Chris St. Valentine

	We're Getting Married!
	If I haven't anticipated your question, feel free to contact me directly. Or, if you're ready, you can book your wedding date right now.

	What should I do if I have a wedding planner? To ensure seamless coordination, you should pass along my name and contact information to your planner and let us handle any logistics. Rely on your planner to address all of the important details.
	*What if I don't* have a wedding planner?** To be sure, there are lots of things to consider: the license, venue, flowers, guests, who will marry you, the honeymoon, along with many other details. A wedding planner can assist with all these things, but if you don't have one (my wife says to get one), I can generally guide you in the right direction.
	What are your fees? My fee for performing the wedding ceremony is $500; I ask for a 50% non-refundable deposit when you book a date, with the balance due prior to the ceremony. You can make a deposit by following this link. This fee includes not only the ceremony itself, but also writing and reviewing your vows with you. There are no other charges if the wedding venue is within the DFW metroplex (roughly within 75 miles of Dallas or Fort Worth, or within 75 miles of Athens). We can discuss any additional travel expenses if you are outside the metroplex, or especially if you plan a destination wedding. While some officiants scale their fees to the number of guests you have, you can invite as many as you like (as long as the venue can support it). I don't have a mini-plan, or a huge-group plan. The number of people with whom you choose to share this memory is up to you.
	Do you attend the rehearsal? Many couples have a wedding rehearsal to make sure they know what will happen, where to stand, and what to do. This generally takes place the day before the actual ceremony, unless it is a particularly small wedding (say, at the courthouse) that doesn't really need a rehearsal. If you want me to attend the rehearsal, a $75 fee applies. For more information about the rehearsal, click here for a checklist I found that provides a good overview of what to expect.
	What kind of ceremonies do you perform? Your kind. Seriously, you can have pretty much whatever kind of you want, whether it's a non-denominational religious or civil-type ceremony, or something totally different. It's up to you. I have a collar, I have a tie, and I have a Hawaiian flower shirt. That said, I haven't yet done an underwater ceremony.
	What about same-sex weddings? If you have a license, you're all set. Indeed, at least in Texas it's a misdemeanor to refuse to perform a non-church wedding.
	Where are you located? I am based in Athens, Texas, but it's a small town so I generally serve the north central Texas area, including the DFW metroplex. I am happy to go wherever your plans take you, however. I don't charge extra for travel unless your wedding venue is farther away, or if overnight travel is required (especially if you are planning a destination wedding).
	Where can we hold the ceremony? Actually, just about anywhere. Perhaps you've considered getting married on the beach, or in a park. Or, maybe your parents' house is where you want to spend these moments. Still others return to where they first met. Wherever you choose, know that I will do my best to make this your most cherished memory. Texas - If you have a Texas wedding license, you can get married anywhere you want - even outside the state. You might also consider a destination wedding and thus avoid any local waiting periods. Other States - I can officiate weddings in any state, regardless of where the license is issued. However, some states may require the ceremony be conducted in that state. If you have a non-Texas license and are going to be married in a different state, let's discuss your needs.
	What exactly is a destination wedding? Strictly speaking, a destination wedding is 'far away' - like Paris or the Caribbean - but it doesn't have to be that far away to be a 'destination'. See Destination Weddings for information about having your ceremony someplace truly memorable.
	Who takes care of the marriage license? You and your partner obtain the wedding license at least three days before the ceremony (this is for Texas, but see my note, below). Deliver the license to me any time before the ceremony; afterward, we three sign it and I return it to the county clerk. Some officiants give the license back to the couple with the instruction that they must file it with the clerk (generally within 30 days), but it does happen that couples sometimes forget and miss the deadline. However... Some counties specifically state that the couple returns the license. Dallas county is one of those counties and they say 10 days, not 30. So, we will make sure what the rules are for your county. Texas - The waiting period is three days, unless you have completed the Twogether in Texas program (there are certain other exceptions that sometimes come up). BONUS: You also get up to $60 off the marriage license fee. You can get more official information about Texas marriage licenses here. Other States - If your license is from another state, there may be other restrictions and costs involved. The following states have registration requirements beyond the license itself (if necessary, we'll talk about those requirements): Arkansas, Delaware, D.C, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
	Who writes the wedding vows? Many couples write their own special vows, often with interesting and poignant stories. Still other couples are happy with more traditional vows, sometimes modified from vows they have found online or given to them by family or friends. Also, many wedding planners help with the vows. Finally, I can suggest some time-honored or more contemporary vows you might like. If you would like me to help with your vows, please complete a Wedding Couple's Questionnaire.
	Do you provide premarital counseling? Getting married is exceptionally easy, yet maintaining a happy and long-lived marriage depends on working toward that common goal. Although I am not a licensed counselor, I encourage you to let me share with you my experience and advice. I also have a fun exercise you can explore to help illustrate the value of communicating with your partner.