YOU GUYS!! So you want a courthouse wedding but can't get into the court house or really want a great personal ceremony but in a courthouse? Let's make this happen! 

I get it, you've called the local courthouse to schedule your wedding only to find out there is a waitlist, months long or they no longer perform weddings or even worse you had a wedding scheduled but then canceled because the Judge is busy! Your courthouse wedding can still happen and we can make it even more wonderful than you imagined. We will draft a custom personal ceremony and edit it with you to assure it's perfect for your wedding day and then let's gather your favorite people and meet at the Lapeer Historical Courthouse and get you married in that courthouse style you wanted. 

drumroll please....LAPEER COUNTY HISTORICAL COURTHOUSE! 

​Let me start with the good google - you can totally use the lawn or porch for free!! Just be aware that you may not be the only one with this idea and if you really want private use of the inside and outside then you can rent it...for cheap! 

HERE'S THE RENTAL INFORMATION

Michigan's oldest operating courthouse is available for weddings and other special events.  The Lapeer County Historic Courthouse has been a part of its citizen's lives since the county's earliest days.  Make it a part of your family's history by holding your wedding in it's historic chambers.The Historic Courthouse is available both on weekdays and weekends.  It is advised that you make your reservations at least two weeks in advance.  The Historic Courthouse may not always be available without advance registration.  Weddings held on weekends or after hours must be scheduled five days in advance.
You may choose to have your ceremony on the Historic Courthouse lawn or porch steps.  There are no special requirements for using the public space outside of the building; however, it is always best to check with Building and Grounds to be sure that no other events are scheduled for the same time.
You may make a reservation for the use of the Historic Courthouse through the Lapeer County Building and Grounds/Parks Department. A registration form is required, and a Waiver of Liability form must also be signed. Cost for use is $100 per hour with a two-hour minimum ($200) along with a $100 refundable cleaning deposit. Cleaning deposit will be refunded or can be donated for a brick paver with your wedding date on it. Pavers are installed on the paver walkway in front of the building. All monies go towards the Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund.
The Registration Form and Waiver of Liability can be mailed along with payment to: Lapeer County Building and Grounds Department, 255 Clay Street, Lapeer, Michigan 48446.  For questions or more information, contact the Department of Building and Grounds at (810) 245-4794.
 Who will perform the ceremony?

Many couples share with me the anxiety they feel about standing in front of a lot of people during their wedding ceremony. It can be a lot to take in, the thought of all those eyes staring at you during your wedding ceremony. The nerves you may have for having to speak publicly, maybe you wrote your own wedding vows or even saying the simple "I do" seems all too much to you.  Let alone the the build up of anticipation during the planning process for your wedding, the actual ceremony itself can feel just so darn intimidating. Rest assured I can offer you a few tips to help ease those frightful feelings. 

I always guide my couples that once they have walked down the aisle, or even if you are not walking down the wedding aisle and perhaps you plan to begin a little more casually, stand close together and hold hands. Yes, even if your hands are sweaty and clammy, showing support to each other during your ceremony is paramount. And standing close together not only offers you a comfortable feeling but it's really great for your photos. A little hand squeeze or touch of the palm, or even kiss of the back of the hand can be all your partner needs to reassure them everything is going alright during your wedding ceremony. 

I know it may sound silly, of course you love each other, you're getting married after all. But everyone's love language is different, so words of affirmation are a safe bet. When you begin the ceremony, you're standing there facing each other, and typically I will begin by talking to your guests, this is your moment to talk to each other, take a quick moment to say "hello" or "I love you" or "you look amazing". Your kind words could be just what your partner needs to hear to reassure them in the moment. 

If you are nervous, your instinct may be to simply stare at your partner and hold tight for dear life until the kiss at the end of your wedding ceremony. But I assure you, if you take a deep breathe, take a quick look around to see the amazing people that love you, the decor you so carefully chose and really take in THIS life altering moment you may feel just a bit more at ease knowing your community has your back and all that planning really did pay off. Plus, we all know a deep breathe can help you center yourself in the moment. Now, remember this is a quick look around, you don't want to be avoiding eye contact with your partner the whole ceremony...that's awkward. 

​We are in the second week of July 2021 and this is the heat of the wedding season for most wedding professionals. This year I am performing more than double my usual amount of ceremonies due to delays from last year and the beginning of this year and hopefully because couples love my style and what I have to offer. 

So what are weddings looking like right now? I would say everything, they look like big, glorious celebrations and intimate, sweet little celebrations. The beauty of this summer's wedding's is that couples have really chosen what suites them best and are going for it! So I've seen all sorts of different ceremonies and locations and traditions and each one of them perfectly suited to their couple. 

If you are thinking, gosh I just want to get married, then do it! Email me and let's talk about the options and what sounds the best for you. 

Your walk down the aisle may look different than you first imagined but the person your meeting at the end of that aisle...we'll that's what it's all about. 

It's a unique time to be planning a wedding...that's an understatement! Don't loose sight of the "why" you are planning a wedding. You're planning this wedding to marry the person you can't live the rest of your life without. You're planning this wedding to celebrate your love and solidify the beginning of the rest of your life together. So while you are busy planning focus on the why and perhaps the rest will fall into place a little more easily. 

As we approach the colder months I encourage you to continue to follow the guidelines for indoor gatherings. Mask up, social distance and get married! 

​

Right now, things are changing, slowly and rapidly and as soon as I think I've got my wedding's rescheduled and figured out, a new wave of couples are contacting me to move dates and I support all of them. 

Sometimes when you choose that new wedding date you may find it difficult to locate a professional Officiant on short notice so you make the choice to ask a family member or friend to help you out, I support this to! It's how I got my start after all. But asking that special person to write a ceremony, or taking on the task of writing your own ceremony can create undo stress. That's where I come in and save the day. 

I can draft a wedding ceremony for you, we will discuss the details of your day and once drafted I will email the wedding ceremony to you for review, at that point we can do a phone call or exchange emails to continue to edit the wedding ceremony until it is perfect for you. 

On top of writing your wedding ceremony I offer a consultation with your new Officiant. I can walk them through becoming legally ordained in the state of Michigan and offer tips on how to best perform your wedding ceremony and how to sign the license. 

Performing a wedding ceremony is no simple feat, I always suggest hiring a professional to be with you on your day, but when that's simply not an option I am here to help.