Why Hire a Professional Officiant?
photo by Jessie Casey
There are a lot of decisions to make as you plan your wedding. Every couple has their own priorities and that usually determines how the budget is created, as well as how much to allot for each line item. If you’re not getting married in a house of worship, you may consider hiring an officiant or asking a friend or family member to perform your ceremony instead. For many couples, it can seem like there isn’t much of a difference between using a friend/family member or hiring someone with experience.
There are quite a few major advantages to hiring a professional officiant to perform your wedding ceremony.
We bring the necessary knowledge, experience, and skill to help you create a top-quality ceremony and deliver it with poise and grace. Ask any wedding planner, photographer, or DJ whether they prefer to work with a family friend or a professional officiant and they will tell you the same thing: definitely hire a professional.
Here’s why:
We Have Years of Experience
The number one reason to hire a professional officiant is experience. The more experience someone has at performing wedding ceremonies, the better equipped they are to deliver a high-quality ceremony in the midst of an unpredictable, unscripted environment. Performing a wedding ceremony isn’t as simple as just reading a piece of paper. Friends or family members may get thrown off by the near-constant distraction of mumbling guests, crying children, flying birds and nervous brides and grooms. As professional officiants we have a level of comfort that comes only from experience, and can maintain a state of focus despite changing or unforeseen circumstances.
Since a professional officiant has the benefit of experience, we can also offer knowledge and guidance that you simply can’t get from an inexperienced friend. We can talk through potential logistical challenges you might face at your venue, different options for wedding traditions to incorporate into the ceremony based on your unique circumstances, and offer answers to many questions an amateur wouldn’t even know to ask. If you wouldn’t trust your friend to photograph your wedding or DJ your reception, then why would you put something as important as your wedding ceremony in the hands of an amateur?
We are Reliable
Any professional officiant will tell you that one of the biggest benefits to hiring a professional, and one of the biggest drawbacks to using an amateur, is reliability. My officiant colleagues and share the conversations with have with couples who either hired a low-grade officiant from Craigslist who flaked on them at the last minute, or from couples who had planned on using a friend that now has cold feet and doesn’t feel comfortable or prepared to do the ceremony. These unfortunate circumstances are extremely common, and can be very stressful for a couple. As professional officiants we understand the commitment we make to every couple that hires us, and take that commitment seriously as a matter of professional integrity.
We’re Part of the Team
We regularly work alongside your wedding planner, caterer, photographer, videographers, DJs, and ceremony musicians to ensure that everything happens according to plan. Pulling off a complicated event like a wedding requires a team effort from all of your vendors, and a professional officiant is an essential part of that team.
To ensure a smoothly run event, the entire team needs to be in communication. All vendors at a wedding have overlapping or related responsibilities, each depending on the others’ competence in order to make sure things run smoothly. It’s unlikely that a friend or family member will be in communication with the entire ceremony vendor team or even know what they need to know or what they need to tell the other vendors. A professional wedding officiant, on the other hand, communicates and collaborates with everyone involved in the ceremony in any way to make sure it goes off without a hitch. Communication is immensely important of when it comes to the ceremony. It may not seem like it, but there are many moving parts, and it’s imperative we’re all in contact with each other.
We Understand the Legal Requirements
You want your ceremony to be legal and binding, yes? As professional officiants we know the requirements to ensure the ceremony is legal. Putting this kind of obligation onto a friend or family member can be overwhelming. A professional can guide you through the process of obtaining your marriage license and definitely knows what needs to be filled out and signed by whom, and how to return the license to the clerk’s office to make your marriage legal.
We're Comfortable in Front of a Crowd
Your closest friend from college might know you the best and have a ton of amusing stories about you and your partner—but that doesn't mean she's equipped to stand in front of 150 people and engage the crowd. When a friend performs the ceremony – and I’ve seen this happen – they sometimes think it’s their open mic night. While this can be entertaining, really the right time to tell these stories is in a toast during the reception, not during a meaningful moment like the ceremony. I’ve also seen a friend become overly emotional and unable to keep presenting, as well as forget major pieces like reciting your vows and exchanging the rings. Professional officiants know how to balance being part of the ceremony, but ensure it’s about you, not us. You already have enough to worry about remembering where to stand and not cry during your vows—you don't want to worry about your family member’s performance, too.
We can Manage Family Dynamics and Advocate for Your Wishes
Not all families get along. Even some families who do get along get emotional when it comes to a wedding. They have opinions about a certain aspect or they have ideas that just don’t match what you and your partner want. I generally give guidance about family dynamics as a premarital counselor. However, I like to think of myself as a fierce advocate for my couples and their wishes as they pertain to the ceremony. We have no problem being “bad guy” and take the pressure off of you, if you’re at odds with a family member about any part of the ceremony. We can protect and support you.
And one last reason, that’s not about us…
Your Friends Won't Have to "Work" on Your Wedding Day
While it might be wonderful to have your favorite aunt get ordained and marry you, consider that, while it would be an honor, you're technically giving her work to do. She loves you, but she already has a full-time job—no need to add to her plate. Let your friends and family enjoy your day and leave the serious stuff to the pros.
There's one more good (and very simple) reason to leave the majority of wedding day details to the professionals —it's our job. Whatever it is—be it catering, ceremony music, cake baking or event rentals—we love it, and we’'re good at it. There's absolutely something special about asking a loved one to get ordained in order to preside over your nuptials (and if that's the route you want to take, I’m happy to consult!)—but there's a level of quality, professionalism and peace of mind you'll get from leaving your vows to a seasoned vet.
Deciding to hire a professional officiant will make your wedding planning easier and less stressful, and ensure that you have a truly meaningful wedding ceremony. While it may seem like an insignificant decision when compared with so many other choices you’ll need to make, keep in mind that your wedding ceremony is the entire reason you’re planning a wedding in the first place. With so many benefits to hiring a professional instead of using an amateur, it’s not a choice you won’t regret.