<![CDATA[Wedlock Officiants - Blog]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:10:44 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Magnolia Rouge]]>Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:31:31 GMThttps://www.wedlockofficiants.com/blog/magnolia-rouge
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Elopements can be so much fun. Get the right photographer, the right couple and the right wedding officiant in the right place and wonderful things can happen! These pics were taken in Rocky Mountain National Park by Winsome and Wright Photography and published in Magnolia Rouge. Congratulations to Randy and Shannon!

http://www.magnoliarouge.com/inspiration/stunning-elopement-in-colorados-rocky-mountains/
]]><![CDATA[Legal Tips for Destination Weddings]]>Fri, 27 Nov 2015 07:23:39 GMThttps://www.wedlockofficiants.com/blog/legal-tips-for-destination-weddingsDestination weddings are a great way to treat your guests and yourselves. Whether it is going to another state or even another country you can really add something special to your ceremony by hosting it at a special place. But getting married outside of your local area can present some challenges.

If you are getting married in another U.S. state, there are some differences in marriage laws from state to state, but they are largely minor. Some states require blood tests, some allow you to self-solemnize and there are other more subtle differences, but largely you bring ID’s and a small payment down to a local government office and can typically come away shortly thereafter with a marriage license. As a marriage valid in one state is valid in all other states, it makes little difference in the long run as to where you get married.

If you are getting married outside of the U.S., things get a bit trickier. For instance, if you are intending to get legally married in Mexico, you’ll have several hoops to jump through. I won’t go into all of them, but just suffice it to say that in Mexico you’ll need blood tests, x-rays, passports, birth certificates and four witness to start not to mention what each Mexican State may require additionally which may include waiting periods, official translations of documents and other restrictions. And once you can wipe your brow after completing all of the necessary paperwork and get your Mexican wedding certificate, you’ll then need to go through the process of getting the U.S. to recognize your Mexican marriage.

If this sounds like a lot more trouble than a quick jaunt down to your local government office, well, it is. It is a whole lot more. However, there is an easy way around all of this. Hold your ceremony at your destination and get legally married back in the U.S. either before or after your destination wedding. Ta-da! Simple and easy. You’ll be able to fulfill both your legal and personal marriage needs. You can argue later which date you consider your anniversary or just have two!

But what about the officiant you ask. Well, while it is typical that officiants are locally hired for destination weddings, there are some officiants willing to travel if you feel unsure about what your destination might have to offer. Difficulties with communication, language, culture and traditions with your destination officiant can be problematic depending on where you’re holding your ceremony.

If you want to get married within your faith, make sure to contact your local religious figure to inquire about what can be done at your intended destination and gather some suggestions for how to get in contact with the right people to make it happen.

Destination weddings are wonderful and can be very exciting for all involved. Just be mindful of these tips and you’ll do great!

-Scot Sanders, Wedding Officiant, Wedlock Officiants
]]><![CDATA[How to Write Your Own Wedding Vows]]>Sun, 25 Oct 2015 02:44:21 GMThttps://www.wedlockofficiants.com/blog/how-to-write-your-own-wedding-vowsEveryone wants their wedding to be the especially meaningful. And for some that comes in the form of writing their own vows. Here are my tips for doing just that.

Questions to answer before you put pen to paper on those vows...

Will you repeat the same vows or will you each make up your own?
This is really just personal preference and the symbolism is roughly equivalent. There is charm to both the personal promise and the promise that you both agree on together.

Will you write the them separately in secret, or with your partner?
There is something suspenseful and authentic about vows that your partner only hears for the first time in the ceremony.  But writing your vows with your partner’s help can make you feel more connected to each other leading up to the big day. So choose what works best for you as couple.

Roughly how many words should each of your vows be?
Traditional vows are only a couple dozen words. So it’s hard to be too short for what your guests are expecting as long as it’s meaningful to you. And frankly, as long as what you are saying is meaningful and heartfelt, it’s hard to be too long. After all, this promise is going to be the most important words you are ever likely to speak. And this is why you are having guests, getting dressed up and decorating the place with flowers. This is your moment. Say what you need to say. But that being said, if there are sections that are not significantly meaningful and heartfelt, revise them or pull them out.

