How To Choose an Officiant

Your wedding day is something that you've thought about your whole life.  You've invested a lot of heart, time, energy, and money into seeing that it goes right and reflects you, your relationship, and your values.  With the average cost of a wedding in the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area now more than $37,000, you expect your photographer, your florist, and your caterer to be professionals and talented in their fields.  Why, with so very much at stake, emotionally and financially, entrust it all to the hands of an inexperienced, untrained officiant?

You want and need someone who is experienced and professional.  You want someone who not only will conduct your ceremony in a manner that’s comfortable to you and your family, but who also shares your values, belief system and understanding of marriage.

Here are some questions to ask when looking for an officiant:

1. Is the officiant available for the date and time you want your wedding to be?

2.  Can the officiant travel to the location you desire for the wedding?

3. Which religious tradition ordained this officiant and is he / she legally authorized to officiate in the locale you desire for your wedding?   (Documentation should be available for inspection at your initial meeting.)

4. What is the officiant’s personal belief system about the importance and purpose of this event?

5. Is pre-marital counseling available or required?

6. How much experience does your officiant have in regard to your faith tradition(s), and how can those traditions be incorporated into the ceremony?

7.  How much experience does the officiant have with the type of service you are requesting?

8. Is he / she willing to bring sample ceremonies to your scheduled meeting?

9. Will he / she be available for a rehearsal on a day other than the wedding day?

10. What are the rules on photos during the ceremony?

11. How much does the officiant charge for presiding over the ceremony? 

12. Are there additional fees for travel, customizing the ceremony, pre-marital counseling, wedding rehearsals, filing the required legal paperwork, etc?  If so, how are they calculated?