Weddings

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It sets the tone for the kind of marriage you’ll have for years to come. That’s why it’s so important to be intentional with your vision for your ceremony, so that it reflects who you are, and what you value most.

It’s a joy for me to officiate secular, nondenominational, religious, spiritual, intercultural and interfaith wedding ceremonies. I will help you create a ceremony that brings your vision to life.

Questions to ponder:  What do you and your fiance value that you want your wedding ceremony to reflect? What do you want your guests to know about you? What do you want them to experience? What do YOU most want to experience on this day?

THE PROCESS: (For Personalized and Elaborate Ceremony Packages)

~ Initial phone conversation: Give me a call and tell me what your vision is for your wedding. If you’re not 100% clear or have no idea, no problem! This is where I can easily help you.

~ Meeting: I’m happy to meet with you by phone, Skype, or in person in Estero, Florida.  This way you can get a feel for me and how I work and I can become better acquainted with you. I’ll ask you a bunch of questions and show you samples of wedding elements and the ceremony packages I offer.

~ Agreement: Once we decide it’s a good fit to have me officiate at your wedding, and you decide on a package, I’ll give you a contract to sign. Half the fee is due upfront and half is due before your wedding. This process usually happens within a week or so of meeting. Fees vary according to date, time, location, travel and whether or not you’re having a rehearsal.

~ *Add-ons: I love coaching couples before they marry to help set them up for success, and am happy to attend your rehearsal as well for an add-on fee.  Extras are listed below the packages.

~ Questionnaire: Once I receive your signed contract and deposit, I’ll email you a questionnaire for you and your fiance to fill out and email back to me. This will help me create a personalized wedding ceremony. If you prefer to answer these questions by phone, I’m happy to arrange a call with you.

~ Wedding ceremony draft review: This will include suggestions for music, readings, a unity ritual, vows, etc., based on our meeting, and your responses to the questionnaire. You can change, edit, delete anything you wish.

~ Wedding ceremony final review: I’ll edit the wedding outline until you love it and approve every word.

~ Wedding Day: I’ll arrive 30 minutes in advance of your ceremony so we can take care of any necessary paperwork, including two witnesses signing your marriage license. If your wedding warrants it, I’ll have outlines of your ceremony printed for your photographer, videographer, DJ and/or musician(s).

~ Mailing Marriage License: I will mail your Marriage License to the appropriate Register of Deeds office after making a copy.

~ Keepsake Ceremony Gift (With the Elaborate Package only): 1-2 weeks after your wedding I’ll mail you your “keepsake ceremony”, which will be your wedding ceremony printed on heavy paper in a pretty folder or binder.

THE PACKAGES: Fees for the ceremony and rehearsal (if included) are quoted on an individual basis and vary based on distance, date, day and time.

LAST MINUTE WEDDINGS, ELOPEMENTS, AND NO-FRILLS CEREMONIES: Do you want to get married in the Estero – Fort Myers – Bonita Springs – Naples, FL area today, tomorrow or this week? Do you have your marriage license from a FL Register of Deeds office? Is it just you and your fiancé and perhaps a few family members and friends with no bridal party? Call me, let me know where and when, and if I’m available I’d be happy to officiate your ceremony. I LOVE the spontaneity and adventure of a last minute elopement or wedding!

What’s included:

• Brief phone calls, emails and texts as needed
• Short & Simple Ceremony
• Having (your) two witnesses sign the marriage license
• Officiating the Ceremony
• Filing Your Marriage License
• Travel within 20 minutes of Estero, FL

You provide: Marriage license (2 copies) and return envelope
Two adult witnesses (There are options if you have no witnesses)
The venue (I have ideas if you’re stuck)

PERSONALIZED CEREMONIES: I recommend this type of ceremony if you have more time to plan your wedding and would like a ceremony that’s customized to reflect your unique values and expression, including a couple of brief elements from your love story, a unity ritual and favorite readings.

What’s included:

• Introductory Meeting by phone, Skype or Face-to-face in Estero
• Short questionnaire for bride and groom to fill out and return
• Creative ideas for personalizing your wedding, including music, readings, unity ritual, etc.
• Personalized ceremony reflecting your unique connection and personalities
• Brief version of love story
• Unlimited ceremony drafts
• Ceremony outlines for photographer, videographer, DJ and/or musician(s)
• Arrival at ceremony venue 30 minutes before ceremony
• Ensuring two of your witnesses sign the marriage license
• Officiating the ceremony and attending the cocktail hour (if desired)
• Brief phone calls and email consultations
• Filing your Marriage License
• Travel within 20 minutes of Estero

ELABORATE CEREMONIES: I recommend this type of ceremony if you have more time to plan your wedding and would like a ceremony that feels a little more luxurious and is fully customized to reflect your unique values and expression, including a your complete love story, remembrances, a personalized unity ritual, favorite readings, a group blessing, etc.

What’s included:

• Introductory Meeting face-to-face in Estero, FL or by phone or Skype
• Comprehensive questionnaire for bride and groom to fill out and return
• Creative ideas for personalizing your wedding, including music, readings, unique unity ritual, group blessing, etc.
• Elaborate personalized ceremony reflecting your unique connection and personalities
• Full love story told
• Unlimited ceremony drafts
• Ceremony outlines for photographer, videographer, DJ and/or musician(s)
• Arrival at ceremony venue 30 minutes before ceremony
• Ensuring two of your witnesses sign the marriage license
• Officiating the Ceremony and attending cocktail hour and reception (if desired)
• Reception blessing/toast
• Unlimited email and telephone consultations
• Filing your Marriage License
• Travel within 20 minutes of Estero, FL
• A keepsake copy of your personalized wedding ceremony

*ADD-ONS:

Couples’ Coaching by Skype including: Communication, creating agreements; stress management, decision-making, boundaries-setting, self and other awareness, self-care & other-care. Learn more about my coaching: http://www.mycoachbarbara.com

8 (45 minute) sessions over 3 months
4 (45 minute) sessions over 2 months
2 (45 minute) sessions over 1 month

Ceremony Rehearsals:  -OR-Same-Day Ceremony Run Through: (within two hours of ceremony). For ceremonies with a bridal party, children in the processional, guest speakers or a complicated unity ritual, I highly recommend that you hold a rehearsal. Your wedding planner, coordinator, or I can lead this.

Travel outside 20 minutes of Estero: I charge for time and mileage