How do you want your vows to be received?
It could be quite awkward if one of you is writing serious, deeply emotional, tear-jerking vows while the other is writing funny, self-deprecated, semi-sarcastic vows. Make sure you’re both on the same page with overall tone. If it helps, choose a couple words like the ones above to give you both a guide for what you’re going to communicate.

Do you want to echo the officiant or read your vows?
Echoing (in other words, repeating) your vows after the officiant is easy, requires less fidgeting with paper but only really works with shorter vows with easily repeatable words that are a bit more general than personal. Think ‘for richer or for poorer’ and ‘til death do us part’. Reading your vows makes more sense with stories, personal messages and longer vows. Asking your officiant to say something like ‘the first time we kissed’ so you can echo it just gets weird. So pay attention to language when making your choice.

Okay, now that you've figured out your basic theme, about how long it should be, who is saying what when, it's now time to do the dirty work.

What is a vow?
A vow is a promise. And meaningful promises, the ones you should be promising in a wedding, are ones which require sacrifice. For instance, promising to enjoy every kiss is probably not much of a stretch. It may sound romantic, but isn’t really anything more than what you would do anyway. But that being said, promises like “I promise to take the trash out” while perhaps a sacrifice, are not really appropriate for a wedding. So think about things that bond you as a couple and make you a better couple: “I promise to listen before I speak”, “I promise to calm you when you are stressed” or “I promise to help your family as I would my own.” In this vein, think about the verb you are promising. In these cases to listen, to calm and to help. If you are looking for more guidance, think about other verbs you could use like these and perhaps check out a thesaurus to find new ones.

When a vow isn’t just a vow.
Sometimes it’s really poignant to add some context to a vow by means of a preface or a story. For instance, “For all of the times you get lost and can’t figure out which way to go, I promise to hold your hand and guide you.” or “Remember our third date when you had a drink or two too many? For those nights and all those nights to come, I promise to drive you safely home”. The story can be even longer too. For example, “There was this one time when I couldn’t find my sunglasses. I had torn apart the couches, pulled open all of the kitchen cabinets and even looked in the tank of the toilet I was so desperate to find them. But when you came home you found them for me. They were on my head. We are always better together and I promise to always bring my problems to you as when I do we solve them so much faster.”

When vows aren’t vows at all.
Sometimes the format of a vow doesn’t really allow you to say what you want to say. You may want to take a moment during this special time to affirm your love or praise your partner or say a special personal prayer. This is still the right time in the ceremony to do all of those things. It’s your turn to say what you have always wanted to say. So go ahead and tell everyone how much you love your partner and how they are special and endearing to you.

Hit with writer’s block?
Okay, so you liked all of the ideas above, but still can’t make it work? Try answering these questions to jog your mind.
  • Why do you think this one is THE one? What makes them special?
  • What have you had to overcome to win their love?
  • What challenges do you think the future holds and how do you want to overcome those challenges with your partner?
  • How will your dreams change now that you’re going to be married?
  • What did you think when you first saw your partner?
  • How is your life better now that your partner is in your life?
  • What do you respect most about your partner?
  • What are you inspired to do now that your partner is in your life?
  • What do you miss most when you're apart?
  • What qualities do you most admire in your partner?
Pay most attention to the verbs you were using. See if you can use these as vows. Look at the topics you brought up. Is there a good story in there? If so, use it.


Do you have any favorite quotes, poems, love songs or movie scenes? Now is the time to start mining some of those awesome lyrics or scripts for all things deep and meaningful.

Also, search the infinite sea of knowledge (e.g. the internet) for vows. Not that you probably haven’t done this already. I mean hey, you found this blog post somehow, right? But don’t be afraid to borrow from others and if you feel bad about that, spin some of the words around for your own personal twist.

Still stumped?
Well, now it’s time to bring in the cavalry. Ask your officiant or your friends and family for help. Ask them questions to get an outsider’s perspective. Ask them about their favorite stories about the two of you or what vows they would write for the two of you. At this point, if you’re still at a loss and haven’t brought in your partner yet, it may be time to sit down and do this together or even choose from some of the more traditional wedding vows. There’s no shame in tradition. After all, that why we have weddings in the first place.

