News & Announcements
Free Marriage Ceremonies (Only) Available For Active Duty Military Personnel
PLEASE NOTE that although the Massachusetts Justices of the Peace are offering this to Servicemen / Servicewomen who are stationed in Iraq and
Afghanistan, that I am offering my ceremony services free of charge (This excludes Prenup Meetings and Rehearsals. Those fees still apply.) to anyone who is
currently active in the military regardless of where they are stationed, providing that the appropriate paperwork from the Military is presented.
More than 170 members of the Massachusetts Justices of the Peace Association, Inc. (MJPA) have volunteered to officiate free of charge at weddings of any U.
S. serviceman or woman currently on active duty serving in or being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Justice Elizabeth Brennan Gemelli, President of the MJPA, who announced the service, explained that the serviceman or woman must be or soon will be
deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. This service also applies to those active duty military personnel who are home on leave from Iraq or Afghanistan and wish to
marry.” She said, adding, “This offer is being made in recognition of their service to our country.”
She explained that MJPA members are volunteering their time and expertise “to qualified active duty military personnel who provide proper documentation
and a valid Massachusetts Marriage License.”
A list of Justices of the Peace who are participating in this service can be found on the Massachusetts Justices of the Peace Association website www.mjpa.org
by clicking on the “Click here for the 2006 – 2007 JP’s who volunteered to officiate at Military Weddings – Pro Bono”.
The list, which is updated frequently, is prepared alphabetically by city and town of the participating Justice of the Peace. Servicemen and woman are
encouraged to call the Justice of the Peace closest to where the wedding will take place. Justice Carol J. Merletti of Malden has volunteered to provide this
service. She can be contacted at 781-322-8857 or by e-mail at carol@weddingofyourdesire.com.
PLEASE NOTE that although the Massachusetts Justices of the Peace are offering this to Servicemen / Servicewomen who are stationed in Iraq and
Afghanistan, that I am offering my ceremony services free of charge (This excludes Prenup Meetings and Rehearsals. Those fees still apply.) to anyone who is
currently active in the military regardless of where they are stationed, providing that the appropriate paperwork from the Military is presented.
More than 170 members of the Massachusetts Justices of the Peace Association, Inc. (MJPA) have volunteered to officiate free of charge at weddings of any U.
S. serviceman or woman currently on active duty serving in or being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.
Justice Elizabeth Brennan Gemelli, President of the MJPA, who announced the service, explained that the serviceman or woman must be or soon will be
deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. This service also applies to those active duty military personnel who are home on leave from Iraq or Afghanistan and wish to
marry.” She said, adding, “This offer is being made in recognition of their service to our country.”
She explained that MJPA members are volunteering their time and expertise “to qualified active duty military personnel who provide proper documentation
and a valid Massachusetts Marriage License.”
A list of Justices of the Peace who are participating in this service can be found on the Massachusetts Justices of the Peace Association website www.mjpa.org
by clicking on the “Click here for the 2006 – 2007 JP’s who volunteered to officiate at Military Weddings – Pro Bono”.
The list, which is updated frequently, is prepared alphabetically by city and town of the participating Justice of the Peace. Servicemen and woman are
encouraged to call the Justice of the Peace closest to where the wedding will take place. Justice Carol J. Merletti of Malden has volunteered to provide this
service. She can be contacted at 781-322-8857 or by e-mail at carol@weddingofyourdesire.com.
In Need of a Videographer at an affordable price?
