Often times I find that people are surprised where couples get married. If you grew up in a small mid-western community like I did, the question was “Which church are they getting married at?”. Times have changed.
A large majority of couples are not affiliated with a church, and if they are, their pastor/rabbi will be doing their ceremony, not me. Instead, one of the biggest determinants of where a couple chooses to exchange their vows depends on the size of the wedding.
If the couple decides to include 100- 400 guests, they obviously need to have booked a wedding venue or a big backyard. If you are just getting started on your own planning, this is a first step. Wedding venues often book a year or more in advance. Even when thinking about a wedding venue, there is a vast selection of sites available. Find one that fits you. Depending on the venue, sometimes they offer a full package which includes an officiant. If you are interested in working with me, ask if you can select your own officiant and then call me quickly.
Wedding season in the Phoenix area is not the same as other areas of the country. It runs from about September through April. Otherwise, it gets hot and an outdoor wedding is not ideal in the summer. But if I’m in town, I do brave the summer temperatures with you and I even bring a parasol.
It is very easy for a couple that wants to elope and has just their witnesses to bring along. Often times, I get a call that says “we don’t have witnesses”. This informal type of wedding requires selecting a beautiful setting normally at a park or other public area. And yes, it sometimes includes me snagging two strangers to be witnesses. Obviously, this type of wedding is going to be much different from the higher-scale venue wedding with full catering and open bar but the couple is just as married, no matter the setting. Each couple has their own ideal of the perfect wedding.
And then there is the smaller wedding, with or without attendants and a smaller number of guests. Couples often select a backyard of a friend or family. Some local city parks are open to scheduling areas and bringing in seating for your guests if needed. Others reserve spaces at local restaurants. This option gives the couple more choices in having food created or catered and lower cost.
Yes, I have performed weddings in a wide variety of settings: In beautiful wedding venues, in backyards, in the desert, at the arboretum, along hiking trails, around the swimming pool, in parks, at festivals, in restaurants and coffee houses or wineries, on the lightrail and yes, even a few in prisions. Yes, sometimes I do feel a bit Suessical when I talk about where we can do your wedding.
Your wedding does not need to traditional. And it’s always fun to hear you tell your own story when asked “Where did you get married?”