What is your background and how many wedding ceremonies have you performed?

• I am a full-time wedding officiant, minister and celebrant. As this is my full-time job, I am always available and able to give each of my couples my undivided attention. I am happily married and feel that this helps me immensely in performing your ceremony in a sincere and heartfelt manner. I am honored to be part of one of the most special days of your lives and am always completely at your service and easily reachable by phone and e-mail. I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Rhode Island and have a strong background in public speaking and performance. I am organized, well-spoken and personable.... all skills that lend themselves well to being a wedding officiant and ceremony coordinator. I am experienced and professional, with excellent references and have performed over 1,500 ceremonies throughout Southern California since the year 2002.

What types of ceremonies have you performed?

• I think I've done it all. Large, formal affairs at 5-star resorts with 300 guests, to intimate elopements where it was just the bride and groom on the beach, and everything in between. I am always open to new ideas. I also perform renewals of wedding vows, commitment ceremonies and christenings. I am fine with unusual situations... for instance, when the bride and groom may have previously eloped and are already legally married, but want to have a formal wedding ceremony in front of their family and friends. This is sometimes the case for couples who are in the armed services. No worries... I am great at keeping a secret! I love animals, so no problem if your dog is the ring bearer or you are having a dove release. I have performed short and sweet civils, serious religious ceremonies, interfaith weddings that combine the traditions of several different faiths, ceremonies that include children, Hawaiian ceremonies and Celtic handfastings, just to name a few...and of course, the most popular... where the bride and groom want a lighthearted, customized ceremony that reflects their personalities with a touch of spirituality, grace and humor.

What are the steps to retaining you as our officiant?

• First, simply call or e-mail me the date, time and location of your ceremony, at which time I will be able to tell you if I am available to officiate your ceremony. I find phone and e-mail contact to be more productive, as you can contact me day or night with questions. However, I will be happy to meet with both of you at a convenient location to talk more about your ideas for your ceremony if this helps you to feel more comfortable. Meetings are often impossible if you are coming to San Diego from out of town andI am completely comfortable with this method and have helped hundreds of out-of-town couples plan their ceremonies via phone and e-mail. If you decide to retain me as your officiant, I only require a $100 deposit to "officially" hold the date. If you are reserving a Destination Wedding Package, the deposit will be slightly larger, depending on the size of your package.

What if you aren't available to officiate?

• I am happy to provide you with referrals to officiants who are similar to myself in personality and approach. My husband, Rev. Grant Daversa is a wonderfully warm and caring officiant who I frequently refer couples to, and is available for you if you prefer a male officiant. We work very closely together to help each couple have the most perfect day, so you may even hear from me from time to time during your planning process. You can visit his website at www.sandiegominister.com. I have several other colleagues, both men and women, who may also be a good fit for you and I am happy to pass along their contact info.

Can you help us find a location?

• Of course. I have lived in San Diego for over 25 years and am familiar with all of the most popular wedding locations in "America's Finest City". I know all the best spots for a beach wedding, the most private cliff locations, and a few secret locations that very few people know about. I am familiar with all the permit requirements for the City of San Diego, La Jolla, Coronado and other areas of San Diego proper. I can also make suggestions on more formal venues for larger weddings. Visit my Beautiful Locations page for ideas on coastal areas and local wedding venues.

Will you travel to our location?

• Yes. If my availability permits, I will travel to wherever you are holding your wedding ceremony.

Do you offer wedding packages?

• Yes, I offer several wedding packages as well as ala carte items that are designed to help ease the stress of planning for my couples. It can be difficult to pull together all the details for your wedding ceremony, especially when you are coming from out of town, and I have made it easy and affordable for you to have the perfect wedding day. Flowers, photographer, chairs, wedding arch... even a wedding cake!

Can you help us with a photographer?

• Most definitely. I have seven professional photographers that work for me. Rates are pre-negotiated with my photographers and I am happy to pass the discount on to my couples. A few days after your ceremony, they will upload your images to their web gallery and send along a DVD with the hi-resolution images so you can reproduce them. The San Diego Memories Package includes a photographer for 2 hours, or you can order their services "ala carte."

Can we retain you as our officiant, even though we aren't interested in a wedding package?

• Absolutely. I am happy to serve solely as the facilitator of your ceremony.

Can we retain you as our ceremony coordinator, even though we already have a minister or officiant?

• Yes. In some cases, couples have already retained another officiant, minister or family friend to perform the ceremony, but would like to have me simply coordinate their wedding ceremony. I love all aspects of the wedding ceremony and am happy to help you put together your dream wedding, even if you have another officiant. Visit my San Diego Destination Wedding & Elopement Packages page for more information.

