Frequently Asked Questions
Can we choose or create our own ceremony?
Yes! Your wedding can be as creative and as personal as you would like to make it. The ceremony may be simple or elaborate. I have a number of ceremonies you can choose from as is or customize to suit your needs. I can also give you guidelines for creating and writing your own ceremony. A ceremony may consist of a number of parts depending on what you wish. Any ceremony can be enhanced by readings, music etc. There are many additional options that you may want to incorporate such as the Rose Ceremony, the Unity Candle, and the Family Medallion. (See Ceremonies)
How do we book you for our wedding?
A wedding ceremony is an important moment in your lives and wanting an officiant you are comfortable with is understandable. Many couples want to talk with several JPs before choosing the one they feel is the most suitable. I will be glad to consult with you prior to that decision by either phone or in person (in my home) free of charge.
Call or email me, and I will pencil in your date. Once we have discussed your needs, I will send out an email to confirm that you are choosing me, as well as other details I’ll need to know. When I receive the completed form back by email I’ll write it in pen!
Do we need to consult with you before our wedding?
If you choose my services I will consult by phone and in person as much or as little as needed to assist in the details of your ceremony. If your ceremony is a simple one, it can often be done by phone or email. If you’re not sure what you want, would like to discuss ideas, or you are thinking of a more elaborate ceremony, I’ll be available. I do not charge a fee for phone, email or in-person consultations held at my home in Walpole. I do charge a minimal fee for in-person consultations held outside my home. (See Fees)
Where can we get married?
Anywhere within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I travel the entire state, and as you can see on the Home page, you do not need to get married in a building. You can be married in your own yard or living room, in a park, in a canoe, or in a function hall. Some people simply want to get married, with no place in mind. If it is just the two of you, or a small group for a private ceremony, I conduct weddings in rustic living room in front of the fieldstone fireplace, or weather permitting, in the sunny field next to my home. (see the photo on the Ceremonies page)
Do we need a rehearsal for our wedding?
This is another personal choice on your part and it depends on your preference. Most simple weddings with few attendants don’t usually need one. A more elaborate wedding with rituals and readings and a large number of attendants will benefit from having a rehearsal. It comes down to what you are comfortable with. I’m always willing to rehearse a wedding, and offer whatever help is needed. I do charge a minimal fee for rehearsals. (see Fees)
Do we need a witness?
Massachusetts does not require a witness. A Justice of the Peace is appointed by the Commonwealth and is all the witness you need!
How do we get a Marriage License?
A marriage license may be obtained from any city or town clerk in Massachusetts. It does not have to be from the town you live in. No matter what city or town you obtain the license in, it may be used anywhere in the Commonwealth; you do not need to obtain it from the city or town where you are planning to hold your wedding. There is a fee charged by the clerk which may vary from town to town. You do not have to be a Massachusetts resident to obtain a license, but your marriage must take place in Massachusetts.
Once you file your intentions there is a three-day waiting period before you can pick up your license, although it is possible to obtain a court order to wave the requirement. The marriage license is good for 60 days from the date you file. While I encourage you to obtain your license well in advance, don’t do it too soon! If there is a delay your license may expire, and you will have to obtain a new one. I cannot perform a ceremony without a valid license.
While we are on the subject, forgotten licenses can prove to be an embarrassing problem! By law, an officiant must review the license before performing the ceremony. More than one wedding has been held up while someone runs home after a license! Most city and town clerks issue licenses with or in, a pre-addressed envelope to insure that the license is returned to the right place. Please be sure to bring that envelope with the license if you were given one.
Do we need a blood test?
No, Massachusetts no longer requires a blood test.
When do we get the Marriage Certificate?
Once your ceremony is over, I will complete the form on the license, and return it directly to the city or town clerk who issued it. Once they have recorded with the Commonwealth, you can obtain a certificate from them. I usually place them in the mail the next business day after your wedding. In the case of certificates issued in the town of Walpole, I return them in person.
I am often asked if I give a marriage certificate. Many JPs give the couple a certificate of some sort, commemorating the wedding. Some honeymoon destinations offer discounts to newly weds if they have proof. If I know in advance I will be glad to create one for you if you would like. Keep in mind that these certificates are only keepsakes, not an official document of the Commonwealth and have no legal value.
When are we officially married?
When you hear: “I now pronounce you….” While you will not be able to obtain an official marriage certificate until it is recorded by the town or city clerk, you are married the minute the ceremony is over.