Carolyn Burke STL Blog

Taking the name change plunge ? Whether you're following tradition and taking your husband's name, hyphenating, or making any other change you want legally recognized, here are the steps you'll need to follow. (Of course, these same steps apply to him if he's changing his name too.)  Until you receive your signed and sealed marriage license back from the county clerk, you won't be able to begin the official name change process. You can start in advance on minor things like changing magazine subscriptions and ordering new checks with your married name. Given that fact, be sure to book all airline tickets under your maiden name - all airlines now require a photo I.D. which matches the name on the ticket. Make sure you fill out a form requesting a copy of your marriage license be sent by mail after it has been processed, which typically takes about a month after the signed license was filed following your ceremony. With official marriage license in hand, the ...

What Happens  Once You Get Your Marriage License in Missouri? Once you receive your marriage license from the Recorder of Deeds Office, you must use the license within 30 days, it expires after the 30th day. If you do not use the license it must be returned to the Recorder of Deeds Office. Usually there are two papers for the Wedding Officiant to fill out : the Marriage License and the Marriage Certificate. The first paper is the valid marriage license which is the legal document that an officiant fills out before the ceremony with 1) The official name of person who performs the ceremony.  2) City where the wedding takes place.  3) County where the wedding takes place. 4) Day, month and year of wedding. 5) Official signature, title and sometimes their address. St Louis City Marriage Certificate and Marriage License The second paper is the invalid marriage certificate that is given to you for keepsake purposes. In most cases, you will not be able to use the cer...

Although some couples see this as a mundane task, I suggest you treat it as a ritual of love.  Prepare for the practical aspects, but also allow yourselves to feel and celebrate the importance of the celebration. This is the first step towards making it legal. It will be very exciting when you see your names on the license for the very first time. From the practical point of view, BOTH of you must apply for the license in person, bringing the appropriate payment and  documentation. The clerk's office will not allow a solo bride or groom to apply for a license. Missouri law allows you to obtain your license anywhere in the state (for example, you can get the license in St. Charles County, even if you intend to wed in the City of St. Louis). A marriage license from another state will not be considered valid. In Illinois, the ceremony must be performed in the same county of which you apply and pick up the marriage license. Illinois Marriage License CLICK HERE TO ...

The word ELOPE used to mean "to run away with a lover, with the intention of getting married." Today it means having a small, quick, intimate wedding without the stigma of running away. ​Elope at any location like your hotel lobby, public park, favorite restaurant. Sounds romantic, right? But why Kirkwood , Missouri? Carolyn Burke - Wedding Officiant  has been performing elopement ceremonies since 2005.  She charges a nominal fee ($75) in Kirkwood because she lives and works there and considers her town to be the PERFECT place for a small and intimate ceremony. "We have beautiful parks, a train station, bandstands, gazebos, restaurants, and even a bed and breakfast for the honeymoon night," says Burke. Hazel Nichols, from Potosi, Missouri had the perfect plan. She called Carolyn Burke the morning of July 3rd wondering if she is available to perform an elopement ceremony for her and her soon-to-be-husband, Danny Goodson that same day. There are many reas...

A simple, yet nice way to symbolize your union as a couple during a wedding ceremony is to offer roses to mothers, grandmothers, and other special persons in your life.  This is usually done after the vows to symbolize the coming together of two families and the blending of all involved.  I have a favorite passage that I use regularly. "Marriage is a coming together of two lives, and a celebration of the love of two people.  But it is more... Today, as [name and name] embrace one another in their love, they also embrace the families which have come together to celebrate this happy occasion. [name and name] will now offer roses to their mothers [names of mothers]."

I was honored to be the Wedding Officiant   for a special couple who held a Commitment Ceremony.  Over 100 guests were there to support them and celebrate their future together. Angie + Michelle  Angie and Michelle are perfect for each other - they truly compliment each other and it is easy to see and feel.  The theme for this event was - your guessed it - CARDINALS BASEBALL.  They had a traditional processional with the parents walking down, a wedding party, ring bearer and flower girl. Like many couples - this relationship came and went - then they were re-united and fell in love again.  They included a great song that made me cry (with happiness).  "Somewhere Down the Road" by Barry Manilow. The lyrics go as follows...... Sometimes goodbyes are not forever It doesn't matter if you're gone I still believe in us together I understand more than you think I can You have to go out on your own So you can find your way back home And S...

There are over 3,000 religious sites in the St Louis Metropolitan Area. Many of them allow non-members to use their sanctuary and facility for a wedding ceremony. The types of religious sites ranges from chapels to cathedrals.  Each site is unique in many aspects. Here are some quick questions to ask a religious site. Whether you're starting your search from scratch or you have an affiliation with a particular church or synagogue, you need to check on some details before deciding to hold your ceremony there: Is it available for the date and time you want?  If there are any weddings or other services booked for that day, how will that affect your event?  Is it large enough to hold your guests?  Is there adequate parking?  Does the officiant have any requirements you're unwilling to satisfy, such as couples counseling classes?  Some do not allow couples to live together before marriage. Do you like the officiant and feel that he...