-Scot Sanders, Wedding Officiant, Wedlock Officiants
]]><![CDATA[Post-Ceremony Announcements]]>Wed, 21 Oct 2015 02:27:10 GMThttps://www.wedlockofficiants.com/blog/post-ceremony-announcementsBoth Micah and I subscribe to the idea that everything at your wedding should be easy, clear and without confusion. There is nothing that annoys me more than watching a ceremony conclude with no post-ceremony announcements and all of the guests looking around trying to guess what to do next.


Maybe there is a sign posted. Maybe there is a section in the program that describes what happens next. But usually, if you are lucky, the ceremony is followed by guests turning in circles while a day of coordinator tries to herd people towards cocktail hour and the photographer tries to grab family members for photos out of a moving crowd. We will not let this happen at your wedding!


We always provide that last little verbal announcement for your guests after your processional has completed so that your guests know where they need to be going next: family to the photo location and remaining guests to the cocktail hour/reception venue.

And there may be other things you want your guests to know. I have done weddings where the reception site will only accept guests after a certain time. How else to best let everyone know than when the officiant still can get everyone’s attention? Let us know your plan and we can make sure everyone feels great and knows where they should be. We’ll make your wedding easy and relaxing for everyone.

Of course every wedding is unique and your needs may vary, but post-ceremony announcements come strongly recommended.

-Scot Sanders, Wedding Officiant, Wedlock Officiants
]]><![CDATA[What I Like About… Piney River Ranch, Wedding Venue]]>Mon, 19 Oct 2015 06:21:42 GMThttps://www.wedlockofficiants.com/blog/what-i-like-about-piney-river-ranch-wedding-venue
Best Denver Wedding Officiant, Best Colorado Wedding Officiant, Piney River Ranch, Vail Wedding Venue
Photo Courtesy of Piney River Ranch in Vail, Colorado
Located just 12 miles from the Vail Resort in Vail, Colorado you will find one of the most wonderful views imaginable from the deck of Piney River Ranch. No, not hyperbole. You couldn’t photoshop a better backdrop for a wedding. Need proof? Check out these pics courtesy of Greg Roe Photography, flowers and decor by Bella Calla, day of coordination by Sweetly Paired, and of course, officiating by Scot Sanders of Wedlock Officiants.
PHOTOS COMING SOON. WE ARE WORKING TO GET THIS WEDDING PUBLISHED, SO HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS.
You need to be prepared for some bumps on the dirt road up to the secluded Piney River Ranch. But it is surely worth the trip. It’s not just for weddings either. Once up at the ranch, you can enjoy horseback riding, paddle boarding, hiking, fishing, canoeing and even a game of horseshoes. There is a restaurant on-site to keep you well fed if you’re just up to enjoy the activities. But make sure to save some time in the evening for the s’mores fire pit. Yum. It’s rustic charm is compelling, complete with cowboys and horses. Cabins are for rent as well, and heck, if you’ve ever wanted to, you can even stay the night in one of their teepees. I did.
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Photo Courtesy of Piney River Ranch in Vail, Colorado
And a special shout out to Monique the ranch manager and Brittany the wedding venue coordinator. They are down to earth, friendly and helpful, and in a meaningful and not superficial way. Good people. If you head up there, tell them Scot says ‘Hello, and thanks for the whiskey’.
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-Scot Sanders, Wedding Officiant, Wedlock Officiants

