Hope to Marry at BM

[daydreamer]

I attended BM in 2010, while my fiance is a virgin in this regard. We have bought tickets, and think it would be delightful if we married at Burning Man, but have found limited information about the legal requirements, and about finding a licensed minister or justice of the peace who can do this officially so the marriage will be valid in Massachusetts. Yes, we will be driving a long way, but that will be part of the fun. I am hoping that people who have married at BM, or those who have performed a marriage at BM, could advise us on preparation, the marriage license, and ideas for the ceremony itself. One couldn't ask for a better wedding party!

[lemur]

Weddings
If you are interested in having your wedding at Burning Man, we can provide info on Nevada's marriage law; we can also put you in touch with participants who are licensed to perform weddings in Pershing County.

In 2001 there will be a special Theme Art area devoted to marriage, and interested couples are invited to conduct their ceremonies in The Chapel. This is not limited to legally acknowledged unions.

Please direct all wedding- related questions to weddings(at)burningman(dot)com


(from the website.. seems to be ancient info... give the email a try)

[lemur]

also, i think the jack rabbit speaks newsletter sometimes talks about wedding stuff:

sign up

http://www.burningman.com/blackrockcity ... lists.html

[lemur]

ok i looked through some old newsletters and found this


http://burningman.com/preparation/event ... dings.html


thats what cha want

[theCryptofishist]

Don't do it. Either a wedding or a week at burningman is an intense experience. Mixing them isn't all that good an idea.

[lemur]

ive attended two weddings at burning man.

both ended within 2 years.

(i dont know if thats related to the weddings happening at burning man or not...)

[theCryptofishist]

So did mine. What I tell you three times is true.
Of course, mine ended in death, but pa-tay-to, pa-tah-to...

[Savannah]

Lemur, ya big softy.

Good luck, Daydreamer! Let us know if those links pan out.

I hope you come back and post a photo!

[trilobyte]

I'm moving this over to the Q&A board, since that's a better fit than the greeter's station.

[uncle sticky]

I've performed many weddings at B-man, and elsewhere, and don't think the stats of weddings on playa are any different than those off. Contact Dillo at weddings at burning man for more info, but here's the skinny; pershing county will tell you that you have to get your license in Lovelock. Washoe county, based in Reno, will tell you that a Washoe county license will be legal anywhere in Nevada. Dillo will help you find a legal minister.

[caffeineslinger]

I got married on the playa in 2011. It was awesome for us.
Armadillo will help set you up. She is great.
We got our license in Carson City and the ceremony was done by Bobo at Two Lanterns Camp.
I'm very happy for you.

[BBadger]

Why don't you just have a ceremony at BM, and then get all the real legal stuff done by a judge at your city hall on default world time? Is it really all that important to make it really official at the playa?

[theCryptofishist]

Why don't you just have a ceremony at BM, and then get all the real legal stuff done by a judge at your city hall on default world time? Is it really all that important to make it really official at the playa?

Meat cake talks sence....

[Savannah]

Why don't you just have a ceremony at BM, and then get all the real legal stuff done by a judge at your city hall on default world time? Is it really all that important to make it really official at the playa?

Meat cake talks sence....

I'm envisioning a MeatCake Talks Sense installation with BBadger in a velvet wing chair on a elevated platform wired for sound, holding an enormous goblet of . . . something. Beautiful golden crown topped with a gelatinous piece of quivering Spam; wax teeth jammed in.

5 minute shows, no warning. Very elusive; very exclusive.

[BBadger]

By the power vested in these wax teeth, I now pronounce you husband and wife (or any combination of the two).

[daydreamer]

Thanks for the information. I'll choose to ignore the warnings, as we are both old enough to know what we want, and that is to enjoy our time with each other (and we do - we're so glad we found each other). An easy option is to have a civil service in MA either before or after BM, and this may be what we do, but my Penny wishes to give herself to me on my birthday, August 27th. I certainly like that idea, and so will try to arrange for both the civil and spiritual bonding to be then and there.

[FIGJAM]

Whatever you have to go through to have your anniversary on your birthday, DO IT!!!!!!!

Less chance of forgeting that most important date in the future.

[daydreamer]

We need an officiant, qualified legally and locally to marry us August 27th. Are there any volunteer ministers willing to help for our happy event? And perhaps someone to video it for our kids to see?

[BBadger]

If you didn't take any time to scroll up: why don't you just have a ceremony and then do all the mundane legal shit back in a court in defaultia on your own time?

[some seeing eye]

I supported a wedding at BM by friends in our camp. Beautiful individuals and a beautiful ritual. Suggest for sound recording the event you use on body wireless microphones, winds and sound pollution are a challenge accompanying any video. Costume theme for the witnesses is a plus, dress it up! Food in celebration is something special, but tough on playa. Earlier in the week is preferable for that. Your friends can support it. There have been camps gifting special lodging which would be perfect over nighting night of.

Good for you!

[daydreamer]

That is good advice in general BBadger, but my fiance insists on giving herself to me on my birthday. I was actually hoping to do the legal part two weeks earlier, then celebrate at BM. That way she could be under my medical insurance sooner. But she wants to wed at BM. What a loveable romantic!