I had two couples in the last week who have the same middle name. One couple shared Lynn and another share Lee. So, what's in a name?  The truth is that names are a part of every culture and that they are of enormous importance both to the people who receive names and to the societies that given them. The sense of personal identity and uniqueness that a name gives us is at the heart of why names interest us and why they are important to us as individuals and to our society as a whole. Noted from http://www.behindthename.com/   -  In spite of their importance, most people know very little about names and about the effects they have on us an on our children in everyday life. In a very real sense, we are consumers of names, and we have a need and right to know about the psychological, magical, legal, religious, and ethnic aspects of our names.

The key elements utilized in most Western wedding ceremonies, in their most common order are: Introduction - Opening Words - Invocation Main Body : Interrogation, Presentation Question of Intent Vows Exchange of Rings Closing - Announcement of the Couple The key elements utilized in most Western wedding ceremonies, in their most common order are: Introduction, Opening, or Invocation -- The officiant typically announces the purpose of the gathering, indicates the names of the bride and groom, welcomes the guests and solicits them to participate in the ceremony by their presence and, perhaps, by their prayers. Main Body -- The officiant reflects on the meaning of marriage and the significance of the bride and groom's decision to join together in wedlock.  The officiant may also share more casual remarks about the bride and groom as he or she has come to know them, and about the fitness of their union.  This portion of the ceremony might also include reli...

Many times I find myself saying to someone about something we have in common, "It's a small world."  Well, not in the Marriage License Department of St. Louis County.  I performed three wedding ceremonies in past week where the license was dated September 3, 2010.  That means these three couples were standing in line applying for their license for a wedding to take place within 30 days.  I have to keep a record of all the marriages I performed and I get such a joy over seeing the marriage license numbers grow - from a low number is January to over 3,000 in September.  The last four numbers of the three licenses I gathered were 3855, 3886, and 3899.  The first and second couple were separated by 13 others in line, and the second and third couple were separated by 31 others in line. I doubt they chatted with each other while waiting for their turn to apply.  The world is not small in the Marriage License Department of St. Louis ...

When you apply for a Missouri Marriage License, information printed on the form includes the full name of the bride and groom, the city, county and state where they reside, and the date the marriage license is issued.  I had two wedding this year spell a name wrong - this practically makes the license VOID - if not annoying. The officiant writes in the county where the marriage took place, the name and title of the person performing the ceremony, the city where the ceremony occured.  Of course, the day, month and year of the ceremony, and signatures of the officiant and two witnesses.  Most Missouri licenses also like to know my official title which is Wedding Officiant.  Some might ask for the address, city and state of the officiant, some may not. It is important that the spelling is correct and all other information is accurate!    Whenever I complete the marriage license, I always read most of it out loud to the two witnesses becaus...

It was my first time performing in a chapel in the afternoon.  It was a sweet little church in South County Saint Louis called Unity Church of Peace.  I arrived, introduced myself to the bride.  Everything seemed to be going well until the church coordinator came up to me and said, "We have lost the marriage license." I was a little bit shocked.  Lost the marriage license?? Well, they were at the rehearsal the Thursday night before where the coordinator said they can leave the marriage license at the church. I do not attend the rehearsal and had little to do with the problem at hand.  We will see what happens from this point. My advice to you - do not leave the marriage license to ANYONE.  My motto has always been to let the bride and groom be responsible for the marriage license and the rings.  No vendors should have the responsibility for this very reason.  Now the bride and groom may have to go back to the county courthouse an...

Happy Valentine's Day!   Last year, I blogged how surprised I was that I did not have any weddings on this special day, especially since it was on a Saturday. This year brought better results. Kirsten and Vince tied the knot in their home.  Both had been previously married and had children.  It was very small, just bride, groom, their children, One of the witnesses was a neighbor across the street. He was there with his girlfriend.  As one witness signed the Marriage License, she explained that the reason she has the same last name as the groom is because they were married before.  I tried not to drop my jaw, but it must have been obvious. Really I feel the whole closeness of this new family is great!! I am very happy for all concerned.

I just booked a " quickie wedding " for a young couple wanting to get married as soon as possible. In my business, no matter how well you know or counsel the couple, they are either going to make it or break it. The odds of this couple are just as good as anyone else's really. Just because the bride is 19 and the groom's name is John E. Walker (the popular Scotsch whiskey) is no means to judge. John is going into the marines and the bride wants to be sure she gets all the benefits of being a military wife. At 19, who can blame her.

Can you imagine celebrating your wedding anniversary every four years? That's just what Cindy and Rey did in their home on February 29th. Their next anniversary will be in four years! Leap years are notably excellent for beginning important undertakings. The choice is deemed particularly astute in that greater LUCK will attach to all that is begun on that day. In her own way, Cindy maintained the spirit of Feb. 29, which is known by some as Sadie Hawkins Day, when women are free to ask men for their hands in marriage without fear of committing a social faux pas. Cindy was the one who chose the date for the wedding. The choice became mutual, because Rey wanted to avoid the yearly anniversary in favor of a four-year plan.