“In the presence of the Light, I take you to be my
Beloved...”
What are Quaker Cerificates
Quaker marriage certificates started out as a custom for those of this particular faith, and are used in their marriage ceremonies where there is no specified officiant. Instead, the certificates are signed by the attendees to designate their approval of the union.Indicative
of an emerging trend, these marriage certificates are now
being commissioned by people of all faiths and backgrounds.
They can be reminiscent of Jewish Ketubot and official
marriage certificates written up and submitted for
legalization during the early 1900’s. They can be modified
and used in marriages involving dual faiths and in other
specialized unions. Usually they include the couple’s
names, date and location of the ceremony, marriage vows,
and witness signature lines for the attendees and wedding
party to sign. They are appropriate for smaller, intimate
weddings, concerning the accommodation of space for the
signature lines. They are highly customizable, ranging from
a simpler text-only document to a more elaborate design
that can include floral/foliate borders, personal and
symbolic illustrations, and photographic elements. They are
meant to be preserved and archival, and should be either
framed, scrolled, or housed in a custom-made folder for
display.
Pricing
All of the documents I create come housed in a handmade, customized paperboard folder with ribbon ties (for keeping the document flat, clean, and protected from elements when in transport). If you are a long-distance client and do not wish to have the folder, I can ship the document sandwiched between protective papers and bubblewrap, rolled carefully in a sturdy mailing tube. Once received, the document should be removed from the tube and laid flat for a short period of time to allow it to “breathe” and naturally flatten out on its own.
Pricing includes all consultation, mock-ups and drafts, labor, and supplies. Delivery/shipping costs are calculated and accounted for separately. I can arrange for in-person consultations if you are local to me within the Virginia-Maryland-DC metro area. If you decide to have the document framed after the ceremony, I do handle in-house framing and can work with you throughout the process of choosing the frame and the matting treatment. Do know that if the document is to be shipped after framing, I will not use glass... rather, Plexiglas is used to prevent breakage and other damages.
How Long Does It Take To Have One Made
The turnaround time for me is usually about a month. If needed in less than a month's time, there is at least an automatic $75 rush fee added to the determined base price. It is always best to contact me as soon as you have made the decision to have one of these documents for your ceremony.Customization
If you are thinking of customizing your document, following is a list of considerations that may trigger layout and design elements:- Colors to be used for ceremony
- Favorite flower/tree/plant
- Something that can be associated with you personally and to your fiancé, individually (i.e., poetry, quotes, music/songs, military, education, occupations, sports, volunteer work, pets, children)
- Something that can be associated with you as a couple (i.e., favorite place, where you live, how you met, hobbies you share)
- Would you consider yourselves traditional or more contemporary (vintage-retro-modern)?
- Are you into jewel-tone colors (purples, emerald green, royal blue, magenta), muted earthy hues (browns, tans, yellows, reds, olive green), pastels (peaches, sage greens, powder or slate blues, pinks), or clean-line ones (navy, deep green, burgundy)?
The photos on this page are courtesy of
Michelle DeBakey,
photographer,
of www.MichelleShot.com,
who provides intimate and stunningly
atmospheric photography for special occasions in the Boston
area.
She took these photos of the Tate-Forster marriage ceremony
that featured the Quaker marriage document I
created.