Weddings 101
The steps to the wedding of your dreams
Our booking process
Initial consultation
We typically conduct these initial consultations via Google Meets, FaceTime, or phone, but if you would prefer to meet the officiant in person somewhere near their residence you can make those arrangements.
We will hold your wedding date for 14 days after you’ve been matched with one of our officiants, so you will have plenty of time to speak with them and make a decision before you need to sign a contract.
Planning meeting
Your Officiant will ask you questions about what you feel is important to include in your ceremony and get to know the two of you and learn about your relationship. This session will include your officiant getting you acquainted with our Client Portal and Ceremony Creator.
Ceremony editing
You can revise your draft ceremony as much as you’d like until it is the exact wedding ceremony you want. We will have access to your progress via our Officiant Portal. They will be able to assess your progress and assist you as needed. We want your wedding ceremony to be perfect – if you need additional suggestions or guidance, we are always ready to help!
The ceremony!
Your Officiant will deliver the exact ceremony you’ve planned, and create a wonderful experience for you and your guests.
The marriage license
Wedding themes
Now, it’s time to decide on one of the most critical components of your special day: the theme. Finding the right theme for your wedding can be as difficult as selecting the perfect dress, but we’re going to help you have a little fun along the way.
Choosing a theme isn’t exactly a piece of (wedding) cake, so we’ve put together a list of creative motifs to inspire you. Take a look at the list below, or come up with a theme of your own!
Civil Ceremony Basics
Don’t want a religious wedding? Get married in civil style
And you thought a civil ceremony meant high-tailing it to City Hall or Vegas! You could tie the knot either of those ways, but more and more couples today are choosing to have secular ceremonies in traditional ways–before their nearest and dearest, at a serene setting, like on the beach or in a garden, or at their fabulous reception site.
Why have a Civil Ceremony?
Couples who opt for civil ceremonies usually fall into one of the following groups:
- Neither person is religious or subscribes to an organized religion, or they feel uncomfortable with the idea of a religious ceremony.
- The bride and groom have religion come from different religious backgrounds, so they choose the civil route to avoid potential problems with interfaith ceremonies. (But know that interfaith ceremonies are increasingly more common and not the headache they were once considered!)
- Your ideal ceremony is more creative than clergy will allow. For example, maybe you want secular poems and prose read; you want rock songs for your processional and recessional; or you want to include Native American and Buddhist rituals.
Who officiates?
Your officiant must be able to legally perform your wedding (i.e., offiially sign your marriage license). A justice of the peace is one choice, but a judge, magistrate, county or court clerk, mayor, or notary public can also officiate. (Contrary to popular belief, a cruise-ship catain cannot automatically officiate a wedding; he must hold one of the above civil titles). You can also have a secular ceremony performed by a licensed member of a group, like the Ethical Humanist Society–he or she will not “bless” your wedding in a traditional sense, but will most likely be open to readings and traditions you want to include.
How do they differ?
Most civil ceremonies bypass Christian traditions, like communion, or Jewish traditions, like the seven blessings. Still, your officiant may let you include some religious rituals to make your families happy. Otherwise, a secular ceremony has the same basic structure as a religious one: procession, call to order/opening remarks, vows, ring exchange and other unity gestures, pronouncement (“I now pronounce you husband and wife”), kiss, closing remarks, and recession. You can include special readings and musical selections, if you like, or keep it short and sweet.
5 tips for a smooth ceremony
- Keep it simple. Choose an all-in-one venue. Some sites, such as historic homes, hotels, and country clubs, have the space to let you hold your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one location. This makes transportation a snap–and no lost guests.
- Honor your relatives. Give close family members and friends that you couldn’t include in the wedding party a job for the ceremony. Have them be a reader, help you with the programs, or give a blessing after you’ve said your vows.
- Incorporate nature. Instead of bringing in extra lighting and floral arrangements, take advantage of your surroundings by using outdoor elements. Think seashells for a beach ceremony or fall leaves for an autumn wedding.
- Consider your transitions. Come up with a plan for handling the in-between times. If your ceremony and reception are taking place at one venue, transition guests with an exit strategy. One idea: before the ceremony, ask attendants or ushers to hand each guest a candle on the way into the ceremony, then have them give guests a handful of rose petals to toss after the ceremony.
- Beat the heat. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding in a warm climate, make sure that your guests are taken care of. Get double-duty wedding programs shaped like fans; hand each guest a glass of sparking water at the entrance of the ceremony space; and provide parasols to help block the sun.
License Directions
State-specific considerations for marriage licenses
The process of getting a marriage license in Pennsylvania is fairly simple.
Required documents
To obtain a marriage license, both applicants must appear at a county courthouse in person with the following:
- Driver’s License or photo I.D. which shows your date of birth.
- Your social security number (your social secuirty card is preferred, but if unavailable, please provide in written form).
- You will need to know your mother’s maiden names, your parent’s current address, the state where your parents were born, and your parent’s occupations.
- $45.00 filing fee (cash only).
- If either applicant is divorced, or divorced more than once, they must bring in your latest divorce decree. If either spouse resumed their maiden name (or birth surname) after the divorce, they must submit proof of resumption.
- If your prior marriage was terminated by death, you must provide the death certificate, or at least a copy of the death certificate, as to your former spouse.
Waiting and validity periods
There is a three-day waiting period between the application and the issuance of license and either applicant can pick up the license after the three-day waiting period.
Your license is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance and it can only be used in Pennsylvania.
Underage applicants
If either applicant is under 18 years of age, the consent of the custodial parent or Guardian is necessary. The applicant’s original birth certificate is required. There will be an additional $10.00 fee for each underage applicant.
If either applicant is under the age of 16, the consent of the Court must be obtained.
Where to obtain a license
You can obtain a marriage license through any county courthouse. To locate a courthouse visit statelibrary.pa.gov.Non-Pennsylvania residents may also secure a license in our office, but the license can only be used in Pennsylvania.
