What to Look for in a Wedding Officiant
Whether you’re getting married in beautiful Maui or even your own back yard, you’re going to need a wedding officiant to perform the ceremony. This person will actually conduct the most important part of your wedding and will walk you through the vow exchange. In some cases, they may even counsel you and your soon-to-be spouse before the wedding. Because the officiant is such a huge part of your big day, it’s important to choose the right one.
Choose The Right Type of Officiant
It used to be that, more often than not, religious figures were tasked with officiating over wedding ceremonies. These days, however, that’s not always the case. While you could have your priest, rabbi, or other religious figure conduct the ceremony, you don’t have to.
Many couples prefer a fully secular ceremony with no mention of religion or spirituality. Some prefer to have a qualified friend or relative officiate. You can do whatever you feel is right, but just make sure your officiant’s ideas and values align with the wedding vision you have in mind.
Choose Someone Who Makes You Feel Comfortable
No matter what type of officiant you choose, they should make you feel comfortable and relaxed. This is especially important if you’ll be attending counseling sessions with the officiant ahead of time. Even if you're not, you don’t want to feel awkward or uncomfortable around your officiant on the big day.
So, when you meet with prospective officiants, take notice of your feelings and talk them over with your partner. If you both like the officiant, make them a serious contender. If not, move on. You deserve someone who will put you at ease and allow you to enjoy your wedding day to the fullest.
Choose Someone With The Required Credentials
As a final tip, make sure your officiant has all the credentials necessary to validate your vows. These can vary from one state to another. Thus, don’t just assume that, if an officiant is credentialed in one state, they’ll have the same rights and abilities in another. After all, you want your vows to be legitimate and legal to avoid hassle during or after your honeymoon.
Planning a wedding means making all kinds of tough choices. Selecting your officiant is just one of many decisions you will have to make. But, it’s a really big one, so make your selection with great care. It will be one less thing to stress over when you say “I do.”
