1. What are your fees?
Our prices start at $150 for a simple elopement. I'm confident that we can create a romantic and meaningful ceremony that fits your budget. A more complete listing of packages can be found on this page.
I also offer a complete custom-written ceremony, starting at $599. This is the most personal, original, and creative ceremony, completely written just for you, and may include a number of special elements, such as a Unity Candle Ceremony, a Sand Ceremony, a Wine Ceremony, a Hand-fasting or a Family Blending. The Custom Ceremony often requires an extended interview or interviews, and is followed by many hours of writing to ensure that the ceremony is the one that you heard in your heart.
Other factors which may effect your ceremony fees: the style and length of your wedding ceremony, whether you require a rehearsal, the number of guests and attendants you are planning to have, the number of vendors (photographers, videographers, wedding planners, musicians, singers) we have to manage during the ceremony, and travel distance and time, etc. The number of guests does not directly effect costs; the complexity of ceremony elements and the number of members of your bridal party does, however. The larger and more elaborate your wedding as a whole, the more costs you will incur. This is why the "elopement" price is not offered to wedding groups with guest-lists larger than 10.
All travel is calculated via Google Maps at $1.00 per mile, round-trip. Yes, we offer discounts to Active Duty Military. Discounts do NOT apply to travel charges.
*Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Credit Card or Cash only -- to be paid to your officiant prior to your ceremony, along with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.PLEASE NOTE: All deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
I also offer a complete custom-written ceremony, starting at $599. This is the most personal, original, and creative ceremony, completely written just for you, and may include a number of special elements, such as a Unity Candle Ceremony, a Sand Ceremony, a Wine Ceremony, a Hand-fasting or a Family Blending. The Custom Ceremony often requires an extended interview or interviews, and is followed by many hours of writing to ensure that the ceremony is the one that you heard in your heart.
Other factors which may effect your ceremony fees: the style and length of your wedding ceremony, whether you require a rehearsal, the number of guests and attendants you are planning to have, the number of vendors (photographers, videographers, wedding planners, musicians, singers) we have to manage during the ceremony, and travel distance and time, etc. The number of guests does not directly effect costs; the complexity of ceremony elements and the number of members of your bridal party does, however. The larger and more elaborate your wedding as a whole, the more costs you will incur. This is why the "elopement" price is not offered to wedding groups with guest-lists larger than 10.
All travel is calculated via Google Maps at $1.00 per mile, round-trip. Yes, we offer discounts to Active Duty Military. Discounts do NOT apply to travel charges.
*Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Credit Card or Cash only -- to be paid to your officiant prior to your ceremony, along with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.PLEASE NOTE: All deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
Do you perform weddings for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual couples?
Yes. We are delighted that marriage equality has come to Florida and not only will I officiate weddings for the LGBT community, I will perform an elopement wedding ceremony free of charge for any couple that I officiated a commitment ceremony for in the past.
Frequently Asked Questions
PLEASE NOTE: All deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE.
1. What are your fees?
Our prices start at $150 for a simple elopement at my location. I'm confident that we can create a romantic and meaningful ceremony that fits your budget. A more complete listing of prices can be found on this page.
I also offer a complete custom-written ceremony, starting at $600. This is the most personal, original, and creative ceremony, completely written just for you, and may include a number of special elements, such as a Unity Candle Ceremony, a Sand Ceremony, a Wine Ceremony, a Hand-fasting or a Family Blending. The Custom Ceremony often requires an extended interview or interviews, and is followed by many hours of writing to ensure that the ceremony is the one that you heard in your heart.
Other factors which may effect your ceremony fees: the style and length of your wedding ceremony, whether you require a rehearsal, the number of guests and attendants you are planning to have, the number of vendors (photographers, videographers, wedding planners, musicians, singers) we have to manage during the ceremony, and travel distance and time, etc. The number of guests does not directly effect costs; the complexity of ceremony elements and the number of members of your bridal party does, however. The larger and more elaborate your wedding as a whole, the more costs you will incur. This is why the "elopement" price is not offered to wedding groups with guest-lists larger than 8.
