Treasured Moments
Darrin Cantrell, Officiant
New beginnings should be moments you treasure...
My favorite part of any wedding is the ceremony. After taking part in hundreds of ceremonies across the state, I have helped create almost every type of celebration you can imagine. I'm proud to say that after each wedding I perform, people will often say, "That was perfect".
Also, I am one of the few local officiants who will travel to the Sequoia National Park, Sequoia National Forest, and Kings Canyon National Park for your ceremony. I have an intimate knowledge of the many perfect locations that each area offers. Of course, I also perform ceremonies in and around Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties.
Your ceremony is about YOU and should give your guests an idea of who the both of you are. Whether it’s religious or non-religious, shorter or longer, simple or more in-depth...you have an idea of what you want and that’s what I want to provide. Typically, my ceremonies are short and simple. No one has ever said to me, "Gosh, I wish that ceremony could have been longer!" People want a ceremony that is respectful, honoring, and intimate but, if you want a ceremony that is more than just a basic wedding, I'm happy to help make it happen. Most importantly, I want you to have the wedding you want. It's your day!
I led two churches in Visalia for 9 years. Although I’m not a paid pastor, I still serve on the teaching team of my church and I am still a licensed pastor which allows me to conduct wedding ceremonies. I conduct between - 40 weddings each year.
Congratulations and I look forward to working with you...
The process
1. We will conduct a planning meeting (in-person or online through Zoom) to discuss what type of ceremony you would like to design. This is your opportunity to tell me what you want. From that point, I can begin the process of crafting your ceremony.
2. After that appointment, I will send you the first draft of your ceremony for you to review. That will begin the process of modifying the ceremony to what you want. Sometimes, the first draft works perfectly. Or, we could edit the ceremony many times to make sure it meets your approval. We can make any changes right up until the wedding day.
3. If you have a rehearsal the day prior, I will be there to help organize and run through the ceremony. If you have a wedding coordinator, I will work with him/her to make sure all of us are on the same page. At the rehearsal, we will run through the ceremony a few times to make sure that everyone is comfortable.
4. On the day of the wedding, I will arrive early to make sure the venue is prepared, consult with the wedding coordinator, and visit with the bride and groom (separately). I know that tensions are pretty high on the day of the wedding. I just want you to be comfortable and to know exactly what to do once the ceremony starts.
Ceremony Template
This template is used as a beginning point to design your service. It is very basic and, for many couples, this is exactly what they want for a simple wedding ceremony. However, we can incorporate many elements to make it more personal…
We are gathered here today to celebrate one of life’s greatest moments, to give recognition to the worth and beauty of love, and to add our best wishes to the words which shall unite ____________ and ______________ in marriage.
Who is it that brings this woman to be married to this man? (The father, children, relative, etc. may give the bride away. He/they answer, “I/we do” or “I do on behalf of our family”. This person then steps back and the groom takes the bride’s hand. The bride and groom then walk together towards Darrin.)
___________ and __________, life is given to us as individuals and yet we must learn to live together. Love is given to us by our family and by our friends. Learning to love and live together is one of the greatest challenges of life – and is the shared goal of married life.
________, do you take ________ to be your wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect her, forsaking all others and holding only unto her? (I do)
_________, do you take __________ to be your husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect him, forsaking all others and holding only unto him? (I do)
Wedding rings are an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace and the unbroken circle of love, signifying to all the union of this man and this woman in marriage.
_____________, repeat after me. I, ___________, take you ___________ to be my wife. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forever.
_____________, repeat after me. I, ____________ take you ______________ to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and I promise my love to you forever.
________________ and __________________, as the two of you come into this marriage uniting as husband and wife, and as you this day affirm your faith and love for one another, I would ask that you always remember to cherish each other as special and unique individuals, that you respect the thoughts, ideas, and suggestions of one another. Be able to forgive. Don’t hold grudges, and live each day that you may share it together – as from this day forward you shall be each other’s home, comfort, and refuge – your marriage strengthened by your love and respect for each other. _____________ and _____________, in so much as the two of you have agreed to live together in holy matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, the joining of your hands and the giving of these rings, I now declare you to be husband and wife. Whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder.
Congratulations, you may kiss your bride.
May I present to you Mr. & Mrs. ____________ _________________ !
Ceremony Prices
Tulare County Rehearsal & Ceremony $450
Pre-Ceremony appointment, development, scripting, and editing of ceremony, rehearsal prior to wedding, officiating on day of wedding, and marriage certificate documentation for Tulare County wedding.
Tulare County Ceremony (no rehearsal) $400
Pre-Ceremony appointment, development, scripting, and editing of ceremony, and marriage certificate documentation for Tulare County wedding.
Fresno County Rehearsal & Ceremony $475
Pre-Ceremony appointment, development, scripting, and editing of ceremony, rehearsal prior to wedding, officiating on day of wedding, and marriage certificate documentation for Fresno County wedding.
Fresno County Ceremony (no rehearsal) $425
Pre-Ceremony appointment, development, scripting, and editing of ceremony, and marriage certificate documentation for Tulare County wedding.
Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park Ceremony $500
Pre-Ceremony appointment, development, scripting, and editing of ceremony, and marriage certificate documentation for ceremony in the Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park.
Yosemite National Park Ceremony $500 +
Pre-Ceremony appointment, development, scripting, and editing of ceremony, and marriage certificate documentation for ceremony in Yosemite National Park: Fee varies based on time of event and weather conditions.
Spur of the Moment $250 - $275
For couples in the Visalia area who only need a brief reading of vows and signature authorization for a marriage license. This does not include a rehearsal or personalization of ceremony.
