Officiant Services from Olympia to Ocean Shores & beyond
Non-denominational Wedding Officiant. Your Wedding, Your Way.
A wedding need not be a complex religious ceremony. But a cold, uninspired courthouse isn't the only alternative. Let's chat.
Officiant Rates
meet your officiant
GETTING MARRIED DURING A PaNDEMIC
Weddings/Elopements $350+
Hello! My name is Carmen Lane. I am a wedding officiant, a non-denominational minister ordained by Universal Life Church Monastery since 2008. I am happy to provide a simple and loving wedding ceremony for any loving couple with a valid Washington marriage license, virtually anywhere in Washington.
Have your wedding your way. You can get
Hello! My name is Carmen Lane. I am a wedding officiant, a non-denominational minister ordained by Universal Life Church Monastery since 2008. I am happy to provide a simple and loving wedding ceremony for any loving couple with a valid Washington marriage license, virtually anywhere in Washington.
Have your wedding your way. You can get married at the beach, at the park, by the river, in the rainforest, or in the privacy and comfort of your very own backyard.
Your Washington state marriage license is valid anywhere in Washington and is valid for 60 days from the date of issue. It is the couple's responsibility to obtain a valid marriage license for their wedding ceremony. Check with the county for marriage license application instructions (scroll down).
Need to get married TODAY or ASAP? QUESTIONS OR SPECIAL REQUESTS? Feel free to call me 360-280-0888.
Weddings/Elopements $350+
GETTING MARRIED DURING A PaNDEMIC
Weddings/Elopements $350+
No planning or pre-wedding counseling required. The officiant can travel to your chosen location to perform your short & sweet wedding, elopement, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony. (It is the couple's responsibility to obtain and present a valid marriage license for a wedding.)
Fees not included in the base officiant rate:
- Travel fees
No planning or pre-wedding counseling required. The officiant can travel to your chosen location to perform your short & sweet wedding, elopement, vow renewal, or commitment ceremony. (It is the couple's responsibility to obtain and present a valid marriage license for a wedding.)
Fees not included in the base officiant rate:
- Travel fees to remote locations: $150-350
- Rehearsal fee: $100 1hr (not required and must be pre-arranged. A separate travel fee may apply.)
- Extra-time/delay/waiting fee: $50 (30-min increments)
- State/National Park fees, ferries/trains, tolls, parking, etc.
- Accommodations (for remote ceremonies)
"Local" vs "Remote": Any location within an easy 30-minute drive from my home in Olympia is considered LOCAL and starts at $350. Locations that require 30 minutes or longer or which require any amount of hiking or unpaved road travel or extra effort to reach are considered REMOTE and a travel fee shall apply.
There will be no surprises. If you provide me the exact details of your ceremony location that can be found via GPS, whether any hiking or off-road travel is required to reach, I can provide a precise quote.
PAYMENTS: CASH IS PREFERRED, but your local personal check is also accepted. Full payment is due prior to ceremony start and is non-refundable. You can make checks payable to CARMEN LANE LLC or SHORT AND SWEET CEREMONIES.
CREDIT CARD FEES. For payments via credit card, an additional 3.5 percent will be added to help cover the cost of credit card processing:
Paying by CC must be arranged in advance, please. All payments are 100% non-refundable.
GETTING MARRIED DURING A PaNDEMIC
GETTING MARRIED DURING A PaNDEMIC
GETTING MARRIED DURING A PaNDEMIC
Love is unstoppable. Pandemic or endemic, people still need to get married. I have a practical approach to get you married. Here are your ceremony options:
OPTION #1. WEDDING/ELOPEMENT @COUPLE's CHOSEN LOCATION:
$350 to $650 - The wedding officiant travels to your chosen location to perform a short and sweet ceremony. Outdoor ceremonies
Love is unstoppable. Pandemic or endemic, people still need to get married. I have a practical approach to get you married. Here are your ceremony options:
OPTION #1. WEDDING/ELOPEMENT @COUPLE's CHOSEN LOCATION:
$350 to $650 - The wedding officiant travels to your chosen location to perform a short and sweet ceremony. Outdoor ceremonies are ideal. (Provide me exact location address and details in your officiant request and I will provide a quote. Rate typically runs $350 - 450 unless you have a super remote wedding location in mind.) It is the couple's responsibility to obtain and present a valid marriage license for a wedding..
