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Or some one willing to officiate the ceremony in Cody, Wyoming. I relize there is no legalness but I don't need legal to know my heart feels it. I just want to have someone who is willing to preform the ceremony. How do I find that in my tiny town. (very closed minded as well)
Thanks Nikki

Hi Nikki!

Welcome to the community! I hope you'll continue to ask questions and offer your own expertise as you and your partner move through your planning!

My favorite national resource is Celebrants USA. Call Charlotte Eulette in the national office (the number is listed under US-Nationwide vendors in our vendor directory. She may know of someone nearby or have some suggestions for you.

My partner and I asked a dear friend, who is a great educator and spiritual person who knows us both well, to do the ceremony. She was amazing!

Good luck and keep us posted on your search!

Just thought I would let ya know I found someone and we are on the right track. THIS IS GREAT!!

That's awesome! How did you find that person? Any tips you'd offer to others?

I got a hold of the United Unitarian Church. I know there are several chapters across the US. MOurs is comming down from Montana.

( I do kinda feel like I'm not being taken serious because the date is so far out. But I have to do that to budget the big event. Plus I knew finding someone willing would be a feat in this area.)

I just emailed our local United Unitarian Church. We'll see how it goes.

Tony

We had a UU minister as well, although it took some legwork to get the right officiant! As members of a UU congregation, we hoped to have our own minister do it, but he resigned. Then we asked Josi's college chaplain who she admires (also a big supporter of equal marriage rights), but she was already booked. She reccommended several others, though, and we set things up with a UCC (United Church of Christ, also a very welcoming group) minister, but she backed out a few months before because a couple in her own congregation asked her to do theirs on the same date and she was obligated to take them. Finally, I just called/emailed the ministers of all of the UU churches/societies in our area (about 5). Three responded, and the first one that we met with turned out to be the perfect person to officiate- he helped us create a lovely ceremony and gave our day just the right tone of reverence and humor. So, it sounds like you're on the right track- calling the local UUs and UCCs can be a great starting point. Anyone have suggestions for finding oficiants in other religious traditions? We especially loved having a UU minister because we are an interfaith couple and had such a variety of faiths represented in our wedding party.

Thanks for that info, Kate! Unfortunately (as with many people/places right now) the local UU church office is closed until Tuesday lol. So I haven't gotten anywhere yet. But the website was very impressive and encouraging.

May I ask, were they willing to travel (just a few miles) to a ceremony site, as opposed to holding the ceremony in their church? And what (roughly) did they require as far as a fee? I found a woman on line who seems great, but she wanted $600 to do the ceremony. I know my brother paid half that to have his in a Catholic Church. Plus I'd rather have an "official" reverand vs. a "spiritual guide" or something like that. Brian and I were both raised Catholic - he still considers himself Catholic, but I really don't. But God is very important to both of us and our families.

The other thing I was concerned about was that neither of us belong to the UU, and I know that would often preclude a Catholic minister from performing a ceremony, so I hope that doesn't factor in here.

Thanks again and happy new year!!!

Tony

Just to update - I did finally get in touch with the church, but the appropriate person (the assistant pastor) was still on vacation and was supposed to call me when she got back a couple of days ago. She never did, so I'll be following up within a day if I don't hear from her. (Not a good sign, IMO, when you don't get a prompt reply.)

But they did tell me the other day that they would do a ceremony even for a non-member, at the site of my choice, for $400 plus minimal travel fee.

Side note: I decided to check out my local Unitarian Church next weekend, just for the heck of it.

Tony

Just some info; the UU stands for Unitarian Universalist, in most cases.

Most Unitarian ministers that I know (I've been a UU for over 30 years....) will not require you to belong, but you might just like it....

400-800.00 is about right if you're looking for a personalized service; a minister or priest who is basically going to open the book, cut and paste your names into the service and file your documents should ask less. I am a Celebrant, and my average wedding takes an 6-10 hours, with meeting, research, writing, travel, on site activities and filing the papers. Celebrants are ordained ministers; they are trained and as "real" as any other flavor of reverand.

Good luck,
celia