JP,Cape Cod wedding officiant,celebrant,minister-questions to ask when choosing

Question #1: What is the difference between a JP, celebrant, officiant and a wedding minister? In the past, for the religiously affilated, the wedding date, place and person to preside was dictated by your faith community's schedule. Now those of us who consider ourselves non-affiliated have so many more choices.

I am an ordained interfaith minister authorized by the State of Massachuesetts to preside over marriages. I studied for two years at The New Seminary of NYC. In June 2000 I was ordained as an Interfaith Minister at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.

Qustion #2- What is your faith or religion? As an interfaith minister I try and find the essence of love in all religions and faiths. Being raised Irish Catholic I have a somewhat irreverent, Celtic, nature-based resistence to overly organized religion, although I will tell you, I'm kinda in love Pope Francis. He must be St. Francis of Asissi reincarnated. I am fine with disorganized religions, and on and off-beat spiritual paths. I am comfortable with anyone who is still figuring it all out. It is not so much what a person knows or believes, it is the quality of their love that matters.

Now back to business JP- stands for Justice of the Peace. They are authorized by the town to preside over weddings and have a fixed rate for their fees depending on the town. Town clerks are JP's and can preside over weddings at the town hall or out and about. 

There are also Life Cycle Celebrants that are wedding officiants as well. The word 'celebrant' is not theirs alone and I believe anyone authorized to preside over weddings could use this term to describe themselves (especially if they feel more celebratory than officious.)

So I am a ordained wedding minister, wedding officiant and wedding celebrant.

I am not a JP, not that there is anything wrong with that- seriously JP's are great and I refer to them all the time. So I hope this helps clarify. enough for now.

Keep Happy -Kathleen

PS Happy Birthday Beloved Avatar Meher Baba and thank You from the bottom of my heart!

Winter Wonderland Weddings

Soon it will be Happy Anniversary to Michael and Miranda as they approach their one year wedding anniversary. 

Yes, that is snow on the beach. This was last February 1st -note the pink slippers. Julia Cumes, friend and photographer, took this winter wonderland photo.