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.

Weddings Under The Tree of Life, Happiness, and Love

 Best place to elope in the Greater New Orleans area are its beautiful parks and lake front.

City Parks Tree of Life, Happiness and Love are great spots for weddings. For details contact Fig Street Weddings with Chaplain JK Schwehm to arrange an elopement or wedding under the biggest and oldest oak tress in the US. More details can be read at: http://figstreet.com/guesthouse/parks.html

 The oldest oak trees are found along the bayou by City Park Ave. Some of these old oak trees are up to 800 years old. They began a forest along a water way that once connected to the Mississippi River. The bayou now forms part of a beautiful lagoon in the park and is populated by water fowl and moss covered trees. A lovely area for small outdoor weddings. More big trees are located in City Park then any other park in the area. Parking is easy. Food is near by in the Parkview Cafe and at Ralph's At The Park. The beautiful New Orleans Museum of Art is a short walk away. The Red Canal Streetcar runs right in front of the park with a beautiful walk to the trees. The park rents spots for larger weddings but a small elopement is OK under the trees with no rental fee for use of the location.

Chaplain Jerry Schwehm at City Park elopement.

BOOKING CHAPLAIN SCHWEHM

 After years of performing weddings I have found it best to obtain information from the prospective Bride and Groom as soon as possible. There is a form that can be cut and pasted to your word processor or download a copy at http://www.figstreet.com/guesthouse/serviceagreement.html. A downloadeable  ".doc"  format for you to complete and get to me along with the required deposit to book your wedding date.  Chaplain Schwehm does waivers of delay for out of state couples. If Chaplain Schwehm is not available he has associate Ministers who help

Marriage License Info--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  Jefferson Parish Clerk of Courts Office or any Clerk of Court in Louisiana.

City Park area has several covered spots.

Elopement under tress Scott Myers Photography

Elopement by Scott Myers Photography

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MAP OF CITY PARK:  Tree of Life, Love, and Happiness

View Larger Map ___________________________________________________________ Video of one of the many big trees in City Park. http://youtu.be/HaYUiIaZWDk _______________________________________________________

The Morning Call Coffee Stand has food and large rest rooms. We can meet there to complete the paperwork, it is a covered area with easy parking. Map link below:
https://plus.google.com/106745417835638918906/about?hl=en -------------------------------------------------------------   Video of Wedding in City Park:

Getting Married In One Day

It is possible in New Orleans to get a marriage license and get married on the same day. Most states require couples applying for a marriage license to get tests and wait s few days before getting married. The rules in New Orleans have been made easy, no test and no waiting if you get a waiver. The waiver of the delay can be done by a wedding officiant or judge when the couple are from out of state and visiting New Orleans. All the couple need do is ask and get the license during office hours which are weekdays during regular business hours. Calling the license off ahead is good to do to be they are open and discussing the waiver before hand is also a good policy. A wedding officiant needs to attach the waiver done on letterhead showing his office to the completed license when returned to the license office. This makes it easy for visitors to elope to New Orleans to get married in one day. More information about getting a license in New Orleans can be found at this link- http://www.figstreet.com/guesthouse/new_orleans_marriage_license.htm