There’s more to getting married than a ring and a pretty dress. You’re going to need someone to tell you when to say ‘I do.’

For those couples without a minister or rabbi, a justice of the peace can be a good option. That’s where Marion resident Sheri Gay comes in.

Gay became a certified Massachusetts justice of the peace in January and is the only one in Marion.

“It means a lot to me. I’m anxious to start,” she said.

Gay got the idea after performing a ceremony for her goddaughter Kristi Maddingan’s wedding.

But when she was first asked to do the wedding, Gay admits she was nervous.

“I don’t like being in front of people. I never married anybody,” she said. "One month before the wedding I got really cold feet.”

Ironically, the bride was the one reassuring her that she could go through with the ceremony. Convinced, Gay got to work, procuring a one-day license to marry them and studying different ceremonies.

“I wanted it to be from me to them,” she said. “I didn’t want it be all wine and roses.”

As someone with more than three decades of marriage under her belt, Gay wanted to impart the joys and realities of married life to her goddaughter.

“I wanted them to know that marriage is a very serious relationship. Once you get married that’s not done, you grow from there,” she said.

Gay received a number of compliments, and a friend suggested she become a justice of the peace. Soon after, her husband Tom left an application on her desk.

When Gay looked into it, she found that only one justice is permitted per 5,000 people in a municipality.

Fortunately, no one was registered in Marion so she submitted her application along with four signatures from Marion residents, a recommendation from a resident and a resume. In a few weeks, Gay received her approval and was soon sworn in.

In addition to weddings, Gay’s certification licenses her to notarize documents and, in some cases, take depositions.

“It’s good for seven years,” said Gay. “So we’re good to go.”

To keep her commission, Gay must marry 14 people in Massachusetts in seven years. With 15 nieces and nephews nearing the marrying age, she hopes to be able to officiate some of their wedding ceremonies.

Gay would also like to officiate weddings for people in the area.

As with her goddaughter’s ceremony, Gay said she would personalize the event.

For her wedding, she said: “I did the church, the priest. I don’t remember one word he said. I like to take things that really will have some meaning to the couple and be from me.”

With two grown children, Gay said being a justice of the peace is something she thought would be fun to do on the side in addition to her part-time job at Gold World in Wareham.

By law, justices can charge up to $100 for local weddings and a maximum $150 if they have to travel. Meetings beforehand can carry an additional fee.

“I’m trying to keep it reasonable,” said Gay. “I’m not out to make a fortune. I would be interested in doing pro bono for people in the military.”

She added: “I’m older. If I’m going to work, I want to enjoy it.”