one of my wedding officiant mailing list members reports on a jail house wedding:
Posted by
zeitgeist
Sep 12 '11, 23:43
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First we went on Wednesday to get the notarized papers ( I am a Notary as well) form the court house in Florence then to the Prison in Eloy. They have had there chaplain retire from there so everything was up in the air No body calling any one back. The Notary at the prison signed the marriage application papers and we went back to the court in Florence to get the license to marry them today. The guy at the court house decided the groom didn't right his name correctly and wouldn't except the notarized paper from the prison... So the bride goes back to the prison to get it notarized again and he left for the day she would have to come back the next day. She goes the next day he called in sick or something there were no notary on site...at the prison... Then she took the papers on Saturday during visitation and they wouldn't sign it then too busy..sorry you have to try tommorrow. She went again on Sunday same story... I called her last night at 9:30 PM and she told me she was not able to get the necessary signature..... OK I will meet you tomorrow at the prison at 10:30 your wedding is at 4:00 and we can not marry you if you have no license.... Ok I will see you tomorrow... I get to the prison at 10:23 AM and everyone is in a meeting I wait and wait and wait finally at 1:00 the person takes my paper to get it signed only after speaking with the Captain..( who approved the wedding in the first place.) Captain comes to meet me and tells me about the new protocol and procedures that are to be followed for doing weddings... No email No weddings plain and simple...
So we got to meet the Captain and got our signature back to the court house to get the license , ( YEAH ) back to the prison and they had shift change....
A wedding at 4:00 I didn't hear anything about this hold on.. (Dialing the shift manager) Oh the memo said 4:00 no wait it said 5:00, yeah,... that's today yeah the bride is here already ( it was 2:30) I said... No she isnt I am the minister.... She isnt here yet .... ( I wasn't going all the way back to Surprise) Waitr what where is the bride... Oh she is on her way its only 2:30 the wedding is to be at 4:00 .....TODAY..... Oh your the one getting married .... NOOOOOO I AM THE M I N I S T E R..... Oh ... Does she go to your church.... UMMM I don't belive that is need to know basis at the moment..... Ok 3:47 bride arrives ( she had been sitting outside for 1/2 hour waiting for me) You cant bring cell phones in prison) paper all signed check license check bride check pen check notary stuff check rings check .......I am sorry we can not allow the bride to have her half hour visit it isnt in the memo. WHAT>>>>>>>> I said... I heard you I just cant believe that this isnt planned.. So the bride and I go behind the doors meet with the groom... I explain to them what is going on and that there wasn't going to be a visit.. They understood.. There was one CO there. Excuse me, will another witness be coming? Uh no you have me that's it... I am sorry It is required to have two witnesses and I can not be one of them. Hold on... She calls and lets them know I am requesting a second witness... 20 minutes later... OK can we get started now? (Bride) Not yet I have to ask if you can speak up... Can you hear me now? I feel like I am soooo loud..... On to business. Is there any reason why this couple should not be married? Moment of silence.... ( I guess that means for me to continue.) Do You bride take this groom to be your lawfully wedded husband? ( still very loud) ahhuh... (here is where you say I do bride) Oh Ok ,,,,WELL DO YOU ? Ok Groom you ready? And on and on... (finally by the power vested by me by the state of Arizona, I now pronounce..... ( Hey wait a minute I didn't say you could kiss yet) I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss now.... I leave with the Bride, and the security door wont open... Apparently the prison was on lock down dew to visibility of weather. Ok I am home finally.... I love my home....
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