A Week Before Wedding----

 To make things go smooth and easy a week before the wedding be sure to have and do the following:

1. Get marriage license, and inform officiant that you have it and are ready to go

2. Understand the time needed for the ceremony itself, usually 30 minutes to do from music prelude to recessional. Let minister know any special requests needed in the ceremony and style of ceremony, religious or civil.

3. If you have readers be sure to let them know with copy of reading when they will be called on. And also let minister  know who, what, and when the reading is to be done.

4. Contact other people who need to know things like, location, caterer, musicians, etc. or have a planner or friend contact all parties.


 Communication is important so be sure to let people know you have the marriage license and are ready to be married. Read up on what documents you need to get a marriage license as laws change and some license offices are strict.

 If there is any problem or issue contact the minister who may have a solution.

Plan Your Wedding With Help From A Professional Wedding Officiant

 The American Association of Wedding Officiants has over 1000 members who combined do thousands of weddings each year. From most all areas in America and a few in Canada they join together to help couples find the best location, flowers, and other services for their wedding. Before you begin contact the association for names of officiants near you or use this blog for information from check list to songs, and some ceremony samples too. Having a well trained professional officiant as your contact will make the process go smoother. Send an e-mail today to Chaplain Jerry Schwehm, Moderator of the AAWO at Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/WeddingOfficiants/ for contact information on an officiant near you. Read more at the AAWO Facebook page, and read over links to officiants in your area. Destination weddings are our specialty. Remember selecting the person who does the ceremony is really the most important step.

Chapel Rental for Weddings in New Orleans Area

 Couples ask me about renting a church or chapel for their wedding service in New Orleans. Usually I tell them to rent St. Mary's in Kenner, LA. The city of Kenner has a replica church in Heritage Park at River town near the airport. The pavilion can be rented too. Also a hall is there for a reception. Here is the information and phone number to call to rent the chapel. The chapel is in Kenner near the New Orleans Airport. About 20 minutes drive from the French Quarter on the interstate.

 Church Capacity is max 45 people
Rental fee of $100/hr (alone)
Rental fee of $75.00/hr (if booked with another Hall)
Deposit of $150.00 ($100 is a refundable damage deposit)
Deposit waived if booked with another Hall
Includes 1 hour before and 1 hour after event for set-up and clean up
Extra set-up time available for $50.00/hr (2 hours maximum)

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 All Kenner rental Facilities are set up with tables and chairs on the day of the event. Applicants are responsible for catering, table coverings, *ice and all other items associated with their function.The Kenner Recreation Department is proud to offer a variety of facilities available for a variety of events. To obtain information regarding the rental of the Kenner City Pavilion or the shelters at Veteran's Park and Laketown, please contact Alice Baroni at 504-468-6638 or abaroni@kenner.la.us.  For Heritage Hall, Heritage Park, St. Mary's Chapel or the Rivertown Exhibition Hall, please contact Heidi Glorioso at 504-468-7231 or hglorioso@kenner.la.us.

*Ice is available ONLY at the Kenner City Park Pavilion.

Special Requirements on all Rentals
A Police Detail is required for events serving alcohol, with over 50 people in attendance, for events invloving teenagers, for couples showers, etc. and for any other event the City of Kenner deems necessary. The Police Detail is $30/hr (4 hour minimum) and will be arranged by Kenner Staff but must be paid in cash to the officer on the day of the event. The officer must be present for all party time plus last hour assigned for clean-up.

 Call or contact the City of Kenner for more info about renting this small church for your wedding in New Orleans.

Google Map To River Town and St. Mary's Chapel New New Orleans Airport

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New Orleans Area Justice of the Peace

 The city of New Orleans has no Justice of the Peace, only the parishes next to the city. Having served as Justice of the Peace in the area north of the city of New Orleans for four years I performed a lot of weddings. As a non-denominational minister when I retired I started doing weddings in the French Quarter. Often I am asked to do a simple civil ceremony as I did as Justice of the Peace. My feee for a simple wedding near my home is a lot less then one in the French Quarter. My fee is based on date, time, and location. Hotels in the French Quarter and parking gets expensive so a parking fee is charged. If the couple just want to get married I can do a simple civil ceremony near my home at a near by park. If you or someone you know just wants a simple ceremony contact me for info on a discount fee if they come to me rather then me going to them. Witnesses and a marriage license are needed.



New Orleans Metro Area Weddings & Elopements


  Chaplain Jerry Schwehm served as Justice of the Peace in 1990 to 1994 in  Louisiana 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 Street Studio. He may be contacted at his e-mail, jerryschwehm@yahoo.com.   Answer service 504/617-6359


More info and help on the web page at: www.figstreet.com/guesthouse/weddings.html



I am listed in several wedding officiant groups like this is one and Martha Stewart Weddings list.

  I am a member and president moderator of the AAWO, a professional wedding officiants group.