The Rev. Susan Ross

WEDDINGS AND VOW RENEWAL CEREMONIES.

Having been a minister for over nine years, I have performed many weddings, vow renewal and commitment ceremonies in all types of settings, including parks, the River Walk in San Antonio, Hotels, and other similar venues.  Some such ceremonies have been extremely religious, whilst others have been completely non-religious, with the majority of them being somewhere in between the two. 

A good number of the weddings that I perform are second marriages for the couple - either because of a past divorce or the death of a previous partner.  Some of these unions may also bring with them a child or young adult into the new marriage.  In such situations I encourage the couple to include those children from previous relationships into the ceremony as a way of uniting the family as a whole.   

Whatever your own personal situation, the fact that you wish to be joined in unity to your partner, or to renew your vows,  is cause to celebrate.  And I will assist you in any way possible to ensure that your vows and your ceremony reflect everything that you want to say.

MEMORIALS, FUNERALS

A church or religious funeral is not everyone's desire or last wish.  It is my goal when performing such a service to provide the family and friends with a farewell that celebrates the deceased's life as well as mourning his/her departure from this earth.  It is always comforting to family to witness that their loved one was valued and will be missed. I will meet with as many family members and close friends as is possible to ensure that I have a good knowledge of who he/she was and how other's lives were affected by them.

BLESSINGS

A child is always a welcome and blessed event.  If you choose not to have your child baptized in a church or other religious site, a blessing is a wonderful substitute. Held in your own home, or other location of your choice, with close friends and family, it will signify to all how you feel about your new baby. Blessings are very popular with families from mixed religious backgrounds.

COMMITMENT CEREMONIES

Same sex partners who are not legally able to be married in the State of Texas may instead opt for a Commitment Ceremony, to pledge their vows of love, honor, respect and commitment to each other in front of family, friends and loved ones.  A Commitment Ceremony is a joyous way to demonstrate your love for each other. 

Heterosexual couples may also opt for a Commitment Ceremony if they do not wish to have a legal union.  Sometimes this can be because of financial ramifications - older adults who have been widowed might find it a financial burden to lose their widow's pension etc., should they remarry.  Therefore a Commitment Ceremony is a wonderful alternative.  It allows you to demonstrate your love and commitment in front of others  without the legal paperwork.  Be aware though, that in Texas "Common Law" marriages are considered legal from an inheritance standpoint. It would be my recommendation that you seek the advice of an attorney if you wish to know specific information regarding this.

Pricing for weddings, vow renewals, etc. can vary greatly depending upon location,  length of the service and how much preparation and customization of the service is required.  A typical small wedding in New Braunfels is usually around $250, larger weddings requiring a rehearsal could range from $395 to $500.  I do give discounts for Military personnel in active service. Weekends are naturally my busiest, therefore I do also give discounts for weekday ceremonies. 

Please do not hesitate to discuss my pricing with me.

            Rev. Susan Ross

            830-822-2264