]]><![CDATA[Wedding Ceremony Music]]>Sun, 18 Oct 2015 23:17:05 GMThttps://www.wedlockofficiants.com/blog/wedding-ceremony-music
Your wedding ceremony music sets the mood and tone for your ceremony. It settles your guests as the arrive and announces the start and end of your ceremony. It is like frosting on a cake and provides a real sweetness to the experience
Aisle Length and Song Duration
The distance you have to walk for your ceremony processional and recessional will have a profound impact on your wedding songs. Your aisle is essentially from your processional staging area all of the way to the front of the guests. If your aisle is short, your music may not even get through the intro before your processional finishes. And if your aisle is really long your songs may end before you’re done. ​
Day of Coordinator
Your Wedding Planner or Day Of Coordinator should be able to help out by spacing out your bridal party processional to match your music. They should also be able to help you find a suitable walking speed. But even they can only do so much before you really have to do something with the music. 
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Lilli Black, Sweetly Paired - Colorado Wedding Planner
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Santoya, Live Wedding Musicians
Live Musicians
If you have live musicians playing for your ceremony they can make adjustments to the start and finish of your music, manage transitions gracefully and make it just the right length and cover exactly what you want. There is also something very personal and inviting about live music that really helps set the stage for your ceremony. Of course, if you’re really set on hearing a recording of your favorite musician, then a live musician is probably not for you.
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Disc Jockeys
If you have a DJ playing your wedding music you’ll have a couple of decisions to make. You will have to decide how to handle what happens when you transition from the bridal party processional music and the music for the bride’s entrance. You’ll also have to decide what happens once the bride finishes the  procession and the music is still playing. Do you want the DJ  to fade out the music or do you want everyone to stand there while the music finishes? If you want it to fade out, do you want it to fade out right when the procession finishes or do you want the DJ to wait for a good moment in the music? And on that note, before you hastily decide to let the processional music finish on its own, think about what it will be like to be standing in front of your wedding guests waiting for the song to finish. It can be a bit awkward for everyone with your guests standing and all eyes on you waiting for something to happen.
DIY Music
What if you’re doing the wedding ceremony music yourself? Frankly, I don’t recommend it. I’ve seen several weddings where the DIY music didn’t start on time (awkward) or for technical issues the songs didn’t play at all (really awkward). However, if you do choose this path, please use a dedicated music player, such as an iPod or MP3 player, a customized playlist and a speaker big enough to project through the space (the bluetooth speaker you bought at BestBuy is not going to cut it). Practice cannot be overstated and yet the odds will still be stacked against you that everything will go as planned (that’s why there are professionals). So be prepared for hiccups.
Music and the Wedding Officiant
I arrive an hour or so before the ceremony to, amongst other things, work out music cues with whoever is providing music. This includes discussing cues for starting and stopping music, fade outs and or any repeats as may be necessary.
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Scot Sanders, Wedding Officiant, Wedlock Officiants
As a wedding officiant, sometimes the music runs longer than it was supposed to run. Trying to talk over music that is playing is not good form. It just doesn’t sound right and it makes it appear like something didn’t go as planned. So expect me to wait with a smile on my face until the music finishes before I begin speaking again. And don't look to my partner, Micah Sturr for a different opinion. He'll tell you the same thing. Remember, your guests don’t really know what was planned and as long as it looks intentional no one will notice.

If music doesn’t play as it should, or something unplanned occurs, it is best to take a page out of the ‘show must go on’ theater playbook, roll with it and keep going like it was intentional (as much as possible at least). As your officiant and host of your ceremony, I will keep things moving smoothly and deflect attention away from unplanned moments.
Music Choices
Typically everyone is quiet and calm while getting seated and during the processional, but cheering and elated during the recessional. Your music should contribute to the feel of your ceremony as a whole. When I create a custom ceremony I always keep in mind that we are building to one big moment: the kiss and the cheer that follows!

When guests arrive and are taking their seats, a little music can help ease their mind that they are in the right place and doing what they need to do. Your guests are new to all of this and don’t really know what to expect until you tell them or provide enough hints and clues for them to get it. Playing some music at your ceremony site really helps your guests feel like they are in the right place at the right time.

When selecting processional songs or bridal entrance songs, think about songs that move you and can be used as a starting point for the feel of your ceremony. These songs are literally setting the stage for all that follows. Again, pay attention to long intros or other anomalies in songs that may not make them an ideal selection for the procession.

Unless you have a particularly long ceremony or some otherwise lengthy pauses during unity ceremonies, I would recommend staying away from music during the ceremony. In-ceremony music can take you and your guests out of the moment and turn the focus away from you. Additionally, it adds some complexity and creates more opportunities for things to not go as planned. However, if you’re ceremony is a bit longer, a song can be a welcome break from speaking. Or if you are doing a unity ceremony that gathers items from your guests during the ceremony or requires some set up, some music can be a good way to transition.

When you think about recessional songs, think about something upbeat that matches the emotion you’re expecting and that can pierce through a cheering crowd. This will be the moment that everything has led up to so be sure to pick the music to make it just right!
​- Scot Sanders, Wedding Officiant, Wedlock Officiants
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