What You Should Know Before Hiring an Officiant

The other person who gets a lot of eyeballs at your wedding, aside from the couple getting married, is the person who is leading the ceremony. Some couples will pick an officiant that they know beforehand or have seen perform at other weddings. But some couples will start the choosing process from scratch. If you’re unsure what to look for or what questions to ask, here are the 6 thing you should know before you decide who you’d like to be the officiant for your ceremony.

1. Will They Give You a Personalized Ceremony?

Some officiants will take the time to create and write a personalized ceremony for you and your partner and some will use a generic template that they have. If you want a ceremony that fits more of your personality, be sure to ask if this is something the officiant can do for you before the wedding.

2. Do They Have a Video You Can Watch?

You might have found a good officiant that received a lot of positive reviews and testimonials on their website, but before hiring them, ask for videos from weddings they have worked. This will be the only true way you can see their style, their presentation and their overall attitude when running a ceremony.

3. How Do They Handle a Noisy Group of Guests?

Chances are you’ll have one or two rowdy guests who are either whispering during the ceremony or Snapchatting every moment of the ceremony. Chat with your officiant beforehand to see how they deal with unruly ceremony situations.

4. Will They Keep the Ceremony Short?

If you’re looking to have a quick ceremony, discuss your time limits and expectations beforehand. See if this is something they are open to and able to do. If not, you may end up with a ceremony that is an hour long.

5. How Many Pre-Wedding Sessions Do You Get?

If you want to have a more personal wedding ceremony, you may want to meet with the officiant a handful of times before the wedding. See if they are open to doing that or if they charge more for those pre-wedding meetings.

6. Will They Take Care of The Marriage License For you?

You’ll want to chat with your officiant beforehand to see if they will be able to mail in your signed marriage license for you after you sign it on your wedding day. Ask if they prepare the documentation for you and what else you’ll need to provide them.

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