No one wants to officiate our wedding.

That doesn't answer the question. What is a biblical marriage?

300 dollar officiants in LI?

are worth every cent. If you know what I mean.

@Pumpkin beer. I THINK she means she wants a bible present and read from during her ceremony regarding the biblical marriage.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong!

WWLynnie,

You didnt skimmer thru this topic on the pages here....

The church where I attend is a local church, 2 miles down the road from my home for 22 years as a 'member'. The same church is the only non denomitional christian has Deaf Ministry in the enitre Suffolk county. The problem is, my Deaf pastor there has NO license to marry outside the church. Same church there they refused to allow him to marry us because my fiance is not a 'member' of my church. Now you understand how majorly fucked up way it is to screw my confirmed wedding plan which my Deaf pastor did set it up already and yet only found out from the executive pastors (all of them are hearing and non ASL users , of course) refused to allow him to do that because he is no licensed officiant outside the church. There you go....

Another Long Island Bride here. $500 for my officiant, $900 for the venue (not getting married in a church).

So would he be allowed to marry you INSIDE the church if your FH became a member? Does your FH not want to be a member and attend services with you? It seems since you have 7 months you should be able to get approved in that time, but I'm not sure.

LittleDemon,

You are 100 percent correct.

Don't they the licensed officants who are not involved the church service but carry the bible for wedding ceremony to marry the couple?

You don't need a license to marry outside the church if he has an actual ordination in the denomination. There is no such thing,

In the five boroughs, the officiant has to register with the city. That's it.

If he wanted to do it?

He could.

@katy, maybe your pastor could get his license before your wedding so that he could marry you?

Yes, they could marry us if my fiance is member for a year or more. He visited my church twice and met my pastor and exectuvie pastor as well. He lives 400 miles away from me. Membership is the most nonsense thing to talk about.

I'm sorry, I missed where you said he is not there currently.

I don't know how helpful this is but google turned up a name: Andria Alefhi. Her LinkedIn profile states that she's an ASL interpreter and that she is a legally ordained wedding officiant. You have to create an account to see all of that but it's a possible option.

Celia,

Exactly! There! Thats what I thought....its so absurd of them to prevent my Deaf ordained pastor of the Deaf ministry as well as the Deaf Ministry coordinator . He became ordained pastor last May of this year. He performed as the officant for the first time in our church for my Deaf couple friends last September.

This is why I asked whether it didn't make the most sense to marry in his church after you move. So far that seems like the only option for ASL officiant who will provide a "biblical marriage."

Bobbi,

Yeah, I googled aslweddingblogspot.com the other night and contacted the videophone number she left on her website. I called. Called. Called. Called. Emailed. Emailed...no answer...until the stranger Deaf lady answered my Videophone and said u got wrong number. It was not Andria's face. WTF? I searched her name on FB and found her...and contacted her. She replied my message...and i explained everything what is going on with my church and all BS is going on....now it has been three days now she didnt reply my last message since. Something is very fishy.

Sorry to disappear on you! Your civil officiant should be able to provide your pastor with a written copy of the vows he/she needs you to agree to, which your pastor can properly interpret for you. If you want Bible readings, have a dramatic presentation, ASL version, video, or however your church typically presents Scripture. The civil officiant does not need to have a part in that element.

I'm so sorry this is so hard on you and your fiance. Will everyone in attendance be deaf or hard of hearing? Have you contacted SHHH or the League of Hard of Hearing for help?

As a side note, you can choose to make God a part of your marriage regardless of whether your civil marriage license is signed by a pastor or a civil officiant. Your pastor, families, really anyone can ask for God's blessings upon you anywhere at any time.

This is an UO here, but if there was ever a time to have two ceremonies, this is it. You could go to the courthouse and do the civil thing alone, then have your pastor do a spiritual ceremony at the Chapel you've picked with your family and friends. No, the ceremony at the Chapel isn't legally binding, but you're being backed into a corner because of legitimate needs. How have others in your community handled weddings like yours?

Her profile says she's a professor as well. It's finals week for most colleges so it may take her a few days.

Celia,

I just already screenshot your comment and plan to show my Deaf ordained pastor that he doesnt need a license in order to marry a couple outside the church or anywhere such as AmVets, American Legion, park, in the backyard or at the beach! He doesnt know what to do since hes newly ordained and is in awkward poistion when they (who runs my church) denied him to marry us due to no license. My Deaf pastor never went to college, no degree in theology or anything. A lot of Deaf needs Good News gospel all over around since its only 2 percent Deaf human beings in the world doesn't know who Jesus is. like I said, my sister in Christ who left my church back in 2001 because it had something to do with their stupid rules system or its doctrine....says they must be dumber than dumb as she thought.. i agreed with her all the way.......so friggin embarrassed and disgusted.

I apologize Katy, I was confused from your original post.

As Celia said, if your pastor is an ordained minister than they can legally perform marriages regardless of whether it is inside or outside of the church. Can you ask your pastor to officiate regardless of the church policy?

For example - my parents are both Presbyterian pastors, and in order to get married in their church you have to be a church member. This is that specific church's policy. But - my parents are still ordained and have officiated inter-faith and non-member weddings outside of their church for family friends. Is this type of thing possible for you?

WWLynnie,

That's what Celia just said in her comment on 3rd page. Whoa, i am surprised....thats why i dont understsnd why is going on that the people who runs my church didn't approve my ordained pastor to marry us outside the church without a license to officate the wedding. It is fair to say how embarrassing it has become because he seems not aware about that part...he's still fairly new ordianed he just got a certification from last May this year. He's not intelligent in some ways may I add but...oh boy....i hope Celia is really right as an expert to the best knowledge that he can legally marry us at the different place where I pay the rent to use the private chapel facility off the road.