No matter where you decide to get married or how big a wedding you plan, your wedding day is special because you are marrying your best friend, confidant and the love of your life. You might have just one decision to make about how all of this will be done or you might have what feels like a million decisions to make. One of the most important is who will perform the ceremony on that special day.
Your wedding officiant can be a friend, a family member, a justice of the peace, your priest, pastor, or rabbi. As long as it is someone who is legally allowed to perform a wedding. Check your state laws to make sure what the requirements are. Every state is different. Sometimes even counties have different laws.
If a friend or family member is “The Chosen One” and not already an ordained minister, they can go online and become ordained within minutes. I am ordained through the Universal Life Church. It is free and takes just a few minutes. Yes, it is that easy.
Choose someone who you are comfortable with. Interview officiants to make sure they are a good fit. Don’t feel obligated to choose the first person you talk with. Ask questions. Get a feel for how they perform their duties. Just because your college roommate is the life of the party doesn’t mean that they will be comfortable talking in front of a group or gathering. Treat this like a job interview. Does the officiant feel comfortable performing a religious or non-religious ceremony? If you have a theme wedding will they dress in a costume if required? Do they have a sense of humor if you want them to start your ceremony with the classic wedding scene from The Princess Bride?
Write your questions down and don’t hesitate to ask any of them. This is YOUR day. You have the say in who performs your wedding and how they do it.
Above all else, relax. Things happen. Nature happens. Over indulging in alcoholic beverages happens. Just enjoy yourself and live happily ever after.