Congratulations on Your Engagement! You are embarking on one of the most challenging tasks you will endure as a couple... planning your wedding! Your wedding ceremony... will it be performed by a Pastor,  Minister, Officiate, Justice of the Peace, Priest, Rabbi, or Spiritual Guider? Ultimately, this person provides you the service that your entire day comes down to - seeing to it that you become man and wife.  While so many times left until the last minute or not considered strongly enough, this is 'where the rubber meets the road' on your wedding day - so it deserves planning, serious thought of what you want in a ceremony and consideration of the person you will be working with not only on your special day, but the weeks leading up to your wedding for planning the perfect ceremony that will announce you to the world as a married couple!
		Lets face it... You'll try on 100 different dresses, interview many photographers, DJs, taste dozens of cakes and take the time to carefully select so many other vendors.  It is equally important that you take the time to carefully choose an officiate as well.  He or she must be not just a warm body with the same scripted ceremony used for 100 years, but a person that you can connect with emotionally, spiritually, personally... simply to trust and to feel comfortable with to be creative enough to take your ceremony to a whole new level - created JUST for the two of you, designed around each of you, and reflective of your relationship. There is no greater compliment than being told by YOUR guests - "I've been to dozens of weddings, but I've NEVER heard a ceremony as unique as yours - it was a perfect reflection of the couple!"  Or, to be hear - "I know the ceremony was intended for the couple today, but your words touched the hearts of every couple in the audience  reminding us ALL of what true love means - THANKS for re-energizing our own vows vicariously through this couple!"
So take a little extra time to find the PERFECT officiate for your wedding day.  Can he bring you and your guests to tears of joy?  Can he incorporate a sense of humor with a little stress-breaking giggle?  Can he make each of your guests feel like they are an essential part of your ceremony?  While cost is always a factor - consider the the end result.  Reflecting back on your vows every passing year with fond memories of a beautiful ceremony and the reminder of the commitment you share is worth it's weight in gold!  Best wishes on your journey together!

Tips on Selecting Your Wedding Officiate

All too often couples put off finding their wedding officiate until the end of the planning process.   It is important to take into consideration the importance of this role in your wedding day.  Your Pastor, Minister or Officiate is the person who will stand before you to unite the two of you together in matrimony.  It is this person who helps with your vows, signs your marriage license to make your marriage legal, and can help to include children in a blended family ceremony.   Although a Justice of the Peace can provide you with a simple ceremony, they are more than likely less personal than working with an individual who will take the time to meet with you and get to know who you are to customize your ceremony prior to your wedding. That being said, your wedding officiate can be, and SHOULD be an integral part of planning from the early stages.

When you choose an officiate, you’re choosing someone to perform your dream ceremony on your dream day.  Some questions you may want to ask include:

A) Are they experienced?  Will he or she be completely comfortable speaking in front of your guests?  Does he or she know the legal aspects of a wedding ceremony, filing your license and general state laws?  Is this how he or she makes their living, or is it a hobby, or even a one time thing?

B) Are they personable?  Do you feel comfortable with their personality, can he/she make you feel at ease?  Do they sound rehearsed or scripted?  Is he/she willing to improvise... and add a sense of humor and ease your nerves during  your ceremony?  Will they evoke emotions in you and your guests such as laughter, reflection of their own relationships, or even tears of joy?

C) Will they talk with you and provide what you want in a ceremony?  Other than adding your names into their standard script, will they customize your ceremony to reflect who you are as a couple?

D) Do they take the time to get to know you?  Are THEY asking questions?  How you met?  How you became engaged? About your families?  They should want to know more about you than your wedding than just the location and time.

E) Do they encourage an open line of communication?  Do you feel comfortable enough that you can call him/her during the course of your planning to ask questions, even if they are not directly related to your ceremony?

F) Do they respond to requests in a timely manner?     Do they have experience in assisting you with complicated situations or answer your questions on etiquette, cultural traditions, etc?

G)  Do they have back-up officiates?  In the case of an emergency, do they have back up ministers or pastors on their staff prepared to step in at a moment's notice?  Or, if they are booked, do they have alternative staff available to perform your wedding ceremony?

Remember, it’s your day, it should be your ceremony