Frequently Asked Questions  

Table of Contents  
    1. How do I reserve your services? Do you help with wedding planning?  Can we meet with you first? 
    2. Where do you perform your ceremonies? 
    3. What religion are you associated with? What denomination are you? 
    4. Who are you guys? 
    5. What is so special about your wedding services? (And why should we choose you?) 
    6. Can you explain your photography options? 
    7. For other questions, please scroll down to the bottom of the page... 

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How do I book you?  
To reserve our services, we require a prompt non-refundable deposit, amount depending on your package, (see our pricing page) to reserve the date and time for your wedding ceremony. We get many calls from couples inquiring about certain dates and times, but please don't assume that your requested date will stay available for weeks! You need to confirm with me by e-mail or phone as soon as possible that you want me, and then get a deposit to us right away! I will confirm everything with you by e-mail after I receive your deposit. This is not to put you under the gun, but we've had many couples hem and haw and loose their dates.

 
As for wedding planning, there are many businesses that provide this service for big bucks... and as it's a very time consuming effort, we don't do that. We do however work to get you on the right track and provide recommendations for locations based on your needs, and help you find your way to the resources you need to make your plans. 
 

Where do you perform ceremonies?
We are available to perform weddings anywhere in our area. We are based in Newport RI and serve Jamestown, Middletown, Newport and Bristol.​

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What church or religion are you associated with? What denomination are you?
Let me start right out by telling you that I am not "preacher" or congregational minister and that we offer holistic spiritual wedding officiant services to our community as a private business. My spiritual practices lie in healing energy, so manifesting love, having fun (and being your genuine self) are big parts of our spiritual view! My ordination is from Spiritual Humanism, a non-profit organization working to license, support, encourage, and coordinate professional and educational opportunities for fellow humanists in alternative and holistic, energy based humanist practices. I'm not affiliated with any specific religious denomination. As our interests and practices are more focused on human spirituality, my wedding ceremonies are spiritual in nature and universal in wording.

 
I am legally authorized by the state of Rhode Island to solemnize wedding ceremonies. We have been referred to as Holistic, New Age, or our personal favorite: Spiritual Bohemians! We consider ourselves "Spiritual but not Religious"! From humanity's earliest beginnings there was a belief that a spirit permeated every living thing. This spirit or energy therefore was thought to be universal. Our views are founded upon the belief that all things around us are infused with more than mere existence.

As for our denomination, I guess one answer would be that we are best described as well aged beach hippies who share views with people like Dr. Wayne Dyer, John Bradshaw, and Dr. Leo Buscaglia. We strongly believe that humanity, just like all life on this earth is meant to grow and evolve through the tools we are born with. We revel in the beauty of nature and the night sky, and are full of wonder at their mystery and power. We feel a deep sense of peace and belonging and wonder in the midst of nature, in a forest, by the ocean, or on a mountain top. We find ourselves speechless with awe when we look up at the sky on a clear moonless night and see the Milky Way strewn with stars as thick as sand on a beach. When we see breakers crashing on a rocky shore, or hear wind rustling in a poplar's leaves, we are uplifted by the energy and creativity of existence. Our beliefs and values reconcile spirituality with rationality, emotion and values and environmental concern with science and respect for all life on our planet. 
 

Who are you guys?
For an unofficial dictionary version... 
Beach Hippies (beech hip-pees) noun, pronoun or veiled insult 1). A term used to describe a population of individuals who spend an inordinate period of time at the beach. 2).People who find spiritual meaning at that passionate boundary where the land gives way to the sea. 3). A way of looking at life and the open-minded pursuit of spirituality from an "island" perspective. 4). Sun-tanned, spiritual bohemians and scallywags, some of whom operate ancient VW busses with surfboards strapped on top of their vehicles. 5). Beach hippies who's only pair of shoes are flip-flops (seldom worn). 

 
Yep, that's us! If you can relate to the above description, congratulations: you are a beach person! If it doesn't, well, thanks for dropping by! Now go buy a Beach Boys CD and listen to it 20 times. If you still don't get it, there is no hope for you...
 
What is so special about what you offer? Why should we choose you?

Heh-heh, that's a good question!  How special is this wedding ceremony to you? As we've performed thousands of weddings over the years, (and as we have taken many thousands of wedding pictures...), we bring all that experience into making a fun and romantic wedding ceremony for you! I'm an old grizzled, sunburnt, card carrying beach hippie with an attitude... a fun and romantic, down to earth attitude that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else! We are also professional photographers, and have established our prices based on years of experience with weddings up and down the east coast.

 
I'm not a "minister" proclaiming that I have a "wedding ministry". I'm authorized by my ordaining authority, to solemnize marriage vows. This is also our business, and we strive to offer services that are professional yet very personal! Church based pastors or ministers may not have the specialized offerings or the range of services that a commercial wedding minister may offer. They also may be restricted to certain religious or denominationally based views that you may or may not share. 

