Cape Cod Weddings
Judith Todd-McNichol
Justice of the Peace
Cape Cod Weddings
Judith Todd-McNichol
Justice of the Peace
Massachusetts Justice of the Peace,
Reverend Judith Todd-McNichol D. D.
137 South Pond Drive, Brewster, MA 02631
Please
call Judith Todd-McNichol to set up an appointment at:
508-896-9898 or
General Questions and Formalities
We have a Dynamic Calendar at the bottom of this page for your convenience.
What You Need To Do Before You Say I Do?
Services and Fees
Wedding Etiguett Gratuity Guildines
What do we need to get married?
Calender to check your dates
Do we need any witnesses present at our ceremony?
Can we select our own vows?
What is the Unity Candle Ceremony?
What is a Unity Cup Ceremony?
What is a Hand Ceremony?
What can we do to express happiness for the couple?
What can we throw in celebration (i.e. rice, bird food, etc.)?
What can we use as an aisle?
Where do we stand during the ceremony?
How can we show our guests
appreciation for joining this special occasion?
Do we have to speak at the ceremony?
Can others be included in the ceremony?
Can we include various religious and cultural traditions?
Do we need rings?
Where can the ceremony be held?
What is the purpose of the pre-nuptial conference?
Can we renew our vows?
Can weddings be done quickly with short notice and only one day planning?
Formalities
You will need Massachusetts Certificate of Marriage (License), before you can be married. The price varies from town to town, but is usually $30 or less. To obtain a license, both of you need to go, together, to any town or city clerk within the Commonwealth and file an application. It doesn’t have to be the town where you live, nor the town where you are getting married. After applying, there is a three-day waiting period before you can pick up your license. Either one of you can pick up the license at the end of the waiting period. Note a Judge can waive this waiting period. The fee for this waiver varies up to $195.00. The license is valid for sixty days.
Note: This
is an informal summary of the requirements to get married in
Massachusetts. It is provided for your convenience and as a quick
reference only. For the official explanation, please go to the website
of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at:
http://www.state.ma.us/sec/cis/ in case there have been any
recent changes.
Marriage License Application Information
License application information under revisions at this time, further
information may be available from:
Citizen Information Service (CIS)
Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, Room 1611
Boston, MA 02108-1512
Tel: (617) 727-7030
Toll Free: 1-800-392-6090 (within Mass. only)
TTY: (617) 878-3889
Fax: (617) 742-4528
This is the link for Citizen Information Service Home Page: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cisidx.htm
and/ or you can E-mail to: cis@sec.state.ma.us
There is an additional fee for a written customized ceremony. Many couples want to have a ceremony written just for themselves. I will be glad to discuss this with you.
I recommend having an initial phone conversation to get acquainted and to determine the type of ceremony you desire. We can also set a date and time for your wedding. This is a free consultation over the phone.
There is a fee for a pre-nuptial conference to discuss your upcoming wedding and vows. At this meeting you will have the opportunity to discuss with me the complete planning and selections of your wedding ceremony. At this time you can choose any customs or wedding traditions such as readings, unity candle, floral ceremony, etc.you might like.
My fee for a rehearsal is the same as that for officiating at your wedding. During the rehearsal I will show you the proper social etiquette for your particular wedding.
Note:
Full payments in advance of services by cash or money order only, is required to
reserve your wedding date and time on my calendar please and they are
non-refundable. If you are eloping last minute I will be happy to fit you into
my schedule around pre-planned weddings.
Other Officiate Services
"It is a very spiritual experience to be instrumental in joining two lives," "I feel honored and develop a strong connection with the couple that I will always cherish." Once a wedding is done. I am always happy to help people celebrate other Rites of Passage in their home and business life.
Vow Renewals
Take Oaths of Office
Take Legal Depositions
Open Corporate Meetings
Baby Naming Ceremony,
Baby Blessings Ceremony,
Baby Christening Ceremony
Baby Relinguishment Ceremony
Adoption Ceremony
Dedication Ceremonies,
House Blessings,
Office Blessings
Life-commitment Ceremonies
Memorial Ceremonies
Funeral Ceremonies
Interment Ceremonies
Releasing of Ashes
Pet Funerals,
Dissolution Ceremonies,
Coming of Age
Adoption Ceremony
God Parent Ceremonies
Graduation
Changing of the Seasons
Retirement Party Celebration
Wedding Etiquette Gratuity Guidelines
As always, gratuities are well appreciated. These are some guidelines for tipping. Keep in mind that these are very general guidelines. One can tip higher according to his or her own discretion, and quality of service rendered. Since these services are only rarely incurred frequently in one’s life these guidelines should prove helpful in giving you current knowledge of appropriate percentages and dollar amounts as part of wedding manners.
