A wedding officiant with a warm touch

How does one officiate a wedding ceremony?

To officiate a wedding ceremony, the Officiant needs to know the state and/or federal requirements for their region or area. These vary so it is important to know them as well as adhere to the requirements to ensure the weddings that you officiate are legal. The Officiant’s job is to officiate the wedding of the couple and ensure that the wedding is what the couple wants.

How to find a good wedding officiant?

There are several ways to find a good wedding officiant. Word of mouth is good but is also limited. The most popular way to find a good wedding officiant is online. There are wedding sites and listings that provide wedding officiants in your region that are best aligned with your needs. While reviews are important, looking at their philosophy and types of weddings they perform, are also key.

Meeting with the wedding officiant, even for a short meeting, is a major factor in finding a wedding officiant that meets your needs.

Why do you think wedding ceremonies are important?

Wedding ceremonies are important as they represent the couple’s decision to make a life together. The wedding ceremony is an affirmation of who the couple is at a particular moment in time, and who they want to become.

In your opinion, do you think a wedding ceremony is more about the couple or the families and friends?

I think every wedding gives thanks for the past, celebrates the present-day and honors the future. With the presence of the couples friends and families celebrating and being joyful, and especially by surrounding the couple with hopes and wishes and dreams, the wedding is focused on the couple but the families and friends are a part of the happiness.

How does a wedding ceremony typically go?

For me, there are usually 3-7 key parts of the ceremony. This depends on the couple. It also depends on the size and location of the wedding.

• 1. Processional/presentation
• 2. Words of Welcome, prayer and/or reading
• 3. Exchange of Vows
• 4. Exchange of Rings
• 5. Unity Ceremony (if included in the Wedding Ceremony)
• 6. Pronouncement
• 7. Recessional

How can a couple personalize their wedding ceremony?

The best way I have seen to personalize a wedding ceremony is to include a unity ceremony that is applicable and heartfelt to the couple. This could be lighting a unity candle or planting a tree together. There are almost unlimited ideas for unity ceremonies.

Where can a couple find sample wedding vows?

Sample wedding vows can be found throughout the Internet. I have found some very touching and meaningful vows on Pinterest.

Have you ever witnessed an objection at a wedding?

No, I have never witnessed this. In my experience, in today’s weddings, the part of the ceremony where the officiant asks if there are any objections is mostly omitted.