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How to find an judge to marry us? Help?

bneillWed135887bneillWed135887
10 Comments
in Nevada-Las Vegas
Hey, I'm having an issue with this. My FI was completely strict on this matter, he does NOT want a minister marrying us he just isn't comfortable having one.Out of all the things to help in this wedding, he chosed this and is serious on it. It doesn't matter if they can do non religious ceremonies or not, hearing the words "minister" and he doesn't want it my cousin could marry us for free bc she is an ordianed minister but really does health care he still won't go for it. We booked for Texas Station and they said they never done a judge or anything else before other then our ministers and maybe they can do it or we can find somebody for ourselves. My FI wants a judge but I have no idea how to actually get one and make sure our ceremony is for like 15 min or so. Can anyone help me with this?
*Singing* I can see clearly now the rain is gone, its going to be a bright.... BRIGHT.... bright sun shinny day!
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Re: How to find an judge to marry us? Help?

  • vegasgroomvegasgroom mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    You might need to go to the courthouse and have a civil ceremony if he's that opposed to having a 'minister' perform your marriage because finding a judge to come out and perform the ceremony may prove to be quite difficult, and in Nevada, state law requires people who apply for the "Certificates of Authority to Solemnize Marriages" be a licensed, ordained or appointed minister in good standing with an incorporated, organized and established religious organization in the state of Nevada, or in the home state if applying for an out of state temporary license.  So other than a judge, you're not going to get around that.

    You can read more about this at:

    http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/clerk/Services/Pages/MinisterLicenses.aspx

    There are links to the statutes defining these rules along with a public search that you can use to look up officiants to ensure they're on the list.

    Maybe you should just start using the word officiant with him and see if that calms him down over it being a 'minister,' then find one who's willing to do a non-religious ceremony.

    Married in Vegas - June 2011


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  • bneillWed135887bneillWed135887
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_judge-marry-ust?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:99348705-ff56-4693-9eb4-67e2d2a6b7caPost:791b1ca8-3d22-4d04-bbc6-980dc698e5d0">Re: How to find an judge to marry us? Help?</a>:
    [QUOTE]You might need to go to the courthouse and have a civil ceremony if he's that opposed to having a 'minister' perform your marriage because finding a judge to come out and perform the ceremony may prove to be quite difficult, and in Nevada, state law requires people who apply for the "Certificates of Authority to Solemnize Marriages" be a licensed, ordained or appointed minister in good standing with an incorporated, organized and established religious organization in the state of Nevada, or in the home state if applying for an out of state temporary license.  So other than a judge, you're not going to get around that. You can read more about this at: <a href="http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/clerk/Services/Pages/MinisterLicenses.aspx" rel='nofollow'>http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/clerk/Services/Pages/MinisterLicenses.aspx</a> There are links to the statutes defining these rules along with a public search that you can use to look up officiants to ensure they're on the list. <strong>Maybe you should just start using the word officiant with him and see if that calms him down over it being a 'minister,' then find one who's willing to do a non-religious ceremony.
    </strong>Posted by vegasgroom[/QUOTE]

    It worked, I asked and he said Okay as long as they aren't a minister. Lol So stubborn. Thank you! I think there is someone on theknot that is an officant where it doesn't say Rev, Minister, it just says Dr which will be so easy to deal with. We're both from different faiths and we're not that religious into our faiths as much as we were raised so I think that's his concern. No religious venue or anything can be added, so many opinons on this we had to elimate it.
    *Singing* I can see clearly now the rain is gone, its going to be a bright.... BRIGHT.... bright sun shinny day!
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  • impslaveimpslave
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    First thing H and I agreed on when we began planning was to have a secular wedding.  When we made arrangements with Mandalay Bay, we were assured that the minister performing our ceremony would handle it the manner we request.

    A few minutes before our ceremony, I met with the minister and expressed our wish for a secular service.  He said it wasn't a problem, and our ceremony was just as we wanted.  

    It may be difficult to get a judge to come to a location other than the courthouse.  That will probably prove to be a pain, I'm sure that there's a lot of paperwork and fees involved in going that route.

    If you want to show your fiance an example of how a minister/officiant can perform a non-religious service, you can watch our ceremony - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ZWj1_FFC4

    Hope this helps!
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    Planning Bio | Married Bio
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  • LVBoundLVBound
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hi!  I understand your FH's concerns.  They were mine as well.  We are using Dr. Micki Hecht.  She has a PhD from Yale in theology, but is not ordained.  Just let me know if you would like her contact information.

