Process Overview
Here is an overview of how we’ll work with you going forward and some things to think about as you plan your ceremony.
Ceremony Preparation and Timeline
Your first next step is to sit back and relax! One of my goals is to make your day as stress-free as possible and our process is organized to make this as easy for you as we can. After you have submitted your retainer and contract, we’ll send you a copy of a questionnaire where you’ll give us your ceremony preferences. We ask that you fill this out as completely as possible as soon as you get a chance. New ideas might come as time progresses, so feel free to email me as much as you’d like if you have any additional ceremony thoughts during our time together. I’ll store them in your client file for when I write your ceremony.
If you have purchased a custom-writing package (all packages except Tracy’s Choice and the Popup Elopement Package), don’t forget to look at my ceremony examples and download my vow writing guide if you are considering writing your own vows.
About 30 days before your wedding, you’ll receive a check-in email to confirm your original ceremony preferences and you can let me know if any have changed. If you have booked your ceremony less than 30 days out, you will not receive this check-in and we will use your survey as it was submitted. If you have booked the Create Your Story or All In Ceremony package, this check-in will happen during your writing consultation.
About 5-7 days before the wedding, you’ll receive a copy of your ceremony based on your survey and the features of your package.
Communication & Availability
Couples have a lot on their plate when planning a wedding and running their day-to-day lives so I stay out of their way unless necessary. If you don’t hear from me that often, please don’t worry. However, we are here for when you need an answer to any question you have about your wedding or your visit to Savannah.
Because I work with so many couples, I employ an assistant, Shannon, to help me manage emails, calls and to book weddings. You may have already met her! At times, you may receive an email from Shannon or a reply to an email that you sent to me via my email account. If she is corresponding with you about something instead of me, she will identify herself in the signature of the email. She can answer a lot of questions that you may have that are not specifically about the ceremony content.
As my business grew over the last two years, I used to book weddings as people requested them. While in many ways it was awesome to be in such demand, working seven days a week, especially during busy months, took a toll on me. Since I work on the weekends to perform the majority of ceremonies, I take days off during the week. If you send me an email on a day I am not in the office, please be assured someone will get back to you even if there is a delay. The days I am off are generally Tuesdays and Thursdays. Also, even though I work on the weekends to perform ceremonies, non-emergency emails and calls are answered during regular business hours on weekdays.
Our business phone number, (912) 226-4097, uses an automated menu system to help manage the volume of calls we receive. Clients should use menu option four to be directed to my extension or voicemail. Because I am out marrying people so frequently, it is best to set up a specific time for any phone meeting you feel you may need.
Partner Officiants
Because so many couples request my services when I am already booked, I employ partner officiants. You would have been told you are working with a partner officiant during the booking process so if you know that you are definitely working with me, you can skip this section.
If you have a partner officiant who will be working with you, I will be the person who will still be preparing your ceremony and answering all of your questions leading up to your date. My partner officiants exclusively work with Savannah Custom Weddings & Elopements, meaning that they are part of our team and just not officiants for hire. You will receive direct contact information for your partner officiant for the day of your ceremony when I send you a copy of your ceremony.
You can read more about my partner officiants.
Payment and Invoicing
When you made your payment for your retainer, one master invoice was created that reflects the payment you made plus the balance. The balance is due the week of the wedding and you will be emailed a reminder. It can be paid online via the invoice or via cash or credit card at the ceremony. You can also use the link on your invoice to make mini-payments between now and your ceremony as well if that is easier for your budget.
Marriage Licenses
You’ll need a marriage license from the state in which you’ll be married. For almost all of you, that is Georgia.
(If you are being married in South Carolina, the rules are a little different, and we can help you figure them out if you need help. Just let us know!)
To apply, you’ll need to go together to the courthouse with a copy of your government ID. If you have been married before, you will also need an original copy of your divorce decree. If you do not have a copy, you can obtain one from the county courthouse that processed your divorce.
There is no waiting period in Georgia, meaning you can get married the same day you apply for a license, and marriage licenses never expire so if you are local or will be traveling here for an extended time, you can get your license on any day before your wedding.
If at least one of you being married is a permanent resident of the state of Georgia, you can use a marriage license issued from any Georgia county to be married within the entire state. If neither one of you is a resident of the State of Georgia, you must have a marriage license issued by the specific county where you will be married. For Savannah and Tybee Island, the county is Chatham County.
For those of you getting married with a marriage license issued by Chatham County, I have complete instructions on my website. The staff at the Chatham County Courthouse is wonderful, but the office is short staffed. If you are applying for a marriage license on a Monday or Friday, schedule at least two hours to get it done due to anticipated wait times. If you are applying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, please schedule at least an one hour.
Once you are married, your marriage license is turned into the court and they will issue you a certified copy of the marriage certificate which you can use for any official business where you need to prove you are married. There are three options you can take to receive your certified copy.
- After your wedding, you can bring it in person to the same office where you applied for your license and they will issue you a certified copy right there (you will likely have to wait). If you are a destination couple and are here on the Monday morning, you could do it on that day.
- If you are using a Chatham County marriage license, please note: It will take about 3-6 weeks for couples to receive their certified copy in the mail.
Supplemental Services
Whether you are planning a wedding or elopement, you may want to add supplemental services such as hair and makeup, music, videography, or a carriage ride or pedicab. You can book those vendors directly. I have a list of my recommended vendors for each category listed on my website.
I am looking forward to working with you on making your wedding day special!