Fees & Ceremony Levels

Level 1: "Just the Basics, Please."                                                                                                                                                 $100

 Includes:

• You just want to get married as quickly & smoothly as possible. Can do.
• Step 1: You choose from one of three pre-selected wedding scripts. 
• Step 2: You come to South Hill in Spokane. This is the only location for this package.
• Step 3: The Officiant conducts the wedding. Typically, 10 minutes or less. 
• Step 4: Paperwork completed, signed. Congratulations, you are now married!
• We can supply two witnesses, if needed.
• A down payment of $100 will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. (A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card transactions. PayPal also available!)

Level 2: "We Want A Simple Little Wedding"                                                                                                                       $180

 Includes:

• E-mail and telephone consultations as needed.
• A 30-minute long Zoom intro call with Officiant.
• Two (2) 30-minute  long Zoom calls to handcraft your wedding vows/the overall ceremony. 
• The actual wedding ceremony with Officiant.
• All required paperwork completed.
• A customized, personalized Wedding Certificate.
• A down payment of $100 will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. (A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card transactions. PayPal also available!)
• PLEASE NOTE: Mileage charges may apply. Please see below. 

Level 3: "The Wedding You & Your Mom Dreamed About"                                                                                          $280

  Includes:

• Unlimited e-mail and telephone consultations.
• A 30-minute long Zoom intro session with Officiant.
• Two (2) Zoom calls to handcraft your wedding vows.
• An optional one-hour long wedding rehearsal with Officiant. (Optional.)
• The wedding ceremony with Officiant.
• All required paperwork completed.
• A customized, personalized Wedding Certificate.
• A keepsake, printed copy of your wedding vows.   
• A down payment of $100 will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. (A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card transactions. PayPal also available!)
• PLEASE NOTE: Mileage charges may apply. Please see below. 

Handfasting:

• Wedding & Handfasting -- We can add Handfasting to any of the above services at no additional cost.

• Engagement , Anniversary, Renewal of Vows,  Moving In Together, Birth of a Child   ----       $100
• We have  beautiful Handfasting ceremonies for these special events.                                                                       
• You receive a keepsake, signed, Certificate of  Handfasting
• A down payment of $100 will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. (A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card transactions. PayPal also available!)
• PLEASE NOTE: Mileage charges may apply. Please see below. 

Renewal of Vows -- Call us and let's discuss. 

Elopement? -- Call us and let's discuss. 

PLEASE NOTE: IMPORTANT & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

What are your mileage charges? 

The IRS allows a mileage charge of 56 cents per mile driven for business use, down 1.5 cents from the rate for 2020.  That can add up! We try to keep mileage charges simple: 

• Mileage calc is for City-to-City (e.g., Spokane, WA to Yakima, WA).
• Mileage applies to places 50 miles & over (one-way) from Spokane.
• Mileage is only $0.33 per mile, round-trip.
• Mileage is only charged for the wedding, not for rehearsal. 

What forms of payment do you accept?

We like to keep this simple. We accept cash. And we accept credit cards via Square, and we also accept PayPal. Square and Credit Card transactions will include a 4% credit card processing fee. No checks, please.

How much do your services cost?

As you can see above, we offer several complete wedding/renewal-of-vows packages starting at $100. 

While a wedding Officiant cost can vary depending on where you are in the country, along with a number of other factors, the average cost in the U.S. is $300. 

Does Cherished Memory Weddings supply a venue or wedding location?

No, we do not, except for the "Just The Basics" ceremony. We do supply a location for that one. 

Location, all costs, and permission to use a venue is up to you.  We will gladly make suggestions!

Do you have a Change Fee? 

Yes.  A change fee of $50.00 is charged if any couple changes their ceremony date, ceremony time, or ceremony location after securing their date, time, and location with a down payment. Thank you for your understanding!

What if I need to cancel, after booking and securing my date with payment?

As you can imagine, competition for certain dates can get pretty intense. For this reason, fees paid may be used toward a reschedule date for up to 90 days with a paid $50 change fee. 

What kind of wedding & renewal-of-vows ceremonies do you perform?  

We offer non-denominational ceremonies. The main focus of our ceremonies is the love shared between two people.  We are always collecting and writing new vows and ceremony scripts. You and your Cherished Memory Officiant will 'tune' your ceremony for just for the two of you. 

The only ceremony officiated without a license is a renewal of vows ceremony.

Do you perform same-sex / LGBTQ weddings?

Yes, we do!

Do you perform elopement ceremonies?

Yes, we do!

Do you perform handfasting ceremonies?

Yes, we do!

What other kinds of ceremonies do you perform?

Home Blessings, Renewal of Vows, and public nuptials for couples that have already been privately married. And yes, we will accommodate the couple by NOT revealing that they were already privately married!

Is a contract issued for all services booked?

Yes; but relax! It's pretty straight-forward.

Are you an Ordained Minister?

Yes. Since 2005. I'm ordained by three organizations (most Officiants are only ordained by one) and am able to perform any type of legally accepted ceremony. I'm also honored to hold the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity (D.D.).

How will you dress for our wedding?

Neatly, cleanly and am happy to discuss, if you have specific dress requirements or suggestions!

We need an usher for our ceremony -- can you provide one?  And witnesses?

Usher: yes we can -- and at no extra charge, too. He's my son -- a 25-year old honors graduate from Sonoma State and an Eagle Scout. He will also dress appropriately.

Witnesses: Two are required in Washington state, none in Idaho. Yes, we can provide them at no extra charge.

Do you stay for the reception?

We will stay for pictures should you wish to have your Officiant in the photos. 

As a broad rule-of-thumb, we typically don't stay for the reception. The reception is a special, intimate time for friends and family to enjoy the newlyweds and vice-versa. 

I am currently out-of-state, or too far away to meet with you before the wedding. Can I still book your services?

Yes, of course. You may always book our services no matter where you are if we have the date available. If we cannot meet in person, we can meet via telephone or Zoom. 

What's the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate? 

A marriage license is obtained from the county clerk and must be obtained by you before your wedding.  Having a marriage license does not mean that you are married.  It is a license to get married.  

The marriage certificate is obtained after the wedding from the county registrar (usually the same office as the county clerk).  The marriage certificate is the legal proof of your married status.

What about COVID restrictions?

Any decision to hold an event during the COVID-19 pandemic, no matter how large or small, should rely on a risk-based approach.  Precautions to consider include: actions to prevent transmission between people, where to hold the venue, and how it can be modified to make a safer environment. Certainly no one wishes anyone even remotely involved in a wedding to catch the virus. 

Outdoor events in mid-afternoon, with adequate spacing, seem to be quite the norm these days. 

Please Note: Our Ministers reserve the right to cancel any engagement in which, in their sole consideration, inadequate safety considerations  are being planned for the ceremony. This is not a personal nor is it a political commentary -- this is an Officiant trying to stay healthy and ensure the health of his family, as well as the health of participants in the ceremony. In such a situation, 100% of all funds paid to Cherished Memory weddings would be refunded.

* Plus mileage charges, if applicable. See details above. Thanks!