About Our Weddings

What you can expect from our wedding ceremonies.

The Wedding Ceremony

In common with religious ceremonies, we Beachpeople celebrate the joining of two lives with vows and symbols. Some of the language used could remind the first-time observer of traditional occasions across the lines of denominational practice. We offer a broad range of ceremonies that range from the  traditional "Dearly  Beloved..." to ocean or garden themed ceremonies, or something that might be just plain fun, such as our Dr. Seuss ceremony. But no matter what you choose, your words will emphasize the feelings and emotions, warmth and caring for that one special person on this very special day!

Your ceremony will be printed on special paper themed for your wedding and presented to you immediately after your ceremony. It will not be a copy, but the one that actually marries you!

A Personal Choice

We  view the vows of marriage as a personal act, a choice made between two people and enacted through responsible and conscious effort.  We emphasize that the decision to marry is made by two individuals in relation to their communities and their own spiritual visions. 

 A wedding is the beginning of a marriage. Marriage consists of entrusting our deepest selves into the loving care of another. Marriage is intimacy.                       

It is the courageous act of being purely oneself, daring to be accepted for who we are without charade. It draws life from roots of joy and sorrow, and blossoms amid candles and warm evening glances.  It is an emotional and spiritual act, a blossoming that comes from deep within ourselves. This spiritual aspect of marriage must be embraced openly, and completely for the marriage to endure. Your wedding will celebrate this commitment that is so deeply spiritual and so uniquely human.  We encourage you to relax and be yourselves, feeling the words while you say them.

  After all, this event doesn't happen every day of the week!

Why Choose Me?

Now that is a good question! I strongly encourage you to shop around for a wedding officiant, as this person sets the tone for your wedding day. Today's couples have many choices for where they can be married, who is available to marry them, and for a wide array of ceremony options to create just the right feeling and mood. They also have a greater diversity of religious or spiritual options.

I am a wedding celebrant, focusing on the openly spiritual aspect of your joining, viewing your wedding as a celebration of your incredibly human ability to love another person for all of your days. My mission will be to set you both at ease, to offer an experience that will allow you to connect with each other in plain human terms, and express those all important feelings in your own way, in your own words if you dare, (or with mine if you don't)! Your wedding will be based on intimacy and equality, honor and respect.

Ask questions, and try to get a feel for compatibility with the officiant. Are they all business, firm and inflexible, or fun and creative? Do they make you feel relaxed yet excited about your upcoming wedding? And just as important, are they genuinely excited about what they will experience with you? If your prospective officiant discourages questions, (or puts you to sleep), warning flags should be flying! What are the views of your prospective officiant? Are they strictly religious, spiritual but not religious, interfaith, or anything goes as long as they get paid? (See our views here...)

Meeting with me

Because of our busy schedule and time limitations, face to face meetings may not be possible, in which case e-mail and telephone conversation will work just as well! I have many years of experience in marrying couples, and because of the uncomplicatedness of beach weddings, we can usually handle needed arrangements by phone or e-mail.

But don't most ministers require a meeting?

On first contact with me, many people are surprised to discover that there are no tests or right answers to be given. Often couples may have experienced divorce, or may come from varying religious backgrounds. They may be living together, or there may be children as a part of their relationship. They may be anxious that they will either be turned away or will have to agree with certain tenets or creeds. At the very least, they may fear lectures on sin or the inevitable offers of salvation through religion. To the contrary, I only wish to assure myself that the couple have thought seriously about their desire to be married, and that they wish to celebrate this in a spiritual context. Because we believe in the right and the need for every individual person to seek her or his own spiritual reality, you can rest assured that looking to cause you discomfort over religious issues. Religion will only be discussed at your request, although I am always available to help with your spiritual needs. Instead we will discuss your wedding, offering options for the wedding ceremony planning, and present you with the legal requirements to be married in the Carolinas. And as performing your wedding is part of my business, I don't have a religious agenda in our relationship!

 I encourage couples who desire realistic pre-marital counseling to make an appointment with a good, professional marriage counselor, as they offer guidance and useful tools that are proven to work, and won't confuse difficult marriage issues with "honor and obey" or other religion-based concepts. But regardless of who you go to, often the points discussed are being aired for the first time between you both.

Many couples don't actually want to discuss painful issues, assuming that it will all come out in the wash somehow. They might feel that some things are best forgotten and left in the past. As these issues are some the biggest culprits in marital discord, they are worth talking about. Plus, these issues most often don't even surface in your life until you find yourself in a serious and intimate relationship! I am not an expert on these subjects, but I can always refer you to someone who is.

If revealing this information threatens you in any way, trust me when I say that whatever affects one of you affects the other. The great strength of a marriage is in the ability and willingness of each of you to help the other to grow. You are not there to be permanent support staff, as this burden will weigh a relationship right down to the ground. You are there to ask yourself what you can do to make the marriage better, and to work with all your ability to make it happen. Your spouse probably won't be the wisest choice for a counselor, but should instead encourage and aid you in seeking the help that your marriage deserves. You certainly don't have to reveal confidential information to me, but I would ask that the both of you share any issues privately and explore constructive solutions before they light a fuse under your marriage.

Selecting The Venue

I will travel to (nearly) any location in our area for your wedding service, as we find anywhere in our natural world to be a perfect place to celebrate this special day. I offer many location ideas and links on the pages of this website, with more being added as I discover them, and I'm always happy to help with advice to our out of state visitors for lodging and interesting places to visit. Weddings can be performed at any hour of the day, any day of the week, and at any location that you may choose, including your own backyard.

Honoring Your Views

We honor and respect your own traditions and needs. We strongly believe in the right of all people to define their spirituality in their own way, and this view applies to your wedding ceremony. If you find that we are not a good fit together, I'm more than willing to refer you to other Wedding Officiants in the area who are a better match!

Conclusion

 Obviously, different couples have different needs, and I may or may not fit those needs. However, I am very confident that you will greatly enjoy your wedding day as a result of your relationship with me. I will be on your side, trying as best that I can to offer a warm, human, spiritual wedding ceremony that will include humor, compassion for the nervous feelings that tend to accompany this important day, and always with your needs as the priority.