ABOUT SHORT-NOTICE WEDDINGS** **(less than 48 hours turn-around time) Short-notice ceremonies are sometimes necessary when a couple needs the immediate legal protections of marriage due to illness, insurance, taxes, etc. Other times, couples decide on a whim to get married without really understanding that legal marriage entails more than just dressing up nicely and walking into an wedding chapel with bells all a-ringing--that is, if you want to do it right the first time. As a result of poor planning, an incredibly high percentage of short-notice ceremonies fall apart at the last minute, thus leaving wedding providers high and dry (and often, at a substantial financial loss, particularly during busy periods.) Legally marrying people requires a high duty of care from us marriage license/ceremony providers, if we are conscientious about our work. We are legally responsible for making sure your documents are prepared and handled correctly, and we need to work closely with you in order to make that happen quickly and accurately. No matter what you've seen in the movies, getting legally married is never as simple as just signing your name and saying, "I do"--not even in Vegas. A lot of legal information has to change hands first, including documentation of your identity and eligibility to marry. If you've already obtained your marriage license from the County Clerk's office, last-minute officiation services are easy to arrange and prepare for--often just a phone call or email will suffice. However, providing a marriage license on a one day or same-day basis requires intensive preparation and incurs up-front document fees and labor, so we reserve the right to refuse service if a 50% good-faith deposit is not made when a short-notice booking is confirmed. We will honor your need to get married quickly whether it's due to medical emergency, romantic impulse, or an immigration or insurance deadline, and we endeavor to make the process as easy as possible so your short-notice wedding goes smoothly. In exchange for the hard work and energy we invest to make your rush nuptials possible, we believe it's fair to ask you in return to provide your information quickly, take financial responsibility for your appointment, and be certain of your date, time, location, and eligibility to marry before you book. For everyone's protection and peace of mind, we ask you to review and agree to these guidelines before you book your short-notice marriage licensing or "Wedding Bundle": PLEASE DO NOT BOOK YOUR WEDDING BEFORE YOU HAVE OBTAINED LEGAL PROOF OF DIVORCE OR HAVE COMPLETED YOUR PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS. You must have any personal legal paperwork concerning your marriage COMPLETED and SIGNED BEFORE you make your appointment. Divorce documentation must be in your hands and ready to fax or email immediately along with your application and deposit. Other legal procedures (like prenups) that require signatures before marriage should be complete before you make arrangements with us. We are not liable for delays or cancellations that occur because your attorneys did not complete pre-marriage contracts in a timely way, and we will ask to receive cancellation fees. You agree to pay a non-refundable 50% deposit with one-day or same-day bookings to reserve your ceremony time, and a 100% cancellation fee if you cancel before your short-notice wedding. When you make an appointment to be married, you are booking a specific time slot in our schedule and, though we will try to work with you if your ceremony plans shift, usually our schedule can't be rearranged at the last minute. We're happy to try to find another time to marry you, but cancellation fees must be paid in full before you re-book, Since a rebooked appointment requires a separate time commitment and a new set of documents, you agree to pay the deposit and full original fee again for the new appointment.. You agree to submit your deposit, marriage license application, any divorce or name-change documentation, and copies of your IDs in a timely manner--within two to four hours after you receive your service agreement, unless otherwise agreed. This allows us adequate time to review your documents to be sure they are valid and usable, and to create your marriage license paperwork in a responsible way. Once your paperwork is prepared (usually the same day you book your appointment) it cannot be changed or corrected--if you need to cancel and rebook for later date, it isn't possible to just change the date or location. New paperwork will have to be issued and additional fees are required. If you are unable to commit to a ceremony date and time in good faith, there are other providers in California who will accept walk-in wedding appointments....and there's always Vegas. Thanks for your understanding, and hope to be of service to you soon (maybe really, really soon!) Copyright © 2001-2008, MarriageToGo.Com, All Rights Reserved. MarriageToGo is a federally registered trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office