Selecting a Wedding Officiant

 
10 Top Things To Consider When Selecting a Celebrant
For Your Wedding or Vow Renewal Ceremony

Planning your wedding can be an overwhelming task and often times it is easy to overlook the importance of selecting the wedding officiant or minister who will perform your actual wedding ceremony. Your wedding officiant will be the one who unites you both in marriage and puts your unique, loving relationship into words for your family and friends to hear. To help you in choosing a wedding officiant, I have put together this list of things for you to think about when choosing your wedding officiant

  1. Celebrant's Background

    Do you like the Celebrant? Does their background and experience resonate with you? Do you like their speaking voice? Are you energized by their enthusiasm and commitment to your ceremony? Is the Celebrant open to your ideas and will they co-create the ceremony with you?

  2. Religious/Spiritual Issues

    Will the Celebrant represent couples who are from different religious, spiritual and/or cultural backgrounds (if this is a factor)?

  3. Writing and Co-Creating the Ceremony

    How will your ceremony be created and written? Are you confident in the skills of your chosen Celebrant to deliver your ceremony? Does the Celebrant have sample ceremonies/vows for your review?

  4. Rehearsal

    Will your Celebrant be available for a rehearsal? (if you wish)

  5. Availability Before Your Ceremony

    Is the Celebrant available before your ceremony for questions and advice?

  6. Will The Celebrant Have An Assistant On-Site?

    Does the Celebrant bring an Assistant to the Ceremony? Does the Celebrant have an alternative Celebrant available in case of unexpected/unforseen illness or emergency?

  7. Coming and Going

    How early will your Celebrant arrive at your ceremony and how long will they stay afterwards?

  8. Travel

    Will the Celebrant travel to your wedding ceremony site?

  9. Fees/Paperwork

    What will the Celebrant charge for the ceremony and exactly what does this include? Does the Celebrant offer a professional contract for services, insuring that your date and time are agreed to on paper?

  10. References

    For your peace of mind, request references from the prospective Celebrant.

"Thank you for such a beautiful ceremony
and helping to make our day so extremely marvelous! We’ve had so many compliments on how beautiful the ceremony was."

Robert and Megan Farmer, Boeing Museum of Flight
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