Wedding Resources

Wedding Ceremony???

So my boyfriend and I are not religious and were planning on having a Justice of the Peace preform our wedding ceremony. However, a friend from work is an ordained minister and willing to do our ceremony. Does anyone know how this works. Does she have to preform a traditional religious ceremony or is she allowed to preform a more secular ceremony? P.S. She knows that we are not religious. We are having a traditional-like ceremony. We have a beatiful location booked and 100 guests will be invited to attend. So it will be somewhat traditional, just minus the religious content. We have nothing against spiritual ceremonies, but it is not really us. I just find it difficult to ask a minister to exclude religious content from the wedding ceremony. And were she is a friend I do not want to offend her in any way. I am afraid that taking God out of the ceremony will seem like I disrespect her beliefs. Do you think that this will be disrespectful.

Public Comments

1. Why don't you ask her and tell her what you want to do, I 'm sure you can work something out together
2. Its your decision on how u want the wedding to be. Even if u want to say your own vows.. U shouldnt be pushed in having the traditional wedding.. Have your way.. Good luck to u
3. Go to Las Vegas & get married or go ahead & get a Justice of the Peace no minister
4. She can perform any type of ceremony you like. It does not have to be religious, if that is not the type of ceremony you want to have. Sit down with her and let her know what type of ceremony you want, and see if she's on-board. We had a friend marry us, and I looked on the net and pulled all the verbiage we wanted and gave it to him. He added something to it, about how we met, but other than that he followed my write-up exactly. Good luck, and congrats on your upcoming nuptials.
5. She can perform a more secular ceremony. My BIL & SIL were married by an ordained minister (MIL worked with his wife) and they performed the ceremony in the park and it was beautiful. There was no mention of anything religious and was along the same line as JOTP. Just let them know what you want and they should be able to customize it for you and your boyfriend.
6. Most ministers perform a "spiritual" type of ceremony. And government officials such as JPs & judges perform a"civil" ceremony. But there is nothing that prevents a minister from performing a civil ceremony, if they so chose. I perform civil ceremonies as well as interfaith. Unless your are Atheists, asking God's blessing upon your union is not connected to any particular "religion". But if you choose not to have any prayers, or have God mentioned, that is definately your right. You need to ask this woman if she would perform a civil ceremony. It is her decision.
7. She would have to check with her superiors to find out what is permitted.
8. I think she would perform a secular ceremony. If I were you I would have a lovely wedding luncheon or dinner at a nice place or restaurant and have her perform the secular ceremony before the reception begins. It will be a lovely touch and more memorable than the Justice of the Peace doing it at City Hall...It is much more romantic. Good luck
9. She can perform a civil ceremony. As long as she doesn't have a problem with it.