Montana is unusual in many ways. In regards to weddings it is one of the only states in our country where you can have anyone marry you. For a few dollars your friend or relative can go to http://www.themonastery.org/?gclid=CIi6qN-S4JQCFSEbagodWmxMSQ and become an 'ordained minister'. My husband did this recently and married two couples over the last year. Jill and Graham had a very close friend do the same thing at their wedding. Here is one photo of them at the Springhill Pavillion located just out of Bozeman.


When someone you know marries you the ceremony becomes more meaningful and interesting to you and to your friends and family who are listening and participating. At Jill and Graham's wedding their friend brought in their personal history, shared how the two of them interact with each other, and instances that demonstrated the deep love and respect that they have for each other. He did it in a way that was witty and entertaining but still had a reverence for the magnitude of the promise they were making to each other.

Over the last 17 years, I have photographed hundreds of weddings and love listening to how people decide to share their promises with each other and their guests. I think you can hire an officiant/minister/judge to do the job, and if you are very communicative with them it can be a personal ceremony.

Choosing what is said and what is not said in your ceremony conveys a lot to the guests who are listening.