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<![CDATA[VOWS WITH ANGIE - Blog]]>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:29:11 -0600Weebly<![CDATA[what is all of the hype about a flower dude?]]>Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:15:08 GMThttps://www.vowswithangie.net/blog/what-is-all-of-the-hype-about-a-flower-dude

Photo Credit Sarah Graybeal Photography

Let's talk about the Flower Dude! A trend that is keeping wedding guests laughing and light-hearted!

That's right! Now I am not talking about a man walking down the aisle simply dropping flower petals! I am talking about a man, yes a full-grown man, strutting his stuff down the aisle just before the Bride comes in. Humans love emotions! Think how laughing at the flower dude and then tearing up as the bride and her father come walking in might affect them. That is the type of thing that makes memories!

Now not just anyone can pull off the role as a flower dude. Here are some things to look for.

Someone who looks good in a fanny pack. That's right a fanny pack kids! What else is he going to keep his flower petals in?
Someone with some great dance moves! Even if they look like drunk guy dance moves. That's your guy!
They typically bring the party! If that is Gramps, then so be it! In fact, that is my favorite idea yet.
Someone who can keep a secret. The best approach is to surprise the guests. So don't tell anyone and keep the flower dude on the down-low.

Now let's talk music!
Not just any song will do. Nope, you need something that makes him want to strut and show his stuff. Think fun and sexy! Here are a couple of examples.
I may add more music to this Spotify list in the future.

What is with the fanny pack?
I suppose you could also use a basket or anything really. I think the fanny pack has just been labeled kind of dorky. That seems to be what people are going for. A kind of dorky-sexy if you will. Something that just makes people laugh and shake their heads.

Photo Credit Sarah Graybeal Photography

Photo Credit to Dominique Monarca Creative (has been cropped)

Now, what do you put in that fanny pack anyway?
The trend has been flower petals. I will say I did witness a wedding where their flower dude was tossing mini bottles of Fireball and Jack! The guests really enjoyed that and the flower dude became pretty popular!

As with every aspect of your special day, be creative!
Try to think outside of the box. People like the surprise and feel-good energy. One wedding had a beer guy. Another two grown flower girls with one pulling the other in a wagon with a pugle pup (pug & beagle mix). Okay fine, that was my own wedding but aren't they cute?!

As I always say, don't be afraid to make your ceremony your own. What most people forget is you can't have a wedding day without a marriage! The ceremony is crucial to your wedding day. As a wedding officiant, I hear quite frequently, "We totally forgot about needing an officiant! We have everything else booked and ready to go!"

Your ceremony should include personality and should blend with the rest of your celebration. Watch for my blog on personalizing your ceremony.

]]><![CDATA[The scoop on marriage licenses in mn]]>Wed, 27 Oct 2021 00:38:51 GMThttps://www.vowswithangie.net/blog/the-scoop-on-marriage-licenses-in-mnthe scoop on marriage licenses in minneota

So you are getting married! Yay, you!

Chances are you will need to obtain your own marriage license from your local County Recorder’s office. If you are having a ceremony outside of the church you will need a civil marriage license.

A marriage license isn’t difficult to obtain but you will need to know a couple of things.

First, every county is a little different. It doesn’t matter what county you get your license from as long as it is in Minnesota and you are having your ceremony in Minnesota.

Like everything else in life, your marriage license does come with a fee. At the time I am writing this, the fee is $115.00. Minnesota does, however, offer a $75.00 discount if both parties have proof of attending Pre-Marital Counseling.
Here are the requirements per Sherburne County.

Reduced Fees
You can qualify for a reduced marriage fee if both parties have completed at least 12 hours of premarital education.

In order to qualify for the reduced license fee:

Attend 12 hours of premarital education.
Obtain a signed and dated Educator’s Statement (PDF) printed on the educator’s letterhead certifying that both parties have attended premarital education.
Ensure that the Educator’s Statement is either notarized or under the church seal.
Submit the statement when applying for a marriage license.

Authorization - The premarital education must be provided by a licensed or ordained minister or the minister’s designee, a person authorized to solemnize marriages under section 517.18, or a person authorized to practice marriage and family therapy under section 148B.33. The education must include the use of premarital inventory and the teaching of communication and conflict management skills.

Pre-Marital counseling is often times an option through your church or Wedding Officiant. You can see what Vows With Angie has to offer for Pre-Marital Counseling here. Services with Vows With Angie are not required to be able to have the Pre-Marital Counseling. In other words, you can hire Vows With Angie to do your Pre-Marital Counseling and still have someone else officiate your wedding.

