Our Process

Your appointed officiant will contact you directly to schedule a virtual meet and greet. Spend some time getting to know each other!

Hopefully the chemistry between you is charismatic! DC&C wants you to feel aligned and completely comfortable with your officiant. You should have a good feeling about the chemistry early on in your meeting.

Contract - Within 10 days of us receiving your contract, your dated digital signatures and a 50% non-refundable retainer fee is due (this secures that your wedding date is locked in - no other events are scheduled).

Questionnaire-In a separate email, you will receive the "Order of Ceremony" questionnaire for you to complete which provides general information about you as a couple, your wedding party, and optional elements that can be included in your ceremony. Complete your questionnaire with as much background scoop that you are willing to share!

Three months before your wedding day, we will schedule your official "planning session" virtually or in person, if possible, at a mutually decided location (your session is about 1 hour). During this meeting, we will review every detail that is included in your ceremony using the questionnaire.

Your officiant will send you a draft of your "Order of Ceremony" one month before the wedding.  Upon your review and final approval, you're ready to go! Any changes you want are done at this stage.

We will email your venue coordinator and/or wedding planner with the approved "DRAFT - Order of Ceremony Timeline" so everyone is on board and aware of the details. This form has proven to be extremely helpful with venues and planners.

Your final payment is due 30 days before the wedding.

Apply for your marriage license from the Clerk of the Peace within the county that you are getting married about two weeks before the wedding. If you have been married and divorced prior, it is mandatory to present your original divorce decree when applying for your new marriage license. We will provide you with marriage license acquisition details later.

The ceremony price does not include a rehearsal. Rehearsals are mostly coordinated and led by either a venue professional, a day-of coordinator, or a wedding planner. Years ago, weddings were only held in a place of worship by which the clergy would facilitate the rehearsal and ceremony. Today, it is more common for some wedding venues to utilize their in-house events/sales team to manage the operations, which includes facilitating the rehearsal.

Your wedding rehearsal should be a quick 'n easy, straightforward process.  Officiants are sometimes scheduled to perform multiple weddings on consecutive dates within one weekend and cannot be at all rehearsals. If your ceremony venue doesn't provide a coordinator, consider hiring a wedding planner offering a lesser package for day-of management.

At the rehearsal, you are not practicing the ceremony itself - you are only practicing walking in, walking out, making sure everyone knows where to stand, and a run-through of the elements.  If possible, you want the same person running the rehearsal to be in charge of the processional on your wedding day as well - that continuity will help ensure that there isn't any confusion on your big day.

If your officiant is available during the scheduled time of your rehearsal, you may hire her to oversee the rehearsal for a charge of $100 paid directly to her.

PROCESSION

1. Guests are seated
2. Officiant (can be standing or be part of the processional)
3. Grandparents of the groom-Spouse B-Spouse-to-Be-Marrier-Spouse-nearlywed
4. Grandparents of the bride-Spouse A-Spouse-to-Be-Marrier-Spouse-nearlywed
5. Parents of the groom, Spouse-to-Be, Marrier, Spouse, Nearlywed
6. Mother of the bride-spouse A-spouse-to-Be-marrier-spouse-nearlywed
7. Groom-spouse B-spouse-to-Be-marrier-spouse-nearlywed
8. Best man-Best Person-Attendant of Honor-Person of Honor
9. Groomsmen-Wedding Party-Wedding Crew on [name's] side
10. Maid of Honor/Matron of Honor-Attendant of Honor-Person of Honor
11. Bridesmaids-Wedding Party-Wedding Crew on [name's] side
12. Ring Bearer-Ring Person-Ring Holder
13. Flower Girl-Flower Person
14. Bride-Spouse A-Spouse-to-Be-Marrier-Spouse-Nearlywed and escort

RECESSIONAL

1. The Married Couple
2. People of Honor
3. Wedding Party coupled
4. Flower Person and Ring Bearer
5. Parents
6. Grandparents
7. Officiant
8. Guests

On the day of the wedding, your officiant arrives 45-60 minutes early to check in with you of their arrival, retrieve your marriage license to complete all portions, and have your witnesses sign if state appropriate.

Likewise, she will meet with the DJ and/or videographer to get wired for sound using either a microphone or lapel lavalier. She will do a sound check with the DJ if necessary.

Your officiant performs the ceremony, and it is MAGNIFICENT - ONE-OF-A-KIND - UNFORGETTABLE!

Your officiant will mail the signed/completed marriage license to the county where it was issued the first available mailing day following the wedding (on Saturday for Friday weddings and Monday for Saturday & Sunday weddings). The license is then filed and returned by the officiant to the Clerk of the Peace within so many days according to state-specific guidelines.

By law we have so many days to mail back the official copy as noted below.

• Delaware - within 15 days
• Maryland - within 5 days
• New Jersey - within 5 days
• Pennsylvania - within 10 days

Two-three weeks after the wedding your officiant will follow up with you by email to ensure you were thrilled with your ceremony. She will provide you with links to write us a stellar review (WeddingWire, and Google) so that we have a way to measure our performance. Not only that, but other couples also starting out their planning will benefit from your detailed reviews as they search for the perfect officiant! Woo Hoo!

You will retain one of the copies given to you by your officiant which was completed that day--that is your copy of the license showing proof of the marriage until you personally request a certified copy necessary to change your name and all other documents. This is your copy to keep forever—frame it—tuck it away—your choice, it’s your copy!

Upon return of your honeymoon or later, YOU must request a CERTIFIED copy of your marriage license from the Circuit Court Clerk of the Peace for your state and county (online or in person). The cost varies from state to state. Please be advised that nothing will automatically come to you in the mail after the wedding.