Tipping has always been a personal expression of gratitude for service given and appreciated. The question of tipping those persons responsible for assisting you in your wedding planning is one of obvious importance and concern. So we have included some guidelines.
Gratuity cards or thank you cards are often given. For those people
who you wish to say "thank you" along with either a gift certificate
or money, these cards work perfectly. They work well for ministers, vendors, or
anyone else you need to provide funds to. "Thank You" and inside write
"For being part of our wedding". Also has "From" followed
with your name.
Bakers:
15% (gratuity is not usually required, however, if you feel he/she has done an exceptional job or has provided extra or special services, a tip is a wonderful gesture.)
Bartenders:
15% to 20% (if the bartender is not accepting tips from guests, an additional 10% is suggested, but not required.)
Caterer/Banquet Manager:
15% to 20% (usually included in contract, however, if the caterer or manager has done an exceptional job, an additional $1.00 - $2.00 per guest is suggested.)
Civil Ceremony Officials:
Today, you find a "state set fee" for most of those in public service. In a recent survey, it was found the average gratuity (which varies from state to state) was between $50 and $75. If driving is involved, an additional gratuity normally is $75 and $100. This can be put in with a thank you note and be given after the ceremony.
Ceremony Staff:
$25.00 is suggested for altar boys, sextons, or aids etc. (gratuity is usually appreciated.}
Clergymen:
No less than a $75 gratuity is considered proper and it is rare to find anyone giving less than a $100 gratuity for the wedding officiant. This gratuity should be given to the best man prior to the ceremony. Promptly following the proceedings, he will then give it to the officiant. If travel is involved, an additional gratuity is appreciated $100 to $125.
Coat Room Attendants:
It is customary to give fifty cents to $1.00 per guest. However, it may be to your advantage to arrange for a flat fee prior to the event.
DJ's:
15% - 20% (gratuity is not usually required, however, if you feel he/she has done an exceptional job or has provided extra or special services, a tip is a wonderful gesture.)
Hair and Make Up:
Generally, 15% and higher is customary.
Florists, Photographers, Musicians:
Tipping only for extra special services, up to 15%.
Limousine Driver:
A tip of 15% is the appropriate amount to be given to your limo driver. Be sure to read your contract, as the tip has often already been added into the final bill.
Parking Attendants:
$1.00 - $2.00 per car (if not accepting gratuity from guests, the host would be responsible for tipping parking attendants at the end of the event.)
Photographer and Videographers:
15 % on bills over $500 or a flat $50 on billings under $500 ( if you feel he/she has done an exceptional job or has provided extra or special services, a tip is a wonderful gesture.)
Organist and Musician:
Fees for church organists and musicians are often included in the rental fee for the church. When this is not the case, a gratuity of no less than $35 is appropriate, but in a recent survey, the average was $50 for each person. When the organist and musician (soloist) are close friends of the couple or family, the gratuity averaged $75.
Wait Staff:
15% to 20% (usually included in contract, however, if it is not included, the tip should be given to the maitre d' or head waiter along with an additional 1% - 2%.
What do we need to get married?
The three mandatory requirements for a wedding in Massachusetts are:
1. The two people intending to get married
2. The officiator
3. A valid marriage license
Do we need any witnesses present at our ceremony?
No. Massachusetts Law does not require that witnesses be present at your ceremony.
Absolutely. I have a number of samples available from which you may choose. If you prefer, you can write your own words, or a combination of both I will be glad to customize vows for you. Some couples like to included poems, love letters, have friends or relatives speak.
This ceremony symbolizes the joining of two families members of each family light a candle and give it to their family member about to be wed. If the ceremony is at night they in turn light one candle that has been given to each guest. Then they place their candles on opposite side during the ceremony. After they say their vows they each carry their family candle to the center and light the unity candle that has been placed there.