Some time ago, a bride expressed her wishes to hire a videographer who was not expensive. She was not looking to have the most perfect video. She only wanted
her special moments to be caught on video. Since most of the videographers that I have worked with are a bit pricey, as most are, I told her about a gentleman
that I know by the name of Chris Gaines. Mr. Gaines is the Director of Real to Reel Film School and works with a youth organization called Raw Art Works in
Lynn, Massachusetts. He is also an accomplished, award-winning filmmaker, photographer and designer. Mr. Gaines shares his talents by teaching at-risk kids
at Raw Arts. The Film School students' films have won national awards and have been shown at Film Festivals
As an instructor at Raw Arts, Mr. Gaines primary goal, along with the other instructors at Raw Arts are to:
• Build job skills and an develop a work ethic with his students
• Help them to become productive members of the workforce
• Develop meaningful mentor relationships with youngsters
• Learn and teach principles of meditation and use art to deal with high-risk behaviors
• Motivate themselves and the kids they work with to stay in school since they are seen as mentors, solid students, positive leaders, and role models
I contacted Mr. Gaines and asked him if he would be interested in having his students work at weddings with me. He jumped at the opportunity. I have had the
pleasure of working with these kids, and they do a great job! It was such an honor for them to be asked to video a wedding. Mr. Gaines accompanies his students
at these weddings, as well as teaches them how to edit the videos before presenting it to my clients. It is a great feeling knowing that I can help contribute to Mr.
Gaines’ great contribution by helping these kids. I encourage you to take the opportunity to think about contributing to this good cause as well. Mr. Gaines can
be reached at:
Raw Art Works
37 Central Square
Lynn, MA 01901
781 593 5515
chris@rawart.org
http://www.rawart.org
Some time ago, a bride expressed her wishes to hire a videographer who was not expensive. She was not looking to have the most perfect video. She only wanted
her special moments to be caught on video. Since most of the videographers that I have worked with are a bit pricey, as most are, I told her about a gentleman
that I know by the name of Chris Gaines. Mr. Gaines is the Director of Real to Reel Film School and works with a youth organization called Raw Art Works in
Lynn, Massachusetts. He is also an accomplished, award-winning filmmaker, photographer and designer. Mr. Gaines shares his talents by teaching at-risk kids
at Raw Arts. The Film School students' films have won national awards and have been shown at Film Festivals
As an instructor at Raw Arts, Mr. Gaines primary goal, along with the other instructors at Raw Arts are to:
• Build job skills and an develop a work ethic with his students
• Help them to become productive members of the workforce
• Develop meaningful mentor relationships with youngsters
• Learn and teach principles of meditation and use art to deal with high-risk behaviors
• Motivate themselves and the kids they work with to stay in school since they are seen as mentors, solid students, positive leaders, and role models
I contacted Mr. Gaines and asked him if he would be interested in having his students work at weddings with me. He jumped at the opportunity. I have had the
pleasure of working with these kids, and they do a great job! It was such an honor for them to be asked to video a wedding. Mr. Gaines accompanies his students
at these weddings, as well as teaches them how to edit the videos before presenting it to my clients. It is a great feeling knowing that I can help contribute to Mr.
Gaines’ great contribution by helping these kids. I encourage you to take the opportunity to think about contributing to this good cause as well. Mr. Gaines can
be reached at:
Raw Art Works
37 Central Square
Lynn, MA 01901
781 593 5515
chris@rawart.org
http://www.rawart.org
Blood Test For Marriage License in Massachusetts
On October 29, 2004 the Governor signed into law Chapter 388 of the Acts of 2004, formerly known as House Bill 75. This law repeals section 28 of c.207 M.G.L.,
eliminating the premarital medical (blood test) certificate requirement for marriage in Massachusetts. Therefore, effective January 28, 2005 (90 days after
signing) medical (blood test) certificates will no longer be a requirement for issuance of a marriage license.
On October 29, 2004 the Governor signed into law Chapter 388 of the Acts of 2004, formerly known as House Bill 75. This law repeals section 28 of c.207 M.G.L.,
eliminating the premarital medical (blood test) certificate requirement for marriage in Massachusetts. Therefore, effective January 28, 2005 (90 days after
signing) medical (blood test) certificates will no longer be a requirement for issuance of a marriage license.
Wedding of Your Desire
| by Massachusetts Justice of the Peace & Notary Public Carol J. Merletti |
Free Marriage Ceremonies (Only) Available For Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters
construction project which simply would not allow me to get to the ship. I left my home an hour and a half beforehand, but started to panic as the ceremony
time was approaching. I finally saw two police officers sitting at a red light. I literally chased them as they started to move when the light changed. I was not
going to be late for this wedding. After finally capturing their attention, I explain my dilemma. They were the nicest and coolest guys. They let me follow
them to the ship. They showed me where to park, pointed out the ship, I thanked them and they left. Unfortunately, when I approached the ship, it turned out
the be the Seaport Elite! I was instructed to walk to the Odyssey, which turned out to be quite the walk! I was not going to go back to my car and waste time.
