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Will you marry us if we are of different denominations or religions (denomination being Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist; religion being Christian, Muslim, Jew)?
Yes, That is not an issue for me. God doesn't mind, why should I?
Will you marry us if one or both of us have been previously divorced?
Yes. Who am I to stand in judgement?
Will you marry us if we are not current members of your church? If not, can we inquire about becoming a member?
Yes (and yes you may inquire about becoming a member!) You do not have to be a member to use my services.
Do you require pre-marital or religious counseling before getting married?
No. If you want to meet with me about counseling that is fine. However, most "pre-marital counseling" ends up being "pre-wedding coordination counseling."
Would you allow another Officiant (possibly of a different religion or a relative) to take part in the ceremony?
Yes. I would encourage it!
Are we allowed to write our own wedding vows or must we use the traditional vows?
Yes, you are allowed to write your own vows. Yet, most people don’t know where to begin. What I suggest is to let me send you numerous vows that I have used over the years. Have you look them over. Then, maybe you can cut and paste them to get the vows you want. I am all about having you get what you want. This is your wedding, not mine. I want it to be a fabulous wedding.
Are there any restrictions on the types of readings that can be used?
No. When people have asked me to read a poem or reading, I've done it.
I would encourage the bride and groom to have people they know read. I've had couples ask people to read telling them, "read what you think is right for us." Then the reader selects a passage for the couple. That turned out really nicely.
Can we use contemporary readings or are they required to be religious or scripture readings?
They can be any type of reading that the couple wants. I've never refused a couple yet.
Are there any restrictions on the type of music that can be played?
No. Just use your common sense on this one.
Can we use contemporary songs?
Of course!
Can we bring our own musicians or must they be affiliated with the church?
Please bring your own musicians.
Are there any restrictions on wedding attire?
No. I actually had a bride and groom get married on the beach in their bathing suits. Not necessarily appropriate, but it was their wedding, not mine.
Are there any restrictions on photography?
Yes, but please read on. Professional photographers know the ins and outs of what to do at weddings. At an outdoor wedding, a flash isn't used so it doesn't matter. They stand where they want. What I suggest is you ask the photographer where they like to stand and move to when photographing the wedding. At a beach wedding, the photographer got right into the faces (I mean 4 feet or less) of the bride and groom. I didn’t mind, but I think the bride and groom did. And if they didn't, I suspect the family and friends gathered may have minded.
When it comes to indoor weddings, what happens is that now a days nearly everyone has a camera, from disposable to digital. Sometimes it looks like paparazzi with all the flashes going off. I'm used to it(not because I'm famous)! Yet, the bride and groom aren't and it can get in the way of them enjoying their wedding. I suggest you encourage people to think of the bride and groom when they take pictures.
Also, all pictures can be staged. So if you want a picture of rings being exchanged, then we can stage that after the ceremony.
Is it permissible to videotape the ceremony? Are there any restrictions for the videographer?
Yes, it is permissible to video tape. However, with that said, unless you have wireless microphones on me and probably each of you, very little of the ceremony will come out on the audio tape.
Are there any items or decorations that would be included? Such as candles, candelabras or pew decorations?
When you are talking about an outdoor wedding, candles just don’t normally work. You’ve got wind to deal with and with living here on the coast, it’s nearly always windy, so I just don’t suggest them. As far as inside weddings, then yes candles work fine.
When you want ribbons and bows and the like to be put on the end of a row, inside or out, it’s hard to get those things to stay in place, especially outdoors in the wind.
I don’t recommend them outside. Once, I had a bride insist on using it on the banks of the Savannah River. The runner just wouldn’t stay down. I had to instruct the guest on the end of each row to stand on the runner. When the bride came through, they needed to take a step back for a brief moment. It was very awkward.
Is a candle light service permitted?
Outside it just won't work, sorry. Inside, sure, but there needs to be someone or several people to clean up the spilled candle wax.
Are we allowed to take the floral arrangements to the reception?
