Q: I'm new to this process. How do we begin in
finding a minister?
A: Associated Ministers is gratified to be helping couples who
have never been married or couples who have been married before. Many traditional
faiths give time requirements for notification. Some folks require counseling or a
weekend for engaged couples. Either of these requirements normally involve an extra
cost -- just to get married. Our personal philosophy is that your decision to marry
is between the both of you and the god which you worship. If the couple decides to
go with our service, then we proceed in acquiring the couple's contact information and
wedding day specific information. We send out an agreement stating the information
the we just retrieved (often within minutes of the telephone conversation), for your
review. If you wish to reserve (the sooner the better), then we ask for you to
approve the agreement with your signature and mail it to the address at the top of the
agreement with the requested deposit.
A: The fees range normally from approximately $350 to $550.
There are many factors that go into this. Many ministers charge differently
depending on where they operate in the country. Also, the distance
from the ceremony and from where the minister actually lives will be a factor.
All of our ministers have to deal with real world issues such as transportation costs,
upkeep, and their time. Many times the scheduler has multiple calls to make to
schedule a minister for a popular date or time.
A:
Believe it or not, there are times when we do get this question. Many couples feel
that our ministers should provide their services for free or close to it. Our
answer points to the following set of circumstances: Many of our ministers are
retired and are no longer paid by the churches that once employed them. There
is also the costs of making our service known to you, which never go away and generally
increase over time. Please keep in mind the many couples who are affiliated
with specific faiths are contributing to their church on a weekly and/or monthly
basis. In these situations, the minister will provide his services for free to
church members or for a nominal fee. Please remember, that the church afiliated
minister already receives a tithe from you which exceeds our fee by more than or
close to 10 fold annually. We feel our modestly priced fee structure adequately
covers all the expenses incurred in serving our couples as well as provide the clergy a
modest gratuity for services rendered.
A:
No. There are married priests in our network that have left the life of the
priesthood, feeling that they can still serve God in other ways. Active celibate
priests are often encouraged not to leave their church building. If they do on those
rare circumstances, then it based on a close relationship with a very active member of the
church. Justices of the peace work with county municipal systems. Many of our
ministers CAN provide a very lovely wedding ceremony which accurately mirrors a Catholic
ceremony including the Liturgy of the Word. However, this marriage, although
recognized by the courts, the state, and Christian religions everywhere, will not be
recognized the the Roman Catholic Church as one of THEIR ceremonies. We can counsel
with anyone more on this if you have further questions.
A:
Yes, definitely. Please feel free to ask any question you wish in your wedding
planning needs. If we can't help you, we should be able to help direct you where to
go.
Q: Are your ministers licensed?
A:
Yes. All of our ministers are licensed AND ordained. Although our clergy come
from all different protestant faiths, there is not one "internet" certified
minister in the network.
Q: Is a blood test required?
A:
There is only a blood test required in 12 localities in this country. In the future,
we will be providing links for marriage requirements, licensing fees, waiting periods and
blood tests.