As I was running, I heard sirens. It was the two police officers coming back for me because as they were leaving, the spotted the Odyssey and realized that
they left me at the wrong place! I couldn't believe it! They came back for me and they didn't even have to do that! Fortunately, they got me to my wedding on
time, and as a result, I am going to be officiating one of the police officer's wedding ceremony in August -- and for free at that! He so deserves it! I gave them
my business card and told them to spread the word to their fellow officers that because of their kindness, I will marry any police officer free of charge. (There
is still a fee for a Prenup meeting and a Rehearsal, if needed.) I am also a very fortunate person to have four fire fighters and a fire Captain for neighbors,
who have been very helpful to my family many times, therefore, I am offering my ceremony services to firefighters as well.
construction project which simply would not allow me to get to the ship. I left my home an hour and a half beforehand, but started to panic as the ceremony
time was approaching. I finally saw two police officers sitting at a red light. I literally chased them as they started to move when the light changed. I was not
going to be late for this wedding. After finally capturing their attention, I explain my dilemma. They were the nicest and coolest guys. They let me follow
them to the ship. They showed me where to park, pointed out the ship, I thanked them and they left. Unfortunately, when I approached the ship, it turned out
the be the Seaport Elite! I was instructed to walk to the Odyssey, which turned out to be quite the walk! I was not going to go back to my car and waste time.
As I was running, I heard sirens. It was the two police officers coming back for me because as they were leaving, the spotted the Odyssey and realized that
they left me at the wrong place! I couldn't believe it! They came back for me and they didn't even have to do that! Fortunately, they got me to my wedding on
time, and as a result, I am going to be officiating one of the police officer's wedding ceremony in August -- and for free at that! He so deserves it! I gave them
my business card and told them to spread the word to their fellow officers that because of their kindness, I will marry any police officer free of charge. (There
is still a fee for a Prenup meeting and a Rehearsal, if needed.) I am also a very fortunate person to have four fire fighters and a fire Captain for neighbors,
who have been very helpful to my family many times, therefore, I am offering my ceremony services to firefighters as well.
| AT FENWAY PARK, COUPLE CAPS OFF LOVESTRUCK DREAM TO WED |
By Julian Benbow, Globe Staff | October 25, 2007
Carol Merletti waited four years to officiate the marriage of a couple like Annette and Larry Rine.
Annette grew up in Vermont a huge Red Sox fan. Larry watched his first game ever live at Fenway Park. The fact that they live in New York, of all places, made it
all the more enticing.
The two discovered Merletti's website, Weddingofyourdesire.com, and sent her an e-mail stating their dream: a wedding at Fenway Park.
That was Merletti's dream, too. A justice of the peace in Malden, Merletti has married couples in hotels, in parks, and on the Boston Common. But she really was
hoping to land a couple seeking to tie the knot at Fenway.
The Rines had a few other ideas - Niagara Falls, Las Vegas. But Larry Rine said, "We came up with Fenway and we looked into it more and, before you know it, we
were up on the Green Monster getting married."
Merletti couldn't have been more excited.
"It's been on my website begging brides to have them get married there," she said.
Merletti married the couple on the top of the Green Monster during the seventh-inning stretch of the Red Sox' regular-season finale on Sept. 30 against the
Minnesota Twins. And, aside from accepting Boston's 3-2 loss, the wedding went off without a hitch.
The Rines wore matching jerseys, "Mr." on the back of Larry's uniform top and "Mrs." on Annette's. As the middle of the seventh inning approached, a quiet
buzz became a crowd of love-struck onlookers.
"They were all excited," Annette Rine said. "One guy asked where the cake was."
They were the center of attention at a Red Sox game, quite a feat. The fanfare was nice, but Larry Rine just wanted to make sure the essentials - mainly, the "I
do" - didn't get lost in the shuffle.
"We were kind of nervous," he said. "I wanted to make sure everything was going to go well and go smooth. So I was a little nervous that people were starting to
crowd in more and draw attention, but it went really well, and I was pretty impressed that it went as smooth as it did."
