“What
do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each
other.” -- George
Eliot
In every life, there are certain
occasions that call for ceremonies -- weddings, the arrival of a
child, the onset of adulthood, marriage, separation and finally,
death. Recognition of these milestones mark one's passage
through life and gives community and family the opportunity to come
together.
As our society grows increasingly
secular, so grows the need for personal celebrations that accurately
reflect the beliefs of the individual.
Margaret
Downey is a recognized
Secular Humanist Officiant. After attending Humanist leadership
classes at The Humanist Institute and training sessions through
the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH), Council Chairman Paul Kurtz
certified her to conduct marriages and other secular ceremonies.
In the News
August 15, 2008 - PBS article on naming
ceremony. Click
here to read the article.
March 18, 2009 - Philadelphia Inquirer - Are they married? It depends...
Click here to read article.
The
current rate schedule for weddings is as follows:
- $400
Base price for all weddings
-
$100 Deposit is due at time of obtaining
the wedding license
-
Balance is due on date of wedding or shortly thereafter
The
Tree of Knowledge
In December 2007, The Freethought Society
of Greater Philadelphia (FSGP) participated in a Winter Display
Exhibit at the Chester County Courthouse Free Speech Zone. The Tree
of Knowledge display is recommended to all nontheist groups in order
to dispel the myth that the United States of America is a Judeo-Christian
nation. The Tree of Knowledge is an effective way to convey a positive
educational image. FSGP is happy to provide information to anyone
who is inspired to erect a similar display.
Click
here download and print the form to order a helpful “How To” booklet.
(If this link
does not work, you may need to click and hold (Mac) or right click
on the link (PC),
then choose "Download to Disk," or "Save Target As...,".)
If you do
not have Acrobat Reader, you may download it for free by clicking
the following link:
Advice on getting a license
By Dianna Marder
Inquirer Food Columnist
Here's an American Civil Liberties Union primer on applying for a marriage license, so you can avoid being misled or denied your rights. If you encounter problems in one county, you can go to another or contact the ACLU.
Where to apply
Marriage licenses are issued by the Office of the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans Court in each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. You may buy a license in any county and have the ceremony there or in any other county.
Same-sex couples?
Civil unions for same-sex couples are not available in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians may have civil unions in New Jersey (if you get the license and hold the ceremony there). Those unions are not recognized in Pennsylvania.
Timing is everything
In parts of Asia, couples consult the calendar for a fortuitous wedding date. In Pennsylvania, be mindful of the three-day waiting period between when you apply and when you can actually marry. That's three business days. And the license is valid for only 60 days, so don't apply too soon.
Cash up front
Like towing companies, county offices accept cash or money order only. License fees range from $45 to $90 in Chester, Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties.
Don't go alone
Both parties must be present to apply for the marriage license. Widows or widowers, bring a certified copy of the death certificate; divorcees must show a certified divorce decree.
No officiant?
No problem. Any couple may marry themselves in front of two witnesses - without an officiant. Ask for a self-uniting license. Members of Baha'i and Quaker communities also use self-uniting licenses.
Attending the Church of the Unknown?
Your mother, father - even your Weight Watchers meeting leader - can be ordained online and officiate at your wedding, according to a December 2008 court ruling by Bucks County Court Judge C. Theodore Fritsch Jr.
And it does not matter if the clerk on duty the day you're applying has never heard of the particular church or officiant you've chosen. Their questions violate the U.S. Constitution.
Common-law marriage?
That was repealed in January 2005. And don't let anybody tell you the repeal of Common Law changed the rules for self-uniting couples. A federal judge ruled to the contrary in 2007.
Young and in love?
If either of you is under 16, you'll need consent of the court. Under 18, you'll need parental consent. Kissing cousins? Fuhgetaboutit.
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