After visiting many wedding vendor directories and doing online searches, which I highly recommend, you’ve probably narrowed down your search for the right professional wedding officiant. In order to find just the right one for you, here are a few things to think about when choosing your wedding officiant. Before you sign the contract make sure you have addressed the following.
Think About these Things Before Hiring Your Officiant
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Do you feel a connection with them? After viewing their website, blog, Facebook page, Pinterest account and Instagram account, do they seem like the kind of person you and your partner would like or want to be friends with? Or at the very least feel a warm connection with? You should genuinely like your officiant.
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Are they flexible with their ceremony? Will they help you customize a ceremony just for you and your sweetheart? Will they allow you to use your own readings, poems, songs, etc. in the ceremony? Do they have any restrictions on the ceremony?
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Do they love weddings? Ask them why they are an officiant. Find out what makes them do this work.
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Ask them how much time it will take to create the right ceremony for your wedding.
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Do they have sample ceremonies, readings, poems and song lists for you to review? Will they help you find just the right reading or offer guidance on finding the right elements to incorporate into your ceremony?
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Do they have contacts with other wedding vendors? Can they offer suggestions on great wedding vendors in your area? While this isn’t crucial to your ceremony, it can show that your officiant is friendly with other vendors and has a good reputation.
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Do they have testimonials that you can read? Or would they put you in touch with any past couples you could talk to?
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Will they require a rehearsal? They should! A wedding without a rehearsal is like a theater production without a rehearsal! Everyone will feel more relaxed if they know what’s expected of them on wedding day.
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Do they seem like the kind of person who can be an authority without taking over? Your wedding officiant should be reliable, responsible, and confident but know that this is your wedding day and that they are there for you! It would be nice if they also had a good sense of humor, but this is not required. 🙂
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Can you picture standing at the “altar” with your beloved and have the person you’ve chosen as your officiant guiding you through the most important moment of your lives? If the answer is “yes!” then you’ve found your wedding officiant!
