JUSTICE OF THE PEACE / OFFICIANT FEES JUSTICE OF THE PEACE FEES ARE REGULATED BY MASSACHUSETTS STATE LAW (http://www.mass.gov/legal/JOPguidelines.html) (This is the minimum fee set by Massachusetts State Law.) $150.00
$100.00
Face-to-Face Meeting
* Pre-nuptial * Planning * Consultation OR * Interview This payment is due at the completion of our meeting. This also applies to meetings with me when you are, what is known as, "shopping around" for an officiant. While I absolutely respect you for looking to "find the right officiant" who you will feel most comfortable with for your special day, as you should, because this is a very most important day in your life, at the same time, my time is precious to me, as well as very limited, but it is still time that I am providing to you, regardless of your hiring me. In addition to working full time, marrying couples, and attending wedding rehearsals, I meet with lots of couples. I could not possibly do this without charging. I know of no other wedding officiant who does not charge a fee for meeting with couples. myself as being unique, fun, and very caring. Each and every one of my clients have, and are, treated as individuals and with special care. While some of my clients have required lots of my time, and others have not, each couple has always been treated with my utmost respect and attention. With my experience of marrying over 460 couples, I am confident in my ability to provide all couples with a high quality wedding of their dreams. $200.00
Deposit $50.00
I do not charge for writing your wedding vows. I believe that this should be included inyour ceremony fee. However....... are copyrighted. Sadly, a scam has developed – since the "one-day-marriage / special license to marry" has become allowed by some states -- some individuals, certainly not all by any means, "pretend" to hire a Justice of the Peace to officiate over their wedding ceremony. Once they lock in their date, they receive vows written by their officiant. Later, they contact their officiant to inform him / her that they have decided to apply for the “one day / special license for a friend / family member to marry them. “We love your vows, however we no longer need your services.” is the usual line, but not always. While this is, of course, a special day for them to always remember, what is not being remembered is that these vows were not written by their friend or family member, and therefore, these vows, are not their property to use. Nor should they feel good about themselves for using them. If a friend or family member wants to perform the ceremony, that is wonderful and of course, very special, however that friend or family member should write the vows. In addition, the officiant, very kindly, and without taking a deposit -- based on “trust”, locked in the date of their ceremony in his / her calendar, believing that his / her services were now booked on that specific date and time. In turn, they tell other potential clients who really want their services that they are not available, because they believe that they are not. Having said that, effective immediately, while I do not charge for vows, I now require a $50.00 non-refundable deposit, which is part of your $150.00 ceremony fee. Should you decide to cancel your wedding date in my calendar, regardless of your reason, this fee will not be returned. Once you have hired my services, I ask that you immediately send out a check payable to: Carol J. Merletti (Address will be given upon our initial conversation.) I feel horrible that it has had to come to this. I have always been known to work with my clients based on their word, trust, and commitment, because I truly love what I do. But I have learned quickly that I can no longer depend on this because of a certain few who took advantage of my trust. My time, and my efforts that I provide to my clients are very valuable and precious to me. It is a great feeling knowing that I am known for the good work that I provide to my clients. I take great pride in the vows that I have written for each and everyone one of my clients to make them personal. But now I can no longer over look the small number of people who have taken advantage of my good nature. Therefore, I can not, and will not, allow others to take credit for materials that I have written, and will, without a doubt, pursue the matter legally. If you are using materials written by Carol J. Merletti – I will pursue it. |
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Carol J. Merletti |