Re: stressing about an officiant!

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Posted by ReadyToBeAMrs

I wouldn't stress out too much, it's like any other vendor, if you get a good vibe from them it should be okay.

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thanks

stressing about an officiant! - Long Island Weddings

i have an appt with rev deb saturday and spoke to keith today - hopefully setting something up with him next week!

has anyone heard of or used pastor bill britton?

Re: stressing about an officiant!

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Posted by jenandivan

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Posted by xBudgetBridex

we are considering using a friend if fh that can do it but idk a professional seems so much safer! I've heard so many good thing aboutpator aApril prob why she is booked! good luck on your search!

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Unless your FH's friend is an ordained minister with a congregation, an online ordination is not legal in Nassau/Suffolk. We asked FH's friend to do it for us, and we found out after the fact that he can't legally marry us. In NYC and other NY counties, it's legal, but not in Westchester, Nassau or Suffolk.

We booked Pastor April to do the legalities, but FH's friend will be a big part of our ceremony. She's working with FH's friend to give us a seamless ceremony :).

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This is not true, there was a post on here a while back..might have even been in 2013 boards, but the Bride was using a friend and called up to Albany to make sure it would be legal and got the answer that there is no law saying that an online ordination isn't valid, or that an online ordained friend cannot perform marriage in Suffolk or Nassau, in fact only in NYC do ministers have to register in order for it to be legal, so an online ordination wouldn't be enough, they would need to be legally registered too in NYC. But in Nassau Suffolk and Westchester an online ordained minister can certainly legally marry you. There has been only one case challenging the validity of a marriage performed by a minister 'without a congregation' and that went up in the supreme court of NY state in 1980s. Since then thousands have been performed and valid, including many people I know. So to make a long rant short, I am having a friend marry us, it will be valid, and if your worried you could always pay the $75 to have a judge sign the license, but have your friend perform the ceremony anyway.End rant. lol

Re: stressing about an officiant!

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Posted by Jack84

How much are officiants usually? $300-$500? Also, how far in advance do you think we should start meeting them? I dont want to get stuck with someone I dont care for either!!

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both of the officiants i've contacted have been around $500 for a customized ceremony.

i am 11 months out from my wedding and am close to booking now.

stressing about an officiant! - Long Island Weddings

I'm using reverend deb! We loved her

Re: stressing about an officiant!

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Posted by nella20005

We met with a few but clicked with Rev Rudy at marriedbyrudy.com He was down to earth, organized and professional. Thats what we were looking for.

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He is great. He did our wedding ceremony and DH's cousin's wedding before us.

stressing about an officiant!

I would double and triple check about the legality of having a friend marry you in Suffolk and Nassau county. I read the law, and unfortunately you can not be an online ordained minister to marry someone legally here. Sure you can do it and it will get overlooked when set in for certificate so you will indeed receive a marriage certificate but if you ever get divorced or one passes away, good luck in court as it is not legally binding. Call and speak to someone in the courts before you listen to anyone on here, I promise you this is the truth as unfortunate as it may seem.

Re: stressing about an officiant!

I just called the Town of Islip in Suffolk County and was told that it is legal if they are ordained online and they do not ask for proof of any credentials. I am curious if anyone else has called their local governments and what they were told. We are considering having a friend officiate but I am nervous because I have seen conflicting info on line.

Re: stressing about an officiant!

@meejack1110 I am just wondering how everything worked out for you. Did your friend marry you and if so were they ordained online?

How do you go about having a judge sign the license?