10 Questions to Ask Your Officiant

Coordinate with your officiant to ensure a trouble-free wedding

By Tiesha Whatley / Edited by Rev Sharon Lewis of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Although the reception is where the most fun is had, the ceremony is the most important part of the wedding day. Meet well in advance with the officiant candidates to go over what is required from both parties. Any suggestions you may have for the ceremony should be discussed upfront so that you can have the wedding day you dreamed of, and not some nightmare version you'd rather forget. It will also give the officiant the opportunity to discuss any requirements he or she may have before presiding over your wedding.

Pre-wedding requirements
Ask the officiant if there are any pre-wedding requirements you need to take care of. Many religious leaders require that you undergo a certain amount of pre-marriage counseling before agreeing to preside over your wedding. This is usually for peace of mind, so that they know that you are indeed ready for the commitment that you are about to make. Look at it as a good thing, because it can help your relationship in the long run.

Schedule
The officiant's schedule is critical to a well-run ceremony. It allows you to know how tightly you must plan the ceremony and events leading up to it. be sure to ask when the officiant will be available for rehearsal. Getting a sense of how much time you have will allow you to schedule your ceremony and the rest of the day's events. Also find out how tightly your wedding is planned with other events the officiant has scheduled for the day. You want to make sure you have a few minutes leeway to make room for any tardiness or delays.
Personal ideas
Ask the officiant about his or her program for the wedding ceremony. Ask if your personal ideas or preferences can be incorporated into the ceremony, such as specific readings,religious verses or songs. If you want something that departs from the norm, such as a candle lighting or broom jumping, make sure this is permitted and okay with the officiant well in advance.

Officiant's ideas
Ask the officiant if he gives some type of speech or a sermon. Will he talk personally about the couple, or will the ceremony be generic? This will allow you to get some idea how your wedding ceremony will go. Ask if you are allowed to give any suggestions for the officiant's speech or sermon. If you are the type of bride that wants to plan your wedding down to the last detail, these are important things to know before choosing an officiant.

Officiant's outfit
Ask the officiant what he or she will wear to the wedding. This may not seem important, but it could be when taking photographs. If you have an unorthodox or new age officiant, she could be very lax with her wardrobe. This can conflict with a very formal wedding. In that case work with the officiant to find a compromise or suitable solution.

Venue
Ask about the ceremony site. Find out if the officiant will be able to conduct the wedding at the site you have arranged for, or if you must have it in a specific location designated by the officiant or religious protocol. If you are undecided on a ceremony venue, maybe the officiant can recommend places to you.

Restrictions
If you are having the ceremony at the officiant's site, ask of any restrictions. Some churches or religious buildings doesn't allow flash photography, candle lighting, decorations or videography. Ask if your chosen music is allowed in the building or if you have to have music played by site staff, such as a church's organ player. Also ask if there is a certain dress code for the wedding party and guests.

Equipment
Ask what equipment is provided by the officiant. If having the wedding ceremony at the officiant's site, ask the him or her what you will be required to bring, such as microphones and aisle runners.

Marriage license
Find out when the marriage license will need to be provided. If you need to bring it before the ceremony, you'll need to make arrangements or add it to your list of things to do. In many cases the officiant will take care of the certificate or license and take it to the requisite authorities, leaving you and your spouse to sign it at some point shortly before or after the ceremony.

Fees
Ask if there are any fees for the ceremony. If there is one, ask if this fee is fixed or a donation. Also find out when the fee is due and if there is a deposit that you must provide by a certain date.

About the Author
Tiesha Whatley is a contributor to DexKnows.com.

Selecting a Wedding Officiant

Choosing the right person to preside over the ceremony is an important first step

By Jonathan Croswell / Edited by Rev Sharon Lewis of Sante Fe, New Mexico

Whether a reverend or a judge, you will need to find an officiant with a license to conduct the marriage ceremonies if you want your wedding to count. This can be a lengthy and involved process for many couples, and there are numerous factors to consider before making your decision. 

Here's what you need to do.

• What You Need to Know

• Will you be holding a secular or a religious ceremony?

• Do you and your fiancee want to go through premarital counseling with either the officiant or another party?

• What expenses are you willing to pay for an officiant, such as whether your wedding will require transportation and lodging for the person.

• Gather whatever Bible verses, poems, text or other special sayings that you may want the officiant to include in the ceremony.

• Decide whether you will want to invite the officiant to your reception or party afterward.

Step 1:

Choose between a secular ceremony and a religious one. This will narrow the field of potential candidates.

