A Meaningful Day
Dan Furmansky, Officiant
How do you help us create a personalized wedding?
Thanks for asking! First, let’s have an initial, no-obligation conversation so you can ask me any questions you might have and see if you are interested in working with me. During this time, I will learn more about you and your vision for your wedding.
If you choose to have me officiate your wedding, I will help you select all the elements of your ceremony – this includes providing samples and ideas, as well as crafting unique remarks tailored just for your ceremony. You’ll walk away from our first official planning meeting with an outline of your ceremony.
As part of the process, I will work with you to gain an understanding of the foundations of your relationship. I can also reach out to family and friends for their insights. If you are comfortable, we will incorporate some of this into the ceremony.
I will write out a script for your review so that you will always know exactly what to expect and we can edit it back and forth. Your wedding ceremony will be personalized and customized to be meaningful and special to reflect your beliefs, your values, and your wishes.
I am simply your guide in the process, and I am open to all of your ideas!
Are you a wedding planner?
I'm glad to offer suggestions on music and will do my best to answer other questions, but I do not plan wedding receptions; I simply help couples plan their wedding ceremonies and officiate at their ceremonies.
Can you legally marry couples in Washington, D.C. and Maryland?
Yes. I am approved by the D.C. Superior Court to legally marry couples and have performed many wonderful weddings in our nation's capitol, from hotels and restaurants to the George Mason Memorial to Rock Creek Park. I was proud to officiate my first wedding in Maryland on January 1, 2013 -- the first day that same-gender couples could legally marry in my home state. I have officiated many times since.
Are you a member of the clergy?
In deference to my friends who have years of theological training as rabbis and ministers, I am careful with that reference. However, I do consider marrying couples a ministry, and the Universal Life Church provides a very simple ordination process for the sole purpose of allowing individuals to have a ministry of performing legal marriages. You can learn more about the Universal Life Church by visiting: www.ulchq.com/
Do you officiate at other life cycle ceremonies besides weddings?
Absolutely yes! Lean more here.
What types of weddings do
you perform?
I cater to couples who:
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Want a customized, personal wedding ceremony that fits their beliefs
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May not belong to a church, synagogue or other place of worship
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Have family clergy who are not available for their wedding date, unable to travel to their wedding location, or uncomfortable officiating at same-sex and/or interfaith unions
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Are traveling to D.C. or Maryland to elope
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Want a secular wedding ceremony with no reference to religion
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Seek a wedding with specific Jewish elements (I love to sing the sheva brachot!)
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Would like to incorporate personal stories into their wedding ceremony or a Quaker wedding circle
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Want a truly non-traditional wedding. Want to get married while tubing down a river? I'm in.
What do you charge?
The cost of a wedding is a sliding scale and depends on day of the week, time of day, the time of year, the size and location of the wedding, how much time we have to plan, whether you intend for me to join you at a rehearsal, and any special financial circumstances you want me to take into consideration. In all cases, the flat fee I quote you includes our meetings together and follow-up notes, planning with you and offering suggestions for each component of your wedding ceremony, personalizing key components of the ceremony, writing and re-writing the script, and officiating at the ceremony. You can feel free to get in touch with me with as many questions as you have before the wedding.
Contact me to tell me what you are looking for and I can give you an accurate quote.
How long does the process of crafting a wedding take?
The sooner you choose your officiant, the better. I recommend a leisurely approach to planning your wedding ceremony to truly savor the build-up of your special day. But if time is of the essence, I will do my best to work with you and make the process simple and fun. Each wedding is unique, and I tailor my services to every ceremony I perform. If you are looking for a simple ceremony or an elopement, as long as I am available, I will do my best to accommodate you on short notice.
Do you require premarital counseling?
No, I do not require premarital counseling, though I may ask a couple to answer basic but thoughtful questions as part of the creation of the ceremony. I believe the process of planning a ceremony should lend itself to a couple truly thinking about their relationship’s foundation and future. I am also glad to offer suggested readings and exercises you can partake in to strengthen your relationship in advance of your wedding.