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.
* * * * *
Regarding
these certificates, my pricing can range from $300-$600,
depending on the complexity of the design (ranging from the
more traditional text-only layout of date and location with
the couple’s names to personalized illustration and borders
with both main and individual vows), and overall size of
the document (word-count of vows and number of signature
lines needed). Typically, I can accommodate up to 250
signature lines.
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.
My 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.
The turnaround time for me is usually about a month. If
needed in less than a month's time, there is 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.
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 ones (browns, tans, yellows, reds, olive green), pastels (peaches, sage greens, powder or slate blues, pinks), 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.