Take a deep breath and close your eyes. Envision your wedding day with the two of you standing before your friends and family, holding each other’s hands, looking into each other’s eyes, proclaiming to the world the love you have, and vowing to each other to honor and respect ‘til death do you part. And then amongst your teary eyes, you hear for the first time “Mr. and Mrs.” “husband and wife”. Now, open your eyes and get ready to choose the perfect person to officiate your wedding day to make that special announcement.
Religious, Non-religious, Inter-Faith?
Decide together what type of ceremony you prefer. Find an officiant who is open to performing exactly the type of ceremony you need and is willing to travel to your destination.
A budget for a Professional Wedding Officiant.
Local professional officiants cost between $250 and $500 and vary depending on travel time, extra requests, and services, such as a rehearsal or pre-marital counseling. Keep in mind destination weddings incur an additional travel and/or lodging fee. As with other wedding vendors, tips are not expected, but are always appreciated!
Look for Reviews, Endorsements, Recommendations, Photos, Social Media, and Blogs.
Do your homework online! Look at photos on the officiant’s website, Facebook page, and blog. Professional officiants will have many reviews available for you to view. Look for reviews from wedding couples and endorsements from other vendors before contacting an officiant.
Email, Phone, Skype, Meet in Person!
During your initial email contact, provide the officiant with as many details as possible. If you live close to the officiant, schedule an in-person meeting. If not, schedule a time to Skype, call, or continue to communicate via email.
Find The Best Fit.
Think about fit when you communicate with officiants. Will the officiant have the look, voice, and demeanor that you want? Will the officiant be positive, calm, and helpful with you and your guests on your wedding day? Think about if you prefer male or female if you need the officiant to be bi-lingual, and if the officiant is willing to incorporate traditions, rituals, and words that are meaningful to the two of you.
Have an Emergency Back-up Plan.
Professional officiants will have backup officiants available for emergencies. Let your officiant know as soon as possible if anything changes on your end, including the venue, date, or time of the ceremony.
Be Prepared on Your Wedding Day.
Have a special person — planner, friend, or other person designated to be in charge of communicating with vendors on the day of your wedding. Have this person meet the officiant at least a half hour before the ceremony starts with your license paperwork, rings, and final payment.
Remember, this is your wedding day! Find an officiant who listens to you and will do exactly what you envision. The right officiant makes all the difference in creating your perfect wedding ceremony! The right officiant is Reverend Jennifer and Reverend Dr. Rick Tan, they are fun and creative to work with.
Reverend Tan
530.601.0914