Officiants
An elopement officiant service serving Monterey County, California — from Salinas, Monterey, and Carmel to Big Sur, Santa Cruz, and Paso Robles — built for couples eloping with a small witness party rather than a full guest list. Paul Richards (“Paully”) is a retired pastor of more than 30 years and has officiated weddings in the Monterey area for 24+ years, with a 5.0-star average and a 100% recommendation rate across marketplaces.
This package is the right fit for couples who want their elopement to feel personal rather than templated — private vows in a backyard, a sunrise on Asilomar Beach, a quiet courthouse moment, a redwood grove in Big Sur, or a trip up the coast to a hidden overlook. The day starts with an initial visit (in person or by Zoom) where Paully gets to know how you met, what you adore about each other, and the tone you want the ceremony to set; that conversation becomes the spine of a one-of-a-kind script.
As a wedding officiant with three decades of pastoral experience, Paully writes every script from scratch — never a template — and the homework he assigns the couple between the initial visit and the ceremony is, in his own words, “the most important part of the ceremony.” The result is a short, warm, deeply personal moment that reflects the couple rather than a generic civil reading.
What’s Included With This Package
- Initial getting-to-know-you visit (in-person or Zoom) where Paully hears your story and learns the tone you want
- A short “homework” assignment Paully gives the couple to deepen the ceremony script — the most important part of making the ceremony feel like yours
- Custom ceremony script written entirely for you (never a template); typical elopement runs under 30 minutes
- Personalized vows guidance and writing support if you’d like to write your own vows
- Unlimited email and phone exchanges leading up to the day
- On-site coordination with the planner, photographer, or venue contact ahead of the ceremony
- Officiating the ceremony itself — greeting, story, vows, ring exchange, declaration of marriage
- Marriage license signing on the day and submission to the Monterey County (or applicable) clerk on your behalf
- Backup officiant arrangement — associate officiant Gina P. is on the team for unforeseen emergencies
Where This Ceremony Travels
Travel within Monterey County is included in the package price. Ceremonies in Paso Robles and Santa Cruz are welcomed with a transparent travel adjustment confirmed during the initial visit. There are no broad travel restrictions — if you’re eloping to the Central Coast, let Paully know your location and he’ll work out the logistics with you in writing before the booking is confirmed.
Ideal For
Couples eloping with a small witness party — a private backyard, a beach, a redwood grove, a state park, a courthouse, or an intimate restaurant patio. As a civil wedding officiant Paully welcomes non-religious, civil-union, commitment, and vow-renewal ceremonies; as a wedding ceremony officiant he equally welcomes interfaith and faith-based ceremonies, drawing on three decades of pastoral experience.
Schedule and Lead Time
Most couples book the initial visit 60 to 90 days before the elopement date so the script has time to come together and the homework can be done thoughtfully. Last-minute elopement bookings are accommodated when Paully’s calendar allows — reach out with your date and Paully will confirm availability within 24 hours.
Seasonal Note
An Off Season Special runs November through February (10% off this package) for couples eloping in the slower months; let Paully know at the initial visit if your date falls in that window and the discount will be applied to the contract.
About Paully
Paul Richards is a retired pastor of more than 30 years and has been officiating weddings in the Monterey area for 24+ years. Married nearly four decades, he’s a self-proclaimed romantic who believes a wedding ceremony should be a reflection of the couple. He holds a 5.0-star average and a 100% recommendation rate across the major wedding marketplaces where his work is reviewed, and serves all couples with the same warmth, kindness, and craft.