What to expect after officiant confirms your request:
- Officiant travels to couple's chosen location
- Officiant arrives prior to ceremony start time
- "Hand across heart" greetings are welcome
- Officiant reviews marriage paperwork
- Payment and receipt are exchanged
- Outdoor ceremonies are ideal (fresh air!)
- Avoid shaking hands if we can
- Stand apart from officiant during ceremony
- Ceremony is conducted; vows exchanged
- Wedding party uses BLACK INK PENS to sign
- Officiant reviews paperwork again for accuracy and seals in envelope (if provided)
- Officiant departs immediately
- Officiant sends completed certificate to county of issue for recording asap (within 30 days)
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OPTION #2. Simplicity @OFFICIANT's LOCATION:
$300 - No frills. No fanfare. No groups. JUST YOU and your fiancé and your two witnesses come as you are to my location in Olympia to sign paperwork. We'll hold a very short and sweet ceremony, you'll exchange "I DO's", we'll all sign the marriage paperwork in my little studio, and then off you go. Easy. Simple. FAST. If you are deploying soon or in a rush or want minimal interactions, this is the way to go. (My little art/writing studio cannot accommodate groups and it is not childproof for little kids. So if you plan to have more than two witnesses with you, please choose option for a ceremony at your chosen location. Thank you for understanding.)
What to expect after officiant confirms your request:
- Couple & 2 witnesses travel to officiant
- "Hand across heart" greetings are welcome
- Officiant reviews marriage paperwork
- Payment and receipt are exchanged
- Avoid shaking hands if we can
- Stand apart from officiant during ceremony
- Wedding party uses BLACK INK PENS to sign
- Officiant reviews paperwork again for accuracy and seals in envelope (if provided)
- Officiant sends completed certificate to county of issue for recording asap (within 30 days)
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OPTION #3. DIY Ceremony (DO IT YOURSELF):
FREE OPTION - If you have health concerns because of the pandemic, or if the wedding budget is too tight, you could consider asking a trusted friend or family member to become ordained so that he/she may perform your private wedding ceremony for you at no cost.
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COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS: I am fully vaccinated, boosted, and plan to receive additional boosters as needed. I wear PPE as necessary. Masks may still be required in public places and/or in large indoor group settings regardless of vaccination status. Let's try to keep each other safe and exercise courtesy and common sense.
Stay on Top of Washington COVID-19 Guidance :
https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources#Statewide_COVID-19_information
#ShortAndSweetCeremonies
#LetsBeSafe #CovidPrecautions #MaskUp #WashYourHands #BetterSafeThanSorry
Obtaining a Marriage License in Washington State
MARRIAGE LICENSES ARE ISSUED BY EACH COUNTY
MARRIAGE LICENSES ARE ISSUED BY EACH COUNTY. A marriage license obtained from any Washington county is valid anywhere in the state. It is NOT necessary to obtain your license in the county the ceremony will be held. For example, say you live in King county but you plan to elope at the beach in Grays Harbor county. You could choose to obtain your marriage license from King county if it is more convenient for you, and then bring your marriage paperwork with you to be married in Grays Harbor county (or anywhere else in Washington state). Or you could choose to obtain your marriage license from Grays Harbor county or from any other county in Washington. Keep in mind there is a 3-day waiting period for a marriage license in Washington and then the license is valid for up to 60 days from the date of issue. Plan accordingly. After the wedding ceremony, the signed marriage certificate must then be recorded with the county of issue within 30 days. Certified copies (proof of marriage) may be obtained from the county after it is recorded. Marriage license fees vary from county to county. CONTACT THE COUNTY if you have questions about obtaining a marriage license or ordering certified copies of a recorded marriage certificate.
