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  • Which Church are you ordained through, and where is it located?
    All Arbor Vine Officiants became ordained through Universal Life Church based in Seattle, WA, which means that we are non-denominational. We do not have a "brick and mortar" church location in Boise; we are a Mobile Ministry.
  • We don't want to mention God, religion, or anything spiritual in our ceremony; is that okay?
    Yes. Our officiants are non-denominational clergy and will work with you to create a custom ceremony that is personal to you and your beliefs.
  • Do you perform same-gender weddings?
    Yes, Love is Love.
  • We don't want a ceremony; can you sign the Marriage License without performing one?
    No. Please understand that this is not a refusal on our part but a legal issue. So that your union is legally recognized, your marriage must be "solemnized" by an empowered/authorized party, which means a ceremony must be observed and officiated by a recognized authority under the law. Each state has its own statutes listing who is authorized to sign a license for marriage rites. When an Arbor Vine Ceremony Officiant signs the marriage license, we are certifying that the rites of matrimony between the couple were solemnized "in the presence of." The "rites of matrimony" means a short ceremony, and the law interprets "in the presence of" to mean the couple, the Officiant, and the witnesses (where required) must be physically present without the use of any electronic means such as Skype, telephone, or other video communication. The marriage ceremony itself can be short and sweet. Legally the Officiant only needs to ask the couple a Statement of Intent; this is commonly known as the "I do's" (do you want to be married to one another).
  • We wanted a quick elopement at the courthouse but none of the judges were available, who can marry us?
    We can! Idaho and Oregon have similar laws stating that in addition to judges and other officials, an individual ordained by the "gospel of any denomination" may perform marriage rites. All of our officiants are ordained through Universal Life Church.
  • We want a formal religious wedding ceremony; do you do that?
    Yes, we can. However, if you have a specific religion in mind, we recommend getting in touch with clergy from that religion. All our wedding officiants are ordained, but we are non-denominational clergy who perform religious and secular ceremonies.
  • We come from different religious backgrounds and want to incorporate both into the ceremony; do you do that?
    Yes. We consider that as part of the services we provide. We want your ceremony to be as unique as the two of you.
  • How much time will you allocate for our ceremony?
    It depends on the type of ceremony. Elopements are informal and small, usually just the Officiant, the couple, and maybe a couple of witnesses. Your Officiant will schedule about 15 minutes for your elopement, arriving 5-10 minutes before the scheduled ceremony time and allowing 15 minutes for the ceremony itself. Classic Wedding ceremonies take longer because you are gathering more people together. Your Officiant will typically plan 2 hours for your celebration, arriving 30 minutes before the scheduled ceremony time to start the paperwork and allowing up to 1.5 hours in anticipation of unforeseen delays. Vow Renewal times vary depending on the gathering you've planned. Your Officiant will arrive 15 minutes and, based on your needs, will schedule 30 to 60 minutes for your ceremony. Rehearsals help calm everyone's nerves for the big day. Your Officiant will arrive a few minutes early and plan 60 minutes for the Rehearsal. Please make sure everyone is prompt; this will allow you to practice all of the marriage ceremony components a couple of times.
  • How long is a typical ceremony?
    Our wedding and vow renewal ceremonies are about 15 minutes long. The number of people in your wedding party and additional components such as Readings and Unity Ceremonies can add to the length of the ceremony.
  • We want our ceremony to feel more personal; do you allow modifications to your prewritten ceremonies?
    Absolutely. During your consultation is when you and the Arbor Vine Officiant will get to know each other. This way, we can craft a ceremony that fits your personalities, values, and your relationship.
  • We want to involve our children in the ceremony; do you do that?
    Yes! We have ceremony options specifically written for blended families.
  • We have a friend that wants to perform our ceremony for us. Is that legal?
    Only if your friend is an Ordained Minister or another allowed person as designated under your state's laws. We recommend that you do your research and make sure you feel comfortable with whichever option you choose.
