The bride and groom—together—are the heart of any wedding. But getting a good non-denominational minister is one way to add to the richness of the experience for the newlyweds. If you’re not sure how to find the right officiant for your wedding, though, here are a few tips from Brides to help you out:
1. Ask people you know and trust
There’s nothing better than getting a minister that you and your family has known for years. That way, you won’t have to wonder if the minister is the right person for the job. Instead, you’ll know right away if they’ve got a good strong voice, or the right personality, to help you calm down and ease those wedding jitters, and to put any your worries or those of your future spouse to rest.
2. Ask friends and family
If this isn’t possible, if you don’t know a minister who fits the bill, then reach out to friends and family. Ask people for suggestions. Welcome recommendations from well-meaning colleagues. Who knows? One of those names might just lead you to the officiant you and your partner are looking for.
3. Check with state laws
Before hiring a wedding officiant, make sure you know what the marriage laws of the land are. With a civil ceremony, you need to check if the person has been granted with officiating rights by the state. Don’t take a chance on getting a wedding officiant that might not be recognized by the state or local marriage bureau.
4. Fees depend on wedding location
Holding the wedding at city hall calls for different fees from when you hold the wedding at an out-of-the-way location that requires the officiating official to travel to the site of the wedding. So if you’ve got a tight budget, you might want to look into holding the wedding ceremony at the nearest city hall. However, if you’ve got your heart set on a garden or beach wedding, then make sure you provide for the transportation needs of your wedding officiant. It’s one way for you and your would-be spouse to extend your gratitude to this person for officiating your wedding ceremony.
Wrapping Up
However you wish to spend your wedding day, the one important thing is that it be something you and your spouse both want. Because after all, your wedding day should be special, not just for you, but for your partner as well. So don’t forget to take each other’s wishes well into account in all your wedding plans. That’s a good way to get your marriage off to a good start.
