Hello, and congratulations on your engagement!  

 

My name is Ralph Griggs, and I am a life-long minister. One of the most enjoyable parts of what I do is helping couples with their wedding ceremonies - and I've now assisted hundreds of couples in Nashville and throughout middle Tennessee. (You can see some of the nice comments from couples near the bottom of this page).                                 

Many couples are looking for a caring minister or officiant for their wedding. They may be new to town and don't know anyone, or don't have a home church at present - or if they do, their minister is not available for their wedding. Or they just aren't church-going people right now.

They want more than a city official who may offer a vanilla matter-of-fact ceremony, and they want to know that they have a real minister.

This is an exciting time for you with many details to decide!  Choosing your ceremony officiant is one of the more important ones.

Here is what I do for you:

◊ Help you have exactly the kind of ceremony you want. You get a Ceremony Planning Guide that allows you to personalize your ceremony. (Listen to a wedding sound bite here of the popular Hands Ceremony). More about the Ceremony Planner

◊ Provide for you an online At-Home Marriage Preparation Course. If you choose to use it (though not required), you can save $60 on your marriage license. There is no charge for the Course. More about the Marriage Prep Course

◊ If you need any help in finding vendors and ideas for your wedding, I have a lot of wedding experience and met just about everyone in weddings around Nashville. (Begin with information & links toward the bottom of this page)

Here are some common questions:

◊ Are you a real minister? Yes. Ministry is all I've ever done. I'm not someone who was doing something else, decided I'd start doing weddings and somehow got some ordination papers. I completed a Masters of Theology degree & did Doctor of Ministry work at an accredited seminary and have over 30 years of ministry experience. (If sometime you'd like to listen to some messages from my teaching ministry go here). By the way, Internet-ordained ministers cannot legally officiate weddings in Tennessee. Read more about me

◊ How do I get a Tennessee marriage license? The short answer: You can get the license anywhere in the state at a county clerk's office that issues marriage licenses; you must wait until you are within 30 days of your wedding date; there are no blood tests or waiting period; and you must show up with a government-issued document with your Social Security number on it. Complete information

◊ How do I change my name after the wedding? You've got to have a certified copy of your marriage license to change your name on your driver's license and at Social Security. Counties vary some on how you get the certified copy. Ask the clerk where you get your license. Name change guides sell for around twenty dollars online but I've put one together you have can for free: Tennessee Name Change Guide

◊ Do we need a PA system? Most places, I can project enough to be heard by everyone. You do want people to be able to hear. If there are noise issues, use the sound system at your wedding venue. It was designed for that location, blends into the decor, and is wedding-tested. Of course, I will use a mic if needed, but reasons you might not want to use a mic include: Any PA system can get feedback, squeal & crack...maybe even pick up a CB operator nearby! Sometimes I need to whisper something to the couple - difficult when wearing a mic. Finally, you might not want ported-in speakers in your wedding photos.  

◊ How do we schedule our wedding with you and what is the honorarium? First thing is to check your wedding date. You can either call or email. If the date and time are open, you hold it with a $35 deposit. You will get the Ceremony Planner in an email as a WORD document, which you can edit as much as you want. If you wish, we meet at my home to go over your ceremony preferences. You can start the online marriage preparation course whenever you are ready. Complete info about honorarium and scheduling

Hope you find this site helpful and best wishes for having a ceremony to remember,

P.S. If you have questions, or would like to check into my availability for your wedding ceremony, please click on the text below for complete contact information.