Each family give the member of its family being married a cup of wine this signifies individuality and family. After the vows they pour that into a shared glass and each take a sip; this symbolizes their union now.
A hand ceremony takes place just before a ring ceremony and I ask both people to hold and look at their fiancé's hands and I talk about what a gift their hands are to you by mentioning what they do with their hands for you. This ceremony is a ancient ceremony taken from the old hand tying ceremony, "Tying the Knot", where couples hands where gently tied for a ceremony and this was accepted as a civil marriage for hundreds of years right up into the 1930's. It speaks to the love and bonding to each other in the wedding ceremony.
I also have other ceremonies you may choice from. I can show you these if we have a consultation.
What can we do to express happiness
for the couple?
Have butterflies, balloons , bubbles, doves released during the ceremony.
What can we throw in celebration? (i.e. rice, bird food, etc.)
Rice, bird food, grass seed, flower petals, bubbles. Each guest can throw one of their shoes over the brides head, very carefully.
The bride can walk down an aisle runner made up of , sea shells, pebbles, sea glass, small flowers whole. fresh rose petals, a path in the sand between dunes, a path in a park.
Where do we stand during the ceremony?
The bride and groom can face their guests during the ceremony, or face each other half way turned toward guests , or you backs may be to your guests, or your guests may encircle you.
How can you show our guests appreciation for joining this special occasion?
The newlyweds can hand a rose to each guest at the end of the ceremony, showing they want to share the love of their day and appreciate the guests coming to their wedding you can also, give them a small favor or memento, share a glass of champagne, have a barbecue, have a picnic, some h'or dourves, go out for toasts or dinner, brings your suits change and go swimming for awhile.
Do we have to speak at the ceremony?
Only if you want to, you can say as little as, “I do.”
Can others be included in the ceremony?
Definitely. There are many ways to include family members and friends in the ceremony. For example, your loved ones can do readings or music, walk down the aisle, carry the rings, and participate in candle lighting, flower ceremony and more. There are limitless possibilities.
Can we include various religious and cultural traditions?
Yes, definitely, we can also include any other special traditions you desire. We want the wedding to suit your needs and desires for the perfect wedding.
No. They are traditional, however, rings are not required. Some couples exchange other things as keepsakes as well.
Where can the ceremony be held?
Anywhere you want, outdoors, at your home, at a hospitality site, or any location and up to twelve miles out in the ocean. You will find the Cape and Islands are full of many beautiful and historical locations from which to choose.
Do we have to hold a rehearsal?
A rehearsal is important if you are planning anything other than a very basic wedding. It gives everyone, not just the bride and groom, an opportunity to become familiar with their roles in the wedding ceremony. However, it is not a “must.”
What is the purpose of the pre-nuptial conference?
The Pre-nuptial conference helps individualize your wedding. This meeting sets the tone for your wedding ceremony. We can customize your ceremony with passages and readings that express your thoughts, feelings, and commitment. I have a number of services and vows available from which you can choose. The meeting also affords you the opportunity to become familiar with me as your officiate, and gives me the chance to know you a little better.
It is for these reasons that I recommend a pre-nuptial conference. On the other hand, if you "just want to get married," call me and we can set up a time and a place to do just that, even on short notice.
Yes. I have a number of ceremonies for those who want to celebrate a renewal of their vows.
Can weddings be done quickly with short notice and only one day planning?
Yes, it is possible, if it is a weekday, and you get an early start. First go a town hall, and apply for your license, then to the courthouse to ask the judge for a waiver and then back to the town hall to pick up your marriage certificate. This is very difficult time-wise but possible with an early start. I will help you as much as I can if this is your desire.
Please call me anytime at the number shown below. If I am not at home, leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can. If you prefer, you can email me and I will respond as quickly as possible.
Reverend Judith Todd-McNichol Justice of the Peace
I specialize in organizing and conducting weddings of all faiths and traditions. I will help to plan your personalized ceremony and vows, making your ceremony one-of-a-kind and creating memories that will last a lifetime. With many vows to choose from and other services offered, I will do my best to make your wedding day special.
We can meet at your convenience. Call me anytime at 508-896-9898 to arrange
an appointment to discuss your wedding plans. If I am not at in the office,
leave a message and I will get back to you. If you prefer, you can email me at
CapeCodWeddings@comcast.net