    Just so you know this issue is currently in the courts being litigated by the ACLU.  While it may not be fixed in time for our weddings, hopefully in the future, brides and grooms will have have the option to choose their officiant.
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  • EverlastingLove2012EverlastingLove2012
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I saw Dr. Miki online. I saved her info because she seemed right up my alley. What does she charge? my fiance and I are of different religions and never go to church, so we want a secular wedding, too.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
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  • smokeybaileysmokeybailey member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We're having a pastor for our wedding do a completely secular wedding.  He has no problems with that.  Being that I am agnostic and FI is atheist, it is important to us that there be no invocation of something we don't believe in. 

    If Elvis can marry you, then I am quite certain that you can find an officiant with no religious trappings.
    Bi-oh-rama
    Now with more wedded bliss.

    I don't get married often, but when I do, I do it in Las Vegas.

    image

    "Lvharpy could be your AE." - direy25
    "smokeybailey is the one shining beacon of light in this steaming turd of a thread." - daffodil_jill
    "The almighty smokeybailey has spoken." - some bitch on the Las Vegas board

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  • bneillWed135887bneillWed135887
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_judge-marry-ust?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:99348705-ff56-4693-9eb4-67e2d2a6b7caPost:812fa744-1c6b-4d8d-b5b3-9f7d746360b1">Re: How to find an judge to marry us? Help?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Hi!  I understand your FH's concerns.  They were mine as well.  We are using Dr. Micki Hecht.  She has a PhD from Yale in theology, but is not ordained.  Just let me know if you would like her contact information. <strong>Just so you know this issue is currently in the courts being litigated by the ACLU.</strong>  While it may not be fixed in time for our weddings, hopefully in the future, brides and grooms will have have the option to choose their officiant.
    Posted by LVBound[/QUOTE]

    Yes I saw her too. We are interested in her so we are contacting her to see how much and if our date is available for her.

    Don't understand what this bolded part actually means?
    *Singing* I can see clearly now the rain is gone, its going to be a bright.... BRIGHT.... bright sun shinny day!
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  • bneillWed135887bneillWed135887
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_judge-marry-ust?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:99348705-ff56-4693-9eb4-67e2d2a6b7caPost:45741446-e8b8-4f10-b426-183fa61744e3">Re: How to find an judge to marry us? Help?</a>:
    [QUOTE]I saw Dr. Miki online. I saved her info because she seemed right up my alley. What does she charge? <strong>my fiance and I are of different religions and never go to church, so we want a secular wedding, too</strong>.
    Posted by EverlastingLove2012[/QUOTE]

    Same issue we have as well. I'm Christian and He is Jehovah Witness, Both Christianity but very different denominations.
    *Singing* I can see clearly now the rain is gone, its going to be a bright.... BRIGHT.... bright sun shinny day!
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  • smokeybaileysmokeybailey member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    It means that the ACLU has brought suit (probably against the state of Nevada) for requiring officiants to be ordained ministers.
    Bi-oh-rama
    Now with more wedded bliss.

    I don't get married often, but when I do, I do it in Las Vegas.

    image

    "Lvharpy could be your AE." - direy25
    "smokeybailey is the one shining beacon of light in this steaming turd of a thread." - daffodil_jill
    "The almighty smokeybailey has spoken." - some bitch on the Las Vegas board

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  • CamilleJonCamilleJon
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My FI and I are agnostic, well FI is more of an atheist, and we are being married by Angie Kelly at Peechy Keen Unions (LiNk).

    She has been awesome so far! She is a minister (or something), but only because you have to be to marry people in the sate of Nevada. I get the feeling she isn't very religious. Right away she asked us what kind of ceremony we wanted and we were very up front about not wanting any religion mumbo-jumbo in our ceremony. She was very supportive and almost seemed excited that we wanted to do something so different.

    Check her out!
    Image and video hosting by TinyPicMy Wedding Bio 1.28.2012 White KnotFollow Me on Pinterest
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  • LVBoundLVBound
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Dr. Micki charges $350.  The deposit for the date is $100.  Her email is MarriedByMe@aol.com.  We have spoken with her and she is very warm and will work with the couple to keep the ceremony as religous or non-religous as the couple would like.  Our wedding is in October so I won't be able to review how it actually goes till then.  But I will be sure to let you know!

    As for the ACLU, that right smokey.  The ACLU brought suit on behald of an atheist who would like to be able to marry people but can't be part of an organized religion.
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