- Adams County https://www.co.adams.wa.us/departments/auditor.php
- Asotin County https://www.co.asotin.wa.us/194/Recording
- Benton County https://bentonauditor.com/Marriage-Licensing
- Chelan County https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/auditor/pages/requirements-for-marriage-license
- CLALLAM County https://clallam.net/Auditor/MarriageLicenses.html
- CLARK County https://clark.wa.gov/auditor/marriage-license
- Columbia County https://www.columbiaco.com/151/Marriage-Licenses
- COWLITZ County https://www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/1464/Apply-for-a-Marriage-License
- Douglas County https://www.douglascountywa.net/QuickLinks.aspx?CID=27
- Ferry County https://ferrycountyauditor.com/DisplayPage?paName=MLicense
- Franklin County https://www.co.franklin.wa.us/auditor/marriagelicense.php
- Garfield County https://www.co.garfield.wa.us/auditor/page/licensing
- Grant County https://www.grantcountywa.gov/272/Recording
- GRAYS HARBOR County https://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/government/Auditors/marriage_licenses.php
- Island County https://www.islandcountywa.gov/Auditor/Pages/MarriageLicenses.aspx
- JEFFERSON County https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1021/Marriage-License-Information
- KING County https://kingcounty.gov/depts/records-licensing/recorders-office/marriage-licensing.aspx
- KITSAP County https://www.kitsapgov.com/auditor/Pages/kitsap-county-marriage-license.aspx
- Kittitas County https://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/auditor/recording.aspx
- Klickitat County https://www.klickitatcounty.org/1135/Recording
- LEWIS County https://lewiscountywa.gov/offices/auditor/marriage-licensing/
- Lincoln County https://www.co.lincoln.wa.us/auditor/marriage-license/
- MASON County https://masoncountywa.gov/auditor/marriage-licenses.php
- Okanogan County https://okanogancounty.org/departments/auditor/records/marriage_licenses.php
- PACIFIC County https://co.pacific.wa.us/auditor/marriage-licensing.htm
- Pend Oreille County https://pendoreilleco.org/your-government/auditor/recording/marriage-license/
- PIERCE County https://www.piercecountywa.gov/356/Marriage-Licensing
- San Juan County https://www.sanjuanco.com/176/Marriage-Licenses
- Skagit County https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/Auditor/marriage.htm
- Skamania County https://www.skamaniacounty.org/departments-offices/auditor/marriage-licensing
- Snohomish County https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5841/Marriage-Licenses
- Spokane County https://www.spokanecounty.org/323/Marriage-Information
- Stevens County https://www.stevenscountywa.gov/pview.aspx?id=20912&catid=25
- THURSTON County https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/auditor/Pages/licensing-marriage.aspx
- Wahkiakum County https://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/559/Recording
- Walla Walla County https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/government/auditor/marriage_license.php
- Whatcom County https://www.whatcomcounty.us/214/Marriage-License-Info
- Whitman County https://www.whitmancounty.org/195/Marriage-Licenses
- Yakima County https://www.yakimacounty.us/253/Marriage-License
NOTE: The auditor websites are operated independently by each county. I have posted links here for your convenience. As of 06/20/2022 each link above is active. But please feel free to let me know if a link is broken, so I may update it. Sometimes a county edits its website and changes a URL in the process. It happens. Thanks for your help! ~Carmen
WASHINGTON RULES ON MARRIAGE:
ELOPING AT THE LAST SECOND? NO PROBLEM.
If you have a valid WA marriage license in hand & two legal witnesses, you can be married in minutes!
CALL TO CONFIRM AVAILABILITY & BOOK.
SORRY, NO DROP-INS.