Frequently Asked Questions
Booking and Fees
How Much Advanced Notice is Needed to Book a Wedding?
We book up to two years in advance, but if we have availability, we can also perform a simple ceremony with little or no notice. You Said You are Currently Available for My Wedding Date - Do You Book up Quickly? YES!!! Rev Doug performs over 100 hundred ceremonies every year. If you have your heart set on us performing your ceremony, place your deposit as soon as possible. The only sad part about our job here is telling brides and grooms that their date has been booked up by another excited couple, because they didn't put down their deposit soon enough. Do We Have to Take Classes and Attend Church For You to Perform Our Marriage Ceremony? No. We are happy to provide you with pre-marital counseling or guidance if you feel it would benefit you, but it is not mandatory. You are not required to attend church or become a member in order for us to provide wedding services for you. How Much Does a Ceremony Cost? We are truly dedicated to serving couples of all budget levels. Since each wedding is so unique, we have found that the best way to give couples an accurate and firm price quote for their wedding ceremony is to discuss these variables via telephone or email. Pricing depends on a number of factors, including: date, time, location, number of guests, size of wedding party, how involved you would like to be in the planning of the ceremony, if you would like us to facilitate your rehearsal, etc. We do offer simple ceremonies at our chapel starting as low as $100 - call our office for more details! (219) 663-3900 and check out our ceremony packages here. Is my deposit refundable? Since we are holding the spot in our calendar specifically for you, the deposit is non-refundable. Unlike some other wedding vendors, the money you put down for your deposit does count towards paying your total balance due. If something arises and you have to change your wedding date, your deposit may be transferable to a different date, pending our availability. All payments paid toward your total balance are non-refundable. Are Ceremony Planning Sessions and Rehearsals Included in the Ceremony Cost? No. Because every wedding is unique and everyone's needs are different, we do not include these optional services in the ceremony cost. Visit the Ceremony Packages page to see which one best suits your needs! How Do I Reserve Rev. Doug For My Ceremony? Booking your ceremony is easy. Simply call to see if your date, time, and location are available. If we have availability, we'd love to be a part of your day! To reserve your date and time slot in our wedding calendar all we need is your $150 non-refundable deposit. For more information about booking visit the Booking page. What Forms of Payment are Accepted? Cash, check, and credit are accepted forms of payment. Electronic invoices are available for your convenience. Who Should I Make the Check to? You can make checks for wedding services (Deposit, ceremony, planning sessions, Rehearsals, Hall Rental, etc.) payable to Free Spirit Ministries. Rehearsals, Receptions, and other odds and Ends
Do I Need a Rehearsal?
That, like many other wedding details, depends on your unique situation. Depending on the number of people in your wedding party, how familiar and comfortable they are with being in a wedding ceremony, and how many little ones will be involved, you might consider having a rehearsal. Some couples choose not to have a rehearsal after their planning session because we have already worked out the major details and both the bride and groom feel comfortable enough to direct their own wedding party. For more information about rehearsals, visit the Rehearsals page. |
Ceremony Specifics
How Long is the Ceremony?
