FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
(There is nothing you need to know here,
but read on if you are curious.)
Why am I a Wedding Officiant?
I have been married 17 years. When my wife and I married, we had to do so rather quickly and simply. We were broke and pregnant. We had a humble celebration in her sister’s yard. Her family and friends were there as were mine. My buddy DJ-ed. It had been raining all week, but the sun came out just before the ceremony. Everything was sweet except for one thing. We just couldn’t get in a groove with the Officiant. We had differing ideas on what we wanted. Although it was our wedding, ultimately we did what he wanted. I thought then that even I could do a better job then he did. It turns out that I can. Not because I am all that gifted as a speaker or whatever. Quite simply, I can do a better job because I understand that it is your Wedding, I am just the official, and I will do what you want me to do.
Weddings are a special event. They are a time when we pause, take a break from the tough times, the rough times we all experience in life. They are the time when two people take a deep breath, look each other in the eye, and say “I love you, and I will love you for the rest of my life!” That’s a beautiful thing. You may as well share it with someone who will let you do it the way you want.
What is a Wedding Officiant / Officiate?
An “Officiant” and an
“Officiate” are the same thing, just
slightly different words. It is a person who, “by the power vested in
me by the
State of
Why do I perform a
civil ceremony?
I am clear about the civil aspects of the marriage ceremony. It is straight forward and I can perform it well. Although I am an ordained minister, I am less clear about religious ceremonies. As a young man I grew disillusioned and disenchanted with the religion I had been raised in. Humility, love, peace, understanding were preached. Arrogance, anger, and hypocrisy is want I experienced. I lost faith and grew cynical of my religion and others a well. I grew to see them as more of a divisive force then an uplifting one.
I’ve tried to be a good man. I’ve tried to raise my two sons to always do the Right Thing, and to instill in them a sense of ethics and a strong moral compass. Not because they might burn in hell, but because the Right Thing is what human beings do when they seek happiness and peace of mind.
Years ago, through doing support work for various Native American issues, I had the good fortune of meeting some people whose culture, politics, religion, and spirituality were genuine and were a part of their every day life. I participated in some ceremonies that have affected me deeply and have left me humbled and awed. I am not an Indian, and I have no interest in being one. But for whatever reason, I learned much from some who walked that path. Through them I’ve come to have more respect for religion and for spirituality. I have come to see how it can be a positive force when people seek to be closer to Christ, or Allah, or Buddha, Tunkashala, Wankan Tanka, Yalweh, or what ever path they follow. I still struggle with my cynicism and know I have a long road to walk before it doesn’t burden me any more.
For now, I just try
and do the Right Thing in my life, and
try to bring a sense of awe, reverence, and joy to Wedding Ceremonies
that I am
a part of.
What type of ceremony do I perform?
Pretty much what ever
you want. I can marry you in my (or your)
living room, just the two of you, or I can marry you in a large
facility with
all your family and friends. We can follow a pretty standard script,
make up the whole ceremony before hand, or combine the two.
Where am I located?
My family and I live
near Walnut Lane and Lincoln Drive in the Germantown section of
Philadelphiaha, ZIP code 19144, near the Roxborough and Mount Airy
sections of the city.
“Thank you
for
the beautiful setting and words for our wedding ceremony this past
Sunday. We will gladly supply raving
references to
anyone looking to get married in a quaint setting with an officiant who
truly
is a 'humble man.'”
Please email if
you want some ideas or some sample scripts.
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