Personal Weddings
About
I enjoy serving couples that want to become husband and wife. By meeting together, we are able to plan a personal wedding according to "their" wishes. I am a minister of Christ and have participated in nearly 700 weddings over the past 40 years (since being in my own in 1979), and am now experiencing the joy of second generation ceremonies. I feel couples have enjoyed my approach that has taken me from Califonia to New York, Florida to Texas, and across the Midwest, and even to Cancun.
I just enjoy people and I feel too often, couples are TOLD what to do. I truly like ASKING what they want and need from me. I am their servant and will lead them through designing THEIR service that fits them personally and reduces nervousness a much as possible.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Talk on the phone to get to know each other. Plan a meeting for planning and details. It usually takes around an hour, unless the couple want to spend more time for us to get to know each other.
My approach is: "It's YOUR wedding, how can I serve you?" But then I will offer suggestions and other things I have done or seen, as well as getting the couples likes and dislikes from weddings they have attended.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a Bachelors degree in ministry, and 42 years of marriage that brings practical experience. Then the additional benefit of 42 years of ministry and counseling with other couples.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
If the ceremony is within 15 miles or 30 minutes, $300 for planning and ceremony. With Atlanta traffic, I adjust accordingly depending on travel time and location of ceremony.
How did you get started in this business?
Originally, people needed a preacher to do their wedding. As I began doing weddings, I started re-thinking the why's of what I was doing and HOW I would do my own wedding different, if someone would have given me the chance. Plus, I enjoy meeting new people and it pleases me to help them have a ceremony that clearly represents them and endears their family and friends.
What types of customers have you worked with?
A wide variety of ages and backgrounds! I am not a "church people only" kind of guy and don't force future husbands and wives into a Christian wedding. When couples are Christian, I enjoy working with them and include what "fits" them and the depth of their walk.
Most of my weddings are a result of people that attended a friend's or family member's wedding and enjoyed it.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
I received a desperate call from a couple that I had never met. They both had been married before and wanted to enter this sincerely and with God's blessing. The minister they had asked, backed out within 10 days of their wedding day. I already had 2 other wedding that weekend, but worked with them and their event center to put everything together. We met, talked, and planned out a ceremony that fit the two of them and their beliefs. After all was said and done, they said they actually believed that The Lord lined this up! They felt this last minute panic was exactly what needed to happen for them to get a personal ceremony instead of a purely tradiditonal one. We are still in touch with each other and have become good friends. I didn't save their day, but am thrilled that they felt I helped make their day special.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Don't be afraid to to have share what you think you want.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
Of all the weddings you have been to, been in, or watched on TV; what did you like? or what did you NOT like?
The other big question is "WHY" are we doing this, or that?