Friday, August 13, 2010

Questions to ask about your wedding Officiant.


Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Officiant Before You Book The Wedding

Are you registered to perform weddings in my location?
How long have you officiated weddings?
About how many weddings you do per year?
What training have you had?
Will you go to my location to do a ceremony?
What type of ceremonies will you perform?
What are your rules as to photography ?
Is pre-marital counseling required?
Do you have ceremony samples?
What are the fees charged?

If it is possible see the officiant performing another wedding. Ask if they are members of any religious or professional organization, like the American Association of Wedding Officiants.. Some officiants have no formal training but just got ordained on the web to perform weddings. Be selective and get references if possible. Be sure to know if who you contact is an officiant in your state and not a referral agency who sends your request to an officiant for a fee.

Get Married in Pirates Alley New Orleans

Weddings In New Orleans







You can elope to New Orleans and get married in a famous spot in the French Quarter as easy as showing up with a proper marriage license. Pirate's Alley, as many call it, was originally named Orleans Alley but locals always called it Pirate Alley as Pirates were always ending up there. The St. Louis Cathedral is to the right. On the left, is the Cabildo (the Old Spanish Governor's Mansion), and directly behind the Cabildo was the Spanish Jail. The alley is one block long, and extends from Chartres St. at Jackson Square to Royal St. Halfway down the alley, a lamppost marks its intersection by Cabildo Alley, which extends (the width of the Cabildo) to St. Peter St. near the Gumbo Shop. This is likely one of the most famous lampposts of the French Quarter, as it has been photographed and painted many times. Read about the first wedding and Ghost in Pirates Alley here: Pirates Alley Wedding History

You will meet Dr. Schwehm at Pirates Alley Cafe where we can secure 2 witnesses if necessary and proceed to the famous Pirates Alley Lamp Post and then conduct a simple wedding ceremony.

Pirates Alley Elopement Package with Dr. Schwehm Officiating is $295.00

Additional locations are available for simple elopements just ask.

MAP to Pirates Alley, French Quarter, New Orleans---



View Larger Map


New Orleans Marriage License Information

It is possible to get married in New Orleans in one day as long as all of the State Offices are open. Either the bride or groom before may obtain the license from the State Office of Vital Records or other Parish Clerks of Court offices before the ceremony is conducted. The New Orleans Office is no longer open on Saturday. Identification is required along with authentic copies of birth certificates and any divorce judgments. An application for marriage license form is found on the web. In some cities there is a three-day waiting period. In New Orleans a Minister or Judge can waive the waiting period in writing for non-residents when good reasons exist. No medical tests are necessary. The license is good for 30 days. You must present the license to the person doing the ceremony in advance as it requires the officiant to complete some portions in black ink only. A ceremony must be conducted before 2 adult witnesses who also sign the certificates. The cost of the license is just under $30.00 paid to the State. For further information contact the office located near the New Orleans City Hall:

1450 Poydras St.
Benson Towers
New Orleans, LA

Hours: Mon.- Fri 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

NOTICE: Vital Records Central Office will offer walk-in services at Benson Tower, 1450 Poydras St, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA. Vital Records Customer Serivce Call Center can be reached at 504-593-5100 . You can also get a marriage license at Second City Court, Algiers or the Jefferson Parish Clerk of Courts Office or any Clerk of Court in Louisiana.

New Orleans City Parks and Weddings


Weddings In New Orleans
Easy To Elope

Many little park like spots to have an elopement in New Orleans.


New Orleans has many City Parks with many beautiful acres to offer wedding couples a taste of the city’s historical past in its natural settings with old oak trees, bayous, bridges, walk ways, gardens, and art. City Park once the site of Allard Plantation facing Bayou St. John, located at the intersection of Carrollton and City Park Avenues in the Mid-City area of New Orleans is the largest park.. Hurricane Katrina has damaged some areas of the Park and some places have not re-opened. It is best to see the location you want to use in person to determine if it meets your needs. Many intimate spots in City Park are available to do weddings. There are also beautiful places in the Park to rent for a large wedding like Pops Fountain and the Botanical Gardens. The City Park Commission should be contacted for rental fees. For a small weekend elopement or before a cruise departing from New Orleans there are other little out of the way places where a small wedding can take place, lovely walkways, large oak trees, fountains, small bridges, and statues. Most open public places can be used for a small simple elopement. If you desire a larger wedding and a reserved spot you can contact City Park at their web page or call them. New Orleans has many little parks and places that are free to use for a small wedding. Parks along the lake front, spots in the French Quarter, along the river, and small parks throughout the city. Just e-mail me for a list of nice places for a small elopement.