Based on what you choose it can last between 5 and thirty minutes. No matter the length, our personalized ceremonies are known for being the highlight of our couple's wedding days. Can You Just Show up and Perform the Ceremony Without any Planning? Yes. The ceremony planning sessions and rehearsals are designed with your comfort in mind, but they are not required. With the experience that comes from officiating more than 2,000 ceremonies, you can rest assured that you will have a beautiful ceremony regardless of how involved you are in the process. My friend's wedding officiant read from a script. Do you do that? No scripts here! Rev Doug is well known for providing a welcoming and interactive ceremony that makes every guest feel included in the beautiful celebration. In order for him to maintain the signature conversational style he has become known for, he cannot be limited to reading word-for-word from a pre-prepared script. Do I Need Witnesses? No. The states of Indiana and Illinois do not require witnesses. What Do you Differently Than a Courthouse Ceremony? If you'd like, we take the time to plan your unique ceremony. Even though it might just be the two of you present for a short sweet ceremony, you will feel like you actually got married when all is said and done. A typical ceremony can last between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on what you choose. If you don't want to plan anything, we will happily provide you with a deeply meaningful ceremony to remember without prior preparation on your part. Do I need a DJ for my Wedding Ceremony Music? Music and microphones are provided at our chapel services. We do not have our own traveling sound system, but your DJ can help you figure out how best to cover your ceremony music and microphones. Can We Write Our own Wedding Vows? Yes! Absolutely! Do You Have Ideas and Suggestions for our Ceremony? Certainly! After performing thousands of wedding ceremonies, we have created many of our own unique combinations to ensure the ceremony's seamless flow, making your day as perfect as it can be. I'm Catholic. Can You Perform a Sacramental Ceremony Outside of the church? Yes. Rev. Doug's original ordination was as a Roman Catholic priest. As Catholic law, Canon 290 states, "after it has been validly received, sacred ordination never becomes invalid." What this means for you is that your wedding will be performed by a Catholic Priest and your sacramental union will be recognized by our church and in the eyes of God. We can perform your sacramental ceremony in our chapel or at any other beautiful NWI wedding venue, including reception halls, parks, beaches, and even homes. For more information about Canon law visit here. Can I Have a Non-Religious Ceremony? Yes. That is called a secular ceremony and it will be a beautiful experience full of warmth and depth. Your wedding will be personal, fulfilling, and meaningful, even if you choose to leave out religious undertones. Will You be Able to Stay for the Reception?
While we are honored by the request and would love to be a part of your celebration - unfortunately, due to schedule constraints, we are usually not able to attend wedding receptions. Can You Attend Our Rehearsal Dinner? Again, our schedule does not permit us the time to be present for your rehearsal dinner. Thank you so much for the invitation though! *I Have Questions About the Marriage License* You are not alone! Many people ask for guidance regarding the legal part of the ceremony. Please visit: Applying For Marriage License for more information. |
Why Choose an Experienced Minister?
Sometimes our couples tell us horror stories about how uncomfortable their close friend's wedding ceremony was. The reason? They chose an inauthentic officiant or one with little experience. We've heard things like:
When you are choosing a wedding officiant you want to choose someone who specializes is the ceremony itself, and has many years of experience doing just that. Instead of settling for an internet-ordained minister, or other wedding vendor who happens to offer officiant services, leave it to the professionals. Rev. Doug is able to provide you with an incredibly meaningful ceremony because he has been offering these ministry services since his ordination in 1984. His 38 + years of real ministerial experience sets him apart from every other NWI wedding officiant.
If something comes up that wasn't planned you'll get to witness Rev Doug's expertise as he adapts to the unexpected. Rev Doug has seen flower girls steal the show, a train repeatedly passing through the outdoor venue, a best man drop the wedding rings through the venue floor, the best man fainting, and more. No matter what may come, Rev Doug will adapt to the surroundings and provide you with the most beautiful ceremony you've ever seen.
- "At my brother's wedding the minister read the whole thing from a book. He never even looked up. There was no heart in it."
- "My friend said that they weren't allowed to customize the ceremony. It was obvious, the ceremony was way too impersonal."
- "The guy acted like he had never done this before..." (they found out later this officiant was an "internet-ordained" minister)
- "He didn't make any sense. It was long and rambling. We were so lost."
- "The ceremony was only five minutes long! My sister was so upset! She didn't even feel like she got married."
When you are choosing a wedding officiant you want to choose someone who specializes is the ceremony itself, and has many years of experience doing just that. Instead of settling for an internet-ordained minister, or other wedding vendor who happens to offer officiant services, leave it to the professionals. Rev. Doug is able to provide you with an incredibly meaningful ceremony because he has been offering these ministry services since his ordination in 1984. His 38 + years of real ministerial experience sets him apart from every other NWI wedding officiant.
If something comes up that wasn't planned you'll get to witness Rev Doug's expertise as he adapts to the unexpected. Rev Doug has seen flower girls steal the show, a train repeatedly passing through the outdoor venue, a best man drop the wedding rings through the venue floor, the best man fainting, and more. No matter what may come, Rev Doug will adapt to the surroundings and provide you with the most beautiful ceremony you've ever seen.
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