  • We are legally married, but we didn't tell anyone. Can you still do our ceremony?
    Yes. We refer to that as a vow renewal. However, your guests will not know the difference between this type of Vow Renewal Ceremony and a Traditional Wedding Ceremony unless you want them to.
  • I have more questions but don't see them in your FAQ.
    Please use the Contact Us form, and we will gladly answer your additional questions. We look forward to working with you!
  • Ceremony Approval
    All marriage ceremonies must be pre-approved through the facility; the facility can revoke this approval. The inmate will submit a form requesting permission to get married. Reverend Laura is an Approved Clergy for Ada County Jail, Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) Facilities (i.e., NICI and CAPP), and the Snake River Correctional Institute (SRCI) in Oregon. Whomever you choose for your clergy, they MUST be approved by the facility. ​ If your fiancé is at a County facility awaiting trial and there is a "No Contact" order, approval for your marriage request is unlikely. Often, the judge issues a "No Contact" order when you are a co-defendant with the inmate. Please do not attempt to violate a "No Contact" order. Getting married is not worth breaking the law. ​ ** Canyon County Jail does not allow in-person visits; all marriage ceremonies are performed in person (by Idaho law) by a Magistrate, no outside clergy. The inmate must use the jail's internal request process by submitting a "kite" form. The facility authorities review the request, and you will receive a notification via mail. The inmate gets information through the jail's internal process. If the marriage request is approved, your letter from the facility will include additional instructions. This process can take several weeks, be patient. **
  • Marriage license
    Idaho Because the inmate cannot appear in person to apply for the license, you will need to get a unique form from the county clerk's office for the inmate to sign (typically from Ada County). The inmate's signature must be notarized. Sometimes the inmate's attorney will offer notary services; we recommend exploring this option first. Pricing for a notary varies greatly; some bail bonds offices provide notary services for a nominal fee; shop around. ​ Oregon Oregon Applications for Marriage expire after 60 days, so do not start the process for a Marriage Application too early but be sure to leave enough time for mailing back and forth. Here is the contact information for Washington County; they will process the Application for an Oregon Marriage License by mail if you send them a self-addressed STAMPED envelope to the address below: ​ Washington County 155 N First Ave Hillsboro, OR 97124 503-846-8752 www.co.washington.or.us ​ Once you receive the Application form, mail it (the blank document) to your fiancé at SRCI so that he can fill out and sign his portion of the Application, as PARTY A; Boxes 1a through 11b. After completing his part, he must sign and date the form in Box 25 in the SIGNATURES Section, then mail it back to you. Input your information under PARTY B, Boxes 12a through 22b, sign and date in Box 26, and then mail the form back to Washington County with your $60 Licensing fee. Washington County will review, record, date, and sign the "LICENSE TO MARRY" section of the form; boxes 27, then mail it back to you. On visitation day, you will bring the form for me to fill out the CEREMONY section, boxes 30a to 33. I will mail the form back to Washington County for the final recording. ​ MOST Oregon Counties require that both parties fill out the marriage application in person at the county office, which is why I'm providing you with mail-in application information. If you are an Oregon State resident, please note that some counties will allow you to pick up the Application in-person to mail the blank Application to your fiancé, have him complete it, sign it as PARTY A, and send it back to you. Then you will go back to the county office complete and sign the form as PARTY B. You will pay your application fee at that time.
  • Marriage Ceremony Dates and Times
    Your fiancé must request approval for the ceremony, then the facility will inform them of the approved date and time. Below are general guidelines for each facility. These are subject to change. Idaho Ada County Jail Dates/Times: Any Saturday or Sunday, typically at 9:00 am. Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) Facilities Dates/Times: Typically, marriage ceremonies only occur before regular visiting hours. At the CAPP facility in Kuna, these ceremonies are at 7:00 am, or 7:30 am on a visiting day. At the NICI facility in Cottonwood, these ceremonies are at 11:30 am on the visiting day. Oregon Snake River Correctional Institute Dates/Times: The last Monday in April and the last Monday in October. Ceremonies/Visitation begins at 8:00 am; plan to arrive by 7:45 am.
