Unofficial Officiant

Posted Saturday, May 17, 2008 2:53 PM

We leave for Sacramento on Sunday night.  We have a really weird way of visiting our family: we drive down on Sunday night around midnight and get there early Monday morning, sleep for a few hours, visit for two days, and then drive the red-eye back out, getting to Las Vegas just in time to go back to work.  I hate doing it that way, but that's the best way to not take time off work. 

So I have a whole list of things to do while I'm in Sacramento.  The most important is meeting with our officiant to ask if he will perform our ceremony.  It's been my dream since a little girl that my grandfather perform my ceremony, so we finally set up a time we all can meet.  I'm really excited.  This is going to be a surprise to the rest of my family.  I won't tell anyone until the rehearsal dinner.  My step-mom is going crazy wondering, since her uncle the judge married my sister, she wants him to marry us too.  But I've only met this guy twice in my life.

I called the county courthouse to get instructions on how to ordain somebody to officiate.  This is what the lady told me:

There is a program called "Deputization for a Day" where someone can get deputized to perform that one wedding ceremony.  There are a few requirments: the ceremony must be performed in this county, the license must be issued in this county, and it must be a civil ceremony (which she explained meant no mention of God anywhere).  She has to meet with the Bride, Groom, and Officiant (which we'll do when we get our license, anytime within 90 days of the wedding), and it costs $40.

Couldn't be more perfect.  Exactly what I'm looking for.  Now, I just need to ask my grandfather if he would do the honor of marrying Matt and me.  I think he'll say yes, although he is a religious man himself, I don't really see him having an objection.  And my grandparents love Matt to pieces.  I'm going to print out my ceremony draft and tell him what the county clerk told me, and cross my fingers!

I'll also be meeting with the seamstress my mom found to make her dress.  I hope we can find something flattering for my mom to wear.  Can't wait to see my family soon!