Congratulations on your engagement!
Thank you for your interest in having me be a part of your wedding day.
Whether your venue is a mountain top or a five star hotel, casual or black tie, two guests or hundreds, theme wedding or traditional, I can assist in creating a ceremony that will capture a couples personalities and convey their love and commitment to each other to all present. It is an honor to help create a moment in such an important and special day that will remain in memories forever.
I am available to perform ceremonies (weddings, elopements and renewal of vows) in the State of New Hampshire as a Justice of the Peace or anywhere in the United States as an Ordained Minister.
Justice of the Peace commission expires April 1, 2014
Services
Services include a free initial consultation with the couple (in person if possible), collaboration and creation of your personalized ceremony (traditional, religious or contemporary) and attendance at both rehearsal and wedding ceremony. I have a portfolio that contains unique ceremony ideas and samples of vows, readings and blessings for you to review. Additional consultation is unlimited over the phone or via email. I provide each couple with a Certificate of Marriage and a copy of their wedding vows.
Fees
The fee for officiant services is $150 and discounts my apply depending on location and travel needed for the rehearsal and ceremony. A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. I officiate at military weddings pro bono.
Associations
Member of the Justices of the Peace of the US (www.jpus.org) Listed under Find a JP, click on New Hampshire, click on Strafford County
Member of the New Hampshire Justice of the Peace Association (www.nhjpa.com) Listed under Our Members
Ceremony Sample
Below are some sample ceremony openings, vows and readings. These are updated on a regular basis.
Sample Opening Reading:
We are here today to celebrate the marriage of {Bride} and {Groom}. They ask for your blessing, encouragement, and life long support for their decision to become husband, wife and family. Without family and friends beside them in joy as well as sorrow, this new family will miss the greatest joys of life outside their own home. And that is to give and to receive love. To help and to be helped. To teach as well as to learn. They are delighted that you have chosen to witness this special time in their lives. {Bride} and {Groom} not only want their relationship with each to continue as individuals but take on an even more important dimension as a family as well.
Sample Vow:
{Bride/Groom}, do you take {Bride/Groom}, to be your lawful wedded husband/wife? Do you promise to love, honor, and protect him/her? Share the good times and achievements as well as the hard times and disappointments? Keep him/her in sickness and in sorrow and to be faithful to him/her forevermore?
Sample Reading:
“From Union” by Robert Fulghum
You have known each other from the first glance of acquaintance to this point of commitment. At some point, you decided to marry. From that moment of yes to this moment of yes, indeed, you have been making promises and agreements in an informal way. All those conversations that were held riding in a car or over a meal or during long walks - all those sentences that began with “When we’re married” and continued with “I will and you will and we will”- those late night talks that included “someday” and “somehow” and “maybe”- and all those promises that are unspoken matters of the heart. All these common things, and more, are the real process of a wedding. The symbolic vows that you are about to make are a way of saying to one another, “You know all those things we’ve promised and hoped and dreamed- well, I meant it all, every word.” Look at one another and remember this moment in time. Before this moment you have been many things to one another- acquaintance, friend, companion, lover, dancing partner, and even teacher, for you have learned much from one another in these last few years. Now you shall say a few words that take you across a threshold of life, and things will never quite be the same between you. For after these vows, you shall say to the world, this- is my husband, this- is my wife.
Unique Ceremonies to add to your Wedding Ceremony:
Sand Ceremony
Unity Candle
Wine Box and Love Letter Ceremony
Chocolate and Wine Ceremony
Hand Fasting
Rose Ceremony
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we book you as our JP?
Once we have emailed, talked over the phone or met in person and you would like me as your JP, I will send you an agreement and questionnaire. Once returned with your 50% deposit I can send you a draft of your ceremony. From there we can go through as many revisions as it takes to get it just right and to your liking. Remember this is your day so I want my couples to be confident and comfortable with the ceremony content.
What does an officiant wear at a ceremony?
A black robe for a more formal wedding. Business attire, such as a conservative dress, for an informal wedding (beach or backyard ceremony). It is up to the couple getting married as to the officiant's attire.
What is an Ordained Minister?
I am an independent ordained minister of the Universal Life Church Monastery, whose philosophy is that we are all children of the same universe. Being an Ordained Minister allows me to perform ceremonies outside of the State of New Hampshire.
Do we need to invite the officiant to the reception?
An invitation to your reception is not expected nor required as my "working mom" schedule does not usually allow me to stay for long after the ceremony.
Can we take pictures with you before or after the ceremony?
Yes if the couple desires a picture or two with me before or after the ceremony I am more than happy to do so.
How do I obtain a NH marriage license?
If you are in state or an out-of-state resident getting married in New Hampshire, you can go to any NH city or town clerk's office to apply. You must show a picture ID (driver's license, military ID, passport). If either person has been married before, they must present one of the following: a certified copy of the divorce decree, a certified copy of annulment or a certified copy of the Death Certificate. The filing fee is $45 payable at the time you apply for the license and the application is filled out in the City Clerk's office. Effective July 5, 2006, there is no longer a 3-day waiting period after filing and the license is valid for 90 days. If both parties are present and have all of the required information, the marriage license will be processed at that time, or if one person comes in to start the applications, both parties can go back together at their convenience prior to the wedding.
Contact Claire
Please view the additional pages for information about Claire, read testimonials and view pictures from ceremonies and learn about Hat Box Productions (custom made jewelry and paper crafts). You can also follow me on twitter.com, search for CEMJP or become a fan on my Facebook page, search for Claire E. Murdough, Justice of the Peace.
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Last updated September 21, 2011
