One memorable ceremony in my first year as an officiant, Bob and Sally (not their real names) were standing before me and their many guests in a fancy hotel room. It was decked out with ribbons and flowers, and people all dressed up gazing at the beautifully-dressed couple.
As I was reading through the ceremony, the couple faced each other, holding both hands, and gazing into each other’s eyes. Bob was misty eyed. Then he was tearful. How moving. How beautiful.
Then…his nose started running. Uh oh. No tissue. I didn’t have one either. Finally, he reluctantly disengaged his hand from his bride’s, and wiped his nose.
With a little apology, he took Sally’s hand again.
As the guests began to giggle, I quickly announced, “And with that, you’ve just passed your first test as a married couple!”
Lesson learned: I always have clean tissues in my pocket at the ready.
It can feel overwhelming at first, especially when everything is new! Here are some wedding planning tips to help you get started, keep your sanity, and keep things in perspective.
Hire your officiant
I’m emphasizing doing this first because, after all, this is the one person who can make your wedding legal. Everything else falls into the decorations and party categories. It’s just a party without the legality in place!
How do you know what you want in an officiant?
It depends! If you’re getting married in a place of religious practice, such as a church or temple, you will likely have your own clergy officiate your wedding.
If you’re getting married somewhere else, whether it’s outside in a park, in a big ballroom, a small civic center, your house, or at an historic site, you might need to find a wedding officiant to come to the venue you choose.
You might want a certain “feel” to your wedding. For instance, you might think of “elegant,” or “poetic,” “romantic,” or “fun” when you describe how you want your wedding to represent you as a couple. Everything is possible!
Legally, you need to affirm that you wish to be married, and a licensed officiant must sign and return your Wedding License. That’s it. That means that your ceremony is completely customizable to what you want as a couple! Fun!
Whether you want a formal, traditional sort of wedding, or something with poetry, song, and some truly memorable elements, your wedding officiant is the person who can make your ceremony uniquely yours.
Some officiants have templates for you to choose from. Others will completely customize your ceremony based on your wishes, and your story. Some will offer extra services such as premarital counseling, an office to get married in, or conducting your wedding rehearsal.
Be sure to discuss with each other how you envision your ceremomy, and then seek out an officiant that will meet your needs and your budget.
Although your ceremony will likely be only about 20 minutes of the entire wedding day, it’s important enough to choose the right wedding celebrant to conduct it for you.
Questions about how I can help you? Just contact me! I’m happy to hear from you!
At this point, I’ve officiated more than 60 weddings, with many more to come this year. I’m also starting to get booked for 2018, so that’s exciting!
Here are some tips for those who are interested in knowing how to be a wedding officiant:
Make sure you’re licensed.
Different states have different laws about who can officiate, and what sort of registration is needed. It’s easy to find what you need online, so do your homework! You might need to register with a form and a fee. You might need to bring certain documentation with you. So, before you sign a couple’s wedding license, be sure you have done your prep work!
Meet with the couple.
Find out their story. Let them tell you about their ideas for their wedding. They might want a certain prayer, or ritual, or they might want the bride’s sister to sing a song. Listen to them first.
The Legal Minimum
Legally speaking, usually the things that make a wedding legal are the couple agreeing they want to marry each other, and signing the license. That means that you can be as creative as the couple wishes with the ceremony.
Make it Genuine!
The ceremony doesn’t have to be stiff, formal, or solemn! This is a joyful day. It’s about love. Have some moments of laughter. This isn’t a performance – it’s a sharing of a special moment that bonds this couple in marriage.
Be a Resource!
Stay informed about new and fresh readings and ceremony additions. For example, a Ring Warming Ceremony is lovely to do with a guest list of about 60. A Wine Box Ceremony is a new and touching inclusion in a ceremony. Read up on the wedding websites so you can offer your ocuple unique touches for their ceremony.
Get a Picture!
Get a picture with the couple on your cell phone before you leave. With the couple’s permission, pictures make your website and social media stand out and show the varieties of weddings you perform. If you can get a video too – that’s a huge bonus! You never know how long until, or even IF, the photographer will have a picture for you.
Want personal guidance from me?
I have recently been approached by several new officiants for guidance. So, I created an online class called How to Get Started Officiating Weddings. Check it out if you’d like more guidance.
Contact me if you’d like my help, or if you’d like me to schedule the class to meet your availability.
Alice provided so much joy and comfort for our wedding yesterday. She was absolutely amazing. She will meet with the couple in a personal way to understand and customize their specific love story. She was totally professional and a great friend to have, especially when I had a mini panic attack! She also has a relationship and life survey for you to enhance the personal experience and full mental and spiritual connection. Could not have asked for a better new beginning and amazing ceremony, wish we could do it again!
