How to Choose a Good Site for Your Same-Sex Commitment Ceremony

The day of your commitment ceremony will be stressful no matter what you do to prepare for it - but being well prepared can make it a lot less anxious. And choosing the right location well in advance is an important part of being prepared. Here's how to choose a good site for same-sex commitment ceremony.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Find out how much the venue will cost. If you can't afford it, nothing else matters.

2. See whether you have to join a congregation or group to use the building.

3. Tour the building with your special needs and wants in mind. Go ahead and take some notes of things you especially like or wish were different.

4. Make sure the site has hosted same-sex unions before. If not, the staff could end up giggling behind your guest's backs - or even refusing to serve you.

5. Ask how many people the place holds, and make sure it's adequate.

6. Inquire about any other ceremonies being held on the same day. You don't want to be kept out at the beginning of your time or rushed to leave if you run a little behind schedule.

7. Check to see whether any decorations are provided by the venue - or whether they prohibit certain types of decorations.

8. Look at the facilities where you and your partner will be getting dressed to make sure they are adequate and secluded from your guests.

9. Examine the parking lot. If it's not big enough, your guests may enter your ceremony in a bad mood from dealing with parking issues. If it's not paved and it rains, they may enter with dirty feet and cause you to lose your security deposit or have to pay for carpet cleaning.

Tips & Warnings

• If the location is open to the public - such as for church on Sunday - try to visit. Seeing the building in use can be very helpful to you.
• If you have guests with disabilities, make sure they will be able to get into the site and move around easily. There are lots of older clubs and churches that still don't have ramps. And check the bathrooms for accessible facilities, too.