Be Smart: Hire Your Wedding Officiant Early On!

What are the benefits of hiring your wedding officiant early on?

A wedding officiant, hired early on, can be a great source for referrals to other wedding vendors. If the officiant is active in the wedding community (performing 50+ weddings a year) they will have hands-on experience with some of the best, and worst, wedding vendors. Tapping into a reliable referral source can save you a lot of time and vendor interviewing stress. By waiting to hire your officiant, you will be missing out on the opportunity to ask about his or her personal experience with dozens upon dozens of photographers, DJ's, musicians, videographers, and venue personnel.

Far too many couples make the mistake of waiting until the last minute to think about hiring a wedding officiant. This is a mistake! It’s shocking, but 60% of couples interviewed after the fact say they would have chosen someone else to marry them. Many, who once thought the choice of officiant was rather unimportant in the scheme of things, now regret it.

The Risks Of Hiring An Officiant Late In The Process

• Ending up with someone inexperienced who may draw attention away from you, who lacks the humble and reverent presence of a good officiant, and/or who is unfamiliar with the timing, flow, and nuances of a life-changing ceremony
• Allowing an untrained family member or friend to take the microphone who lacks the skills to coordinate all of the wedding-day elements involved. He or she may get nervous, fumble words, ad lib, stray off topic, or simply enjoy being the center of attention—all of which can be disastrous.

Good Reasoning

An experienced officiant may also serve as an invaluable source for big-day insight (new twists on favorite traditions, seating based on your family situation, best time of day for photography, etc.) and vendor referrals (from live music and wedding site décor to day of coordinator and unobtrusive photographers/videographers), as well as vendors to avoid (arrive late, poor performance etc.) Your officiant is, in fact, a very important part of the day. This person is the guardian of the ceremony, the person linked to you forever by sealing your relationship in the eyes of the law—not to mention your family and friends. As Rev. Dr. Charles W. Laird, who offers certification and training for ministers, says: “Your wedding minister may not make the ceremony, but he or she sure can break it.”
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Of course you’re looking forward to an exciting party during the reception. But the wedding ceremony remains the first event and focal point of the day. And as Laird says, “All the great times you have at the reception can’t make up for a botched ceremony.”
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Father Terry, who has been performing ceremonies for 38 years (many of them bilingual), suggests you begin to interview officiants at least 6 months to a year in advance. He sends his couples sample ceremonies and encourages them to personalize one with readings, music, or their own words.“The more time they have to do so, the more pleased they are with the end result”.

The Interview

Before the week is up, take these first steps to hiring your officiant:
1) Research officiants in the region of your wedding.
2) Interview three by phone. Consider asking why they became an officiant, what else they do, strengths/weaknesses, what sets them apart from other officiants, and what kind of back-up plan and local resources they have in case of an emergency. (Father Terry also suggests asking if they charge extra to be at the rehearsal and if they require a deposit up front.) Above all, says Rev. Richard Cadieux, a fully certified wedding consultant who has performed more than 500 ceremonies, “Ask if he or she can coordinate the musicians, photographer, videographer, and also properly line up the processional. If the officant unequivocally says yes, there is a strong likelihood they have the experience to perform a smooth ceremony.”
3) Rev. Cadieux recommends asking for the names of 5-10 venues where he or she has performed ceremonies and checking these references.
4) Interview two in person, beginning with your top choice. Choose the one with whom you have the most chemistry.

The Costs

Why do some officiants charge $325 while others charge $650, or more? If all you need is someone with the legal authority to pronounce you married, there is a plethora of men and women who will "get the job done" for a small fee. Do not expect a deeply-enriching, heart-felt ceremony though.There is no substitute for hands-on wedding experience and experienced officiants are worthy of their hire. While experience doesn't necessarily guarantee personal character, it is the best barometer for ministry competence. More experienced wedding ministers have faced more of the many unpredictable things that have a way of happening at weddings. They have also faced many very predictable emotional and relational sensitivities and dynamics that are almost always a part of every wedding. Amateurs will likely be of little assistance during these special moments. How much should you pay for a quality officiant in Southern California? I suggest that you hire an experienced officiant through an officiant referral service at a rate of between $475 and $650, which may or may or may not include attendance at the rehearsal.

The Bottom Line
It may be tempting to leave the fate of your ceremony to a willing friend or family member and be done with it. But just like your catering, flowers, music, cake, and photography, this is an once-in-a-lifetime event that feels more safe, secure, and impactful when a trained and experienced professional gets in front of your nearest and dearest. Suggest your friends and family do a reading during the ceremony or a toast at the reception. Then begin your search for someone who will absolutely be capable of orchestrating and performing a ceremony that will touch the hearts of you and your guests that day and always.

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