• Processional, gathering

• Welcome

• Candle lighting

• Remarks

• Music

• Poetry and readings

• Vows

• Ring exchange

• Wine/ceremony of sharing

• Blessings

• Pronouncement

• and more ...

Deanna & George in north Emmet County, 1999

Lois and Jim in Traverse City, 2002

A ceremony may be one of many types:

• Spiritual: religious or non-religious

• Civil: spiritual or secular

• Cultural: single culture, multicultural

• Theme: cultural, romance, love, family, individuality, nature, medieval, humanistic, etc.

The wedding is your celebration.  It is your special day.  Jim believes the ceremony should contain what you want; you do what you want; wherever you want.

Accordingly, there are no "must do this" or "can't do that."  It is your celebration; therefore, the ceremony elements are your choice.

Jim will work with you to prepare the entire "script" for the celebration.  Jim provides material for you to review, material you may choose, change, or cast out.  You may offer text or tasks, performed by persons you choose.  It is your ceremony, not Jim's.  You direct the component choices.

However, if you want Jim to create a ceremony for your special celebration, he will be happy to do so and present for your approval.

Annalisa & Chris in the Rose Garden of the Perry Hotel, Petoskey, 2006

Jim can assist in locating the various services, such as wedding sites, bar and food service, coordinators, flowers, photographers, and musicians.

Jim officiates indoors and (more often) outdoors.  Locations vary from the numerous beaches in northern Michigan (with and without lighthouses), to vineyards, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Stafford's Hotels, Mackinac Island, and many more.  Weddings are celebrated in both summer and snow!

Music adds significant expression to ceremonies to create style and atmosphere that enhance a successful celebration.  Jim can assist in this quest.  One such music ensemble is West Side Winds.

Jim proudly creates custom ceremonies so that on your designated day, you have your special celebration.

West Side Winds at Mackinac Island 2002

Christine & Scott at Garland's, winter 2001

Jim will blend your different cultures, and can co-officiate with other clergy.

Jim travels anywhere to officiate.
Jim's home territory is the "tip of the mitt," that is, Michigan's lower peninsula northern end.  The territory includes the Grand Traverse Bay, Little Traverse Bay,  communities such as Gaylord, Cheboygan, Alpena, and the eastern upper peninsula regions.  Nevertheless, Jim officiates in any state, Canada and many other countries.