So how do you get started applying for our marriage license?

The best advice I can give you post-Covid is to Google “your county name” county marriage license.
For example, I am from Sherburne county, so I would type into the Google search bar “Sherburne County Marriage License”.
You will likely be brought right to the information about applying.
It will at least get you in the ballpark.
I have also added county links to this blog below to make it a little easier for you.

Most counties have it set up now so that you can apply online to start the process. You both will however have to arrive together to pick it up or have a special form notarized.
Since I am writing this post-Covid, there have been a few changes that may or may not go back to how things were pre-Covid. It use to be, that you could just stop in, apply on the spot, pay, and walk out with your license. Many counties now require you to schedule an appointment. So again, this is why it is important to double-check with your county.

What you will need to have to apply.
You will need to show proof that you are 18 years old or older (Photo ID, Birth Certificate), Social Security numbers, & signatures. If you have been married previously and divorced you will need to have your divorce decree (at least the date and county where the marriage was dissolved). If you have been married previously and are widowed, you will need the death decree. Here is a link to Sherburne County’s list.

Have you run into problems with the law?

Anybody who wants to change their name and has a felony, beware!
Since August 1, 2000, the law requires a person who has been convicted of a felony under any state or federal law on or after that date to serve notice of the application for a name change on the prosecuting authority that obtained the conviction.
Please see the Sherburne County reference on the Vows With Angie Resource page.
This process will require additional time and paperwork. The prosecuting authority has 30 days to review your request and may choose to deny it. If you should be denied the name change, you can still be married but without changing your name (obviously).

Once the application process is over.

Once the application process is over and the two of you have gone in together with the appropriate documents, signatures, and paid the fee, you will be given a marriage license and an incomplete marriage certificate to take with you.

You can technically be married that same day. The license is good for up to 6 months from the date that it is issued.

So now what?

You will want to give both of these documents to your Wedding Officiant, along with any return envelope the county may have provided for you. Some counties (such as Stearns & Washington County) have both of these documents on the same page (one sheet with the top being the license and the bottom usually being the certificate).

So what is the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate anyway?

The Marriage License is permission to your Wedding Officiant to go ahead and marry the two of you. It includes the legal information along with the effective dates of the license and certificate. This is usually kept on file with the Officiant.

The Certificate is the document that has the blanks to be filled in with the date, location, witnesses, and Officiant’s information. This is the document that is returned to the Recorder. The Recorder logs the information and mails you the certified completed marriage certificate. If you have a Professional Wedding Officiant, they will take care of filing the certificate for you after your ceremony.

There are a couple of requirements needed for the completed certificate to be legal.

Witnesses - You will need a minimum of two witnesses to sign your license. Some counties allow you to have up to four witnesses. They will need to be 16 years old or older.
Both parties to sign - Some counties will have both of you sign and some will not. It depends on the county again.
Wedding Officiant Signature - All counties will require your Wedding Officiant to sign and provide the county in which their credentials are recorded. All Officiants must record their credentials with their local Recorder prior to completing any marriages. Without their credentials being recorded, they can not legally marry you and your marriage will not be valid.

MAKE SURE YOU VERIFY THAT THEIR CREDENTIALS ARE RECORDED! Especially in this era where so many are becoming Ordained just to marry a friend or relative.

Receiving your Certified Marriage Certificate.

Most counties will mail you one copy of your certified marriage certificate within about two weeks. That is the document you will need for all your legal changes (name change, health insurance, driver’s license, etc). You can also obtain additional copies from them if needed for a small fee.

So that is what you need to know!
Watch for my blog on changing your name! That is a whole other ballgame;)

Marriage License Information By Minnesota Counties

]]><![CDATA[the good, the bad, the ugly! Coming Soon!...]]>Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:17:52 GMThttps://www.vowswithangie.net/blog/coming-soonA Blog from a professional wedding officiant
the good, the bad, the ugly!

And so it begins! The first blog from Vows With Angie! A professional Wedding Officiant who will be telling all! The good, the bad, and you guessed it! The ugly! Stay tuned!

Topics will include anything from real stories, Q&A, tips, ideas, things to think about, is it really necessary, trends, flops, disasters, inspiration, DIYs, connections, in the news, tried it don't do it, photos, heart touching stories, highlights, blah, blah, blah! Or should I say blog, blog, blog?

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