All travel is calculated via Google Maps at $1.00 per mile, round-trip. Yes, we offer discounts to Active Duty Military. Discounts do NOT apply to travel charges.
*Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Credit Card or Cash only -- to be paid to your officiant 20 minutes prior to your ceremony, with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
I also offer a complete custom-written ceremony, starting at $600. This is the most personal, original, and creative ceremony, completely written just for you, and may include a number of special elements, such as a Unity Candle Ceremony, a Sand Ceremony, a Wine Ceremony, a Hand-fasting or a Family Blending. The Custom Ceremony often requires an extended interview or interviews, and is followed by many hours of writing to ensure that the ceremony is the one that you heard in your heart.
Other factors which may effect your ceremony fees: the style and length of your wedding ceremony, whether you require a rehearsal, the number of guests and attendants you are planning to have, the number of vendors (photographers, videographers, wedding planners, musicians, singers) we have to manage during the ceremony, and travel distance and time, etc. The number of guests does not directly effect costs; the complexity of ceremony elements and the number of members of your bridal party does, however. The larger and more elaborate your wedding as a whole, the more costs you will incur. This is why the "elopement" price is not offered to wedding groups with guest-lists larger than 8.
All travel is calculated via Google Maps at $1.00 per mile, round-trip. Yes, we offer discounts to Active Duty Military. Discounts do NOT apply to travel charges.
*Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Credit Card or Cash only -- to be paid to your officiant 20 minutes prior to your ceremony, with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
2. Do you perform weddings for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual couples?
Yes. We are delighted that marriage equality has come to Florida and not only will I officiate weddings for the LGBT community, I will perform an elopement wedding ceremony free of charge for any couple that I officiated a commitment ceremony for in the past.
3. Do you perform commitment ceremonies, holy unions or affirmation ceremonies ?
We perform commitment ceremonies or affirmation ceremonies for couples that cannot legally wed or choose not to do so. Check our availability for your wedding date.
4. Who will perform our ceremony?
Rev. Ann Kurtzman, Alan Kurtzman or one of my skilled apprentices will perform your ceremony, depending on your preference and our availability. If you do have a preference, please state your request and we will try to accommodate you. For those of you whose language of the heart is Spanish... while I grew up in Miami and understand a good bit of Spanish, I don't feel I'm fluent enough to do justice to this important occasion. I'm delighted to refer you to a trusted colleague who speaks fluently.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
5. What are your qualifications to perform weddings?
We are ordained non-denominational ministers, ordained clergy persons, and Notaries Public. You can read about our ordinations and commissions here.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
6. How do we reserve a date with you?
Because our clients have requested it, we have now begun accepting payment through Zelle and all major credit cards through PayPal.
We have a simple three-step process, by which you may:
If you are unsure about making a reservation, we will be happy to meet with you for a free consultation. Please call us at (754) 999-0318 (Rev. Ann) or 305-502-7295 (Rev. Jesus) and set an appointment to meet with us. Leave a message if we are not available. We will return your call as soon as possible. If your wedding is very soon, or if you want to elope, be sure to say that in your message so that we will not delay in returning your call. Be advised that we now charge a retainer fee (a 50% non-refundable deposit) to hold your date.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
We have a simple three-step process, by which you may:
- Check our availability for the date of your wedding.
- Reserve the date of your wedding and select your ceremony format.
- Pay your initial deposit, which will hold your date.
If you are unsure about making a reservation, we will be happy to meet with you for a free consultation. Please call us at (754) 999-0318 (Rev. Ann) or 305-502-7295 (Rev. Jesus) and set an appointment to meet with us. Leave a message if we are not available. We will return your call as soon as possible. If your wedding is very soon, or if you want to elope, be sure to say that in your message so that we will not delay in returning your call. Be advised that we now charge a retainer fee (a 50% non-refundable deposit) to hold your date.
