Planning your wedding is a huge milestone, and if you are engaged you’re probably looking for a ceremony that reflects who you are as a couple—something authentic, meaningful, and stress-free.

That’s exactly what Nichole Bertucci and her team at A Simple I Do Wedding Officiants offer. They get that your wedding isn’t just a day—it’s a moment that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

Services A Simple I Do, Nichole Bertucci Wedding Officiants Offer: 

Keep It Simple: Marriage License Signing Let’s face it, not everyone dreams of a big wedding. If you and your partner are more about keeping it real and avoiding the wedding day drama, the Simple Marriage License Signing service might be perfect for you. Nichole meets up with you and your witnesses at a cool coffee spot or a cozy restaurant to make it official. After a quick exchange of vows, you sign the paperwork, and boom—you’re married! It’s quick, easy, and perfect for couples who just want to focus on what matters: their love for each other​.

Elopement/Intimate Wedding Ceremony: Your Day, Your WayMaybe you want a small celebration with just your closest friends and family. The Elopement/Intimate Wedding Ceremony is for couples who want something a bit more special but still intimate. Imagine exchanging vows in a beautiful park, a trendy restaurant, or even a private studio—it’s all about creating a vibe that feels right for you. Nichole will help you pick a location and write a ceremony that tells your love story. It’s personal, stress-free, and totally you​.

Go Big: Full Ceremony Service If you’re planning to go all out with a big party, the Full Ceremony Service has got you covered. This service is for those who’ve already booked a venue and are ready to have an epic wedding. Nichole will help you craft a ceremony that’s as unique as your relationship, complete with a rehearsal to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. On the big day, she’s there to ensure it all runs smoothly so you can just focus on celebrating with your favorite people​.

A Ceremony as Unique as You
One of the best things about working with A Simple I Do is how personal everything is. Whether you’re blending traditions, honoring cultural or religious customs, or looking for something entirely different, Nichole is all about making sure your ceremony feels right for you. They’re also fully inclusive, welcoming LGBTQ+ couples with open arms and ensuring that every love story is celebrated​.

Stress-Free Planning
​Wedding planning can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Nichole and her team are there to support you every step of the way, from picking out the perfect location to making sure all the legal stuff is taken care of. Whether you’re keeping it low-key or going all out, they’ve got the experience to make sure your day is everything you want it to be​.

In the end, your wedding should be a reflection of who you are as a couple. With A Simple I Do, you’re not just getting an officiant—you’re getting a partner who’s dedicated to making your ceremony as special as your love story.

Perform a perfect intimate ceremony at the Foundation Hotel in Detroit? When my friend and one of my favorite photographers Shelby of Monnette Co reached out to me to ask if I would participate in an elopement giveaway the yes was fast and easy! 

Joey and Kayla were the winners of a contest Shelby held to giveaway an intimate wedding at the Detroit Foundation Hotel. I was thrilled to write a custom wedding ceremony script for them and to work with them to curate the perfect ceremony. 

In March of 2024 I met them at the Foundation Hotel in Detroit where we took off down the aisle and performed the custom ceremony we had worked on together. After the ceremony we signed their marriage license to make it legal and then they were off for photos and the perfect intimate dinner at the Detroit Foundation Hotel and Apparatus Room. 

Photos by: Shelby of Monnette Co
Venue: Detroit Foundation Hotel and Apparatus Room 
Planner: Samantha Whole Hearted Events
Florals: Blum Floral 
Hair and Makeup: Gals and Ghouls 
Officiant: NICHOLE BERTUCCI, A Simple I Do 

What is an intimate wedding? 
Intimate weddings or elopements are small gatherings for your wedding ceremony and celebration. Once thought of as the two of you running away in secrecy to marry is now replaced with the notion of simply the required 2 witnesses or a small gathering of 20 or less guests. Your elopement or intimate wedding can include a ceremony only or a hosted meal to celebrate afterwards. The idea of your intimate or elopement wedding ceremony is to keep it stress free on both you and your wallet. Hosting a smaller wedding allows you to truly focus on the intent of the day, marrying the love of your life and celebrating that love. 

Why you should consider an intimate wedding ceremony or elopement? 
Hosting a smaller wedding ceremony allows you to spend less money all while focusing on your love. Not only will you save money on food, drink and venue and florals but you'll be able to bring together the elements that really matter to you. With a smaller guest count you may be able to book the venue of your dreams and host a weekday wedding ceremony or buy the extravagant florals you dreamed of because you simply need fewer of them. And of course having fewer guests really makes the moment intimate and all about the two of you. 

Where can you host your intimate or elopement style wedding ceremony? 
Many wedding venues host smaller events but I reccomend considering a day time or weekday booking for this. Here at A Simple I Do we offer 3 private studios for rent that are perfect for your smaller wedding ceremony. 

Hi, I'm Nichole, owner of A Simple I Do Wedding Officiants. I am your local wedding officiant. I reside in Holly and officiant all over Michigan, focusing on southeast region, think Flint to Detroit. 

Finding a wedding officiant near you usually begins with a google search titled "wedding officiant near me" because hey, that's what you need. In today's world there seems to be plenty of wedding officiants listed on the ol google pages so which one may be right for you? 

