Important Information
Marriage is exciting and I would love my couples to get married in the most beautiful and elegant way. As Justice of the Peace, Carol Roberts, it is my passion to have your wedding day to be the most beautiful day of your life.
Please note that I cannot perform your wedding ceremony without a valid Massachusetts or Rhode Island license!
Guidelines of Massachusetts
The State of Massachusetts requires that you have a current marriage license issued in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is not necessary to apply for it in the town where the wedding is being held or the town in which you live. You may apply for your marriage license in any city or town in Massachusetts.
Both of you, as a couple must be present when applying for your marriage license. There is a three-day waiting period starting the day you apply for your license. You can pick up your license at the town hall on the fourth day. The license is valid for 60 days from the date you filed.
***Please inquire within about the marriage guidelines for the state of Rhode Island
It is very important that you completely review the license while at the town/city hall to ensure that all the information is accurate and correct. This includes your personal information as well as the expiration date (located on the upper left-hand side of the document).
It is a good idea to contact them in advance, to find out the fees and requirements, as they may be different from town to town. The fees may range from $15.00 to $50.00 for your application.
After your wedding, I complete and sign the marriage license and return it back to them at the town/city hall where you obtained your license. You must contact them about one week after your wedding to obtain an official marriage record. Please note that there may be a small fee involved.
Blood tests are optional as it is not a requirement in the States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
*In Massachusetts there is no requirement for witnesses.
*However, in Rhode Island 2 witnesses are required.
Rhode Island
The guidelines to perform a marriage in Rhode Island are different than the Massachusetts ones. I will update you when we are in touch. I perform Rhode Island weddings as an ordained minister.
Please note that there are additional fees for me to perform weddings out of state.
Paying for Your Wedding
Preferred payment for your wedding should be made using cash, certified money orders or bank checks. Please note that any payments made using personal checks may delay the filing and validation of the marriage license until such checks have cleared. So, I prefer not to accept personal checks.
To initiate services, you will need to send me a deposit towards your wedding package. Your non-refundable deposit reserves the date and time for your special wedding day on my calendar. The sooner I receive it, the better chance you have.
The platinum package is the basic beautiful wedding package without a rehearsal The diamond package is the beautiful wedding package which includes your rehearsal. There are also the same packages available for Rhode Island weddings.
Please note that when you have me attend the rehearsal, there is a non-refundable deposit required to be paid to hold the date and time blocked.
Paying the balance due of your wedding package in advance is highly recommended. I would suggest paying the balance one month in advance. It is one less thing to have to worry about on your wedding day.
The officiant is entitled to impose an additional late fee on the client in the event that the ceremony is delayed more than 30 minutes beyond the agreed upon time of ceremony. There will be an additional charge for each additional half hour delay after that. You need not worry if the delay is due to the officiant’s fault.
Please note that late fees must be paid before the start of the ceremony and must be paid in cash. No personal checks will be accepted for payment on the wedding day.
The couple must be aware that the officiant may have another ceremony to attend to after theirs, so it is important to please be as timely as possible.
Please note that there could be extra fees to pay for your wedding ceremony. Customization, microphone rental, parking tolls, and other travel expenses are included in some of the extra fees.
As performing the ceremony is a service, it is customary to tip the officiant for a job well done just as you would tip a DJ artist, florist, caterer, or any other service provider. Therefore, your gratuities are welcome and would be greatly appreciated.