Save the date for the Annual Educational Seminar April 5, 2012

Save the date to attend the annual Educational Seminar.  April 5, 2012 the event will be held at The Essex Resort and Spa.  We are currently putting together the seminar series – if you have ideas that you believe would be helpful to other members as well please contact Susan Fayette at susanfayette@gmail.com or (802) 373-8356

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Sugarbush Resort will be our host for the VAWP January Winter Mixer!  Enjoy a discounted rate to ski all day for $46 per person then join us in Timbers Restaurant starting at 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. for light appetizers and a cash bar.  Network and meet other members of VAWP! Check your emails for your invite.  Looking forward to seeing you soon Register now

Shelagh and TJ were so awesome to work with!  They came all the way up from NJ and drove back down the same day…so they should get an award for rallying for their engagement photos!  They wanted to visit Shelburne Farms so we planned on it.  It was actually a rainy, windy day and as I drove to meet them I wondered, ‘how am I going to pull this off?’ I am used to being able to work in light rain (with a huge umbrella strapped to my chest I look like a total geek, but it works) but the weather was looking a bit more daunting than I would have liked and I didn’t want to be stuck inside for their engagement photos.   When I met Shelagh and TJ they were so excited about the photo session that I knew we’d have fun, no matter what!  Luckily, as we started the rain began to lighten up and allowed us to stay outside.  I geeked out with my umbrella for a while and then the rain eventually stopped.  We got lucky!  The clouds were dark, the wind was blowing, the light was misty…making for some dramatic engagement images.  Not to mention the gorgeous backdrop of Shelburne Farms!  Working through less than ideal weather conditions and looking back at what a huge success it was reminds us of how to make the best of any situation.  I know Shelagh and TJ are going to have an unforgettable wedding day and I’m already so excited for it!

To see the full story and more events check out my Blog and Website.

To see more photos check out my Blog and Website.

If you are planning your Vermont wedding or just beginning to dream of one, you’ve come to the right place.  Here you can explore an eclectic and elegant mix of wedding venues, resorts, a bouquet of florists, cake makers, photographers, caterers, innkeepers, massage therapists, hair manicurists, musicians, and wedding event planners.  They can all be found right here living and working in Vermont, and ready to help you make your Vermont wedding one that the guests will be talking about for years to come.

(Must be a VAWP member to attend)  Members:  REGISTER HERE

VAWP Annual Meeting to be held on:

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at

Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe, VT. 

This event is only open to Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals members.

The Vermont Association of Wedding Professionals (VAWP) prides itself as being a grassroots, member driven organization. The Annual Meeting is the members’ opportunity to hear from the Board about the status of the organization’s finances and marketing initiatives as well as their chance to weigh in on where they want the organization to move forward over the next year. Don’t miss your chance to participate in your organization.

VAWP recently launched a new website with more member options than ever. Come to theannual meeting and learn how to utilize the great new tools within this site to maximize your membership and drive traffic back to your own site.  We
will also be discussing what the membership wants VAWP to focus on in the coming year and where discretionary funds should be allocated. Don’t miss out on the discussion!

The Schedule:

11:00 am: Optional Tour of Stowe Mountain Lodge
Get a back-stage pass to this beautiful property. This is a great opportunity for VAWP members to see this wedding venue while at the same time getting a chance to meet Stowe Mountain Lodge’s wedding staff and explaining what you can offer their brides!

12:00 noon 12:15 Registration

12:15- 1:00 pm: General Session
Treasurer’s Report
Member Report
Board of Directors Report

1:00- 2:15 pm: Lunch and networking

2:15-3:15pm: Discussion of new VAWP website
Get a walk-thru of the new VAWP website and see how easy it is to post content here and link back to your own sites. Bring your questions, suggestions, comments, issues with you and we’ll work together on enhancing this new tool available to all members.

3:15-4:00pm: Focus Groups on 2011-2012 Member Year
Work together with other members to devise a marketing and member plan for the coming year

4:00- 5:00 pm: Group report out and wrap-up

5:00 on: Gather at the onsite HourGlass Bar & Grille for networking

As you travel through Vermont, you’ll see many rainbow flags welcoming the gay, lesbian and transgender community.  As you plan your wedding in Vermont, enjoy the independent spirit and open minds and hearts that make Vermont one of the most progressive states in the country.

Download FAQs about same sex marriage in Vermont courtesy of vtfreetomarry.org

Same Sex Marriage FAQs


What if I was already joined in civil union before September 1, 2009? 


Vermont’s law, S.115, will not affect existing civil unions, or civil unions celebrated before September 1, 2009. If you are joined in civil union, you will remain joined in civil union unless you legally dissolve your relationship by court order, or unless one of the parties to the civil union dies. If you are joined in civil union and would like to legally marry your civil union partner, you may do so by going through the same steps as any other couple. No new civil union licenses will be issued after September 1.


What if either of us was married or joined in civil union before?


If your spouse or civil union partner has died, you are free to marry. The clerk will ask the date your spouse or civil union partner died. If you are divorced, you may remarry after the date on which your previous marriage or civil union was legally dissolved.


Does Vermont have a residency requirement for marriage? 


Vermont does not have a residency requirement for marriage. Vermont does, however, have a residency requirement for divorce. Non-resident same-sex couples who legally marry in Vermont and then later split up may find it difficult to get a divorce, depending on where they live. Non-resident same-sex couples should keep this in mind when deciding whether to marry in Vermont.


If I am not a Vermont resident and I marry my partner in Vermont, what happens when I return to my home state?


