30 Questions To Ask Wedding Officiant
Before committing your nuptials to a wedding officiant, you should be aware of the top questions to ask them. Aside from availability and pricing, you'll undoubtedly want an officiant that can personalize the wedding experience and make it a day to remember. And, of course, it's critical that you and your partner get along with your officiant—you'll be spending a lot of time together whether or not you're doing marriage preparation with them. If you're unsure of what to look for or what questions to ask, have no fear, here are 20 crucial questions to ask your wedding officiant that 48 Studio collected for you.
The Basics
- Are you authorized to perform weddings in my state? Which organization did you obtain your certificate from?
- Will you be available on my wedding ceremony?
- What is your fee for the entire ceremony?
- Do we have to make a deposit beforehand?
- The balance is due when?
- What kind of payment do you offer?
- If I cancel, what is your cancellation policy? What are the terms of your cancellation procedure?
- If I need to change my date, what is your rescheduling policy?
- What will you do if a last-minute complication prevents you from completing your contract personally?
- Are there any other fee not mentioned in the package price, such as delivery or travel fees?
Experience & Information
- How long have you been a wedding officiant?
- Approximately how many weddings do you officiate each week?
- How many marriages you have officiated on average each year?
- Do you use a script or customize the wedding ceremony for each couple?
- Do you have any example footage of previous ceremonies that you may show us?
- Have you already worked with our wedding venue with previous clients?
- What distinguishes you from other wedding officiants?
- How would you describe your working style?
- How do you work with other wedding vendors like photographers, videographers, and wedding planners? Is there any restriction we have to let them know?
- Will you help us with writing the vows?
- How long does the ceremony last?
- How many time will we have to meet prepare for the ceremony?
- Will you file out and send us our marriage license?
- What does your contract contain? And are you willing to adjust to our needs?
- How much of your religion—if you identify with one—is reflected in the ceremonies you perform (Hint: Some non-denominational religious officiants still acknowledge God or include prayers throughout the wedding ceremony. Make sure they are willing to comply with your request if you'd like to reduce or fully prevent this!)
The Ceremony Details
- Do you have a standard ceremony script or will you make one for us?
- Can we have input in certain parts of our ceremony? If so, how much input are we authorized to contribute and on what topics? (Hint: If you want the officiant or a wedding guest to give any readings, unique rituals such as sand ceremony, glass ceremony, cord ceremony, etc., songs sung by friends or family, etc., make sure the officiant is comfortable and ready to allow these things to happen!)
- Will we have a rehearsal with you?
- When will you arrive at the ceremony?
- What do you wear when you officiate our marriage?
Tips To Maximize Officiant's Services
- Make clear the purposes that you have for the ceremony. Tell your officiant if you want it to be long or short, intensely religious or without any reference of religion, etc. Give them a clear understanding of your expectations so they can modify as necessary.
- Do some personal research on wedding ceremonies. This will not only help you discover elements you want to include in your own ceremony, but it will also give you a sense of elements you don't want to. Also you'll learn some extra tips before choosing the right officiant.
- Meet with your officiant and get to know each other a little. The officiant needs the chance to get to know you and your fiancé for the ceremony to be personal. Give your officiant a decent understanding of who you are as a couple when you meet with them. Include information about how you met and significant events in your relationship's history.
- Before contacting him or her, you should ensure that the timeline for your wedding has been completed in order to prevent any potential conflicts with other events.
- Write your vows down and give them to the officiant. So later your wedding vows will receive feedback. Take advantage of this service if they do!
