Choosing an Officiant is an important and highly personal decision for your wedding day. Every now and then, I hear a nightmare story of a a rogue Officiant and a wedding ceremony gone awry. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to remove the likelihood of this happening. I’ve listed some key considerations that will help you choose your Officiant an ensure a meaningful and memorable wedding ceremony.
- Price – A big warning sign is price and I do believe there is some wisdom in the adage, “you get what you pay for”. There are lots of intangibles in a good officiant; nice attire that does not look like it was slept in; someone who is responsive to your inquiries; willing to meet with you; demonstrates they hear your vision; and asks questions. What many couples don’t realize is that there is a cost associated with these quality’s because many of them take time.
- Willing to Meet With You – In a wedding couples are investing a lot of emotional energy and money into their wedding day and you want it to be right. For that simple reason I believe no couple should be meeting their Officiant for the first time on their wedding day.
- References and Referrals – Getting married is not something you do everyday so most of us won’t know where to start looking for an Officiant. Ask friends, colleagues, wedding planners, photographers, venues who they recommend based on who you are and what you’re looking for. In the case of professionals, a helpful question is “are there officiants you like working with? Professionals typically will not recommend or refer to a wedding professional they do not trust to do a good job, it’s just bad for a professional reputation.
- It’s your Day – The wedding day is all about the couple and their family/friends. If the Officiant gives you the impression it’s more about them, (wanting/requiring a reception invitation, organizing excessively around their schedule, etc.) then look elsewhere.
- Know what your Officiant is Going to Say – You should know what your officiant is going to say and see a finalized copy of your ceremony. Your wedding day is a reflection of you, your values and what’s important so don’t leave your ceremony to chance. Just as you make decisions on virtually every element of your ceremony, from tasting your food, décor, etc, you should also have that kind of input into your ceremony.
Check out the article in EventSource
