How to Determine Who is Right as your Wedding Officiant

Even before your spouse proposed to you, you already had an idea on who are the people you will ask to join your bridal party when you get married. You even have choices on wedding planners as well. But before you think that you have every designation covered, you remember that you do not have an officiant yet.

Because it is true that one of the most important aspects of the wedding is the people who will help make this event special and unforgettable, you need to look for the right officiant who will perform the matrimonial ceremony.

Finding the right officiant is not as easy as you think. It is not a good idea to just pick out whoever it is available to marry you. You want this event to be as special as possible so you need to look for an officiant who will be able to make your wedding ceremony memorable. To help you on your search for the right officiant for your wedding day, here are some tips to remember:

1. Decide between a secular or religious ceremony.

The first thing you need to do before you actually start your search is to determine if you want to have a secular or religious wedding. In a secular ceremony, a judge usually performs the marriage rites.

However, nowadays, it has also become a wide practice in some states like California for example, that a friend or family of the couple gets a one-day designation of Deputy Commissioner of Marriages for a fee of $35. Alternatively, one can also get ordained online through the Universal Life Church.

If you intend to go for this option, make sure that this type of practice is recognized in your state. Otherwise, you may end up having an invalid wedding ceremony, which can be infuriating if you think about all the trouble that you went through to plan for this wedding.

On the other hand, if you intend to have a religious ceremony, you can have a rabbi, priest, pastor or clergy person marry you. The decision would depend on what religion you choose to get married in. For example, pastors conduct Protestant weddings while priests perform matrimonial vows for Roman Catholic weddings.

2. Meet with the officiant.

Before you make your final pick, you first have to talk to the officiant you are considering. Ask several questions about him and his way of performing the ceremony. Ask him if there are any requirements, limitations, or rules that he would impose on you. You may inquire if it is allowed for you to customize your ceremony or write your own vows. It is also important to find out if it is necessary to become members of a particular religion before you can get married in their church or place of worship.

3. Look for someone who has the same beliefs and values.

After you have met with the officiant, you will have an idea if he is the right person whom you will want to marry you and your partner. Remember, it is essential to find someone whose beliefs and values resonate with yours so that you can have a harmonious wedding ceremony that will go just the way you want it.

The moment you say, “I do” will forever be etched in your memory. This is why, it is a must that you find the right officiant who will make this day special and memorable for you and your spouse-to-be.

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Source: This article was submitted by Wendy L. Bishop from MyDreamWedding.ca, an e-commerce store and wedding blog for wedding cake toppers and wedding ideas in general.