Not everyone wants a strictly theologically religious service, and instead might be looking to escape the "Honor and Obey" energy of this type of ceremony to arrive at a point that's equal parts spiritual, fun, exciting, and romantic. We do offer a universal traditional ceremony, but it's done with attitude...the attitude of romance! We offer variety in our ceremonies. We have a conch shell blowing with our King Neptune ceremony that connects you to the lore and mysticism of the sea, and a Gifts From the Sea necklace ceremony that is fun, tender, romantic.. and you get to keep the necklaces! We offer Native American based ceremonies, Reiki Energy ceremonies and even Wedding Unplugged where we just sit down on a beach blanket and have a totally unscripted, sweet and romantic give and take with you both either speaking from the heart, from the hip, or from prepared vows. We can have Dr. Seuss in the ceremony, (adapted from Green Eggs 'n Ham), or include your children for an exchange of a ring or necklace, (or keys to a new Mustang!), with both parents saying vows to their children. 

Being spiritual is all about the experience that you take with you into your new lives together. We believe that life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away! And while we will not "own" your wedding ceremony- the couple does- we will work hard to ensure that your special event will be all that you hope it will be... fun, emotional, spiritual (and spirited), an occasion that you will remember! (And for the all the right reasons!)

Can you explain your photography options? 

In addition to officiant services, we also offer photo packages! For couples on a budget who prefer no fuss "we just need a few pics", the officiant can also be your photographer to capture a few images during the ceremony (yes, he can do that, plus he has the best seat in the house), and a few romantic images afterward. We also offer several packages with a separate photographer capturing both the ceremony and an after-ceremony photo session with more posing. Your Images will be available usually within a week after your ceremony in your own online gallery for high resolution digital file downloads, fully adjusted with printing rights.​
 

Other Questions?
What happens if rain is forecast?
It is the couple's responsibility to have a rainy-day backup plan, but I'm always willing to move your date or time to deal with inclement weather, provided I have the flexibility to do so! And while I'm just enough of a love monkey to marry you in the rain or under umbrellas, thunder and lightning and open ground are not good for continued health! Refunds are not offered for last minute weather cancellations.

Do you help with wedding planning?
To be honest, I just don't have the time for such things, and besides, wedding planners get big bucks to perform that function. My prices reflect the time needed for my involvement in your wedding ceremony, so I'm sorry to say that you'll have to either hire a wedding planner or do the legwork yourselves!

Do we need to memorize our vows?
Ha-ha...never! I will very gently lead you through those vows, or you can even read personal vows to each other. I want to see you both be relaxed and loving each other, not sweating it out over forgetting your vows!

How can we get examples of your ceremony offerings? 
After you've booked my services, I will e-mail you a hidden link with all of my ceremony ideas. Since many of my ceremonies are the result of my work and care, I'd rather not give them away on the internet!

Can we customize our ceremony?
You betcha! As long as you don't place me in the position of conducting a ceremony that violates my views. As a spiritual (but not denominational) wedding celebrant, I'm more than happy to see couples individualize this once in a lifetime celebration that connects two people together. And of course that includes you saying your own vows! And once we are actually booked with a deposit, I'll be sharing our large and diverse library of ceremony and vow ideas to get the beach ball rolling!

Do we need to meet or have a rehearsal?
Probably not! I have a processional/rehearsal document that I can e-mail you upon request, and over the years I've found that our arrangements can be made by phone and e-mail. I like to meet with people if my schedule allows, but it's not required. 

When should we (and you) arrive at our ceremony location?
I'm usually there (or in the immediate area) about 15 minutes to half an hour prior to our scheduled starting time. I fully expect the ceremony to begin on time, and I have recently had to institute a late penalty fee for very late ceremony starts. So please plan on starting on time! (Or to give me even more money if you don't!)

Do you have a private beach or venue for our use?
Unless you have a private residence, most of my ceremonies take place in public spaces like beaches or parks. In general, late afternoon or evening times are much less likely to be crowded (or uncomfortably warm). 

Can we use our own music?
But of course! 

Any advice on timing for sunsets?
Them thar sunsets happen right quick around here, so consider having your ceremony begin at least about an hour prior to the actual sunset time. This is also important for your photography.

 
How far in advance do we need to book you?
Once you make some decisions on your needs, my advice is to book your vendors right away! Check with me first to ensure that I'm available for your requested date and try and work with me as you set your travel and ceremony dates. 

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What do we need to have you perform our ceremony?

You will need a valid marriage license issued in Rhode Island and 2 witnesses. If you don't have witnesses, our photographer can be one (if we are doing your photography), and if we are somewhere where there are folks out and about, we can simply ask someone! 

 
 

Copyright © 2001 Don Beach. All rights reserved.