Eugene weekly., April 03, 2003, Page 23, Image 23

Outside Weddings
OPTIONS TO THE TRADITIONAL CHURCH CEREMONY.
O
n a clear August day, two people step onto a
tiny island in a decorative pond teaming with
bright orange fish; these two will be married among
the gentle chanting of the assembled guests. A tradi-
tional wedding it isn’t — the bride wears white, the
groom wears Birkenstocks.
When Shanti and Caspar Zimmermann decided
to tie the knot, the pair knew they were going to
need something a little different in terms of their
wedding ceremony. Walking down the center aisle
of a stuffy church wearing a dress covered in lace
was not Shanti Zimmermann’s vision of the most
important day of her life.
For Zimmermann, there was only one aspect of
traditional weddings that appealed to her: being sur-
rounded by friends and family on the big day.
Family from as near as Oregon and as far as
Switzerland flew to Van Nuys, Calif. for the wed-
ding. The ceremony took place in the back yard of
a friend, and was officiated by Linda Lavaneri, a
member of the Eckankar clergy. Eckankar is “the
religion of the light and sound of God.”
“She could do the ceremony legally,”
Zimmerman says. “And I was absolutely happy
with the way it turned out.”
The Zimmermanns chose Lavaneri because she
is a close friend of the bride’s mother, and as
Zimmerman points out, “She is a beautiful person
who I look up to and admire for the person that she
is.”
For many people, the personal touch of being
married by a family friend or relative is an impor-
tant part of the wedding process. Today there are
more choices than ever for those looking for some-
one to officiate at their wedding. “If a church wed-
ding with your family minister is what you want,
go for it!” she says. “But there is a choice.”
Marle Hoehne, clerical supervisor of Lane
County Deeds and Records, explains that several
types of people are authorized to perform wed-
dings. First, any judicial officer of the state may
perform a wedding ceremony. This includes judges,
justices of the peace and county clerks, as well as
their deputies. Lane County clerks can perform civil
ceremonies weekdays at the Lane County
Courthouse for a modest fee. Services can be
scheduled when a couple applies for their marriage
license.
Religious congregations and clergymen from
any religious organizations may also solemnize a
marriage. According to Hoehne, his office receives
marriage certificates from weddings officiated by
all kinds of people. However, Oregon law states
that if a marriage is not performed by a state offi-
cial, the officiate must be connected to some type of
church. “If a person presents themselves as clergy,
or their religious organization says they can per-
form a marriage, you’re probably all right,” Hoehne
says.
This sets the stage for those wanting a friend or
family member to perform the ceremony. The
Universal Life Church (ULC) will ordain anyone
with a few free minutes to fill out the online form.
Since 1959, ULC has been remotely ordaining peo-
ple, first through the mail and now over the
Internet.
“I don’t make any judgments on the validity of
the church,” Hoehne says. However, some states
do take issue with ULC. North Carolina is just one
state where people ordained by ULC cannot legally
Joan Mawhirter
PHOTO BY JON ANDRESS
by Eric Qualheim
perform marriages. However, the ULC, whose slo-
gan is “To Live and Help Live,” is currently a rec-
ognized religious entity in Oregon.
everend Joan Mawhirter, an ordained minister
of the Church of Religious Sciences, isn’t fond
of ULC either. “They don’t always know what they
are doing,” she says. “They are making it harder for
the rest of us.” Mawhirter worries that more restric-
tions on who can legally perform weddings will
make it difficult for people to marry.
Of the nearly 3000 ceremonies she has per-
formed, many of them have been for immigrants
and people without church homes. At the
Springfield Creative-Mind Science Center,
Mawhirter provides an excellent alternative to any-
one looking for a simple ceremony. “People can’t
R
knows a little something about offi-
ciating at weddings. Mawhirter, a Reverend ordained by the Religious Sciences
Church in Springfield, is the driving force behind Weddings On Call in Springfield.
Mawhirter estimates that in the 12 years she has been officiating weddings, she
has performed more than 2,600 ceremonies. And she’s seen everything.
Sitting in the shared offices of the Springfield Creative-Mind Science Center
and Weddings On Call, Mawhirter recalls the time after performing a ceremony that
the bride went home with someone other than her new husband.
“Weird things happen,” she says.
Since she began her career as an officiate, Mawhirter has performed cere-
monies everywhere from mountain tops to airplanes. “One popular spot is the light-
house at Heceta Head,” she says.
Some advice she offers to those planning their weddings is to reserve their
locations — and the person they want to officiate — well in advance. Her summer
schedule is already filling up. “Everyone will tell you June is the busiest month,”
afford the big church weddings anymore,” says
Mawhirter. She believes that anyone who wants to
get married should be able to do so, as long as they
go about it legally and through all the proper chan-
nels.
Occasionally, a couple will be ineligible to be
married in their own church for one reason or
another. Weddings On Call is another company
Mawhirter works with that is dedicated to provid-
ing a less expensive alternative to traditional offici-
ates and services. Weddings On Call allows couples
to be married legally by an ordained reverend.
“If you come to me and want to get married, I
feel that if you want to be married legally and in the
eyes of God then no person should be in your way,”
she says.
ew
Mawhirter says. “But it’s August.”
Another busy time is a little more surprising. “Everyone wants to get married
on Halloween,” Mawhirter says. “Halloween through Christmas is a busy time.”
All kinds of people come to Mawhirter to get married. It’s just as likely she’ll
marry a young couple as a pair of senior sweethearts. Lately she’s seen a lot of
young servicemen getting married before shipping out. “Especially the ones with
babies,” she says.
Mawhirter and the other officiates at Weddings to Go offer a wide range of
services. A no frills, no reception wedding ceremony can cost as little as 30 dollars
for those who bring in their marriage license on Mondays and Fridays between noon
and 3 p.m. The on-site chapel holds up to 100 people for those wishing to pay for a
larger ceremony.
Weddings On Call is located in Springfield at 130 N. 5th, or you can call (541)
747-7513.
— Eric Qualheim
Located on the banks of the Willamette River,
it’s the perfect setting for your special day.
RICHARD MAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Wedding Specialists
Receptions • Rehearsal dinners
Romantic wedding night • Guest accommodations
Our staff is here to help you every step of the way.
1000 Valley River Way • Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 687-0123 • Fax (541) 687-0289 • www.valleyriverinn.com
• Grand Receptions
• Rehearsal Dinners
• Lavish Buffets or
Sit Down Dinners
• Bridesmaids’ Luncheons
• Bridal Showers
• Attention to Detail
• Full Service Catering
343-7933 • 1530 Willamette
www.cravingsfinefoods.com
WEDDING GUIDE APRIL 3, 2003 5