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New Orleans Marriage License Information











It is possible to be married on the same day you get your license. Either the bride or groom before may obtain the license from the State Office of Vital Records at 1450 Poydras St, New Orleans, or other Parish Clerks of Court offices before the ceremony is conducted.  Identification is required along with authentic copies of birth certificates and any divorce judgments. In some cities there is a three-day waiting period. In New Orleans a Minister or Judge can waive the waiting period in writing for non-residents when good reasons exist. No medical tests are necessary. The license is good for 30 days. You must present the license to the person doing the ceremony in advance as it requires the officiant to complete some portions in black ink only. A ceremony must be conducted before 2 adult witnesses who also sign the certificates. The cost of the license is just under $30.00 paid to the State. For further information contact the office located near the City Hall:



ORLEANS PARISH MARRIAGE LICENSE OFFICE

The Orleans Parish Marriage License Office is 1450 Poydras St at Super Dome. -- just a short drive from the French Quarter, Uptown, Garden District and the CBD. The phone number is


504-539-5116


Another close to the French Quarter the Second City Court at 225 Morgan Street on the west bank in New Orleans. It is a nice ferry ride across the Mississippi River (pedestrians ride for free, automobiles only $1.00) from the Canal Street Ferry Landing,by River Wall MAll. It is a half city block to the court building with a clock tower. This office closes at 3:00PM, so arrive no later than 2:15PM. Phone number is (504) 368-4099 to verify times.

World Largest Stand Of Oak Trees

City Park has over 14,000 trees that are greater than 4 inches in diameter.  The oldest between 600 -800 years old.

 Along with the largest stand of Live Oak tress in the USA City Park has the Dueling Oaks where men fought duels. For details see http://www.duellingoaks.com/



"    " The Duelling Oaks in City Park have seen some of the most colorful scenes in New Orleans' history. For years sword clanged against sword and bullets streaked between the ancient trees.
     An article in the Times-Democrat, March 13, 1892, said, "Blood has been shed under the old cathedral aisles of nature. Between 1834 and 1844 scarcely a day passed without duels being fought at the Oaks. Why, it would not be strange if the very violets blossomed red of this soaked grass! The lover for his mistress, the gentleman for his honor, the courtier for his King; what loyalty has not cried out in pistol shot and scratch of steel! Sometimes two or three hundred people hurried from the city to witness these human baitings. On the occasion of one duel the spectators could stand no more, drew their swords, and there was a general melee."

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Marriage licenses will not be issued on Saturdays, but you can obtain your marriage license in any Louisiana Parish as you drive into New Orleans.

Visitors can go to the Algiers Court House to get a license using the Canal St. Ferry.

504-368-4099
Hours: 9 am - 3 pm Mon.- Fri


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The 'Peristyle' at City Park.



New Orleans Wedding Minister Information

Jerry Kenneth Schwehm served as as Justice of the Peace in 1990 to 1994 in Slidell, La. and was ordained in 1989 as a Lay Minister after serving as Elder and Deacon in his church for many years. He has a BA and JD from Louisiana State University (1972) and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from a local Bible Church in 1990. He has performed numerous wedding ceremonies and is available in the Greater New Orleans area to perform your personalized marriage ceremony. He will go to your location or at his office in Fig House. He may be contacted at the below e-mail.

Fig Street Weddings
 New Orleans, La. 70125

504/617-6359

weddings@figstreet.com

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Mailing address: 65115 Highway 41, Pearl River, La. 70452
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More info at www.figstreet.com/weddings


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Helpful Links


New Orleans Marriage License

Elope To Pirates Alley

More Information On City Park

Fig Street Art Studio Prints