Frequently Asked Questions

Both partners apply together at any Indiana county clerk's office. In Evansville, that is the Vanderburgh County Clerk in the Civic Center Complex downtown. Bring valid government-issued photo ID and know your Social Security numbers. You can begin the application online through the Indiana courts' marriage license portal and finish in person.

There is no waiting period, so you can be married the same day the license is issued. The license is valid for 60 days anywhere in Indiana. Fees are typically about $25 for Indiana residents and $65 for out-of-state couples; confirm the current amount with the clerk. After the ceremony, I sign the license and return it to the clerk for you.

My elopement ceremonies start at $250, fully custom ceremonies start at $450, and ceremony-plus-rehearsal packages start at $600. Travel within 30 miles of Evansville is included. A deposit holds your date and the balance is due the week of the wedding.

Popular Saturdays in spring and fall often book six to twelve months ahead. Elopements, weekday weddings and off-season dates can frequently be arranged within days. The sooner you reach out, the more likely your date is open.

Use the online booking page to pick a time for a free consultation call. You can also see which ceremony dates are already taken. If you prefer, call or text directly. After we talk, a deposit reserves your ceremony date.

Both, and everything in between. I am non-denominational, which means I can lead a ceremony rooted in your faith, an interfaith ceremony that honors two traditions, a spiritual-but-not-religious ceremony, or one with no religious content at all. You decide, and I write accordingly.

Absolutely. I encourage it, and I will help you shape them if you like, from a blank page to a final polish. If you would rather not write your own, I will write vows for you to repeat, or offer several versions to choose from.

Yes. Rehearsal coordination is included in the Ceremony and Rehearsal package and can be added to any wedding. For small weddings and elopements, a quick walk-through before the ceremony is usually all you need.

Whatever fits your day. A dark suit is my default. I am happy to match your dress code, colors or level of formality, from black tie to a backyard barbecue.

Yes, fully and gladly. I officiate weddings, vow renewals, funerals and end-of-life ceremonies for same-sex, transgender, nonbinary and queer people. Ceremonies use the names, pronouns and language you choose, with no gendered defaults. Read more on the LGBTQ+ weddings page.

The ceremony uses the names you use. The marriage license is a legal document and must carry legal names, but what I say out loud in front of your guests is entirely up to you.

Yes. I keep a list of photographers, venues, planners, florists and bakers in the Evansville area who welcome LGBTQ+ couples. Just ask.

Usually within 24 to 48 hours. Call or text for the fastest response. I will meet with your family, write a personalized service and coordinate directly with your funeral home.

Yes. Many of the families I serve have no church connection, or their loved one's beliefs differed from the family's. I can lead a non-religious service, a service with familiar scripture, prayers and hymns, or a blend that honors the beliefs of the person who died.

Yes. I work alongside every funeral home, cemetery and crematory in the Tri-State and will coordinate with your funeral director so you have one less thing to manage.

An end-of-life ceremony is held while the person is still living, so they can hear the stories, gratitude and goodbyes directly. It might be a bedside blessing, a legacy ceremony, a living celebration of life or a vigil, at home, in hospice or in a care facility. Learn more on the end-of-life ceremonies page.

I serve Evansville, Newburgh, Boonville, Mount Vernon, Princeton, Jasper and all of Southwestern Indiana, plus Henderson, Owensboro and Western Kentucky and nearby Illinois communities. Travel within 30 miles of Evansville is included. Longer trips add a modest per-mile travel fee.

For weddings, a deposit reserves your date and the balance is due the week of the ceremony. Funeral and end-of-life honorariums are due at the time of service and can be paid through the funeral home if you prefer. I accept cash, check and most electronic payment apps.

Life happens. Reschedules are free when I am available for the new date. Deposits are non-refundable but can be applied to a future ceremony within one year.