HAVE THE WEDDING you want
Couple-Centric Ceremony
Our signature package is built on creative collaboration to craft a fully customized ceremony. No two love stories are the same, and your ceremony should be a reflection of how special the two of you are and celebrate your once-in-a lifetime love.
Upon booking, your officiant will write a full draft of your ceremony and email it to you for review. You can make as many revisions as you’d like until it is the exact wedding ceremony you want.
Resource recommendations for writing vows, selecting music, and inclusion of any wedding members (readers, wedding party, parents, children, etc.)
Providing suggestions for ceremony components such as readings, unity ceremonies, or cultural elements
Rehearsal
Rehearsal the evening prior to your wedding or as scheduled - we will walk you through your ceremony from start to finish and coordinate all the “moving parts” like lining everyone up at the altar so they are picture perfect, cueing your readers, placement of any unity ceremony, your processional and recessional, and the giving of rings - just so you feel confident for your big day.
Day of Wedding
Arrival 30-45 minutes prior to the ceremony to finalize logistics and check in with the wedding couple, any readers, family or active participants, and vendors
Performance of your wedding ceremony by a friendly, professional non-denominational minister
Providing a wonderful experience for you and your guests
Happily Ever After
Presiding over the signing of the marriage license, assuring it is filled out correctly and legally
Filing the marriage license with county/town clerk's office for official recording by the next business day
MOST POPULAR
The Love Story Package
The ‘I Do’ package
Sweet Beginnings
Budget-friendly option for a lovely ceremony with minimal customization on the couple’s journey and vows
Arrival no later than 15 minutes prior to ceremony to check in with couple
Travel to the ceremony venue
Officiating your wedding ceremony with love and care
After the I Do
Presiding over the signing of the marriage license, assuring it is filled out correctly and legally
Filing the marriage license with county/town clerk's office for official recording by the next business day
***This package does not include a rehearsal.
The Sign & Go Package
Simple Civil Signing Ceremony
Presiding over the signing of the marriage license to get married without a traditional wedding or elopement celebration.
This will include the Declaration of Intention and Pronouncement, the legal requirements to be valid.
Couple must travel to the officiant.
Inquire here to get started!
Flower City Ceremonies’ Wedding Process
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We Connect
To ensure you are receiving the one-of-a-kind experience Flower City Ceremonies has built their business around, we limit the number of weddings we officiate each year. After you fill out the FC contact form, we will see if your date is available, and then we will book your complimentary consultation.
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We Chat
We'll grab coffee, or if you’re out of town a video or phone call, and you'll tell me about your other half - how you met, what made you have those butterflies in your stomach, and all those other heartwarming details. If we're a good fit, we'll seal the deal.
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We Collaborate
Once it's official, we’ll get to work crafting a ceremony that is tailor-made for the two of you. It will include all the elements you want and nothing you don’t. We will send a draft for your approval, and you are welcome to make as many changes or additions to the ceremony to ensure it is the wedding ceremony of your dreams. About a week before the wedding we will send what we call the final draft to assure everything is as you remember it, and if we’ve done several revisions we are all looking at the same version.
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We Are Ceremony Ready
On your wedding day we will arrive thirty minutes before the start time to check on the two of you as well as coordinate with any vendors to assure your ceremony is delivered flawlessly and with love and care.
We take care of the paperwork.
After your ceremony we will have your witnesses sign the marriage license. We will file your marriage license the next business day, and you should receive your marriage certificate within 10-14 business days.
Our Vision
At Flower City Ceremonies, we are a small collective of highly knowledgeable officiants who work collaboratively with our couples to create custom-written ceremonies for anyone who’s in love and wants to get married. Our couple-centric ceremonies are innovative, delivered with poise and care, and evoke emotions in order to provide a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience for your wedding. Flower City Ceremonies believes that everyone should have the ceremony of their dreams and because your love story isn’t cookie cutter your ceremony shouldn’t be either…
FAQ
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Flower City Nuptials has been in business since 2014 and has performed over 300 weddings for couples all over the Rochester -Finger Lakes- Buffalo region.
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We don’t believe in “bait and switch” - whomever you meet with for your initial consultation will be your officiant. Both Keri and Katie write and perform ceremonies, so you really can’t go wrong!
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Your love story isn’t cookie cutter so why should your ceremony be? Your officiant will get to know you both as individuals and as a couple to craft a ceremony that is “couple-centric”; one that is unique to your personalities, beliefs, and relationship. After the draft is complete, your officiant will email you a copy to look over. You can make as many additions or changes as you’d like. It is extremely important for us to give you the ceremony you want, and we are happy to work with you on the draft until it’s perfect.
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Yes! We strongly believe that love is love, and Keri's first-time officiating was for a same-sex couple. We are fierce LGBTQIA+ allies and are happy to marry any couple who wants to tie the knot.
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Absolutely! We can create a customized ceremony for you that blends and honors your religious traditions.
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Definitely! During our consultation we can discuss ways to have your loved ones take part in your ceremony.
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Yes! We did this a lot after COVID where many couples chose to elope and have their larger ceremony later. Since performing a “fake wedding ceremony” is illegal, we just need to see a copy of your marriage license ahead of time. No one will know the difference unless you choose to tell them!
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Of course! Keri has taught several classes at The Rochester Brainery about this. We can help a little, like reading for clarity or making sure that both people’s vows are similar in length and tone, or we can help a lot - providing you with tools to help you express yourself like a pro. Just remember: as long as you write from your heart, you can’t go wrong.
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This is completely your personal preference. Many venues have an event coordinator that will conduct your rehearsal, or maybe you’ve hired a professional wedding coordinator to oversee your entire wedding. If you are having a ceremony that is more DIY, or you just want an additional piece of mind, you may want to consider having your officiant attend your rehearsal. This allows an opportunity to practice with all the moving parts, and the wedding ceremony goes smoothly.
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In New York State, your marriage license is valid for 60 days; however, with COVID, many clerks’ offices require an appointment, so you may want to call ahead. The two of you will need to go together with a raised-seal birth certificate (not a photocopy) and a photo ID. You will also need to bring a copy of your divorce paperwork if you’ve been previously married.
Following your ceremony, we ensure that the license is properly filled out and signed by your witnesses. We immediately file it with the clerk’s office for you, so you never have to worry.
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We will arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the ceremony. We take that time to check in with the two of you for any last-minute details or to grab your vows if you choose to write them. During this time we also meet with your other vendors like doing a sound check with your DJ/band and assuring your photographer we will step aside for your first kiss.
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