Let's start with the basics. A professional wedding officiant should have a website, somewhere for you to gather more information about their services, how they officiate and even pricing. 

Reviews! Yes, those google reviews are very helpful when looking through the many choices for a local wedding officiant. Take a few moments to read through those reviews, couples have taken the time to write their thoughts on working with these people, maybe some reviews will really give you an inside view of that officiant and their business. 

You'll want to verify the person's your interested in work in your area, unless you are willing to travel to them. But how do I know if this officiant works in my area - it should be listed on their website, but if you like them just reach out via email and ask. 

It's a good idea to reach out to at least 3 officiants to interview them. Take the time for a quick phone call with each officiant - why? Well, one you'll want to hear their voice and two really dig into how they officiate, what they say, how they perform the ceremony, can you customize things - ask all the questions. 

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It's a question I hear time and time again, Nichole I don't even know where to begin! 

Well let's start at the beginning of how to get married legally in the state of Michigan. Hi, I'm Nichole, owner of A Simple I Do Wedding Officiants and were a group of legally ordained wedding officiants/ministers who serve all couples in southeast Michigan. We concentrate on small intimate weddings - we'll meet you at a local cafe to sign your license and make it legal or at a park or venue - the key is keeping it simple, stress free and all about your love. 

To get legally married in the state of Michigan, you need to follow these steps:

Apply for a marriage license: The first step to getting legally married in Michigan is to apply for a marriage license at a County Clerk's office. You and your partner must appear in person to complete the application, and you'll need to bring your government-issued photo identification (e.g., driver's license, passport, or state ID) and your social security numbers. The fee for a marriage license varies by county.

Wait for the waiting period: In Michigan, there is a three-day waiting period after you apply for a marriage license. This means that you cannot get married until at least three days after you apply for the license. However, some counties may waive the waiting period for an additional fee.
Have a ceremony: You and your partner must have a ceremony to get legally married. The ceremony can be performed by a judge, a magistrate, a county clerk, a mayor, or a member of the clergy. You'll need to have two witnesses present during the ceremony.

File the marriage license: After the ceremony, the person who performed the ceremony will sign your marriage license. You must then return the signed license to the County Clerk's office within 10 days of the ceremony.

Get a marriage certificate: After your signed marriage license has been received and processed by the County Clerk's office, you can obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate. You'll need this certificate to change your name and for other legal purposes.
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It's important to note that the above steps are for a standard civil marriage in Michigan. If you're planning a religious ceremony, you may need to meet additional requirements. Additionally, Michigan does not recognize common law marriage, so you must have a ceremony to be legally married.

If you are planning a wedding in Detroit, Michigan, there are many things to consider and plan for to make your special day a success. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Determine your budget: Knowing how much you can afford to spend on your wedding will help you make decisions about the venue, vendors, and other details.
   
2. Choose a venue: Detroit has a variety of wedding venues to choose from, including hotels, banquet halls, and outdoor spaces. Consider the size of your wedding, the style you want, and the location when choosing a venue.
   
3. Choose a wedding date: Consider the time of year, the weather, and any events or holidays that might affect your wedding when selecting a date.
   
4. Choose your vendors: You will need to find vendors for your wedding, such as a photographer, DJ, florist, and catering company. Research and compare different vendors to find the best fit for your needs and budget.
   
5. Plan the details: There are many details to consider when planning a wedding, including the ceremony, reception, music, flowers, decorations, and more. Make a list of the things you want to include in your wedding and start planning each aspect.
   
6. Send out invitations: Once you have all the details planned, it's time to let your guests know about your wedding. Send out invitations several months in advance to give your guests plenty of time to make travel arrangements and RSVP.
   
7. Get a marriage license: In Michigan, you must obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office before your wedding. Be sure to check the requirements and bring the necessary documents with you when you apply for your license.
   

I hope these tips are helpful as you plan your wedding in Detroit, Michigan! If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Lot's of couples dream of a cute little courthouse wedding in Michigan only to learn a lot of courthouses no longer offer them or if they do it's one specific day a week and there is a long waiting list. 

Lot's of couples choose to get married in a court house for many reasons. The simplicity of it is lovely, set a date, grab a few folks and meet up at the courthouse to get legally married. 

But what do you do when the courthouse no longer provides wedding ceremony services? You hire us at A Simple I Do Wedding Officiants. We specialize in intimate weddings right down to the simplest of wedding days to grand events. We love meeting with couples to keep it simple and get them legally married. 

We have a few services that may suit your needs just well - and none of them take place in a stuffy courtroom!

• Simple Marriage License Signing  - for this service we meet with the two of you and at least two witnesses. Often times it's at a cute little coffee shop or over dinner at a lovely restaurant. We will meet with you, complete your marriage license and then direct your witnesses where to sign. We'll offer a brief exchange of vows and then pronounce you married. 
• Elopement/Intimate Wedding Ceremony - for gatherings of around 20 folks, we can help you find the perfect location, a local park, hello free venue! or a restaurant or even a private studio for a small rental fee. We will draft a custom ceremony to include bits of your love story and then on your wedding day we will organize your guests, perform the ceremony and sign the license. 
• Full Ceremony  - More than 20 guests - this service is usually for folks who have booked a venue and caterer and band, or the like. We will write a custom ceremony, see to a rehearsal and then of course signing your license.