Having a wedding officiant is not only crucial but also an extremely important part of your day. As the MC of your ceremony, they set the tone of the celebrations to come, and are also meant to present you and your partner as a couple by expressing your story to your guests. This means the task not only be suited to someone with expertise but also has a personal connection to you and your partner.
That said, finding a wedding officiant that will suit your big day is no easy task. You may want to ask the pastor at your local church or have a friend or family member do the honours, or you could even find someone online. What you need to remember is that whoever you choose, it is up to you to communicate what kind of ceremony, verses and atmosphere you want for your big day.
1. DO THEIR VALUES MATCH YOUR OWN?
You’ll want to have a wedding officiant who is understanding of you and your partner’s morals and has similar views. If you do not intend for your ceremony to be religious, but your officiant believes otherwise, it can cause an issue, so make sure that you all see eye-to-eye.
2. ARE THEY A CONFIDENT SPEAKER?
This may be a given, but wedding officiants are under a lot of pressure to say the correct things and keep guests entertained, despite the focus being on you and your partner. Ensure that your chosen officiant is confident and eloquent before they speak on your big day.
3. DO THEY KNOW YOU, AND YOUR VISION?
Your wedding officiant should only want the best for you and your partner and must be open to your plans and ideas. Aside from this, they should also spend time getting to know you both in order to provide a personal and unique speech at your wedding ceremony that is suited to you.
4. WILL YOU ALL BE COMFORTABLE WITH PROPER & OPEN COMMUNICATION?
Aside from regularly checking in, your wedding officiant should keep you up to date with their progress and any plans they require you to complete before celebrating your big day. Have regular meet-ups to ensure you’re both on track before the wedding and to discuss their speech and the wedding proceedings. And most importantly, make sure you choose someone who you can be honest with about ideas or a direction you don’t like.
NB: If you are looking online or want to hire an outside wedding officiant, make sure that you do research on their credentials and history before committing to a contract.
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