Your wedding officiant will arguably be the most important person at your ceremony, after the couple who are actually getting hitched. A good officiant can make sure everything goes off without a hitch, and will give you the ceremony you’ve always dreamed of.
Before your wedding, you should meet up with potential officiants to get a feel for them. What follows are some important questions to ask them, so you know whether they’ll fit in with your plans.
What do you charge?
Get down to the nitty gritty early. Before anything else, you need to know that your officiant will fit into your budget. Luckily, you can buy whole wedding packages, that include your officiant, as well as your venue and wedding breakfast.
How many weddings have you officiated at?
You want to know that your officiant is experienced. How many ceremonies have they performed? Have they ever turned down a couple? Why? Also, have they ever had an emergency where they couldn’t get to the ceremony, and what did they do? It’s good to know that they know what to do in any eventuality.
What are your credentials?
Brides details just what credentials your officiant should have, depending on what kind of ceremony you’re having. If they’re a Justice of the Peace, they should have a licence to perform wedding ceremonies. If you’re looking to make your wedding really personal, a friend or family member could officiate by registering with the Universal Life Church.
Can we write our own vows?
Real Simple points out that you’ll need to check that your officiant will be ok with everything you’re planning for your big day. Will they be ok with you writing your own vows, having an interfaith wedding, incorporating certain readings and songs? You’ll want an officiant who’ll fit in seamlessly with your plans, so it’s best to find out if they’re happy to work with you on these elements of the ceremony.
What do you need to know about us?
Finally, a good officiant will want to know all about you. An officiant writing for Huffington Post says she always asks how long you’ve been together, and how you met, as it’s a great starting point to get to know a couple. An officiant who really wants to get to know you will be a great fit for your wedding day.