Over the last two years, I've had the opportunity to officiate weddings at a NJ Federal Prison near my home. Prison weddings can be difficult to set up, but I find them worth the effort. The couples I've married in prison are very appreciative of my services.
For one reason or another, the chaplains at all the Federal and State Prisons in NJ decline to perform inmate weddings. This means the inmate and his fiancee must locate an officiant or minister on the outside who is willing to go into the prison and perform the wedding for them. Lots of paperwork must be completed by the inmate, his bride-to-be, and the officiant/minister. Background checks of the officiant and the witnesses are conducted by the prison and all parties involved in the ceremony must be added to the inmate's visitation list for the wedding day. The prison also imposes further restrictions on photography at the ceremony, wedding attire for the bride and what type of wedding band the groom may receive.
Obtaining the NJ Marriage License can also be difficult and costly for the couple. Most NJ Registrars refuse to come into the prison to take the inmate's marriage license application. They insist the inmate be brought to their office. The inmate and his fiancee must bear the cost of paying guards to transport him to the Registrar's office. At present, the cost for the guards and transport is nearly $500.00. The cost of the NJ Marriage License is $28.00.
Once all the hurdles have been cleared and all the hoops jumped through, the prison will set the wedding date for the couple. On the day of the wedding, all parties involved (officiant, bride, witnesses/guests) assemble at the prison, sign in and complete a screening procedure (metal detector and filling out a questionnaire). Then all are led into the room where the wedding ceremony will take place. Sometimes there is more than one ceremony taking place on the particular date/time.
I like to make my prison wedding ceremonies personal and special. The wedding may be taking place in grim surroundings, but it is still the couple's wedding day! When they hire me to do their wedding, I ask if they would like a religious or non-religious ceremony. Would they like any special readings? Will they be writing their own vows to read to each other? At the conclusion of the ceremony, I present the bride with a bound booklet of the entire ceremony script and a keepsake Certificate of Marriage. (I'm not permitted to hand anything to the inmate during the visit for the wedding, so all items must be given to the bride.) Then the witnesses and I sign the Marriage License and I file it with the local Registrar.
Here is a photo of a wedding I officiated at FCI Fairton in NJ.
If you would like to book me to officiate a prison wedding for you and your someone special, please click this link:
http://www.weddingsonwheels.org/request_for_availabilityprice_quote
