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Reverend Mari Presedo - nondenominational wedding minister
4916 Parkhollow Dr. Baton Rouge, La. 70816
(225) 802-7030 Mobile (225) 293- 3954 Home
Location Served: Greater Baton Rouge Area, Ascension, Livingston, West Baton Rouge and Orleans Parish.
Ordained by: Universal Ministries
Date ordained: 10/23/2003
Education: Graduated from LSU, Baton Rouge, 1994- General Studies and Speech Communication
Professional Memberships: I am a proud member and on the board of the American Association of Wedding Officiants and Louisiana Association of Wedding Officiants
My Credo: I believe in every person's right to live and worship in the way that resonates within their soul, regardless of race, ethnicity and orientation. I don't believe a relationship with God requires a middleman.
Services Provided:
I write and coordinate beautiful, personalized ceremonies start to finish, from the processional to the recessional. Every ceremony should be created especially to reflect each couples spiritual and religious needs. You can write your own vows or choose from a variety of selections, which can be tailored to you. You can add a unique wedding tradition from your culture. I will officiate your ceremony at a plantation, on the beach, in a backyard garden, a park or at a country club. The choice is yours.
I have officiated weddings at most of the local plantations and venues and I can help you select the one that will most suit your particular needs. As soon as you decide on a date, call me! Even though I am NOT a wedding planner, I am an experienced ceremony coordinator. I can help you fine- tune the most important part of your wedding in ways that the others overlook.
Yes, interfaith, short notice and bilingual ceremonies are available. Include your loved ones and even your beloved animal companions in a memorable ceremony you and your friends will hold dear for a lifetime! Alternative and commitment ceremonies welcome. I am registered in East Baton Rouge and Orleans Parishes in Louisiana and Santa Clara County in California. Se habla Español.
Specializing in:
I specialize in beautiful personalized ceremonies reflecting each couple's, faiths, beliefs and values. I write every ceremony individually so every couple has their own special 'script' for that day. I do not do multiple ceremonies in a day so I will devote the appropriate amount of attention to your ceremony that your wedding day deserves.
A complimentary consultation is offered so we can get to know each other and discuss types of ceremonies, ranging from contemporary to spiritual to traditional. Once you decide to contract me and I have your booking form in hand, we can begin the real work. I can be as hands on as much or as little as you need me to be. I have performed over 300 beautiful weddings to date and I will promise you an unforgettable ceremony.
I pay attention to the small details nobody else thinks about, i.e. posing the entire wedding party in the best way for the pictures during the ceremony, making sure the choreography works with the bride's gown, checking the available light BEFORE the day of ceremony, ascertaining we have adequate sound capabilities so guests can hear your vows. I e-mail a copy of the ceremony to the photographers and musicians so they are aware of the script and their own cues. I will even help you select the perfect music and language of your ceremony to maintain the tone and ambience you envisioned.
Fees: A simple ceremony including (but not limited to) one rite such as sand ceremony or wine ceremony or Unity Candle at the location of your choice begins at $225. Additional fees are assessed on location, size and complexity of ceremony. I take my work very seriously and put in great effort to each and every ceremony I perform, whether it's a small intimate back yard wedding or a big affair at one of our beautiful plantations.
A $50 deposit will reserve your wedding day. Deposits are non-refundable and can be paid by cash or by cleared check. Once I have your deposit, I will reserve your date and time. On the day of your wedding, the remainder of the payment will be due in cash.
A rehearsal is optional and an additional charge - but if you have a wedding party with more than 4 members, it will be money well spent and I strongly urge it. I also encourage couples to contract me for the rehearsal for the very things I mentioned above- staging the best possible pictures and/or videos. On the rehearsal day we go to the wedding site or rehearsal site and do a thorough walk- through of the actual ceremony with the participants, making certain that space was allowed for candles, roses, etc. I will make sure that all the readers are familiar with their readings and fluid in their speech, making last minute corrections if necessary, making sure that everything is in place the day of the rehearsal. Payment is due by check one week before the wedding or in cash at the rehearsal.
To Contact:
Call me (225) 802 7030
or email me : MarriagesByMari@aol.com to book your ceremony.
URL: http://hometown.aol.com/marriagesbymari/myhomepage/business.html
Additional Information:
Article: "I Now Pronounce You… Choosing a Wedding Officiant"
By Rev. M.H.Presedo, City Social Magazine :Bridal issue :January 2005
You’re planning your dream wedding and instead of a traditional church wedding, you and your fiancé have decided on a beautiful plantation for your ceremony. You can’t believe your luck! The date you selected was open and the caterer, the photographer, the videographer, the florist, your favorite band and everyone in your wedding party was available for your special day.
Everything was planned to the last detail. It is a month or so before the wedding and everything is in place. The day is almost upon you and all you have left is to get that marriage license. With great anticipation you walk into the Clerk of Courts Office to acquire your license and you suddenly realize that you haven’t contracted anyone to perform your ceremony!
You begin to call the various people whose cards you found at the Clerk of Courts Office only to find they are already booked. Now you have a problem! So many brides get so caught up in their wedding plans that they forget to interview and hire the one person that is really indispensable to their perfect wedding ceremony - the wedding officiant!
In general, if you both belong to the same church or you both share a common faith (as in Catholicism), your pastor or priest will perform the ceremony. But if you and your intended are of different faiths, if you have opted for a special location, if it’s your second marriage, or if you want a non-traditional ceremony with original vows, then you will probably have to contract an officiant.
