Weddings are not always
about white bridal gowns and black tuxes. Tomorrow’s weddings are often far
from the traditional walk down the aisle and more like a great party in a fun
setting with good friends and special surprises.
Today’s wedding couples want
their ceremony to reflect them – their tastes, their lifestyles, their dreams.
They want their vows to be words of love, of truth and of happiness. Mostly,
though, they want to create a ceremony they will remember always!
Your Justice of the Peace
should be willing to spend time listening to you and learning who you are as a
couple and your dreams. Whether you are 20-somethings or 60-somethings,
whether the wedding is in the living room with no witnesses or in a barn with
two hundred guests, whether you want a five minute vows exchange or a
twenty-five minute ceremony complete with music, rings and multiple readings,
your officiant should endeavor to make your planning smooth, simple and fun.
Couples should explore wedding traditions - from different
heritages, religions or secular beliefs - finding what matters to them and what
they want their ceremony to reflect about them.
They should research online, in books and talk to their married friends.
Your celebrant should also share readings, vows, ring exchange wording and
special ceremony ideas that he or she has discovered through the wedding
planning process.
It is important for a bridal couple to feel
comfortable that their officiant understands exactly what they want and is
willing to go beyond the simple “I Do.” There are only a few components that
must be included in a ceremony for it to be officially recognized. But there is
lots of room for individuality and it is your Justice’s job to ensure that it
all comes together.
Timing is critical to planning the perfect ceremony.
Couples should reserve their wedding date with an officiant at least one to two
months in advance, especially if they also want to hold a rehearsal or meet
prior to the wedding day. However, if the couple wants a simply ceremony, the
wedding can be scheduled in as little as a day or two or within a few weeks.
Planning a ceremony can be involved or simple. An officiant’s job is to be sure that you
have the ceremony you want, in the place where you are comfortable and at the
time that seems right to you.
Justices of the
Peace are also often asked to conduct other formal ceremonies, such as naming ceremonies for new babies and vow
renewal ceremonies for married couples reaffirming their love. Although these
events do not require an official celebrant, having someone conduct the
ceremony formalizes the event and gives special significance to those
participating.
In
Massachusetts, Justices of the Peace are commissioned by the Commonwealth to
serve for a period of seven years. Each Justice is commissioned in the city or
town in which he or she lives; however, this does not restrict a Justice from
solemnizing a marriage in another municipality. Justices of the Peace may also,
with appropriate paperwork, officiate at weddings in other states if their
regulations allow; they may also agree to preside at a wedding rehearsal or
participate in wedding planning with the couple in meetings prior to the actual
ceremony. Fees for Justices are set by the Commonwealth.
Justices of the
Peace are required to obtain from the couple their marriage license issued in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts prior to the wedding ceremony. At least four days prior to the wedding
ceremony, the parties to the marriage must appear in person at the city or town
clerk’s office with satisfactory identification to complete the application. It
is important to note that the applicants do not have to be a resident of the
community in which they are applying. Each will swear an oath under the
penalties of perjury that the information they are providing is true. The Marriage License is valid for 60 days
from the date of application. It must be picked up by the couple and presented
to the officiant prior to the ceremony.
If the license cannot be provided, the ceremony cannot be conducted
officially.
Once the
ceremony is completed, the Justice of the Peace signs the license and documents
the specifics of the ceremony (including address and date) and returns the
license to the city or town clerk’s office from which was issued. The certificate
is recorded in the originating office after which a couple may request a copy
for their records.
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