Wedding Day Questionnaire 

Questions to the Couple

What is the date of your ceremony?

Where will your ceremony take place?            The Address is:

What time will ceremony start?

(Some of these questions may seem invasive, but the answers help me to know what I may choose to say in your ceremony during the "minister's talk to the couple".

What is the first, middle, last name of the Bride?

Age:                 cell phone # or number of house staying at:

What is the first, middle, last name of the Groom?

Age:                cell phone #:

What number should I call on the ceremony day, should I need to contact you? (If yours is a larger ceremony, you will want to provide the name and number of a parent or best man:  someone who will  be responsible for taking last minute calls.  Usually the Bride and Groom are preoccupied with wedding day preparations and do not answer the phone)

Alternate contact:__________________

Is your ceremony: 

Christian oriented___: 

Buddhist oriented___

Jewish_______

Other:  _____  ; if  “other” , please specify religious orientation

OR

Non-denominational spiritual/religious (contains prayers and blessings to the Light of the Universe and/or to The Spirit of All That Is"

OR

Non-spiritual/ non-religious – no prayers or blessings 

OR

a very general blessing, "May you blessed with happiness, etc."

Will the Bride be changing her name with marriage, and if so, what will be her first, middle, last name with marriage? In Hawaii, you can add your last name to your middle name.

How long have you been together?

Do you have children?  yes    no

Will you be having children? 

yes  no

Is there a color scheme or theme to the ceremony?  yes   no

If “yes” to above:  what is the color scheme?

Will someone walk the Bride down the aisle?  yes   no 

If “yes” , who will it be? 

Did you wish me to ask “who gives this woman to this man?”  yes   no

Another alternative is “Will family and friends present, support this couple with honesty and love as together they travel their journey in marriage?

Please respond:  We will”     

{We choose this alternative_____}

this questionnaire continues in right side column

Kathy Kawana

Wedding Minister; State of Hawaii

#2012-00236

c/o 46-022 Alaloa St. #203

Kaneohe, HI 96744  Phone (808) 284-6352(808) 284-6352

{Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message. 

It helps if I know the date, time, and place of your ceremony for scheduling purposes.

At the time you take out your license, however, you may leave this information off or the Wedding Performer can change it after the ceremony has taken place.}

E-mail: ministerkathyhawaii@yahoo.com

www.ministerkathyhawaii.com

Non-sectarian, non-denominational non-religious or religious orientation non-discriminatory

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Will there be 1 ring or 2?   

After the couple have kissed, I usually will say “let us now sign the license”.  I do  this in the body of the ceremony as couples will often go off to start taking photos  and mingling with guests.  I have often been left waiting for long periods of time waiting to sign the license. 

As such, I usually bring a small portable table with me.  The table is covered with a white table cloth.  On top of the table cloth is the marriage license, which is placed under a wooden plaque that I bring.  On top of the wooden plaque will be a  wooden calabash bowl (about 5 – 6 inches in diameter).  Also on the wooden plaque, is a wooden pen holder and the pen.  I usually place the rings in the calabash bowl. 

If and when the rings are blessed, I hold the bowl with the rings over the bowed heads  of the couple.  Having the rings in the bowl helps to prevent them from falling  onto the ground (and into the sand/dirt, if outdoors).  I also feel it helps to keep  the energy of the rings “clean”.  The rings can be held by a best man or ring bearer  and still be placed in the bowl for the blessing.   

Is it ok to put the rings in the bowl?          yes   no   

The table will be placed between me and the couple.  It tends to serve as a boundary. 

I have found as the ceremony progresses, couples often will edge closer and closer  to me, the table prevents this from happening.  Also, if there is not a matron of  honor or bridesmaid; and if the Bride has a bouquet, the bouquet can be placed  on the table during the course of the ceremony.   

Some couples have no religious or spiritual inclination, but they may wish for the rings to be blessed.  If this is you, this is a general ring blessing

"May the energy of these rings be blessed by this couple, for this couple and by all in attenance today."  {We choose this blessing}

We do not wish any kind of blessing

Did you wish to present leis to each other?   yes   no 

If so, did you want to do this in the beginning of the ceremony or after the  ring exchange at the end?  beginning /   end   

Did you wish to present leis to your parents?  yes    no

If so, did you want to do this in the beginning of the ceremony or after the  ring exchange at the end?  beginning /   end

{You will provide and bring the leis.  When I arrive, the leis, rings, marriage license, and an envelope with the monetary gift  should be given to me so that I can setup the wedding alter.  You may wish to assign this to the best man/ matron of honor/ or a parent.  If you do not have an envelope available for the minister's monetary gift, you may wrap it in a piece of paper.)

Will there be a best man?

yes  no

If yes, the name is:

Will there be groomsmen? 

yes    no

If yes, their names are:

Will there be a matron or maid of honor?   yes   no

If yes, the name is:

Will there be bridesmaids?  

yes   no 

If yes, their names are :  

Will the Bride assign someone to start the ceremony?  if so, who will it be?

LEGAL NOTATION:  In Hawaii, if you take out a marriage license and have a ceremony by a State registered performer; once the ceremony is over, you are married.  Even if the license is not signed, even if the paperwork should not be finalized, you will still be married.  

If you have any questions  about the technical and legal issues of marriage in the State of Hawaii; these questions should be addressed to the State of Hawaii; Department of Health, Vital Statistics.  This constitutes the separation of church and state.   

Wedding performers who are State Judges may answer technical questions.

In the State of Hawaii, all wedding performers who are not judges are looked upon  as being of a religious nature.  As such, non-judge wedding performers, should  not attempt to answer legal / technical questions.