[theCryptofishist]

It's too fucking late to organize something through the llc, and it's unlikely that you'll be able to find someone else who has the proper Nevada address.

[Savannah]

That is good advice in general BBadger, but my fiance insists on giving herself to me on my birthday. I was actually hoping to do the legal part two weeks earlier, then celebrate at BM. That way she could be under my medical insurance sooner. But she wants to wed at BM. What a loveable romantic!

Lemur linked to this info above, but:

Did nothing happen when you messaged [email protected] ? (Was there no response?)

Do you have any friends who will attend and are willing to sign up quickly to be a minister in the Universal Life Church ?

For many couples who attend Burning Man together, Black Rock City is the obvious choice when they choose to tie the knot. While the unpredictable desert can be an unusual venue for a couple's big day, the couples who have wedded in BRC reflect on their ceremonies with fondness, and most of them emphatically insist that it was the perfect spot for their matrimony.

Since regulations and guidelines in Nevada are very specific, it's a good idea to write to us at weddings(at)burningman(dot)com. We'll give you the skinny on what you need to know to plan your playa wedding.

Below, you'll find some basic suggestions to help you on your way to wedded bliss.

Arrange at least a few weeks in advance of Burning Man for a religious official or judge to marry you. Plenty of wedding officiants attend Burning Man; ask around, send a message to weddings(at)burningman(dot)com, or post a message on the e-playa to find someone.

It’s possible for a friend to officiate at your wedding instead. At least a few weeks before your wedding, your friend can get ordained at the Universal Life Church website -- as they boast, it takes just three minutes! Then s/he should follow the instructions for ministers below. (If anyone knows of other religious organizations that ordain anyone for the asking, please tell us.)

If your officiant lives outside Nevada, you and your fiancé will need to give that person both your full names and address(es) so that s/he can obtain written permission to marry you. It will probably take your officiant a few weeks to secure this permission. The County Clerk *might* give your officiant last-minute permission to perform your wedding, but why make extra work for her?

Before Burning Man, go to the Pershing County Clerk’s office to get a marriage license. The County Clerk will issue your license on the spot, so you can stop there on the way to Burning Man. You need to bring $60 (per couple) for the license and you both need a driver’s license or some other reliable form of ID. (If you’re NOT a citizen of the U.S. you’ll need a passport.) Nevada does not require a blood test to get a marriage license. The County Clerk’s office is in Lovelock (east of the Burning Man site on I-80) at 398 Main St. It’s open normal office hours Monday through Friday.

There are no legal requirements concerning what you must do or say at your wedding. Create any sort of ritual, game, or party you like. Your minister or friends might want to take charge of the creation of your ceremony.

Don’t forget to get your marriage license signed by your officiant and two witnesses after your wedding. The officiant is legally responsible for sending your certificate to the County Recorder’s office after leaving the playa.

Best wishes!

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... etqPuAaV5E

[delle]

I wed the same man twice. Once was for ourselves, down by the river, and one was a small affair before God for his family in the states. Neither wedding cost more than 200$ (including my 7$ purple dress - bought at Value Village - that I wore at both).

There's a real advantage to having two weddings when marrying later in life. We've had 8 blissful years come this August, but are celebrating our 15th and 16th anniversaries this year. There's some comfort in those numbers, where we can pretend we wasted less time finding each other.

Congratulations on finding each other. (and make the first one for your hearts, it's the one you'll remember...)

[AntiM]

The Church of Light is very simple. At one time, even my cat was ordained.

[daydreamer]

Yes, Armidillo at weddings at BM did reply with helpful advice. However, we may be too late to find an ordained minister for our hoped-for wedding date of August 27th. If an ordained minister reads this and is interested in officiating, we are totally flexible on time and location, if we can do that date. We plan a simple ceremony.

[MegsLegs]

It may not be too late- there was a mention in the last JRS [BManUpdate] V17:#30:7.20.13

Make sure you hustle though! and Congratulations

~~~
GETTING MARRIED AT BURNING MAN? IT'S TRICKY!

Jason writes with this helpful (and super charming!) information for would-be playa brides and grooms:

"'What?! But the Supreme Court said I was free to marry everyone always!' First you must dance through a few >flaming< hOOps that are easy but you have to act fast!

If you want the wedding to be legally officially really real, you must file with the county and your officiant needs to verify credentials.

We made a site detailing our experience throughout the process:
http://madebyjulianne.com/a-burning-man-wedding/

BMORG has a site, too:
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... dings.html

And if you want to see the effect of getting married somewhere more beautiful than believable:


(Maria Mango's "Oh My" Serenade)

Get on it fast because deadlines for filing stuff are coming up!"

~~~

[daydreamer]

We are happy to report that we will be wed August 27th, before noon. We are grateful to Armadillo and BobO for their help in making this a glorious event for us. Yes, it will be a legal wedding, and we need to pick up the marriage license that I was able to complete on-line and will pick up as we enter Nevada. We are working on our ceremony and promises, which will be stated publically before all who wish to attend our official union. My lovely Afterglow made my wedding shirt herself!

[Savannah]

Yay! You guys are so sweet I honestly considered getting ordained.

[caffeineslinger]

Awesome!