Selecting an excellent wedding officiant is one of the most critical decisions you will make during your wedding planning. You and your close ones will forever remember how your ceremony feels. Primarily wedding officiants work thoughtfully with every couple to understand what they want and create a fully customized ceremony that celebrates their unique relationship.
A wedding officiant is best known as the leader of the wedding ceremony. Although, that is only part of their job. An officiant, even religious or non-religious, works a couple of months before the wedding day to plan the wedding ceremony, including music selection, readings, and personal vows. They may also assist before the wedding consultation.
On your big day, your wedding officiant will fill out and sign the wedding license with the witnesses and send it to the state clerk’s office for authentication. Without a wedding license, you can not be married. Your wedding officiant has a vital role to play in your wedding.
Types of officiants for weddings
You must choose the type of wedding officiant you want to conduct your wedding ceremony before beginning your search for one. The list of religious and nonreligious wedding officiants is provided below.
Remember that each religious group and denomination has different guidelines for this kind of wedding officiant. Before deciding on the ceremony site and script, speaking with any potential wedding officiant is always ideal.
-Civil wedding officiant
This category of secular officiants frequently presides over ceremonies in a governmental environment, such as courthouse marriages. It may have a variety of titles, including justice of the peace, mayor, judge, notary, city clerk, or magistrate.
Many couples opt for a civil officiant for a brief, non-religious ceremony with the added security of knowing that the law recognizes their union. Some married couples abroad may also need to hold a secular legal ceremony with a civil officiant at home.
-Professional officiant for weddings
Although most celebrants have experience in secular, spiritual, or interfaith ceremonies, each probably has a particular area of expertise.
These wedding officiants may frequently provide advice as you compose and rehearse your wedding vows and perform your service on the wedding day. Additionally, they’ll let you add any rituals or readings you choose to your ceremony.