Many people have heard this story already, but I know that there are also many people who have no idea why I decided to become a certified minister. Let's start at the beginning..
Earlier this year my sister and I were talking about what we could do for my mom and dad for their 30th wedding anniversary. The thought of renewing their vows had been tossed around for a while, but we just never knew exactly how to pull it off. When we started to make a little more progress (we chose a date, and a location) we began talking about who would officiate the ceremony. Assuming we would only need a justice of the peace we looked into the cost for just a quick ceremony.. only to find out that would set us back about $300-$400! That amount was out of the question; the whole ceremony was supposed to be small, intimate and inexpensive.
So after we realized the cost I jokingly said "Dude, why don't we just do it ourselves?". Note: I JOKINGLY said that.. and yes, I actually said "Dude". My sister on the other hand decided that this actually was a really good idea, and the next thing I know she's telling me that she's gone online and registered us both as certified ministers in the State of North Carolina.
Now, I know that a lot of people think that this whole online certification thing is a scam. Yes, we had to pay a small fee.. No, we didn't have to take any sort of test... But I promise that it is a legitimate certification, and it has its' limitations: we can only perform non-religious ceremonies, and we can only perform 3 a year (and only in certain states). The certificates even came with tags for "Minister Only" parking! Below is a picture of my certificate, I'm considering having it framed:
Now comes the other big part of the ceremony: it was a huge surprise to my parents! My stealthy sister and I were able to plan the entire thing without them having any clue what was going on!
My sister asked everyone to come to a restaurant where we had obtained a private room for brunch one Sunday, but my parents thought they were only meeting my sister and her husband (and the baby, of course). Surprise number one came when they arrived and saw all of the other guests who had joined for brunch that day. Surprise number two came when I walked in from around the corner (I had been hiding in the bathroom!). The look on my dad's face was priceless, and that was the moment that I knew they truly had no clue that I had come to visit!
They both assumed that I just came down to celebrate their anniversary week, but then surprise number three came when my sister and I announced that we were actually all there to renew their vows.. right then, right there, officiated by myself and my sister! They were floored and totally shocked; not just at all of the events that took place, but also at how stealthy and deceiving my sister and I had been to pull everything off. Clearly we were raised well.
My partner in crime and I at the restaurant
Performing the ceremony
One happy family!
