ASL Interpreter

Try Purple Communications:

https://www.purple.us/

I've used them several times and I think they can accommodate a range of needs.

I would suggest going on the local Georgia board, as well as the local Georgia FB wedding site and ask there. Thats how I found my amazing seamstress in my area.

It's wonderful that you're being so accommodating! It might be worth doing the math and offering to supplement your aunt's travel plans by the amount you would budget for an interpreter, so a friend of hers would be more likely to be able to attend. She'd probably enjoy spending the event with someone she knows and likes rather than a random interpreter.

Just FYI - It's not the best to use a friend as an interpreter. I mean, you CAN ask your aunt if she has ideas or a preferred service provider though.

It's approximately $50 an hour to hire an interpreter and I think it's a nice thing to do for the entire evening, even if your aunt does have other people to talk to.

I can't help you in GA, but if anyone needs one in NJ/NY, I have a bride who does this.

Thanks all for the great suggestions! I didn't realize there were location-specific board, so that really helps!

I hear ya @MS4, we're hoping someone from her local deaf club will be able to travel to the wedding, so she will be comfortable.

I'm finding rates more at the $100+/hour mark @Katy. She's still welcome to bring a guest, but we'd also like to have an interpreter so she can interact with everyone and not just her guest or the few people that know sign language. We had someone come for her father's funeral and it was the most amazing experience for me - to finally hear her "voice" more than the few words we can usually manage.

You should check with local (where your wedding is) colleges. I took ASL in college and my professor interpreted on the side.

Try HLAA (Hearing loss association of America), they are nationwide and will have a lot of resources for you there, you might be able to find an interpreter. Also they might be able to help you co-ordinate with a company that provides TTY services, where the words shows up on a screen as you speak. I think that's great that you're providing this service for your FH's aunt.

You could reach out to the local hospitals. I work around Chicago and all the hospitals I've been to have language services. Maybe they could refer you to someone.

Thanks, @Angie and @Jamgirl! Those are great ideas! I'm seeing a lot of remote interpreting through video, but can't imagine how that would work in a social setting. We communicate a lot through text, so we were also going to bring a couple iPods so she could interact with guests that way too - hoping they're small and light enough that it won't be obtrusive or awkward.

Interpreters in the DC area have been far more expensive than the ones we've hired before. The one we hired for my wedding was $75 an hour (a pretty good rate for this area) through Purple. When we hired an interpreter in Florida and Texarkana, it was much cheaper though. We were able to hire through a local company. I hope you find something! Just use Google ("deaf services") and ask around. I know for my sister it's priceless to her to have someone professional with her so she can have a good time and no one in the family ends up having to interpret for her.

@Katy, thanks for the tips and I'm so glad to hear it worked so well for your family. Do you mind me asking when you had the interpreter come? We're thinking the ceremony and reception, but aren't sure about having someone for the rehearsal and the afternoon while we're all getting ready. The cost will end up dictating how much we can do, but I'm wondering if there were any specific times that you wished you had someone/were thankful that you did have the interpreter.

Hi aHs

I want to first thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing an interpreter for your friend! I experienced my first wedding last year. It was in my family. I thought everything was good but they ended up not paying for the interpreter and making me do so disregarding my explanations about deaf wedding equitte. It was all very sad that I failed somehow and that they took that view on it.

I'm so glad you are viewing it as a way for guests & you to interact with her and vice versa! Interpreters are there for both sides

I wanted to reply to your last question about the rehearsal or specific times. Ceremony and the beginning of the reception are great to have interperts ( if you had to pick beg or end of reception for interpreter, pick whichever time you're planning to do the toasts. ). I assume she, like I was, in the wedding party. So YES definitely will need an interpreter for the wedding rehearsal. That is when lots of talking is going on, instructions, figuring out when to do things and it's nice to be able to contribute to solutions! It's also good for the interpreter because they'll know beforehand what's being said, (if you have pre-written text the pastor will be saying please give a copy to interpreter to study beforehand) and the set up of the wedding.

Also when Jamgirl says TTY service she is actually referring to CART service. It's a live physically present person that types what's being said. It is used in courts a lot. Interpreter is better if you can get that because you move around a lot in weddings. The reception might work though, but make sure it's okay with the deaf person, she may understand ASL better than text.

Anyhow, good luck and a big thank you for your thoughtfulness! You warmed my heart today.

As for times when I didn't need an interpreter;

--During dressing prep. I thought there would be lots of talking but really it was every women for herself in getting ready on time. The talking related to getting ready was between the girls helping each other so it was one on one. I was fortunate in that the girls were fairly easy to lip read. (the interpreter floated in and out but mostly I didn't need her.)

--During the reception *after* the toasts. It didn't really work out having an interpreter **for the social interaction part.** It was too loud for her to interpret social things. Also when I was at the head table and she was at the nearest table, I couldn't talk with the other bridesmaids because of course the interp didn't have super powers hearing from that far away! Still she did her best. I just wish we had planned the logistics of where the interpreter would be instead of just winging it.

My future mother in law teaches the deaf and hard of hearing in Glynn County where Jekyll Island is located. She and her team of interpreters would be glad to assist you.

View Quoted Comment Hi! I know this is late, but I am looking for an ASL interpreter for my sister (MOH) for my wedding June 1, in Hackettstown NJ.

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I'm looking for an interpreter for my son and future daughter in law's wedding. Both of my future DIL's parents are deaf and this is one of our gifts to them. We don't want her parents to miss out on anything. I'm on Long Island. Can I please have that contact information?

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Hi- located in NY/NJ area- wedding will be in Greenwood Lake, NJ 8/3/24. We need a sign language interpreter.

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Hi- located in NY/NJ area- wedding will be in Greenwood Lake, NJ 8/3/24. We need a sign language interpreter.