Here are the things I do for you to save you time, money, frustration – and enough of your sanity to enjoy the process.
+ Ditch the ceremony details panic. I email you my 10-page Ceremony Planner & then discuss your ceremony preferences. If you are able to come out to my home in the Bellevue area, we can hammer out your preferences face to face. If you live in Albania or just don’t want to deal with Nashville traffic, we can work out the ceremony details by phone or virtually. Don’t feel bad if you can’t come out. Life is busy.
The Ceremony Planner gets rave reviews. Couples find it very helpful in planning & personalizing their ceremonies. Couples are put at ease to know what to expect in the ceremony.
+ Marriage prep on a budget. I offer my online At-Home Marriage Preparation Course which saves you $60 on your marriage license. There’s no charge for the Online Course. It’s included in the honorarium.
You don’t have to use it, but most do and have a blast with it. Plus, it saves you a cool $60 off the cost of the marriage license (not counting the few hundred dollars it would cost to see a licensed counselor or attend a program somewhere). Cha-ching!
+ We did it! proof covered. I promptly send your signed license back to the county clerk’s office where you got it. They will mail you the certified copy or you can request from them in writing or by phone (check with the county clerk’s office where you get your license – policies vary from county to county).
+Real deal, legal signature. You have confidence that you have a legal minister officiant signature on your license not some guy who got ordained online to make a few bucks with a side gig.
The price tag?
For most scheduled & planned weddings, the total honorarium is $300.
The couple mails a check for $75 (or send by Venmo) to confirm their wedding date and ceremony time. The $75 is non-refundable & is meant to protect the couple and my calendar.
The couple sends the rest ($225) by check or Venmo at least two weeks before the ceremony.
When you are ready to get things set:
- Shoot me an email me at ralph.griggs@gmail.com with your wedding information
- I will email you back confirming the details
- The email will include my Venmo handle where you can send the deposit (or address if you prefer to send a check). I will confirm receipt of your deposit and then we are SET!
- The Ceremony Planner will be attached to the email.
- Another attachment will include the instructions on how to receive the completion certificate for the online marriage preparation course (if you use it – not required but free and saves you $60 on the marriage license). This completion certificate (with my name notarized) is what you take to the clerk’s office when you go to get your license. The license fee will be reduced $60.
Note about rehearsals:
If you are having a rehearsal, I can attend if I don’t have a wedding scheduled at your rehearsal time. However, in most cases it’s not essential, and the way I do things can save you some money you can use for massages on your honeymoon (you’re going to need it after the wedding stress).
Once the couple has received the Ceremony Planner and we’ve gone over it in person or through phone/email or video conversation, most are comfortable that the ceremony will go as planned. Rehearsals are primarily for the attendants so they can nail their entrances/exits & to iron out any logistical stuff.
But hey, if you decide you need me to help you practice your kiss (wait, I didn’t say that right!), the rehearsal fee runs between $75-125 depending on the time/location.
Remember, I’m here to help make your “I do’s” as stress free, fun and memorable as possible.