Frequently asked questions

Looking for an interfaith officiant near you?

I am an ordained non-denominational interfaith minister and registered wedding officiant in Maryland, Washington DC and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia — a unique ceremony officiant for couples of every faith and none, LGBTQIA+ couples, and interfaith and intercultural couples. Everything below is also covered in our first conversation. If your question is not here, ask it anyway — there is no such thing as a question asked too early.

Couples find me in Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick, Silver Spring, Rockville, Columbia, Bethesda, Takoma Park and across the DC region.

The ceremony

What it sounds like

Do we have to be religious?

No. I write ceremonies that are fully secular, fully religious, and everything in between. I will ask what you want and build to that.

Can you marry us if we are a same-sex couple?

Yes — gladly and wholeheartedly. Your ceremony will center your relationship, your story, and the people and traditions that matter to you.

We come from two different faiths. Can you handle that?

Yes. Interfaith and intercultural ceremonies are a large part of my practice. The work is finding the shape that honors both traditions without turning your wedding into a negotiation, and that is a conversation I have had many times.

Can we write our own vows?

Please do. I will tell you where they fit best and how long is too long, which is the part most couples want help with.

Do we get to see the ceremony before the wedding day?

Yes. With any full ceremony package you get a complete written script about sixty days out and two rounds of revisions. You can change anything — it is your ceremony.

Can we include music, readings or rituals?

Bring them. Unity candles, handfasting, a reading from a family member, a song that matters to you — I build the script around what you want to include and keep the whole thing moving.

Booking and logistics

How it comes together

How far ahead should we book?

Six to twelve months for a Saturday in season. Less for a weekday or an elopement. If your date is close, ask anyway.

What happens after we send an inquiry?

I reply within one business day, usually sooner. We set up a twenty-minute call about your story, your families and the tone you want. After that call you get a proposal for the right package, and a 50 percent deposit holds your date.

What are the booking terms?

A 50 percent deposit holds your date, and the balance is due two weeks before the ceremony. Travel outside my core area is a flat fee quoted when you book — never a surprise on the invoice.

Our wedding is only a few weeks away. Is that possible?

Often, yes. Bookings inside 21 days carry a $125 rush fee on top of the package whenever I still have the date. A courthouse signing can come together even faster.

Do you work with our planner or venue?

Gladly. I coordinate on timing, processional and microphone logistics so the ceremony fits the rest of the day. The Signature Plus package includes rehearsal attendance for exactly this reason.

Where I serve and travel

Locations

Will you travel to us?

Often, yes. My core area — all of Maryland, DC and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia — has no travel fee. Beyond it I travel for a flat fee quoted when you book, including Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York on select dates. If you are somewhere else, ask and I will tell you honestly whether it works.

What about destination weddings?

Destination ceremonies are priced as a full weekend, with travel and lodging included. I take only a few each year, so reach out early.

Can you marry us at the courthouse?

Yes — The Signing package is built for courthouse weddings and other short legal ceremonies. Each county has its own rules about who may officiate and when, and I confirm the details before you book so there are no surprises at the counter.

Do you attend rehearsals?

Rehearsal attendance is included with The Signature Plus and available on its own for $175. For simple ceremonies it is usually unnecessary, and I will tell you honestly if you do not need it.

The marriage license

The legal part

Do you handle the marriage license?

Yes. You obtain it from the county clerk. I verify it before the ceremony, complete my portion, and file it within your jurisdiction's deadline — and where the clerk's office offers confirmation of receipt, I follow up until I have it. Requirements and deadlines vary by state and county, and I track them so you do not have to.

When should we apply for the license?

Every jurisdiction sets its own waiting periods and expiration windows, and Maryland, DC and West Virginia all differ. Once your date is booked, I will tell you exactly when and where to apply so the timing lines up with your ceremony.

What if we are marrying in a state where you are not registered?

Tell me the county and I will find out what is required. In many places a one-time registration or authorization is straightforward, and I will handle it before the day or tell you honestly if it will not work.

Premarital preparation

The marriage part

Is this counseling or therapy?

No. I am a certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator, and this is relationship education, not clinical counseling. If something comes up that calls for licensed support, I will say so plainly and help you find the right professional. That is not the process failing — it is the process working.

What happens in a session?

We meet online by video on weekday evenings. You each complete the Prepare/Enrich assessment, then we work through the results together — how you communicate, how you handle conflict, money, family, and what you each assume the next ten years look like.

Do we have to be religious?

No. The Prepare/Enrich work is practical, not religious. Couples of all faiths and no faith use it the same way.

Do we have to be marrying soon — or marrying at all?

No. Engaged, newly engaged, or committed and thinking about it, this works the same. You do not have to be planning a wedding, and you do not have to be one of my ceremony couples.

We already have someone else officiating. Can we still do the preparation series?

Absolutely. Premarital preparation is a standalone service. If I happen to be officiating your wedding as well, take $100 off any package.

Working together

The practical bits

Do you plan the wedding?

No. I handle the ceremony and the marriage license, and I do both carefully. I am glad to recommend a photographer, a florist or a venue when you want one, but your day stays yours to plan.

What if someone in our family is going to be difficult about the ceremony?

Tell me. Blended families, estranged relatives, two traditions that do not automatically get along — this is a large part of the job, and I have handled harder rooms.

What do your services cost?

Ceremony packages run from $200 for a courthouse signing to $650 for the full ceremony with rehearsal, and premarital preparation from $325 to $1,150. The full breakdown is on the homepage under Ceremonies and pricing.

Something we have not covered?

Tell me your date and where you are getting married, and I will answer within one business day.

Tell me about your day

All couples are welcomed, respected and celebrated here.