For that moment, it seemed like everyone was happy for the newlyweds. Everybody but Rine's brother, Jared, a diehard Yankees fan.
"We had a reception dinner that night in New Hampshire," Annette Rine said. "And he wore a Yankees hat to protest."
Welcome to the family.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
Carol Merletti waited four years to officiate the marriage of a couple like Annette and Larry Rine.
Annette grew up in Vermont a huge Red Sox fan. Larry watched his first game ever live at Fenway Park. The fact that they live in New York, of all places, made it
all the more enticing.
The two discovered Merletti's website, Weddingofyourdesire.com, and sent her an e-mail stating their dream: a wedding at Fenway Park.
That was Merletti's dream, too. A justice of the peace in Malden, Merletti has married couples in hotels, in parks, and on the Boston Common. But she really was
hoping to land a couple seeking to tie the knot at Fenway.
The Rines had a few other ideas - Niagara Falls, Las Vegas. But Larry Rine said, "We came up with Fenway and we looked into it more and, before you know it, we
were up on the Green Monster getting married."
Merletti couldn't have been more excited.
"It's been on my website begging brides to have them get married there," she said.
Merletti married the couple on the top of the Green Monster during the seventh-inning stretch of the Red Sox' regular-season finale on Sept. 30 against the
Minnesota Twins. And, aside from accepting Boston's 3-2 loss, the wedding went off without a hitch.
The Rines wore matching jerseys, "Mr." on the back of Larry's uniform top and "Mrs." on Annette's. As the middle of the seventh inning approached, a quiet
buzz became a crowd of love-struck onlookers.
"They were all excited," Annette Rine said. "One guy asked where the cake was."
They were the center of attention at a Red Sox game, quite a feat. The fanfare was nice, but Larry Rine just wanted to make sure the essentials - mainly, the "I
do" - didn't get lost in the shuffle.
"We were kind of nervous," he said. "I wanted to make sure everything was going to go well and go smooth. So I was a little nervous that people were starting to
crowd in more and draw attention, but it went really well, and I was pretty impressed that it went as smooth as it did."
For that moment, it seemed like everyone was happy for the newlyweds. Everybody but Rine's brother, Jared, a diehard Yankees fan.
"We had a reception dinner that night in New Hampshire," Annette Rine said. "And he wore a Yankees hat to protest."
Welcome to the family.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
By Glen Johnson
AP Political Writer / July 29, 2008
BOSTON—Out-of-state gay couples should soon be allowed to marry in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts House voted 118-35 Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law that bans couples from marrying in the state if the unions would not be legal in their own
states.
The Senate also voted for the repeal earlier this month, and Gov. Deval Patrick has said he would approve it. The measure required one more procedural vote in
each chamber before being forwarded to the governor.
"Sometimes what you hope and pray for actually happens, which is kind of overwhelming," Michael Thorne, 55, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, said after telling his 6-
year-old son his parents could soon get married. Thorne and his partner of 25 years, James Theberge, have an Aug. 18 wedding planned in Provincetown.
Massachusetts was the first state to allow gay marriage, but a 1913 law has barred couples from marrying if the unions would not be legal in their own states. The
repeal effort passed after a relatively quick, 40-minute House debate free of the massive protests that accompanied other gay marriage debates in the state.
Repealing the law would allow the state to compete with California, which recently approved gay marriage -- with no residency requirement. It could also provide
an economic boon, since it would attract gays and lesbians who wanted to formalize their relationship.
In the end, only seven legislators spoke on the issue, four in favor of the repeal, three who wanted to maintain the ban.
Rep. Byron Rushing, D-Boston, said continuing to ban out-of-state gays from marrying was unfair after the state's highest court ruled in 2003 that gay and
lesbian couples have a constitutional right to be married.
"This is question of fairness, and it is a question of equity," Rushing said.
Massachusetts allows first-cousins to marry, but half the states in the country do not. Rushing said some first-cousins from out of Massachusetts have
undoubtedly been allowed to marry here since 1913.