Phone numbers & email

>click the video on the right below for a video message from me

Nashville Wedding Information:

Reviews of Nashville Wedding Locations                          Topics on Video Below:

Nashville Wedding Service Providers                                Getting Your Tennessee Marriage License

Free Bride's Name Change Guide                                      Considerations in Choosing a Nashville Wedding Minister

How to Get Your Tennessee Marriage License                 

Nashville Wedding Elopement

Nashville Wedding Locations Reviews:

Riverwood Mansion                                         C.J.'s Off the Square                               

Springhaven Mansion                                      Top O'Woodland Bed and Breakfast 

Union Station Hotel                                          Old Natchez Country Club 

Cedarvine Mansion                                          Centennial Park Sunken Garden 

Two Rivers Mansion                                         Opryland Hotel Weddings 

Buchanan Log House                                       Nashville Wedding Chapel 

Historic Cedarwood Mansion

Other locations not yet reviewed: Blackhaven Gardens,  Cheekwood Gardens,  Hermitage Hotel, Belle Meade Plantation, Belmont Mansion, Two Rivers Mansion, Cannonsburg Village, Shadowbrook, Carnton Plantation, The Cool Springs House                  

Updates:

◊ Nashville wedding planner Angela Proffitt now has a new website with videos to help couples plan their weddings. Check it out at www.elegantweddings.tv

◊ Historic Cedarwood Mansion has announced a special Nashville wedding elopement package. If you don't have time to plan, want something a little smaller and don't want to spend a fortune, this could be the deal for you. It includes a lot of extras to make the wedding truly special.

◊ The wedding venue C.J.'s Off the Square in Franklin has reopened! I was privileged to help with a wedding there that recently made it on theKnot you can get to here. Also associated with CJ's is the Williamson County Weddings Boutique. They have periodic special "shows" with treats and prizes.

◊ I officiated the wedding for Jessica Harp (of the female country duo The Wreckers) and Jason Mowery. There's a story about the wedding in the summer edition of In Style Magazine

Thank-You Notes:

<sub>◊ Hi Ralph, I wanted to write to let you know how thankful Sam and I are for you! The ceremony was perfect in every way. We received so many compliments afterwards about how wonderful it all was. The wording of the ceremony especially. It would not have been possible without you. Thank you...from the bottom of our hearts. We are truly blessed to have found you. I also wanted to give thanks to you for the promptness of our marriage certificate. When we got back from our honeymoon on Monday 10/12 it had come in the mail that day and was waiting for us. I was able to go the next day and get my name changed on my license before going back to work on Wednesday. Thank you again SO MUCH for everything!!! Sincerely, Audra & Sam

◊ Ralph, We just wanted to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being the minister at our ceremony! We loved how fun and easy the marriage counseling was. I really enjoyed being able to write our own ceremony online with you as well. I loved your style, and it wasn't your typical cookie cutter ceremony! The sand art turned out great and my favorite was when TJ and I read our vows. That was a very important day for us, and you made it so special to be the presenter of our love! God Bless you and your family. Keep up the great work in all you do for the future. You have shared a special time in our lives, and we appreciate it! We will definitely refer you to anyone we know getting married in the future! Thanks! TJ and Selina

◊ Ralph, We are running off to our honeymoon, but wanted to send you a quick photo of our BEAUTIFUL wedding. You did such a great job - we received so many compliments about your service. Literally, everyone was moved to tears by the service. And, you made the whole process easy and FUN! Thank you so much. You have a true gift and we are so pleased you could share it with us! Thanks, Nicole

◊ Just a note this morning to thank you so much for your wonderful addition to our daughter's wedding. Everyone there felt your warmth and kindness throughout the ceremony - it felt as if you had always been our pastor!  We are so happy we found you, and now you are forever a part of our cherished memories of the day... -Matt & Regina

◊ Mr. Griggs, I just want to tell you how thankful we are to have had you as a part of our special day. Everything was so easy and went smoothly. We are certainly going to tell everyone of you fantastic service. It was a pleasure to meet you. We wish you all the best in the upcoming holiday season!
Thanks a bunch, Jacqueline and Philip

◊ Dear Ralph....we cannot thank you enough for playing such an important role in our most special day. Without us knowing you very well, you really seemed to fit us as a minister. The ceremony was more than we could've ever asked for. I felt a calm spirit come over me that I'd never felt before...you didn't just marry us, you allowed our family & friends the genuine opportunity to experience what we feel in our hearts....and we thank you for that." -Bethany & Josh</sub>

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