Portland Wedding Questions and Answers

Serving Portland and surrounding suburbs.
Central Oregon and other areas by arrangement.

Hello Couples!

Here you will find a wealth of Portland Wedding Questions and Answers to help you start planning your wedding. In these pages you'll find links to tips and tools, along with guidance about everything from what to wear to how to deal with family dynamics and groomzillas.

Questions? Email me at terri@portlandweddingofficiant.com or call 503.957.7419

How to Get Started

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

I generally meet with a couple in advance -- usually at my house in Lake Oswego -- so we can get to know each other a bit and talk about the ceremony you envision. During this meeting you can shareyour ideas, but don't feel bad if you don't have any. Most couples are a blank page at this point. I'll show you some sample ceremonies and explain the basic format, from processional to recessional, and suggest a variety of creative options.

We'll also talk about general wedding logistics and planning. If it isn't possible to meet beforehand, don't worry... many couples come in from out of town, and we never have a chance to meet before the wedding. We can do everything via phone, Zoom and email.

CAN YOU PERFORM A CEREMONY IN ANY LOCATION WE CHOOSE?

Unlike traditional religious officiants who will only perform ceremonies in a religious building, I can conduct a ceremony in any location you like. It can be a hotel, an event venue, your house, on the beach or in a park. Even at my own house.

WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL, NON-RELIGIOUS CEREMONY?

You can see some samples HERE.

What Happens Next?

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

If you decide you want me to perform the ceremony, a $100 non-refundable deposit holds the date. Once we've confirmed the date, we'll work via phone and/or email to create exactly the ceremony you want. A follow-up meeting isn't necessary, although you might want a second meeting to go over final details. I'm always available via phone or email.

HOW ARE YOUR FEES STRUCTURED?

My fees start at $350, and vary according to location (depending on how far I have to travel and/or any unusual driving conditions). Some couples want only a quick ceremony for just the two of them, with one or two friends as witnesses. I can do that at my house for $200 (I live right on the Willamette River in a beautiful setting). NOTE: All fees are approximate and subject to change.

WHAT ABOUT REHEARSALS?

Officiants generally don't attend wedding rehearsals. That's a tradition from church weddings when the minister was always at the church. A rehearsal is mainly for the purpose of figuring out how to move people from point A to point B during the processional, and you can usually figure that out on your own. Of course I'll be happy to provide advice and direction on that. In most cases we can do a quick, same-day run-through immediately prior to the actual ceremony.

Can We Create Our Own Ceremony?

Absolutely! Most couples use my ceremony template and embellish as they wish. You can choose texts, readings and rituals that appeal to you and resonate with your personalities. We can email back and forth, adding ideas as we go. With just a few emails your ceremony will be complete.

WHAT HAPPENS IN CASE OF A CANCELLATION?

Sometimes weddings have to be cancelled or rescheduled, and I make every attempt to accommodate an emergency. An "emergency” means a hospitalization or death, a natural disaster or a pandemic. Your mom missing her flight or a tiff with the caterer (or with your intended) is a not considered an emergency by wedding vendors. If you cancel or reschedule for a non-emergency less than 2 weeks prior to your wedding, I ask to be paid 100% of the agreed rate. Cancellation fees must be paid in full before services can be rescheduled.

RECEPTION

Because we are service professionals, there's no expectation or custom that obliges you to invite your officiant to the post-ceremony celebration. However, if you choose to extend an invitation, I will try to attend when my schedule permits, but an invitation is not expected.

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 7 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Scott Buffington 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing experience. Thank you, Terri! Professional. Had a beautiful experience marrying my love. I really can't say enough; except thank you! You have brought a wonderful start into our marriage and we are so thankful. Highly recommend to whom wants reliability and communication with a beautiful service.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Brian D Smith 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Terri has a gift for creating unique ceremonies and rituals. Her ability to use symbols and  inspirational words  to mark for personal milestones such as weddings, births and funerals is a powerful tool for inspiring joy, hope, or healing.  I absolutely recommend her to anyone getting married in the Portland area.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Edward Torres 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Terri was a great officiant at my wedding. She met up with my wife and I prior to our wedding and asked us how we would like the ceremony to go. She gave examples of what other people do but she was willing to  listen and follow what my wife and I wanted. It was a beautiful ceremony and I think about it from time to time. Terri made it a special day and her energy really brightened up how I perceive ceremonies should be.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Robin Clark 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Terri has married three of my children over the last 10 years. There probably aren't a lot of reviews from mothers of the brides and grooms, and I'm happy to post one here.  She did such a beautiful job on the first wedding, that when my next two kids got married, they both wanted her to officiate. My whole family is non-religious, and we appreciate her ability to create a meaningful ceremony without bringing god or religion into it. She definitely deserves five stars!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Cristy Murray 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Terri was sensitive, generous and compassionate.  The ceremony was just lovely - exactly how we wanted it.  She was the perfect person for our perfect wedding.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Christopher Carpenter 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I got married last year, and we were so lucky to find Terri. Although she’s straight, she is super LGBTQ friendly, and has married some of our friends, which is how we discovered her. She worked with us to come up with just the right words for the ceremony and has the creative mind we were looking for that fit right in with the style and vibe of our wedding.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   J. Clark 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My husband and I come from two different cultures and Terri was great at finding ways to include pieces of both, which meant a lot to us. She came up with a perfect ceremony that expressed exactly what we wanted to say, and she has a really fun personality. We enjoyed working with her.
  
 
  
  
 
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