How long is the wedding ceremony?

• It's completely up to you. My average ceremony runs about 15-20 minutes, but will depend alot on what you would like to include. You are always welcome to include readings or songs done by friends or family members, special acts of celebration such as a Sand Ceremony or Rose Exchange, in which case, the ceremony would of course, be a bit longer. I am very much about my couples and am happy to create a ceremony that really reflects the two of you.

Can we write our own vows?

• Absolutely. Your vows are your words of love and commitment to each other, and are one of the most important aspects of your ceremony.

Do we have to memorize our vows?

• I discourage memorizing your vows as it can add unnecessary stress to your wedding day. If you write your own vows and they are more conversational (for instance, if there are a lot of "I love you's" or your vows talk about how you met, fell in love, etc.) then it is usually best to read them of index cards. If your vows are more traditional (I promise to love, honor and cherish) then you would repeat them after me. If you aren't sure how they should be presented, send me your vows prior to your ceremony so I can have an opportunity to review them, at which time, I can make a recommendation.

We both have children from previous relationships. Can we include our children in the ceremony?

• Of course. There are a number of ways to include your children in your wedding ceremony. The Family Sand Ceremony is a wonderful and fun way to include your children, without putting too much pressure on them or making them feel awkward. You can also incorporate vows that you say to your children, committing to love them as their parents, and even present them with a gift like a necklace, ring or bracelet. I am always happy to help you decide on the best way to incorporate them, based on their ages and personalities.

What do you usually say during the ceremony?

• That is completely up to you. Based on what we have talked about, your choices from the Vows & Ceremonies page of my website, and your ideas and preferences for your ceremony, I will develop the script for your big day so you will know exactly what will be said. I don't have any specific requirements on what needs to be said during the ceremony, so you can feel free to change wording, delete passages or add to it. Just let me know... I won't be offended at all. We have all heard horror stories about officiants who felt compelled to use the couple's ceremony as a forum to express their own opinions or beliefs, much to the bride and groom's shock and disappointment. If you retain me as your officiant, you can be assured that your ceremony will be exactly the way you want it. I stick to the script that we have developed and you have approved. Having the opportunity to review your script will help you relax and thoroughly enjoy your day.

What do you usually wear at the ceremony?

• It is your big day and the focus should be on you. My wardrobe varies, depending on the location and weather, however I always dress neatly and conservatively in black so as not to detract from the two of you. I do not wear ceremonial robes, albs or other religious clothing. l will usually don a suit jacket and dress pants or skirt, or perhaps a mandarin collar jacket. If your ceremony is a bit more religious, I will make every effort to adjust my wardrobe accordingly (i.e. a Hawaiian wedding, beach wedding, etc.). You can get an idea of my wardrobe by visiting my Photo Gallerie.

What about the rehearsal?

• My attendance at your rehearsal, although occassionally requested, is not mandatory and I rarely attend. The decision on whether to have a rehearsal or not really rests with you and you should check with your site coordinator to make arrangements. I am happy to send along a set of rehearsal instructions if you do decide to have a rehearsal. If you have a wedding coordinator, it is not necessary that I attend. Due to their more casual approach, beach weddings or small elopements do not require a rehearsal. I will arrive at your ceremony 1/2 hour prior so I can take care of any last minute details or direction that needs to be made.

Do you require or offer pre-marital counseing?

• I do not require that you attend pre-marital counseling or marriage classes in order for me to perform your wedding ceremony. Although I do have a degree in Psychology, I do not offer pre-marital counseling. I am not a licensed counselor and feel strongly that counseling should be handled only by those who are specifically trained and licensed to do so.

Where and when do we purchase our Marriage License?

• You must obtain your Marriage License at any County Clerk's office in the State of California. Count back 90 days from your wedding day and you can obtain your license anytime within that 90-day window. You can obtain your marriage license from any County in California and I can marry you anywhere in California if it is a Public Marriage License. If you obtain a Confidential Marriage License, you can only be married in the county where the marriage license was obtained. See my Marriage License page for all the details on obtaining your Marriage License in San Diego County. All counties in California have the same rules for obtaining your license, however the fees may differ slightly. You can even download the Marriage License Application for San Diego and fill it out beforehand to save time.

What if the Clerk's office is closed and we can't purchase our marriage license?

• If you discover that the County's Clerk's office is or will be closed when you are here in San Diego, and you are unable to purchase your marriage license, don't worry! I work closely with several qualified notaries who are able to issue a Confidential Marriage License in San Diego County, often on short notice. Just let me know immediately and I will give you all the information and do my best to make sure your wedding day goes as planned!