  • What are the different types of Final Goodbye services?
    Funeral Service A Funeral is a formal service held within a week of the death and has three components: the Viewing, the Funeral Service, and the Committal Service. The Viewing is when mourners come to pay their respects to the deceased, this can be an open or a closed casket in repose at a funeral home or parlor. The Funeral Service is often in the same place as the viewing with the services led by in-house Clergy or Funeral Director. A typical order of service will include Hymns (either sung by an individual or the mourners gathered, Invocations, Bible Recitations, Scripture Readings, and Prayers. The Committal is a graveside service after the Funeral Service, and the deceased's remains get transported to the cemetery in a slow, respectful, formal funeral procession. The Committal service will often include readings and prayers, ending with dirt or flowers tossed onto the casket as it gets lowered into the ground for its final disposition. Memorial Service A Memorial is a service that often takes place weeks after the death and disposition of remains occurred. It is a service to memorialize the life of the deceased. When the departed loved one chooses cremation, often a memorial service is conducted to inter or scatter their remains, at the same time as the celebration of the deceased’s life. A memorial service can also be a private funeral service, held after a large Funeral Service. Sometimes the family will arrange a private family funeral service, and then hold a memorial service at a later date when family or friends who could not attend the funeral can gather. A memorial service can also be a large public event, especially if the deceased was a public figure or someone with deep roots within the community. It is a way for everyone to come together to pay their last respects. Celebration of Life Service A Celebration of Life is a more informal service typically held instead of a memorial service after the deceased individual's burial or cremation although it is becoming more common to host this gathering in place of a traditional funeral. Commonly, Celebration of Life ceremonies occur after the individual's physical remains have been cared for through burial or cremation; there is much more time available to plan the event. Moreover, without a doubt, this allows you to make better decisions about how you'd like to celebrate the life of someone you dearly loved.
  • What are the different types of Final Goodbye services?
    Funeral Service A Funeral is a formal service held within a week of the death and has three components: the Viewing, the Funeral Service, and the Committal Service. The Viewing is when mourners come to pay their respects to the deceased, this can be an open or a closed casket in repose at a funeral home or parlor. The Funeral Service is often in the same place as the viewing with the services led by in-house Clergy or Funeral Director. A typical order of service will include Hymns (either sung by an individual or the mourners gathered, Invocations, Bible Recitations, Scripture Readings, and Prayers. The Committal is a graveside service after the Funeral Service, and the deceased's remains get transported to the cemetery in a slow, respectful, formal funeral procession. The Committal service will often include readings and prayers, ending with dirt or flowers tossed onto the casket as it gets lowered into the ground for its final disposition. Memorial Service A Memorial is a service that often takes place weeks after the death and disposition of remains occurred. It is a service to memorialize the life of the deceased. When the departed loved one chooses cremation, often a memorial service is conducted to inter or scatter their remains, at the same time as the celebration of the deceased’s life. A memorial service can also be a private funeral service, held after a large Funeral Service. Sometimes the family will arrange a private family funeral service, and then hold a memorial service at a later date when family or friends who could not attend the funeral can gather. A memorial service can also be a large public event, especially if the deceased was a public figure or someone with deep roots within the community. It is a way for everyone to come together to pay their last respects. Celebration of Life Service A Celebration of Life is a more informal service typically held instead of a memorial service after the deceased individual's burial or cremation although it is becoming more common to host this gathering in place of a traditional funeral. Commonly, Celebration Of Life ceremonies occur after the individual's physical remains have been cared for through burial or cremation; there is much more time available to plan the event. Moreover, without a doubt, this allows you to make better decisions about how you'd like to celebrate the life of someone you dearly loved.
  • Where do you perform services?
