Thanks to Andrea and John for inviting me to celebrate their marriage with them on Sunday. What a beautiful location and an amazing couple!

Recently I was sharing with some friends how much I enjoyed my avocation as a Justice of the Peace. Someone asked me if there were particular words or a formula that I needed to learn that assured the couple was officially  married.

The answer is that there is no ritual, no special words that ensure that two individuals are officially united in marriage. My role is very simple - to ensure that both parties are participating freely, without any reservation and that they express a commitment to join their lives to each other.  I am not marrying the couple,  I am serving as the offical witness of their marriage to each other and whatever words or readings they chose to formalize that union are entirely up to them. And then, by the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I have the privilege of proclaiming them married.

I often think about the couples and wonder how their lives have changed since our paths crossed...if they are still as in love with each other as they were the day they wed...if anything I said or did helped to ensure their happiness. It is an incredible feeling to know that in some small way I've  played a role in the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of two people and I treasure each opportunity!

Dear Sharon,
Thanks so much for officiating at our wedding! It meant so much to us. You did a wonderful job and it was an honor to have you be the best part of our special day.
Rich & Linda I.

Congratulations to Richard and Linda  Izzicupo on their marriage. It was a tremendous honor to be asked to officiate at this wedding and Linda and Rich created a beautiful ceremony to celebrate their union!

Sharon was our Justice of the Peace for our wedding in August. She made our day so special and we can't thank her enough for it! She worked with us before to incorporate our ideas into the ceremony and she even thought to use our cultural backrounds as blessings to tie it all together! We absolutely loved everything she included and appreciated how hard she worked to make us so happy. Everyone complimented her great work afterwards and said how great the blessings were.  Our ceremony made our wedding day the most beautiful and memorable day we could have ever dreamed of and we couldn't have done it without her!

Caitlin & John F.

Thank you Caitlin and John for allowing me to participate in your wedding ceremony on Saturday night. You created a beautiful ceremony and it was an honor to officiate as you exchanged your vows and committed your lives to each other! Wishing you a lifetime of love and joy

Thank you so much for being such an important part of Zane's welcoming ceremony!  The best part was how you made every member of my family feel important, right down to my 3 year old son.  We also greatly appreciate how much you wanted it to be about our family and our beliefs and how you made sure every step of the way that everything was exactly as we wanted!  Also, thank you for the extra effort you put in by making the programs for the ceremony.  They were a perfect finishing touch to a perfect day.  I will be sure to pass your name along to anyone who I think will enjoy your services.
Thanks again,

Loriann