Yes. If the wedding is in the church, any church, I suggest you leave them for the worshippers the next day, since you’re probably getting married on a Saturday. If you are outside, then I suggest potted plants. Why? Because there are always nursing homes or something similar around that would appreciate the sight and smell of those flowers. Plus, it will spread the good will of your wedding day around to others.
Are we allowed to throw rice or birdseed outside the church? What about rose petals or bubbles?
No throwing of rice is permitted. Bird seed, sure, but watch out. Pigeons and sea gulls like to eat it and they may be a draw back, especially if they drop unexpected surprises. Rose and flower petals are great (use real not fake, otherwise it is littering). Bubbles are great for photographs! On the beach I’ve seen the flower girl drop sea shells. Speaking of sea shells, I’ve seen beach weddings where the wedding area was outlined in shells, and the area had been raked smooth. It looked really nice.
How many guests will the church hold?
About 125 people
Is there a room for the bride and her attendants to stay "out of sight" or "freshen up" before the ceremony begins?
Yes
Can we hold a receiving line outside the church? What happens if it rains?
Yes. And if it rains, there is a covered walk way.
What are the advantages of an indoor wedding?
Controlled weather, controlled air temperature, controlled lighting, controlled sounds (unless the musicians make a few mistakes). Wedding runner can be used, candles will stay lit, chairs/pews for everyone and the ground won’t make them sink, gnats and mosquitoes won’t be an issue nor will fly or insects.
Hearing the minister/Officiant and the bride and groom are much easier. Outdoor weddings are not conducive for everyone to hear. And if a PA system is used, indoors or out, please make sure that a professional does it. Too many times guests and bridal party have to hear the squawking of the system.
What are the advantages of an outdoor wedding?
Open skies, God’s natural beauty, birds, sounds, smells, view. Some of the advantages can also be drawbacks: open skies – could mean rain; sounds (car/horn/yelling/music); smells (I won’t go there!); birds (well, on the beach they might could drop a few unexpected surprises!).
Are there better places than others to get married?
It all depends on your needs. If you have 100 people, Whitfield Square isn’t the best place because even though the gazebo is cute, the space is small. Pick the right space for your needs. If you have a lot of elderly people attending or elderly people who can’t stand or walk on sand, then having a beach wedding may not be an option.
Can I hold my wedding at a beach?
Yes. The beach is great for the romance, not always that practical. There are always sun bathers (some you don’t want in your photos) and people walking up and down the beach. Sea gulls can be problem if you want throw bird seed. The wind/breeze on the beach is great, but it normally keeps everyone from hearing what is being said. The people right up front may hear well. The people several rows back won’t hear much. If I speak loudly so everyone can hear, then it loses the intimacy for the bride and groom because I am yelling in their ears.
Information about beach weddings, please call the city of Tybee Island at 912.786.4573.
Can I hold my wedding in a downtown square?
Yes. The squares in Savannah are beautiful. Click on "Wedding Locations" to the left to get further information about the squares.
When you have a park or square wedding in Savannah, you have rent the area and you have to pay to have security there. Call the City of Savannah, Parks Department for more information: 912.351.3837
Can I hold my wedding in a park?
Yes. Forsyth Park is the best place in Savannah to get married, in my opinion. The fountain is absolutely beautiful. Remember to look above about the pros and cons of outdoor weddings.
When you have a park or square wedding in Savannah, you have rent the area and you have to pay to have security there. Call the City of Savannah, Parks Department for more information: 912.351.3837
Can I hold my wedding on a boat?
Yes. Boat weddings are fun. Savannah has two boats for weddings. I really like it when the bride arrives and walks on board as part of the processional. All of the people on River Street look and watch. Then, when the wedding is over, they all applaud. It’s awesome!
How do I make a grand entrance when the wedding is outside?
