FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who are you ordained by and where is your church?

All Divine Transformation Wedding Officiants are ordained through the Universal Life Church, headquartered in Modesto, California. Our local ministry (Divine Transformation Ministry) is located in Ellicott City, Maryland where we host monthly services. Rev. Laura C. Cannon is also ordained through the World Christianship Ministries and The Pennsylvania Interfaith Ministry.

How long have you been doing this?

We have been in business for nearly 10 years and have performed hundreds of weddings.

Where do you perform weddings?

Almost everywhere!  We officiate weddings across the country and even at destination weddings!  We have our headquarters in Maryland but we frequently officiate in the surrounding areas: Washington, D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York.  We also have a West Coast office with officiants located in Los Angeles and Seattle.

When and where do I get a marriage license?

Maryland requires that a marriage license be obtained from the Circuit Court Clerk’s office in the county (or Baltimore City) where the marriage is to take place. It is recommended that you contact the Circuit Court Clerk’s office where you plan to marry as each jurisdiction has different license fees. If it is not convenient for you to visit the Circuit Court Clerk’s office, you may apply using a Non-Resident Affidavit – except in Cecil County. Call the Clerk’s Office to have a copy of the affidavit sent to you or check the Clerk’s Web site to see if it is available to download.  For other states and jurisdictions contact the Circuit Courts office for the county in which you are being married to verify local laws.

In Maryland there is a 48 hour waiting period between getting the license and marrying. Do not wait until the day before your wedding to get your license!

If you are getting married in DC, VA, PA, DE, WA, or CA check with the Circuit Court in that state to see the most recent requirements.

How do I file the marriage license after the wedding?

Filing the license is part of our service as officiants. You may want to request a certified copy from the clerk’s office a few weeks after the wedding to ensure that they indeed received the license from us and filed it.

I don’t want there to be any mention of (god, religion, anything spiritual, etc.) in my ceremony. Is that okay?

Certainly! This is your wedding ceremony and as nondenominational officiants we will support you in creating the type of ceremony that is authentic to you.

Can we involve children in the ceremony?

Of course! Check out our Ceremony Suggestions for examples that go beyond the traditional flower girl and ring bearer roles.

Can we personalize our ceremony?

YES! It wouldn’t be YOUR ceremony if it wasn’t personalized. Your officiant will work with you to create a ceremony that reflects your relationship.

How do we book our Divine Transformation Officiant?

Simply contact us to get the process started. We will first make sure that we have your date and time available. If so and you would like to proceed, we will email you a contract to book your wedding. You will have 10 days to return the contract with a $100 non-refundable deposit to reserve your date. Once we receive your deposit we schedule our planning meeting to begin developing your ceremony.

When is my final payment due?

Two weeks before the wedding.

How long is the ceremony?

An average ceremony is about 20 minutes. Over the years we have found this to be the sweet spot. It’s long enough to be substantial but not so long as to feel boring. Certainly ceremonies can be shorter or longer than this but most venues will give you a 30 minute window. Knowing that guests may arrive late and that the processional and recessional time need to be worked in, having a 20 minute ceremony ensures that the rest of your event will run on schedule.

What if I have to change my start time or wedding date?

We try to be as flexible as possible but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to adjust the time or date. We truly do our best to accommodate, but many times we celebrate more than one wedding in a day. Just as you expect us to be on time for your wedding, we must be on time for all weddings. We pride ourselves on punctuality and on honoring our contracts. If your ceremony does not start at the time contracted it is possible that your officiant may not be able to perform your wedding. This is not meant to sound scary. Certainly 10 minutes is within the realm of a reasonable delay; however, there have been times when a couple showed up an hour late. Please remember that you expect punctuality from us and we appreciate the same.

Do you charge separate travel fees?

No. All travel is included in your total price quote. However, if your venue does not offer free parking you are responsible for paying/validating your officiant’s parking for the rehearsal and/or wedding.

Do you do rehearsals?

Yes. There is an additional fee for rehearsals dependent upon location. We price rehearsals separately because most couples elect not to have the officiant conduct it. At a rehearsal you practice the walking and standing, not the ceremony. So instead of paying for your officiant to be there, most choose to use our FREE guide to coordinating your rehearsal. This allows you to run the rehearsal yourself or have it run by a venue coordinator, friend, or family member. The guide is easy to understand for everyone.

If I still want you to do my rehearsal can I book it now?

Monday-Thursday rehearsals can be purchased at contract signing by adding the additional rehearsal fee to the deposit and setting your rehearsal date and time. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday rehearsals are based upon minister’s availability and dates and times are not finalized until 6 weeks prior to the wedding date. However, the minister will tentatively hold the date and time for you. If there is another wedding that gets scheduled prior to 6 weeks before your wedding during your tentative rehearsal time, your rehearsal may be performed by another Divine Transformation Wedding Officiant. Payment for Friday-Sunday rehearsals is not due until the final payment.

Do you allow pictures during the ceremony?

YES! It’s your wedding ceremony and you should have pictures and video if you choose.

My friend wants to marry us. Is that legal?  

That depends on what state you are getting married.  For example,  in Maryland if your friend gets an online ordination then yes, in Maryland they can perform the ceremony. But a word of caution: Many couples have called me in tears a week before the wedding because their friend realized they weren’t up to the task. While it might sound like a fun idea, I encourage you to hire a professional to perform your ceremony. Remember that your officiant sets the tone for your entire event. There is much more to it than simply saying “I do’s”. Our officiants are experienced in cues, etiquette, and timing, and working with vendors. We also offer a consultation to help a friend work on your ceremony which includes a 30 minute phone consultation with Rev. Laura for $100.

Do you perform same sex weddings?

We support marriage equality. Rev. Laura is licensed and registered with the District of Columbia Superior Court and can therefore perform same sex weddings in DC and also in New York City. For those coming from out of town to wed in DC, or those who don’t have the time to obtain the license from the courthouse, Rev. Laura can file your application via proxy for an additional fee of $195 (which includes the $45 fee to be paid directly to the DC Court for your license).

We’re already legally married (but no one knows). Can you still perform a ceremony?

Yes. Simply provide us with a copy of your marriage license. We still plan and conduct a full ceremony to your specifications. No one will know the difference, unless you choose to tell!

We want to get married but don’t want to do a big wedding, or just go to the courthouse. What are our options?

Rev. Laura performs ceremonies at her home for a discounted rate. She is located 5 minutes from the Howard County Courthouse, where you must obtain your license. This option allows you to have a personalized ceremony in a more peaceful, less sterile environment.

Do you stay for the reception?

The couple may choose whether they would like to invite the officiant and spouse/guest to the wedding. This is not required. If you would like your officiant to attend, please extend a formal invitation and we will let you know if it is possible for us to stay.

I know we tip other vendors, but what about the officiant?

Gratuities are never expected, but always appreciated.