You picked the wedding date and you found a beautiful venue. But who will perform your wedding ceremony? Good question! Before you decide who will officiate your wedding, you need to decide what type of ceremony you want to have: religious or civil. Based on this choice, we'll guide you through finding an officiant for your wedding who is the perfect fit for your special day. Use these free Wedding Planning Worksheets to continue your planning process.
Religious Ceremonies If you are active in your church, you may wish to have a religious ceremony. This type of ceremony celebrates/incorporates the religion's wedding customs, traditions, and rules of faith while also abiding by the state's legal requirements. Depending on the clergy’s preference, a religious ceremony can be held in a place of worship or at an off-site venue. Couples who have religious ceremonies may want to be more conservative with how they decorate for their ceremony. This Song of Solomon 3:4 Sign would be perfect for this type of wedding. Other things to note about religious ceremonies include:
- Oftentimes a religious ceremony requires pre-wedding counseling with the officiant. The requirements and time commitment can vary by religion and officiant.
- Many couples want to have an interfaith wedding. In this case, you may be able to find clergy from each religion to officiate together.
- Religious officiants are members of the clergy, and include ministers, priests, bishops, rabbis, cantors, imams, and Muslim qadis.
- While there is usually no charge for members of a congregation to marry at their house of worship, there is often a suggested donation. The amount is sometimes higher for non-members.
- If you wish, you can contribute a tip or honorarium to your wedding officiant. Be prepared – they may not accept it, or they may simply donate it to the house of worship.
- Walk down the aisle with this Song of Solomon Aisle Runner leading you to your groom.
Civil Ceremonies If you prefer to leave religion out of your wedding ceremony, a civil ceremony is the way to go: it’s a non-religious ceremony presided over by a legal official. When you hear “civil ceremony”, you might automatically think “city hall” (not that there’s anything wrong with that!), but a civil ceremony can take place any place the officiant is willing to go. Many couples choose to have their wedding outdoors. This Balloon Frame Arch is a fun piece to incorporate into a civil ceremony. Another fun ceremony decoration is this Here Comes the Bride Sign. As civil ceremonies are more non-traditional, these DIY ribbon bouquets are a very unique touch. Want to know more?
- Exact requirements vary from state to state, so be sure to check with your county's marriage license bureau.
- Civil officiants are usually a justice of the peace or a notary. Sometimes lawyers, judges, county clerks, mayors, and other public servants may also be authorized to perform a marriage. A friend or family member can also officiate your wedding if they are ordained. Yep - there are several websites that offer free ordination online!
- Officiant fees will vary based on the location of your wedding. Be prepared to pay anywhere from $250-$800, and make sure to factor this into your wedding budget.
- Tips from $50 - $100 are encouraged. If an ordained friend or family member officiates your wedding, you don’t have to pay them, but you should think about giving them a really nice thank you gift!
Unity and Sand Ceremonies Many couples choose to have a Unity Candle or Sand Ceremony. The Unity Candle Ceremony includes each person lighting the center candle resembling two lives becoming one. The Sand Ceremony involves the bride and groom pouring sand in a vase/container symbolizing the joining of lives and lifelong commitment to each other. We offer many products for both types of ceremonies such as this Personalized Sand Ceremony Set, Ivory Jeweled Unity Candle Set and Silver Unity Candle Holder. You may also want to add a unique touch to your ceremony such as this DIY Baby's Breath Wedding Ring Holder.
Finding an Officiant Now that you know what kind of ceremony you want to have, you may be wondering how to go about finding a wedding officiant. Try these tips:
- If you’re having a religious ceremony, the officiant will usually be a clergy member from that religion.
- Ask friends and family for referrals.
- Do a web search for wedding officiants in your area. There are many helpful web sites that can point you in the right direction.
Whether you want a religious ceremony or a civil wedding ceremony, the officiant will play an important part in your special day. Take some time to explore your options and find the right officiant for your wedding. Check out these Wedding Ceremony Tips and Details to give you ideas.
Whew! You found an officiant, but what else should you be doing with eight months until the wedding? Glad you asked! It’s time to send your save the dates and prep for your engagement photo shoot – and best of all, it’s time to choose your wedding rings!
See more tips for every phase of your planning process in our Month-by-Month Wedding Planning Guide. Feeling crafty? We’ve included unique DIY wedding projects too!
Article written by: Heather Clark
