I have a modular ceremony that allows for us to work together to craft something special. I can use my basic ceremony as is, or I have many optional modules that can be included. Your wedding is all about you, but it is also about becoming a part of long-standing traditions and maybe some newer trends.

I hope to make this as stress free as possible for you. While many civil weddings are short and sweet, that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on your special day. I can make the ceremony as long or as short as you want. Even the basic ceremony can have music or readings added to expand it.

Ceremonial options include:

Modern Ceremony: This is the basic ceremony in plain (modern) language.

Old Fashioned Ceremony: This is the basic ceremony in a fancier (Shakespearean) language.

Additional ceremony sections, while you can choose any or all of them, most couples choose to add only one or two.

Canopy Ceremony: This traces its roots to Jewish, Ghanaian and Hindu traditions and is symbolic of building a new home together.

Candle Ceremony: Sometimes called a unity candle, this involves the couple lighting a candle together, lighting candles symbolizing each family coming together.

Wine Ceremony: The blending of two wines symbolic of blending two lives (and life experiences) into 0ne new vintage.

Wedding Ring Ceremony: By far the most common addition, this can include one or two rings.

Handfasting: A Celtic tradition, the origin of the phrase tying the knot.

Jumping the Broom: Most often seen as an African American tradition, but also used in some Eastern European cultures.

Sand Ceremony: Blending of different colored sands, often used when children are involved and families are blending.

Selected Readings

There are several parts of the ceremony where special readings can be added. These are most commonly read by family or friends. While you are welcome to pick your own, I can offer a selection of poems and other passages for you to choose from.

Recorded Music

Many weddings include either live or recorded music, while this is most often provided separately from the services of a Justice of the Peace, I do have a list of recorded instrumental music that I can provide. While there are several parts of the ceremony where songs can be added, the most common are for the entrance and exit of the couple.