"The fairness in this question is that we have allowed people to marry in Massachusetts who could not legally marry in their own state for decades, and now we
want to change our way we are applying a bit of law we have never enforced. That, I think, is unfair," Rushing said.
Opponents argued repealing the ban amounted to meddling in the affairs of other states and broke with state law and customs that dictated respecting others'
marriage rules.
Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, said sanctioning a marriage that is illegal elsewhere would "create a relationship and then set it adrift to settle in a disapproving
state."
He spoke of a gay couple from Rhode Island that married in Massachusetts and now is seeking a divorce, saying it was typical of the "legal nightmare" a repeal
would create.
"They can't divorce in Rhode Island because the law does not recognize (the marriage)," Lepper said. "They can't divorce in Massachusetts because there is a one-
year residency requirement for filing."
Former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, who was governor of Massachusetts at the time the court ruled gay marriage was legal, instructed city
and town clerks to enforce the long-dormant law once gay marriages started in May 2004.
He argued that repealing the ban would turn the state into the "Las Vegas of gay marriage."
Patrick, who succeed Romney as the state's first Democratic governor in 16 years, as well as its first black chief executive, argued the law carried racial
undertones from a time when interracial marriage was discouraged or illegal in some states.
AP Political Writer / July 29, 2008
BOSTON—Out-of-state gay couples should soon be allowed to marry in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts House voted 118-35 Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law that bans couples from marrying in the state if the unions would not be legal in their own
states.
The Senate also voted for the repeal earlier this month, and Gov. Deval Patrick has said he would approve it. The measure required one more procedural vote in
each chamber before being forwarded to the governor.
"Sometimes what you hope and pray for actually happens, which is kind of overwhelming," Michael Thorne, 55, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, said after telling his 6-
year-old son his parents could soon get married. Thorne and his partner of 25 years, James Theberge, have an Aug. 18 wedding planned in Provincetown.
Massachusetts was the first state to allow gay marriage, but a 1913 law has barred couples from marrying if the unions would not be legal in their own states. The
repeal effort passed after a relatively quick, 40-minute House debate free of the massive protests that accompanied other gay marriage debates in the state.
Repealing the law would allow the state to compete with California, which recently approved gay marriage -- with no residency requirement. It could also provide
an economic boon, since it would attract gays and lesbians who wanted to formalize their relationship.
In the end, only seven legislators spoke on the issue, four in favor of the repeal, three who wanted to maintain the ban.
Rep. Byron Rushing, D-Boston, said continuing to ban out-of-state gays from marrying was unfair after the state's highest court ruled in 2003 that gay and
lesbian couples have a constitutional right to be married.
"This is question of fairness, and it is a question of equity," Rushing said.
Massachusetts allows first-cousins to marry, but half the states in the country do not. Rushing said some first-cousins from out of Massachusetts have
undoubtedly been allowed to marry here since 1913.
"The fairness in this question is that we have allowed people to marry in Massachusetts who could not legally marry in their own state for decades, and now we
want to change our way we are applying a bit of law we have never enforced. That, I think, is unfair," Rushing said.
Opponents argued repealing the ban amounted to meddling in the affairs of other states and broke with state law and customs that dictated respecting others'
marriage rules.
Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, said sanctioning a marriage that is illegal elsewhere would "create a relationship and then set it adrift to settle in a disapproving
state."
He spoke of a gay couple from Rhode Island that married in Massachusetts and now is seeking a divorce, saying it was typical of the "legal nightmare" a repeal
would create.
"They can't divorce in Rhode Island because the law does not recognize (the marriage)," Lepper said. "They can't divorce in Massachusetts because there is a one-
year residency requirement for filing."
Former Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, who was governor of Massachusetts at the time the court ruled gay marriage was legal, instructed city
and town clerks to enforce the long-dormant law once gay marriages started in May 2004.
He argued that repealing the ban would turn the state into the "Las Vegas of gay marriage."
Patrick, who succeed Romney as the state's first Democratic governor in 16 years, as well as its first black chief executive, argued the law carried racial
undertones from a time when interracial marriage was discouraged or illegal in some states.
By Michael Levenson and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Wedding of Your Desire by Carol J.
| Carol J. Merletti |
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