Check our availability for your wedding date.
7. When do we get to meet you? What do we bring, other than the deposit?
Hopefully, we will meet within a day or two of your first call to us. We will arrange a meeting in a nearby coffee shop or in my home. We will explain how everything works, answer questions, discuss ceremony options, and discuss our contract. You don't need to bring anything special, unless you've already got ideas about what kind of vows or ceremony you want. Your deposit is due at the time of the signing of the contract.
8. Can we write our own vows?
Absolutely. This is your ceremony. It should reflect your feelings for each other, your shared commitment, your love. If you desire more traditional vows, that's wonderful. But if you're inspired to wax poetic, then you should do so. We encourage our couples to write as much or as little of their ceremony as they want to. This will make the ceremony more personal and meaningful to you.
9. Will you give us a sample?
We will provide you with numerous samples, not only to select from, but to jump-start your imagination if you choose to write your own vows, after you have reserved your date with us and paid your deposit. (Sorry, we can no longer email samples to couples who have not reserved a date with us.)
10. What other things can we include in our ceremony?
There are countless rituals and ceremonies that can be included in your custom wedding ceremony to make it more meaningful and unique. Look for Sand Ceremonies, Wine Ceremonies, Handfasting, Candle Ceremonies, Glass Breaking, and other services we perform.
11. Do you provide other services?
We certainly do! Weddings With Serenity is the marriage ministry division of Serenity's Path, an education ministry, operating in Hollywood Florida. We provide lectures on various topics, as well as Stress Management, Life Coaching; Abundance Workshops; small group worship services; memorial services and funerals; meditation groups; home visitation; hospital and nursing home visitation; house blessings and much, much more.
12. How far in advance should I book with you?
We have found this to be a problem with many couples. So many people wait until the last minute to look for an officiant. It is imperative that you begin to look for your wedding officiant as soon as you have set the date of your wedding. If you do not have a church, or do not wish to have a church wedding (and thus do not have a built-in officiant), then you must "shop" for your officiant. Visiting with an officiant should not be an afterthought, something you think about once you've got the flowers and the tuxedos ordered. Your ceremony is the central event of your wedding day. Don't let it be the least important thing on your list. Check our availability for your wedding date and make your reservation as soon as possible.
13. What do I look for when seeking an officiant?
There must be a comfortable relationship between an officiant and an engaged couple. You have to relate to each other. You must feel that your officiant is someone that understands your views. You must feel comfortable in his or her presence. Is he giving you his undivided attention? Can you easily communicate your ideas with each other? Will he or she listen to your ideas and desires for your ceremony, or does he have his own agenda? What is her experience and training? How many weddings has he done? Can she give you references? Remember that your ceremony officiant may have another job -- like running a ministry, a church, or even a mobile notary practice. His time is valuable, just as is that of all the other professionals you are hiring.
14. But what about last-minute requests? We want to get married this weekend! (Or tomorrow! Or this evening! Now!)
Congratulations! Your excitement is contagious, and we want to accommodate you in any way we can! We are happy to perform any last-minute, short-notice, surprise, weekend, holiday, even late-evening wedding that we are available to do. Call us at (754) 999-0318 (Rev. Ann) or 305-502-7295 (Rev. Jesus), do not use our online reservations for rush service, and we'll do everything we can to meet with you ASAP! Keep in mind that the shorter the notice, the less custom-written and personalized the ceremony. (You may want to ask about our Special Packages, such as "Classic Elopement" which is very economical.) Also, RUSH, evening rates and holiday rates may apply. (Between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., a $50 surcharge will apply. If you require a spontaneous, middle-of-the-night ceremony, an additional 50% will apply.) Please, please! Remember to bring your marriage license and photo ID! YES, someone DID forget this and stalled the entire elopement! Don't let this happen to you!
Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Credit Card or Cash only -- to be paid to your officiant prior to your ceremony, along with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.
Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Credit Card or Cash only -- to be paid to your officiant prior to your ceremony, along with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.
15. Where can you perform weddings?
We can perform your wedding at any location. (For just the two of you, we prefer to meet at the nearby lake at TY park.) At the beach, at the top of a lookout tower, in a beautiful, lush garden, in your backyard, in your home, in a fabulous hotel, in a cottage, at a bed & breakfast, even in a church! There are many extraordinarily beautiful locations in South East Florida -- we have Southern Charm with tropical climate. The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination. If you have a dream, we will do everything in our power to make it come true!
Note: We do not feel comfortable jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, nor are we certified divers, and some of us should not appear in public naked, sorry! :)
Note: We do not feel comfortable jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, nor are we certified divers, and some of us should not appear in public naked, sorry! :)
16. What about legalities? What do we need? What do you do?
You need to acquire a Florida marriage license, and present it to your Officiant. The instructions are here. Your Officiant needs only a willing Groom and Bride, a place to stand, some vows, 2 witnesses and a pen with which to sign the license. Really. It's very simple here in Florida. Follow the simple directions above. Present us with your marriage license on the day of your ceremony. We perform the ceremony. Your witnesses both sign the license, your Officiant signs the license. You go on your honeymoon. We take care of the paperwork from there. You will receive your certified copy in the mail.
17. We want a non-religious wedding. Can you do that?
Yes, we are happy to honor your request and provide you with a lovely Civil Ceremony. It may be as simple or lavish as you desire. Do not think that because a ceremony is a Civil Ceremony that it must be cold and dry. On the contrary, we have created some beautiful, romantic, elegant Civil Ceremonies which were very loving, tender, even spiritual, and yet were completely non-religious. Please, do not hesitate to ask if this is what you desire.
18. What will you wear to our wedding?
We always wear very conservative attire to weddings, a ministerial robe, a suit of black, gray or navy as appropriate. Some beach wedding prefer us to wear white. We do our best to show up as you would like us to.
19. Must we have counseling before we marry?
We do not require our couples to have counseling, but you will get a break on the cost of your marriage license if you have it. I can provide you with the names of qualified professionals to provide excellent pre-marital or marriage counseling.
20. How do you handle rehearsals?
We handle rehearsals quickly and efficiently. It usually does not take more than 1 hour to 90 minutes the day before the ceremony, depending on the number of attendants that you have. Please ensure that all of your attendants arrive on time. Keep in mind that the rehearsal DOES affect the costs of your wedding. The larger your wedding party, the more complex the rehearsal; therefore, this has an impact on your fees. (If you have a difficult-to-manage veil, or some other item that will require maneuvering and practice, please bring it with you so that we can work with it.) *There is a base fee of $50.00 (plus travel and parking) for attendance at rehearsals conducted by your wedding coordinator, My base fee to conduct your rehearsal is $100 (plus travel and parking). If you are forgoing a rehearsal, please ask us for a "Do it yourself" rehearsal kit. There is no charge for this and it will help to insure that everyone knows where to stand and what they are supposed to do on your Big Day!
21. Do you accept credit cards? Personal checks?
Yes, in fact, we do accept major credit cards and e-checks through PayPal. You may pay your initial deposit and make payments on your account through PayPal. We will also accept personal checks for your initial deposit. Please, remember that any deposit paid to us is non-refundable. Your balance is due 2 weeks before the date of your wedding, and can be paid via PayPal. Any balances left for the day of the wedding must be paid in cash only. Payments made on the day of the ceremony should be paid to the officiant prior to the ceremony, and should be enclosed with the marriage license.
Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Cash or credit card only -- to be paid to your officiant prior to your ceremony, along with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.
Please note: We no longer take checks on the day of the wedding. Cash or credit card only -- to be paid to your officiant prior to your ceremony, along with your marriage license. Thank you for complying.
