact you. Code of Ethics Of course you welcome all couples. After all, you are a member of the Justice of the Peace Association. In other words, as a member . . .
Collecting Payment
Money can be an uncomfortable topic for some people. Nonetheless, as a professional wedding officiant you are operating a business. You are dedicated to giving your clients the best wedding ceremony they could have imagined. You hone your skills, network with others, stay on top of the latest trends, and you belong to JPus, an organization for pros. Couples are hiring you to perform a service. Naturally, you should be compensated fairly. Set Expectations Spell out verbally, and then in writing, what the payment expectations are. This is good practice, whether or not you use a formal contract. Be friendly. Language . . .
Which Membership Level for Me?
The Justice of the Peace Association is driven to help our members succeed. First identify your professional goals. Then follow this guide to help determine which membership level is right for you. Evaluate Your Needs Whether you are a new member and just joining our ranks, or have been with us from the early days, it is always good to evaluate your needs to make sure you are getting what you need. Marriage officiants join the Justice of the Peace Association to stay up-to-date with news and training, and be on top of local and regional practices. We help the professional stay current . . .
Social Media Benefits
Staying connected with JPus and findaJP through social media networks has many benefits. Active engagement with social media is an important aspect of every business - that includes JPus, findaJP and your JP biz, too. You don't need to be involved on every platform, but pick one or two and dig in! And, while you're there, be sure to follow, like and love our pages, too. JPus Social Media Platforms It's all about the officiant. Content just for you! A members-only Facebook group provides a forum for members to ask questions of one another, brainstorm ideas and share stories. The . . .
Be that One Connection
Couples Who Click, Click with Their Perfect Officiant Most couples, when they reach out to an officiant on findaJP, only contact one. They read through the profiles until they feel a connection with a JP or notary. And then they send them a note or make a call. We know this because when couples use the findaJP contact form, a copy is sent to JPus. Here is a sampling of recent messages. Note how they feel a connection to the JP before reaching out: "After reading your profile on findaJP.com, I liked the part when you said you welcome couples . . .
“Reply-To” Bug
Enhancing communication with couples. [wcm_nonmember]This member support article is for JPus members only. If you have a membership, please log in. Purchase a membership here.[/wcm_nonmember][wcm_restrict plans="membership-plan-ultimate, membership-plan-region, membership-plan-neighborhood, membership-plan-hometown, membership-plan-basic"]We have identified a bug in some email programs that ignores the "Reply-To" contact and requires the couple's email address to be manually entered. For members using the affected email programs, clicking reply on a couple’s “Contact JP” message sends their response to [email protected] instead of to the client’s email address. This issue is only impacting a small number of members and is generated by these member's email program. The good . . .
Safe Sender
AVOID SPAM We know you don’t want to ever miss an email from a couple who is considering choosing you to be their Justice of the Peace, and neither do we. But SPAM and JUNK filters can sometimes make this a bit a tricky. Here at JPus we are constantly working to improve the likelihood that couples will see your profile and reducing the risk of lost contacts. But we cannot do it alone. Adding [email protected] and [email protected] as safe senders helps ensure contacts go where they belong, Your inbox! RECEIVE IMPORTANT EMAIL FROM FINDAJP.COM AND JPUS.ORG When a prospect fills . . .