What happens first: People always ask if there's something they should bring to the consultation or if there's something they should be thinking about. Relax! This is just a fact-finding session.

What you'll take home: I'm going to give you lots of information and some written work to take home and think about. When you interview other people you'll have a good yardstick to figure out what you can expect from a celebrant -- things you may never have thought to look for! I'll start the interview by asking you for some basic information about names and addresses and then I'll ask for a history of your romance -- where you met, how long you've been together. I'll want to know some family history, where you grew up and how many siblings you have.

What will the process be like? I'll give you some background on the work I do and my philosophy about ritual and the ways it can enrich your life. I'll let you know what I think allows couples to have a great time on their wedding day. Then I will take you, step by step, through an outline for a good wedding ceremony that can become the form you build your special ceremony on. After that, I'll explain my process and we can talk about fees and timing. In the course of the meeting, which takes a little over an hour, you'll get some good ideas for what you'd like to incorporate into your ceremony and you'll hear yourself say some wonderful things about your relationship.

What is most important? Taking the time to get good information about the possibilities for your ceremony will help you focus on what's most important on your wedding day: the love you and your sweetie share with one another. By the end of the hour we will all have a very good idea whether we'd like to put the time and energy into working together to create a wedding ceremony that will celebrate your love and guide you forward into your shared future.

What if we can't meet in person? I try to have 4 - 8 meetings with every client. Being able to sit in a cafŽ and pass the time of day as we work is a wonderful way to get to know each other as we work through the design process of your wedding ritual. But rest assured that the process works as well over the phone as it does face to face. I think it helps to meet in person at least once in the beginning so that we can picture each other's faces as we talk (although there's always the Internet for sending pictures). I've created wonderful ceremonies together with couples who have lived in Alaska or Hong Kong or Australia. Your willingness to participate is the biggest key to a warm and meaningful ceremony.

Explore the possibilities for your wedding. Have a wedding that reflects your hopes and dreams and your precious relationship. The richness of the life you share should be the heart of your ceremony. Your joy should bubble through time after time. Did you know you could

1. Design promises you'll look forward to keeping?
   
2. Invite your communities support for your relationship?
   
3. Include rituals from your faith tradition or culture?
   
4. Introduce your family and friends to one another and invite them to get to know one another?
   
5. Integrate precious objects and experiences into your expression of love?

Why would you want your celebrant to know and like you? You deserve a coach and ally in the creation process to design a ceremony that meets your needs and desires and provides an oasis of meaning in the midst of your wedding frenzy. You can have a celebrant who will rally community support for your commitment while keeping you calm and relaxed! Give yourself a resource and a friend you can count on -- not only as you prepare for your wedding or on the day itself but for years to come.