FAQ's And so I've been asked~~~~~
Q) Where can we have our wedding ceremony?
A) I've officiated wedding ceremonies at Miller Park, on a boat on Lake Michigan, at a Country Club, at a hotel, on the shores of Punta Cana, Door County, in chapels, on a golf course, in a rustic barn, at Boerner Botanical, at The Domes, at a park and in a private home or apartment. I own a car. I'll meet you there. The choice is yours!
Q) Can we write our own vows?
A) WOW. Yes. Please do. I encourage it. Some do this while others prefer the “traditional” vows. And then some do the LISTEN/REPEAT of “traditional” and add one short personal phrase of their own afterwards. Once again, the choice is yours!
Q) Is pre-marital counseling required?
A) In a word, NO. I feel that some ministers who require premarital counseling do so for the purpose of indoctrinating the couple in the theology of their church. As an inter-denominational minister, I will marry couples of ANY faith – or no faith at all
Q) Do you marry those who have been divorced?
A) Yes. I am happy to perform the ceremony of anyone who has a marriage license. My purpose is to SERVE you – and not JUDGE you. I often had other pastors – from Catholic Priests to conservative fundamentalists refer their couples to me when their own church did not “allow” them to perform the ceremony.
Q) Do you officiate Non-Religious wedding ceremonies?
A) Yes. Of course. It seems like 95% of the ceremonies that I am asked to officiate are of the contemporary nature with a minimal religious tone. However, if you have obviously chosen not to be married (or not “allowed” to be married) in a “House of God” you may wish to integrate your ceremony with a touch of scripture or that religious tone for a variety of reasons. It's YOUR wedding day and YOU may wish a slight infusion of some sort of religion. And let me whisper this one ~~~ your parents may have wished that you would have been married in a church as they were all those years ago and maybe we can show a touch of gentle respect with a Unity Candle involving them or one scripture reading (followed by a contemporary creative one) and maybe even The Lord's Prayer towards the end. Again, the choice is yours!
Q) How far will you travel?
A) Time permitting, I will travel as far as needed. I would simply ask for a modest travel fee. If it's an overnight arrangement with the rehearsal being the night before at a venue of a longer distance we would easily work things out in a mutual manner.
Q) How will you dress?
A) I usually wear the attire that fits the wedding and its venue. Sometimes a suit and sometimes a sport coat with the dress shirt and tie. I earlier mentioned that I've officiated over 1500 weddings and I can count the times on one hand where I wore the clerical collar – but it's available. Oh, and I once officiated a Halloween Wedding at John Hawk's Pub/Milwaukee dressed as a STAR WARS Jedi Master (you can see pictures from that wedding HERE). Yep, complete with Light Saber. You've GOT to see what the bride and groom wore that day – and the costumes of so many of the guests, including Beetlejuice!! They encouraged me to do this – and I loved it.
Q) Would you be able to stay for dinner & present a blessing before the meal?
A) Again, time permitting – and it would be an honor if I could do this for you.
Q) Will you perform same sex wedding ceremonies?
A) Yes. Of course. I have done so many times – no difference with the creativity.
A) I've officiated wedding ceremonies at Miller Park, on a boat on Lake Michigan, at a Country Club, at a hotel, on the shores of Punta Cana, Door County, in chapels, on a golf course, in a rustic barn, at Boerner Botanical, at The Domes, at a park and in a private home or apartment. I own a car. I'll meet you there. The choice is yours!
Q) Can we write our own vows?
A) WOW. Yes. Please do. I encourage it. Some do this while others prefer the “traditional” vows. And then some do the LISTEN/REPEAT of “traditional” and add one short personal phrase of their own afterwards. Once again, the choice is yours!
Q) Is pre-marital counseling required?
A) In a word, NO. I feel that some ministers who require premarital counseling do so for the purpose of indoctrinating the couple in the theology of their church. As an inter-denominational minister, I will marry couples of ANY faith – or no faith at all
Q) Do you marry those who have been divorced?
A) Yes. I am happy to perform the ceremony of anyone who has a marriage license. My purpose is to SERVE you – and not JUDGE you. I often had other pastors – from Catholic Priests to conservative fundamentalists refer their couples to me when their own church did not “allow” them to perform the ceremony.
Q) Do you officiate Non-Religious wedding ceremonies?
A) Yes. Of course. It seems like 95% of the ceremonies that I am asked to officiate are of the contemporary nature with a minimal religious tone. However, if you have obviously chosen not to be married (or not “allowed” to be married) in a “House of God” you may wish to integrate your ceremony with a touch of scripture or that religious tone for a variety of reasons. It's YOUR wedding day and YOU may wish a slight infusion of some sort of religion. And let me whisper this one ~~~ your parents may have wished that you would have been married in a church as they were all those years ago and maybe we can show a touch of gentle respect with a Unity Candle involving them or one scripture reading (followed by a contemporary creative one) and maybe even The Lord's Prayer towards the end. Again, the choice is yours!
Q) How far will you travel?
A) Time permitting, I will travel as far as needed. I would simply ask for a modest travel fee. If it's an overnight arrangement with the rehearsal being the night before at a venue of a longer distance we would easily work things out in a mutual manner.
Q) How will you dress?
A) I usually wear the attire that fits the wedding and its venue. Sometimes a suit and sometimes a sport coat with the dress shirt and tie. I earlier mentioned that I've officiated over 1500 weddings and I can count the times on one hand where I wore the clerical collar – but it's available. Oh, and I once officiated a Halloween Wedding at John Hawk's Pub/Milwaukee dressed as a STAR WARS Jedi Master (you can see pictures from that wedding HERE). Yep, complete with Light Saber. You've GOT to see what the bride and groom wore that day – and the costumes of so many of the guests, including Beetlejuice!! They encouraged me to do this – and I loved it.
Q) Would you be able to stay for dinner & present a blessing before the meal?
A) Again, time permitting – and it would be an honor if I could do this for you.
Q) Will you perform same sex wedding ceremonies?
A) Yes. Of course. I have done so many times – no difference with the creativity.