Step 2:

Ask about the fees and deposits that apply. This is especially important if you are on a tight budget.

Step 3:

Check into potential officiants' experience and decide how important that is to you. You should also factor in their experience when considering how long you want the ceremony to be. The longer the ceremony, the more that will be expected of the officiant. For an unseasoned officiant, this could be difficult to manage.

Step 4:

Discuss any expectations or requirements you will have of the officiant, such as specific Bible verses or other text to reference, time restrictions or special allowances outside the typical ceremony responsibilities.

Step 5:

Ask what the officiant expects of you. He may require you to undergo premarital counseling if you want him to lead the ceremony. He may also want help with transportation and accommodations if he is traveling.

Step 6:

Check the officiant's availability on potential dates for your wedding. If the officiant is already heavily scheduled, try an off day, such as a Friday or Sunday, when demand is not as high.

• Tips & Warnings

• Select your officiant before you choose your wedding date if you are picky about who will lead the ceremony. That will give you more flexibility in finding a day that matches up with your officiant's availability.

• Check with you state's licensing board to make sure your officiant is authorized to lead a wedding. Otherwise, your marriage will not count.

• Does the officiant have a backup if he or she becomes sick or has to cancel for some unforeseen reason. Discuss the alternatives.

About the Author

Jonathan Croswell is a freelance writer who has worked on regional wedding publications.

How Much Do You Pay a Minister for a Wedding?

Take into account the number of rehearsals too

By Elizabeth Park / Edited by Rev Sharon Lewis of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Paying for all the costs of a wedding can be an overwhelming task. Plan and budget for each step as you go along, being careful to leave something in your checking account for one cost: the officiant. So just how much do you pay a minister for a wedding?

What Payment Covers
The minister provides the liturgy of the service and the order of worship and conducts the ceremony. In addition, the minister conducts the rehearsal and will walk the bridal party through what they need to do if you do not have a wedding coordinator. And in some ceremonies, such as a church wedding, there may be assistants accompanying the officiant.

Minister's Responsibilities
The minister is responsible for signing and mailing the marriage license to the county registrar and for obtaining the witness signatures as required by the state.

What to Pay
The cost for an officiant averages around $250 or more depending on the number of pre wedding meetings
 (including the rehearsal and ceremony) and the level of experience. You must pay for all your minister's travel, lodging and meal expenses for destination weddings. Many ministers require a deposit to secure the date. Some have set fees while others may give you a range.

How to Pay
Payment to the minister should be made ahead of time. Many ministers require full payment a week before the wedding.

About the Author
Betsy Park Haas has written for various newspapers and online sites.

Santa Fe, New Mexico Wedding Officiant

Non-Denominational and Interfaith

Wedding Ceremonies

Personal - Custom Written - Free Initial Consultation

Unique Ceremonies for all Occasions

Baptisms - Funerals - Other Rites of Passage

Call for a Free Consultation

(801) 718-2212

Rev. Sharon Lewis is an ordained minister of The Sanctuary Spiritual Science Congregation and School, a school dedicated to teaching comparative religions, philosophy, and service to humanity. Rev. Lewis was a student at the Baltimore Spiritual Science Center from 1986 to 1990, and was ordained in 2003. She is trained and experienced in the administration of the Holy Sacraments, each personalized to accommodate the needs of the individuals, couples and families she serves. Rev. Lewis is also a graduate of the University of Maryland. Visit Rev. Sharon's Web Site for Wedding Ceremony Services

Traditional and Non-traditional Weddings - Personalized Custom Written Ceremonies

Your Wedding Day
You’ve picked the day, time and place and all of the arrangements have been made. But who will be your officiant when you take your vows? What kind of ceremony will it be? How much input, if any will you have? Many couples find themselves at a loss when it comes to choosing an officiant for their wedding. Here are some reasons:

• They don’t belong to a church, synagogue or any other religious organization.
• They would like a personalized wedding ceremony but don’t know how to go about creating one.
• They are of different faiths and would prefer a neutral officiant but still have spiritual values incorporated into the ceremony.
• The person they have chosen to perform the ceremony is not available on the date they selected.
• They would prefer a ceremony that is not religious and they don’t want a civil ceremony at the courthouse.
• The ceremony and the reception will be at a banquet hall or in a private home. Clerks of the court are not allowed to do ceremonies off the premises of the courthouse.
• Their needs are unique and would like to create a ceremony with text and rituals that reflect their beliefs and spiritual practices.
• Their family minister will not perform a ceremony outside the normal place of worship.