Your interviews should begin as soon as you book your venue. Remember, other people are also planning weddings. Your officiant should be someone who shares your vision of one of the most important events in your life. The right officiant can help you bring your dream to fruition by helping you select appropriate readings, music, and even assisting you in writing your vows. The right officiant can make your ceremony smoother by working with your music provider, photographer and videographer prior to the wedding.
Do you want a civil ceremony, an interfaith ceremony or a non-denominational ceremony? Will you want to use traditional or original vows or a little of both? It doesn’t have to be carved in stone, but a candid discussion will help you select that perfect officiant. In the state of Louisiana, you can choose from Justices of The Peace, civil judges, non-denominational ministers and registered officiants.
Make some phone calls and make an appointment to meet the prospective officiants. It’s important to see how well you mesh. At that time you can discuss your ideas and get some input from them. A good officiant will be willing to consult with you as much as you need before the ceremony. A good officiant should be willing to check out an unfamiliar venue with the couple in order to workout logistics BEFORE the rehearsal. A good officiant will know what works and what won’t. A good officiant can help you include members of your family or friends who aren’t a part of the wedding party by suggesting readings or special rites such as the rose ceremony which allow other friends or relatives to take an active part. Some officiants (and many churches) will not allow photography or videography during the ceremony. If this is important to you, keep looking. Do expect to pay a deposit to reserve your day.
Do discuss price and what it buys. Try to find someone local to you. Gas prices are at an all time high and many officiants will charge mileage if contracted outside of their area. You may want to keep this in mind when choosing your venue. Do ask about incidentals, for example, in New Orleans, most officiants add parking fees to their charges. Many charge for additional time if you exceed you’re agreed upon time. Don’t be late for your wedding.
Ask about availability for the rehearsal and if available BOOK YOUR OFFICIANT. Even though it will cost you extra, a plethora of problems can be avoided and/or resolved by a good officiant. If you are having a large wedding party (more than six members total), a rehearsal is absolutely necessary! Remember, the rehearsal is another day of work for your officiant so expect to pay extra to have him/her at your rehearsal. Believe me, it will be money well spent.
Discuss what attire your officiant will wear for your wedding. These pictures will last long after the ceremony and you have a right to make sure everything is as esthetically pleasing as possible. A good officiant will be able to offer you several options depending on the type of wedding you choose. I’ve performed weddings in suits, robes, even barefoot in denim. A good officiant will work with you. It’s your day, your choice.
Since you are hiring your officiant early in the process, don’t be afraid to tap their reserve of vast knowledge. Remember they have experience working with different wedding vendors, in different venues. In my year and a half of officiating weddings, I’ve been able to build up a great “A” list of different vendors with different specialties, from wedding planners, to make-up artists to disc jockeys to chocolate fountains.
A good officiant will be prepared for emergencies! Due to a miscommunication with the disc jockey and no rehearsal, I once arrived at a hall only to learn that the D.J. didn’t have the music the bride had selected and the bride was already enroute. I went out to my car and took out a home made wedding compilation CD that I keep handy for couples who need musical suggestions. The bride walked out to the most popular wedding song of these last two years- At Last, by Etta James, blissfully unaware that anything had been amiss and so far, they lived happily ever after.
A final word: Your wedding can happen without flowers, or the special dress or the big party, but it can't happen without an officiant. Some brides decide, after spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on their dream wedding, that their budget won't cover the single most important person of the whole day and they suddenly have to take a more economical route. These are brides that don't mind a wedding officiant that shows up 5 minutes before the ceremony to read the same tired vows and readings in a monotone that puts everyone to sleep and in 5 minutes are ready to rush off to their seventh wedding of the day.
I can not work that way, so please don't ask me to do so with the purpose of 'saving' money. You are putting one of the most important moments of your life in my hands and I can only care for it as if was my own, which means putting in many hours of preparation BEFORE your big day, so your ceremony is perfect and beautiful and everything you always dreamed it would be. If this is not what you want, I will be happy to refer you to one of the many local officiants that specialize in the other type of ceremony.
Testimonial excerpts:
"...there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was even more beautiful than we expected. Thank you for making our daughter's wedding so special!" Angelle and Jim Trehan, New Orleans, 2004
"Mari, Thank you for making our day so special. You were always on the same page and two paragraphs ahead." Tanya and Gregg Alvarez, New Orleans, 2005
"You saved our wedding after all the hurricane related problems. Thank you so much for sharing your Thanksgiving Day with us!" Kimberly and Randy Washington, Baton Rouge, 2005
"Thank you for all your help in bringing this together. We couldn't have done it without you!" Brandy and Tim Moran, Baton Rouge, 2005
Pledge:
I pledge to respect and honor all people regardless of race, religion, I I pledge to respect and honor all people regardless of race, religion, national origin, faith practices, personal beliefs, and sexual orientations.
I am willing to provide personal and/or professional references upon request.
I promise that the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I agree to enter into this covenant of professionals, and will uphold the highest standards of integrity, honor and professionalism. I am joining as a member of this esteemed organization in the spirit of brotherhood/sisterhood, peace and tolerance for all, and with a commitment to interfaith respect. My personal profile information is forthright and honest. I am not joining in order to proselytize my own personal beliefs, but to honor the individual beliefs and spirituality of others. If any of the beliefs and requests of my clients interferes with my own personal standards, I will politely decline their business and refer them back to InterfaithOfficiants.com so they may choose another Officiant who can help them.
Signed:
Reverend Mari H. Presedo
4/20/2006
