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Marriage Ceremony
The Ceremony can widely range from small private, and romantic, to extravagant with many ceremonial flourishes. This opens the opportunity to create a wedding full of personal touches and beauty.
The Procession ~ The wedding march as bride enters the ceremony.
The Convocation ~ Gathering Words spoken to commence the wedding.
The Invocation ~ Opening Prayer/Blessing Words spoken to call onto God or Your Higher Power
Support from Families, Charge To Couple, Consent.
Candle-lighting Ceremony ~ Symbolizes two lives united by one flame.
The Readings ~ Readings or Song, here your friends or family and the wedding couple may read a selection of beautiful poetry or sing.
Wine Ceremony ~ It symbolizes the two people coming together as they form their marriage bond.
The Consecration ~ The words given help to elevate the message just heard. To consecrate means to make holy.
The Vows ~ Your vows are emotionally and spiritually binding part of the ceremony.
The Expression of Intent ~ Promises, Renewing of Promises, Family Promises, Affirmation of the Community, here you are invited to make public your desire to wed.
The Blessing and Exchanging of the Rings ~ Wedding rings are the material symbol of the bond that is created in marriage.
The Benediction ~ The benediction is the final ceremonial flourish of the wedding. With these words you are both sent off with a blessing as a newly married couple.
The Pronouncement of Marriage ~ A beautiful reading that pronounces your married.
The Kiss ~ This is the delicious part of the ceremony, the moment you claim one another with a kiss.
Presentation of Couple ~ The public proclamation that you are married, and the presentation by the officiant of you as husband and wife by your new name for the very first time anywhere.
The Recession ~ Just as there is a procession the recession conveys the bride and groom are together at last.
Note: Other flourishes may be included into the ceremony such as; lasso, arras, breaking of the glass, dove release, bubble blowing while the couple kiss, please remember it's your special day and anything goes.
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Ceremonial Planning
Regardless of the number of guests and attendants, the following questions may help you begin to visualize a service that will engage you and your guests.
What should the underlying tone of the service be?
Solemn, light-hearted, free-spirited, etc.
What should the overt tone of the service be?
Religious, Spiritual, Civil, etc.
What style of service will it be?
Highly formal, semi-formal, informal, casual, extremely casual etc.
Will the wedding have a theme?
Love and Commitment, Love and Purpose, Love and Rejoicing etc.
Are there any family traditions on either side that should be included in the ceremony?
A unity candle, particular song, or flower presentation, etc.
Are there any ethnic traditions that should be included in the ceremony?
Arras/Lasso (Spanish and Latino), Breaking of the Glass (Jewish), Triple Ring Exchange (Eastern Orthodox), Meher (Muslim), Garland Exchange (Hindu and Hawaiian) etc.
How long should the ceremony last?
The length of the service may dictate the number and type of elements you can include.
Other things to think about....
Will you write your own or choose from a selection of pre-written vows?
What role will music have in the service?
Will the minister simply officiate the vows, also deliver a short homily on marriage or preach a full sermon?
If the commitment results in a blended family, would a separate set of vows for the children be appropriate?
LGBT Marriage
Effective Monday June 16, 2008 at 5:01pm the law allowing same sex couples to file for a marriage license in California County Clerks offices. So feel free to contact me so I can celebrate your nuptials.
Domestic Partnership Registration and Commitment Ceremony
I am authorized to perform Domestic Partnership as I also hold a notary public commission for the State of California you may request to see my commission certificate at any time.
The State of California allows same-sex marriages in addition to Domestic Partnerships. From a marriage standpoint of view the domestic partnership is very similar to being married. California Family Law Code Section 297.5(a):
To read the Family Law code for California Domestic Partnerships:
click here.
Registered domestic partners shall have the same rights, protections, and benefits, and shall be subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties under the law, whether they derive from statutes, administrative, regulations, court rules, government policies, common law, or any other provisions or sources of law, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.
I can notarize your Domestic Partnership Declaration and provide a commitment ceremony here in my home for $125 or a place of your choice this will incurr mileage at the rate of $1 a mile if outside Madera I am available any day of the week so call for an appointment. 9am-7pm (prices are higher on holidays).
There is a $33 filing fee that is paid to Secretary of State then I will mail the domestic partnership form to Sacramento for recording.
The following requirements must be met in order to qualify for domestic partnership:
• Both persons have a common residence.
• Neither person is married to someone else or is a member of another
domestic partnership with someone else that has not been terminated,
dissolved, or adjudged a nullity.
• Both persons are not related by blood in a way that would prevent them
from being married to each other in this state.
• Both persons are at least 18 years of age.
• Both persons are members of the same sex, OR
One or both of the persons of opposite sex are over the age of 62 and meet the eligibility criteria under Title II of
the Social Security Act as defined in 42 U.S.C. section 402(a) for old-age insurance benefits or Title XVI of the
Social Security Act as defined in 42 U.S.C. section 1381 for aged individuals.
• Both persons are capable of consenting to the domestic partnership.
• Both persons consent to the jurisdiction of the Superior Courts of California for the purpose of a proceeding to
obtain a judgment of dissolution or nullity of the domestic partnership or for legal separation of partners in the
domestic partnership, or for any other proceeding related to the partners' rights and obligations, even if one or
both partners ceases to be a resident of, or to maintain a domicile in, this state.
You Must Bring:
• Valid ID (Driver's License from any state, DMV ID Card, Military ID, or Passport from any country). All ID's
must be current (unexpired), have your photo and signature on them, and can NOT be temporary or interrim ID's.
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