Fees & Ceremony Levels

NEW --   Add a Couple's Sand Ceremony to any service (see video at right.) 

A great memorial from your wedding. 

With our personally engraved kit: $95.  If you supply the kit: $40.

(A 14-day advance notice is needed for our personally engraved kit.)

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Level 1: "Just the Basics, Please."                                                                                                                                           $105

 Includes:

• You have a marriage license & want to get married ASAP.  We can do that, in 4 simple steps!
• Step 1: Choose from one of four "Just the Basics" wedding scripts we provide. 
• Step 2: Between 1-4 PM, come to South Hill, Spokane.  This is the only location available.
• Step 3: The Officiant conducts the wedding. 
• Step 4: Paperwork is completed, & signed. Congratulations, you are now married!
• The $105 fee must be paid-in-full  at least one (1) day before the service. 
• A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card and PayPal transactions. 

Level 2: "A Nice Simple Wedding"                                                                                                                                         $195

 Includes:

• A 30-minute Zoom intro call with Officiant including discussion on rehearsal, ceremony, etc.
• As needed, up to two (2) Zoom calls to handcraft your wedding vows/the overall ceremony. 
• Unlimited use of our library of wedding services, vows, and poems.
• The actual wedding ceremony with Officiant.
• All required paperwork completed and mailed in to the County.
• Two (2) trees planted somewhere in the U.S. to commemorate your wedding.
• A $100 retainer will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. 
• A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card and PayPal transactions.
• Mileage charges may apply. Please see below. 

Level 3: "The Wedding Mom & I Have Dreamed About"                                                                                          $295

  Includes:

• Unlimited e-mail and telephone consultations.
• A 60-minute long Zoom intro session with Officiant.
• Unlimited use of our library of wedding services, vows, and poems.
• As needed, up to five (5) Zoom calls to handcraft your wedding vows.
• A consultation with the Officiant on key wedding rehearsal and ceremony do's/don'ts.
• The wedding ceremony conducted by our Officiant.
• All required paperwork completed, signed, and mailed in to the County.
• A customized, personalized Wedding Certificate, suitable for framing.
• A keepsake copy of your wedding vows, suitable for framing.   
• Two (2) trees planted somewhere is the U.S. to commemorate your wedding.
• A certificate, suitable for framing, commemorating your tree planting!
• A $100 retainer will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. 
• A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card and PayPal transactions. 
• Mileage charges may apply.  Discounts available. Please see below. 

Renewal of Vows -- Call us and let's discuss. A classic, memorable time for all.

Elopement? -- Call us and let's discuss. We love elopements.

Handfasting:

• Wedding & Handfasting -- We can add Handfasting to any of the above services.                         $25

• Handfasting to celebrate an engagement , anniversary, renewal of vows,  

                    moving in together, or the birth of a child.                                                                                                       $120

• We have  beautiful Handfasting ceremonies for these special events.                                                                       
• You receive a keepsake, signed, Certificate of  Handfasting
• A $100 retainer will hold this ceremony and date and time for you. 
• A 4% credit charge applies to all credit card and PayPal transactions.
• Mileage charges may apply. Please see below. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

What are your mileage charges?  We keep those simple...

• If the destination is over 50 miles one-way from Spokane -- we charge a flat fee of $40.  
• If the destination is over 100 miles away one-way, we charge a flat fee of $80.
• If the destination is over 150 miles away one-way, we charge a flat fee of $120. (Discounts available.)

Those are all BIG discounts vs. some officiants who charge $1.00 per mile!

What forms of payment do you accept?

We like to keep this simple, too. We accept cash. And credit cards via Square. And PayPal.  No checks, please.

All credit card and PayPal transactions will include a 4% credit card processing fee. 

And please note: all Level 2 and Level 3 charges (inc. mileage) must be paid at least seven (7) days prior to the ceremony date.

How much do your services cost?

As you can see above, we offer several complete packages starting at $120. 

The average cost for wedding officiant services in the U.S. is in the $300-$400 range. -- and up!

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 $60.00 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 $60 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. 

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 no, we will not reveal that this couple were already privately married!) We do these types of ceremonies frequently.

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!)  I'm also privileged to hold the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) -- and that's why they call me Dr. Mike!

How will you dress for our wedding?

Neatly and cleanly. I'm happy to discuss, if you have specific dress requirements or suggestions.

Do you stay for the reception?

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

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 can book our services no matter where you are -- if the date/time you wish is available.

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. 

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, funds paid to Cherished Memory Weddings -- except for the $100 non-refundable deposit -- would be refunded.

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