How to Choose Wedding Officiant
Choosing the right wedding officiant may take some time and patience but in the end, your day will be perfect. Choosing the right marriage official can set the tone for the entire day so it is important to choose someone who is well aware of your exact needs.
You want to first decide what kind of marriage ceremony you want to have. If you or your partner have a specific religious belief or background, you may want to consider having a religious ceremony. These normally take place in a church or synagogue.
Even if only one of you were raised in a certain religion, there is no reason why you cannot have a religious marriage ceremony. Or if you both are from different religions or faiths, you can have an interfaith ceremony.
Consider whether you want to write your own personal vows or just go with the traditional vows. You can also choose your own songs and readings. Think about where you want to get married. You have a few choices when it comes to the location.
You can choose to have it in a church, private home, inn or an outdoor wedding. The thing to remember is that if you want a member of the clergy to officiate at your wedding and you are having the marriage ritual outside of the church, it may be tough to find a clergyman who will perform your wedding.
To find a marriage officiant, inquire with the county clerk in the town office or city hall where you’d like to be married. They have a listing of Justice of the Peace in their area that holds state credentials. A Justice of the Peace is used for ceremonies that are non-religious, however, many allow you to customize your ceremony to add traditions such as; readings and candle lightings. If you have chose to have a religious celebration, you would ask the place where you attend worship services.
Be certain that whomever you choose to officiate your event is licensed to officiate weddings legally in the state you reside and be sure that person can provide you with proof. If there is a particular friend or family member that you want to officiate your big day, this can certainly be done online.
You would first need to inquire with your county clerk to ask if your state and county is able to accept online ordinations.
Remember this is your wedding, so make it your own!
Where would your dream wedding be or if you could do it over, where would you have it? Please tell us in the comments below.
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I think it’s a great idea to look for an officiant instead of just settling with whoever is closest to you. I have been to a lot of awkward church weddings where the minister didn’t know what to say. I’d rather have someone more professional and eloquent.