    We are a mobile ceremony ministry and travel to your location of choice, whether it is graveside, a local venue, or your home. Our service area is always growing as we add more fabulous officiants to our team. Currently, we serve Southern Idaho and parts of Eastern Oregon.
  • How long is a typical service?
    The narration portion of the service is typically 15 minutes. Additional components like readings, music, and testimonials from family and will add length to the service. We plan 2 to 3 hours for Final Goodbyes. This allows everyone to mingle and grieve together before, during, and after the formal portion of the service.
  • We don’t want to mention God, religion, or anything spiritual in the service. Is that okay?
    Of Course. It is your time to say good-bye, and it should reflect your beliefs and the beliefs of your loved one.
  • ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas realizando ceremonias?
    Hemos estado en el negocio desde 2011. Algunos de nuestros oficiales tienen más experiencia que otros, pero todos son profesionales dedicados que entienden que la mayoría de las parejas nunca han planeado una boda antes. Estamos aquí para ayudarlo a recordar que este día es una celebración y usted está destinado a divertirse.
  • ¿Dónde realizas las ceremonias?
    Nuestra área de servicio siempre está creciendo a medida que agregamos oficiantes más fabulosos a nuestro equipo. Actualmente servimos al suroeste de Idaho y partes del este de Oregon.
  • ¿Por quién eres ordenado y dónde está tu iglesia?
    Todos nuestros oficiantes son ministros no confesionales ordenados a través de la Iglesia de la Vida Universal, que tiene su sede en Seattle, WA. No tenemos una iglesia, somos estrictamente un ministerio de ceremonia.
  • No queremos una ceremonia; ¿Puedes firmar el certificado de matrimonio?
    No. Por favor, comprenda que esto no es un rechazo de nuestra parte, sino un problema legal. Para que su sindicato sea legalmente reconocido, su ceremonia de matrimonio debe ser "solemnizada" por una parte autorizada, lo que básicamente significa que debe ser observada y oficiada por una autoridad reconocida por la ley. Los oficiantes de la ceremonia de Arbor Vine firman la licencia de matrimonio que certifica que los ritos de matrimonio entre la pareja se celebraron "en presencia de". La ley interpreta "en presencia de" que significa que la pareja, el oficiante y los testigos (cuando sea necesario) deben estar físicamente presentes sin el uso de ningún medio electrónico como Skype, teléfono u otra comunicación por video. La buena noticia es que la ceremonia de matrimonio en sí puede ser corta y dulce. Legalmente, el Oficiante solo necesita preguntar a la pareja si quieren casarse entre sí.
  • ¿Cuánto dura una ceremonia típica?
    Normalmente, nuestras ceremonias de boda y renovación de votos duran unos 15 minutos. La cantidad de personas en su fiesta de bodas y componentes adicionales como Lecturas y Ceremonias de Unidad pueden aumentar la duración de la ceremonia.
  • ¿Cuánto tiempo dedicará a nuestra ceremonia?
    Esto depende del tipo de ceremonia. Los fichajes suelen ser ocasiones íntimas y rápidas, y su oficial programará unos 30 minutos para su fuga; llegar 10 minutos antes de la hora programada de la ceremonia y permitir 20 minutos para la ceremonia en sí. Las ceremonias de boda clásicas toman más tiempo porque están reuniendo más personas. Su oficial normalmente programará 2 horas para su ceremonia; llegar 30 minutos antes de la hora programada de la ceremonia para comenzar el papeleo y permitir hasta 1,5 horas en anticipación de retrasos imprevistos. Los tiempos de renovación de votos varían según el tipo de reunión que haya planeado. Su oficial llegará 15 minutos y, según sus necesidades, programará entre 30 y 60 minutos para su ceremonia. Los ensayos realmente ayudan a calmar los nervios de todos para el gran día. Su oficial llegará 15 minutos antes de la hora de ensayo y programará 60 minutos para el ensayo. Asegúrese de que todos estén listos para que pueda repasar todos los componentes de la ceremonia un par de veces.
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