Choosing A Wedding Officiant

The wedding officiant you choose should have the same believe system as you or able to perform the ceremony you envision. Talk to the officiant about his or her speeches during the wedding ceremony before you make a decision, this will set the tone of the whole ceremony. And be sure to only choose a wedding officiant that can legally marry a couple within the state you are planning to get married.

First detail you and your fiancée or fiancé must decide on is if you would like a wedding officant that will perform a religious or a secular ceremony. This will highly impact the mood of the ceremony and who to choose as a wedding officant.

Your first choice for a religious wedding officiant should be your family clergy person, if you have one that you feel relaxed around. If you do not, but are planning on getting married in a church or other house of worship your decision will most likely be officant that often performs their wedding ceremonies.

The house of worship should be able to give you their contact information and let you know the times you can attend a worship service; attend to see if you like the way he or she lights up the room. If you do not like the person they recommend you may want to ask them for a different recommendation or if they would allow an outside wedding officiant to perform your ceremony.

You may want to look for a wedding officiant that is the same denomination that you are.
There are more choices of people to choose from when you decide to go with a secular wedding officiant. You could get a justice of peace, your local city hall, or in some cases even a friend or relative to marry you!

If you are interested in getting a Justice of Peace to marry you just contact the county clerk’s office, were you will be getting your marriage license. They should be able to give you the contact information of local Justices of the Peace who perform wedding ceremonies. Or you could find Justice of the Peace listed online or even in the phone book.

For a fast ceremony, just call city hall and provide them the information they need. Then, just set up an appointment and they can marry you in no time at all.

In some states a friend / relative can get a one day designation of Deputy Commissioner Marriages to perform weddings for a low cost. Just be sure that it will be a recognized marriage in your state!

When meeting with any wedding officiant make sure they are available to perform your ceremony at the time and date you decided on and that they are legally able to marry a couple in your state!