Although ordinarily a couple that’s legally married in one state is considered legally married everywhere, same-sex couples who legally marry in Vermont may find that their own state, or other states, do not respect the legal marriage for the purpose of specific legal protections (or even for all purposes). You should consult an attorney in your own state for advice about the likely impact of your legal marriage back in your home state.


If my partner and I get legally married, will we be entitled to Social Security Survivor Benefits and other federal law protections?


Social Security is a federal law program. Now that same-sex couples can legally marry in Vermont, we are closer to getting these and other federal protections, but we don’t have these protections yet. Federal law currently does not recognize, for federal law purposes, otherwise valid marriages between same-sex partners. This restriction is the subject of a constitutional challenge in a pending court case, and may be the target of repeal efforts in Congress. For now, the federal government is not recognizing valid marriages between same-sex partners.


Who will be able to get married in Vermont? 


Two people who are each at least 18 years old can marry in Vermont. If you are at least 16, but under 18, you will need the consent of a parent or guardian. Your parent or guardian should go with you to the town clerk’s office to sign an affidavit giving you permission to marry. (The affidavit is on the back of the marriage license and is a legal part of the license.) Effective September 1, nobody under the age of 16 will be able to marry in Vermont.


Will there be any other marriage restrictions? 


Anyone under guardianship cannot marry without the guardian’s written consent. Vermont also does not allow marriage between most close relatives. You cannot marry a parent, grandparent, sister, brother, child, grandchild, niece, nephew, aunt or uncle. First cousins may marry each other in Vermont. You cannot marry if either of you is currently married or joined in civil union to someone else other than the person you seek to marry. The law requires that both parties be of sound mind.


Do we need a marriage license? Do we need blood tests? 


You will need a license, but you do not need blood tests, and there is no waiting period.


Where do we get a marriage license and how much does it cost? 


Licenses are issued by Vermont town clerks. If both parties are Vermont residents, you may go to the town clerk in either of your towns of residence. If just one of you resides in a Vermont town, you must buy the license in that town. The license costs $45, and is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. During that time period, an authorized person must perform your wedding ceremony — otherwise, the license is void.

What if we are not Vermont residents?


If neither party is a Vermont resident, you may get the license from any town clerk in the state.


What information must we provide to get a marriage license?


Besides basic information about yourselves (names, towns of residence, places and dates of birth), you must also provide your parents’ names, including your mothers’ maiden names, and their places of birth. (A certified copy of your birth certificate can supply most of this information). Vermont law requires that at least one of you sign the license in the presence of the town clerk, certifying that all the information you provided is correct. However, most town clerks prefer to see both of you in person before issuing your license. The law requires that town clerks satisfy themselves that you are both free to marry under Vermont laws. Therefore, they may legally ask to see documented proof of your statements (birth certificates, divorce decrees, death certificates, etc.). You will also be asked to provide information about your race, the highest grade you completed in school, the number of previous marriages, and how they ended. This information is confidential and does not become part of the marriage certificate.


Can a license be issued through the mail? Can we be married by proxy? 


No. A marriage license cannot be issued through the mail, and you cannot be married by proxy.


Where can we get married?


With a valid Vermont license, you can be married anywhere in Vermont, but only in Vermont.


Who can marry us? Do we need witnesses?


A Supreme Court justice, a superior court judge, a district judge, a judge of probate, an assistant judge, a justice of the peace or an ordained or licensed member of the clergy residing in Vermont can perform your wedding ceremony. A clergy person residing in an adjoining state or country can marry you if his or her church, temple, mosque, or other religious organization lies wholly or partly in Vermont. A clergy member residing in some other state or in Canada can marry you if he or she first obtains a special authorization from the probate court in the district where the marriage will take place. In addition, any person who is over the age of 18 may register with the Secretary of State to become a temporary officiant to a marriage. A person who has filled out the registration form and who has paid the registration fee of $100 will receive a certificate authorizing the person to solemnize a specific Vermont marriage. The individual’s authority to solemnize that marriage will expire at the same time as the corresponding license. For information on registering to be a temporary officiant visit www.sec.state.vt.us or call 802-828-2148. Vermont law does not require witnesses for a legal marriage.


What do we do with the license? What happens to it after the ceremony?


By law, you must deliver the license to the person who will conduct your wedding ceremony before the marriage can be performed. After the ceremony, the person who performs the ceremony (officiant) will complete the sections concerning the date, place and officiant information, and sign your license. At that point, the license becomes a marriage certificate. The officiant must return the certificate to the town clerk’s office where it was issued within 10 days after the wedding, so that your marriage can be officially registered. If the officiant has registered with the Secretary of State as a temporary officiant, a copy of the certificate of authority issued by the Secretary of State should be attached to the signed license and returned to the clerk’s office. The certificate is not a complete legal document until it has been recorded in the town clerk’s office where it was purchased.


How do we get a copy of our marriage certificate?

At the time you buy your marriage license, you can arrange with the town clerk to mail you a certified copy of your certificate as soon as your marriage has been recorded. The cost is $10 for the certified copy along with the $45 for the license purchase ($10 + $45 = $55). Or, two weeks or more after the ceremony, you can request, in person or in writing, additional copies from the town clerk’s office where you bought your license for the same $10 fee. Or, six or more weeks after your ceremony, you may request, in person or in writing, a certified copy from the Vermont Department of Health, Vital Records Unit for $10. In either case, you will receive a copy of the original certificate, embossed with the town or state seal, signed and dated by the appropriate official. This copy is accepted for all legal purposes as proof of a valid marriage.

Browse through our wedding resources and think about what and who will be critical to crafting your wedding day.