Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much does it cost to hire Stephen for my wedding or other life milestone event?

 

Rates start at $500 plus travel and expenses. This includes a free initial consultation, two online one-hour meetings to discuss how you would like your ceremony personalized, and the wedding ceremony itself.

 

Travel expenses include $60 per hour for travel time to and from the wedding venue from Stephen’s home in NW Washington DC, prorated in 15 minute increments, based on an agreed upon estimate ahead of time.

 

If the rehearsal takes place on the same day as the wedding within a couple hours of the ceremony, then there is no added cost. If the rehearsal is on a different day than the wedding, or takes place more than three hours in advance, then an additional fee and/or travel expenses apply.

 

Additional expenses could include the cost of renting or acquiring a specialized outfit or costume to fit the wedding’s theme. All expenses are agreed upon before the wedding so there are no surprises.

 

 

Can Stephen sign my wedding certificate as the official celebrant?

 

As a Humanist Celebrant certified by The Humanist Society, Stephen is able to sign wedding certificates in Washington DC and Maryland.

 

For other States (most notably Virginia), Stephen is only able to perform the role of Celebrant at your wedding in a non-legally binding capacity. You would need to also have a courthouse wedding for your marriage to be legal.

 

We regret that this is the case, but Virginia, driven by anti-secular sentiment, has intentionally made it almost impossible for “outsiders” to perform legally binding wedding ceremonies in the state unless they have close ties to a local, brick and mortar religious organization.

 

For what it’s worth, when Stephen married the love of his life, they had their ceremony with friends and family near her parent’s house in Cleveland Ohio, but got legally married ahead of time at a DC Courthouse. That process went very smoothly and they were happy to circumvent having to deal with managing their documentation across state lines.

 

 

What kind of life milestones does Stephen perform in addition to weddings?

 

Stephen can be hired to help you celebrate the renewal of vows, commitment ceremonies, coming of age events; or to help celebrate the life, and articulate the loss, of a dearly departed loved one. If you have another kind of event in mind, just ask!

 

Can Stephen help us write our vows and wedding speeches?

 

Basic advice on wedding vows is happily included in the two one-hour meetings that are part of the basic service Stephen offers.

 

If additional consultation is desired when writing wedding vows, best man or maid of honor remarks, or parent of the bridge or groom speeches; or if you would like to hire Stephen to write those speeches in their entirety, that can be arranged for an additional fee.

 

 

I want a secular ceremony, but there are culturally significant elements I would like to include, is that okay?

 

Yes, of course! Whether it be lighting a candle, stepping on a glass, jumping over a broom, or anything else that is meaningful to you, Stephen is always delighted to help you craft the wedding you want.