AZ Dream Wedding, Bridal & Wedding Services, Goodyear, AZ 85338 - asking-the-big-questions-of-your-officiant

Healthy experience, excellent public speaking skills, and exceptional customer service make all the difference. Andy and Vee have been doing weddings together since 1994 (Vee since 1985). We stay busy most weekends, and we still periodically get compliments from ceremonies performed long ago. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer service from start to finish, giving you peace of mind and one less thing to be worried about.

Question: Since this is our ceremony, will the Officiant get to know us on personal level?

Seeing if you are a good fit with your Officiant doesn't have to be a big deal. Sitting down over coffee and listening to your story as a couple is something every Officiant should do. While long distances make this somewhat challenging (though Skype has made things more accessible), getting to know one another is an important part of the process. Ultimately, we just want peace of mind when choosing our Officiant. "Are we comfortable with the Officiant? Do we feel like he or she seems genuinely interested in us as a couple? Do we want this person representing us in front of all of our friends and family?" After all, the Officiant will be speaking in front of all of your loved ones, commissioning your marriage and setting the tone for the day. No pressure, but you'll remember the experience for the rest of your lives.

Question: Will the Officiant perform a cookie-cutter ceremony or is he open to personal ideas/touches for our ceremony? For instance, is he or she open to non-religious ceremonies, personalized vows, readings, symbols, or songs?

Very much so! Since Andy is a hospice chaplain, he understands the variety of faith systems out there, including those who have no formal religious background or interest. Our desire is to see you enjoy the very best wedding day ever--your wedding day! We work together with you to help customize genuine and heartfelt services

Question: What kind of reviews has the Officiant received?

While not always a guarantee of future success, reviews can help couples see how others have viewed the Officiant. Feel free to see the reviews we have recently accumulated on our website and on weddingwire.com.

Question: Can I see a sample ceremony?

Hopefully, your Officiant can work through a sample outline or ceremony with you when you meet to discuss the details. Our aim is to ensure that there are no coordination surprises sprung upon you during the ceremony; instead, we want to you be completely relaxed knowing you're in good hands. Just in case, we've provided a sample ceremony video for your review.

Question: Are you available for the rehearsal?

While there are occasions when I am needed for rehearsal coordination, most venues have a “point person” to walk the bridal party and participants through the ceremony’s blocking. Truth being said, in most cases, I’m a third wheel. In the case where there is no “point-person,” and provided I am available on the previous evening (which is when most rehearsals take place), I charge $100 to be at the rehearsal. Don’t panic! Vee and I have discovered that being at the wedding site an hour in advance on your wedding day makes all the difference. Keep reading…

Question: What is the Officiant doing on our big day?

This is where customer service really comes into play. On the day of your wedding, things get what I like to call “Chaordic” (ordered chaos). How so? Imagine a couple of hours before the ceremony. Many of your vendors arrive, doing their part to make your day exactly like you have envisioned it. As time gets shorter, things get crowded and crazy, but they always seem to come together. Vee and I have learned about 10 years ago, that by arriving an hour early our presence provides a peace of mind, especially to the bridal party. It’s during this time that we’ll check in with the bride and the groom, letting them know we’re there. It also is a time to coordinate with every participant in the ceremony, helping them know their cues and walking them through their parts of the ceremony. With plenty of time to spare, they’ve got their parts down cold. Doing things this way has relieved much stress, especially for the bride who already by this time has a few things on her mind.

Question: Who provides the sound amplification and the Officiant’s microphone?

This is definitely something you’ll want to figure out well in advance. In some cases, your venue will provide sound and microphone needs as a part of your wedding package fee. In other cases, they won’t. Many DJ services can also provide sound and microphone support for both the ceremony and the reception. Some include it in their fees while others charge extra (this often requires two systems for set up). It’s helpful to know about who is providing sound for the ceremony (and at what cost) well in advance, so don’t be afraid to ask when you interview your Venues and DJs. If they do charge extra, don’t panic! We provide microphone and sound reinforcement needs as a part of our package (no added fees). While it is easier for us to use another’s system, it is no trouble for us to set up our own. Whichever works best for you.

In a garden (or outside) wedding, one may often forget to account for crowd size and ambient noises which can make the Officiant or the musician hard to hear. If your guest list is greater than 40, your Officiant and musician will need a mic/amplification set-up. Again, Andy and Vee have invested much with their mic/sound amplification systems, and we provide this service at no additional charge to you. It's not uncommon to save about $150-$300 for this service alone.

Question: Do you charge for mileage?

While this can become a tacked on fee, we do not charge for mileage in the greater Phoenix metro area. Other locations such as Flagstaff, Sedona, Tucson and Prescott do have an added fee. Out of state wedding? While atypical and expensive, we are available to Officiate and play at your wedding. Price is based upon destination and travel costs required.

Question: Is the Officiant married himself/herself?

What longevity and positive relational experience does your Officiant have with his/her own marriage? Forgive us for stating the obvious, but personal marital experience matters--a lot! A marriage is the ultimate relationship a couple can possibly have, as they are fully committed to doing what is needed to make a relationship work. It is this experience that provides your

Officiant with the sound marriage principles he will most likely speak about in your ceremony.

Wouldn't it make sense that the person speaking about the joys of marriage and overseeing the marriage ceremony have a healthy marital history? For what it's worth, Vee and Andy have been married for 21 years and have three happy teenagers who are well on their way to becoming healthy young adults (we hope...).

Question: How is the Officiant ordained?

Is your Officiant accountable to an endorsement board of some kind, where personal character is a part of such an endorsement? In a day where internet ordination makes it legal for just about anybody to perform a wedding ceremony (pay $20difference is this: Those who have no other pastoral experience may find it fairly challenging to deal with issues beyond the words they speak during a ceremony. For what it's worth, we have been in Pastoral Ministry for over 15 years, preceded by a Seminary Education (Theological and Counseling Graduate School). Today, Andy is an active Pastoral Counselor for a local hospice organization and deals with critical life and death issues on a daily basis.

Question: Do you require or offer marriage counseling

Marriage counseling is very beneficial, as it helps couples truly prepare for what it means to be married. Solid marital counseling should cover all the major challenges experienced in a marriage, including the personal values and expectations couples learn of each other over the years when living life together. Child rearing, finances, personal interests, approaches to conflict resolution, and religious beliefs should be covered in counseling. While I do not require counseling in order to marry a couple, and while I do believe a couple should work through any differences they have before they tie the knot, I highly recommend seeing a marriage counselor who has had a long and vibrant marriage. At the very least I recommend taking a mature couple to lunch who have had a healthy marriage.