JP Vs. Ordained Minister, what you need to know!

 

Photo by http://www.happyhaha.com/

Many of my clients come to me to regarding their Wedding Ceremony and they very excitedly announce that "their cousin" or "their uncle" or their "college roommate" will be officiating over their wedding. It is certainly a trend to have somebody you know and love pronounce you "man and wife" on your wedding day.  However, it is very important to know the law in your particular state.

In the State of CT it is very clear, if you are Ordained Online - you must be an actual practicing Ordained Minister for a wedding to recognized, in other words, you can't become ordained simply to perform a friend or relatives Wedding Ceremony, see the CT Statutes below...

 

Sec. 46b-20a. Eligibility to marry.



A person is eligible to marry if such person is:

(1) Not a party to another marriage, or a relationship that provides substantially the same rights, benefits and responsibilities as a marriage, entered into in this state or another state or jurisdiction, unless the parties to the marriage will be the same as the parties to such other marriage or relationship;

(2) Except as provided in section 46b-30, at least eighteen years of age;

(3) Except as provided in section 46b-29, not under the supervision or

control of a conservator; and
 (4) Not prohibited from entering into a marriage pursuant to section 46b-21. (P.A. 09-13, S. 4.)

Sec.46b-21. (Formerly Sec. 46-1). Kindred who may not marry.



No person may marry such person's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, parent's sibling, sibling's child, stepparent or stepchild. Any marriage within these degrees is void.
 (1949 Rev., S. 7301; P.A. 78-230, S. 3, 54; P.A. 09-13, S. 6.)
 Sec.46b-22. (Formerly Sec. 46-3). Who may join persons in marriage.



Penalty for unauthorized performance.

 (a) Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state, as long as they continue in the work of the ministry. All marriages solemnized according to the forms and usages of any religious denomination in this state, including marriages witnessed by a duly constituted Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is, are valid. All marriages attempted to be celebrated by any other

person are void.

(b) No public official legally authorized to issue marriage licenses may join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by himself, or his assistant or deputy; nor may any such assistant or deputy join persons in marriage under authority of a license issued by such public official.

(c) Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.
 (1949 Rev., S. 7306; 1951, S. 3001d; 1967, P.A. 129, S. 1; P.A. 78-230,S. 4, 54; P.A. 79-37, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-316, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 27, 58; P.A. 06-196, S. 276; P.A. 07-79, S. 5.

 

Photo By http://www.joannevandalphoto.com/

What this means is, hire a CT Justice of the Peace if you are having a ceremony outside of a church or religious venue, this is the only way to ensure you will be legally married.  As I CT Justice of the Peace and a Wedding Planner I work with over a dozen other individuals throughout the year, we all have a different style and we all love what we do! So get to it and find a JP that will ensure your are married in the eyes of the law!

Photo By http://www.kcontephoto.com/

 

Should you select a holiday weekend for your wedding?

 

2014 Fourth of July Wedding

 

When I first started in the Wedding Industry a Holiday Weekend Wedding as very rare, we didn’t have things like destination weddings, which require guests to take a long weekend.  Perhaps the most we would see them would be with certain cultures/religions as they do have specific dates they seek for wedding dates, I have worked several Jewish Weddings where three day weekends work as they need to marry on a Sunday night and thus allowing their friends to not work the next day.  However times are changing and so are trends.

When people used to consider a holiday weekend wedding it used to be strictly taboo, you were taking people away from Family and their private celebrations, but today with people having extended families with their friends people are much more forgiving, but it is important to realize the Holiday has both positive and negative effects on your special day:  

Possible Negatives:

If you are planning a wedding on the holiday this may affect your overall pricing with your vendors- some charge a Holiday Rate or Holiday Tax that will increase your bottom line.

Your guests may have to pay higher rates in their airfare, hotel rates, and car rentals in order to join you on this special day. Most hotels do not offer room block special rates on holiday weekends, this affects you and your family too if you are staying overnight!

Guests may already have family plans and not attend the event, this means lower guest count which could impact your food and beverage requirements.

Possible Positives:

For families that live far apart it allows more time to celebrate together before and after the “I-DO’s”

Holiday weekends make it much more acceptable to hold the wedding on a Sunday versus a Saturday, which could cut costs significantly. (Maybe!)

Most businesses are closed on major holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Independence Day. This means most guests will not have to take an extra day off and may enjoy the time away from home.

What You Should Consider:

Will you be upset if people do not attend based on the holiday?

Get your save the date and your invitation out early! This will help friends and family to make plans with plenty of time to book flights, hotels and possible rental cars.

You do not have to allow the holiday to dictate your theme, for example Fourth of July does not mean you have to have a red white and blue wedding.

Does this affect your budget in a positive or negative way?

What You Can Do For Your Guest:

Host a Welcome Dinner the night before for all your guests, or even a Social Hour to Welcome them to town, this will cut back on their expenses and allows them to see how great it is they came out on this holiday weekend.

Create a welcome bag for the hotel complete with local holiday attractions they may wish to check out.

Host a farewell brunch, again this cuts back on their expenses.

In the end all couples need to be happy with the date they choose regardless of when that will be, there are always going to be positive and negatives to any potential date, but if you are happy that is the beginning to a beautiful day for you as a couple and your family and friends!