When you have a church wedding, the doors fly open and the bride makes her grand entrance. Outside that isn’t possible, so you have to create it. The way I like to create it for the bride is by making a long entrance. If she’s getting married in a square or park, have her walk a long way, not the shortest way. I don’t mean to make her walk out of her way, just slow and deliberate. Also, you may consider a horse drawn entrance to the park or square. It is quite thrilling to see a bride as she is being brought to the wedding in a horse drawn carriage. Prior to the bride being spotted everyone is anxiously looking for her. Once spotted, it takes several minutes, sometimes 10, for her to get to her groom.
Sunset Wedding Time- The time of a sunset wedding depends on when you want the sunset in the pictures. If you want the ceremony to take place at sunset, then the pictures afterwards will be after sunset. If you want the staged photos to be at sunset, then the wedding needs to take place prior to sunset.
Sunset Wedding Places- There are three places in Savannah which I believe to be conducive for actual sunset weddings. The first being the north end of Tybee Island, near the light house (the sun cannot go as low as it does on the south end of the island). The second place would be the south end of the island. The sun will hit the horizon. The third place is Old Fort Jackson. It too will have the sun hit the horizon.
Can you do a last minute wedding?
Last minute weddings are usually not a problem. Call me!
How do I get the guests to and from the wedding and reception?
I’ve seen guests drive themselves from hotel, to wedding site, to reception site. However, most guests are not familiar with Savannah, so it can be a bit intimidating. If most of the guest are staying at a hotel, the same hotel where the reception is, then have a trolley company or a horse carriage company come pick up the guests at the hotel and take them to and from the wedding. Depending on number of guests you may need to have more than one trolley and one carriage. The trolley and carriages can make several trips to pick up guests, they do this in the form of a continuous loop.
What happens between the introduction of Mr. and Mrs.______ and the staged photos?
This is more times than not, the most awkward time for the couple. I try my best to prepare couples for this moment. Every bride and groom knows what the wedding will look like in their mind, yet it stops as soon as they get introduced.
Once the couple walks down the isle, I encourage them to walk around somewhere, down the beach, around the square or park. Why? Because the couple needs to let the guests leave before coming back for their pictures. Otherwise it will take forever to get everyone through the receiving line. Imagine you have 100 guests at your wedding and each guest wants to greet you. If each guest spends 30 second with you, that is 50 minutes! By then the food at the wedding reception is cold!
I suggest the couple not greet anyone except immediate family and the bridal party, and to do so out of the way of the isle. If you greet one guest you should greet them all, otherwise they get their feelings hurt. Once the guests leave, or most of them leave, then the bridal party can come back for their staged photos.
How do we get a marriage license?
If one or both of the couple live any where in Georgia and have a valid Georgia ID then they can get their marriage license from any county probate court. If however, neither of the couple live in Georgia then they will need to get their license in this county, which is Chatham County. The phone number to the court house here is: 912.652.7267. If you are getting married in South Carolina, the phone number to the court house on Hilton Head Island is 843.341.8413. Both bride and groom need to be present when obtaining their license.
If you get a marriage license in South Carolina it can only be signed in South Carolina. Likewise, if you get a marriage license in Georgia, then the ceremony must take place in Georgia.
Once the license is signed, it can either be taken in by you the next business day, unless you get married during business hours, or it can be mailed in. If you mail it in, you will need to provide them with a self-addressed stamped envelope so they can mail you the certified copy.
Georgia has no waiting period. South Carolina has a 24 hour waiting period once you apply for a license. In Georgia and South Carolina there are no blood tests required.
If either person divorced in last six months, they must bring final decrees with you. Some counties require it regardless of length of time. Call ahead.
South Carolina marriage license expire within a certain time of obtaining them, whereas a Georgia license has no expiration date.
Please ask me about my fee. The money I receive goes to charity. If you can’t afford my fee, then we can work something out that fits your budget.
Savannah Georgia Wedding Officiant, Rev. Steven Schulte E-mail (912) 354-6815
©2005-2007 Reverend Steven P. Schulte