The Wedding Officiant

Wednesday, 13 January 2010 15:20

Duties and Responsibilities of a Wedding Officiant

There are several types of individuals that may be asked to officiate or lead a wedding ceremony. Some possibilities include a cleric, city official, or a celebration specialist. A minister, rabbi, or justice of the peace are qualified in most states within the U.S. to lead wedding ceremonies.

The duties of a wedding officiant vary greatly. Each officiant approaches the responsibilities of leading a ceremony a bit differently. An officiant typically responds to inquiries by interested couples in order to decide if they are a good fit with the bride and groom. A date is reserved and a contract is signed along with a deposit for officiating services. This is a good time to discuss the type of ceremony the couple is planning. Possibilities for ceremonies include religious, non-denominational, interfaith, spiritual, or multi-cultural. This is also a time to determine if the personality of the bride and groom is compatible with the officiant.

The officiant, upon agreeing to lead the wedding ceremony, will need to check out the venue where the nuptials will be held. This is easy enough if the site is local but may not be possible if there's a significant travel distance involved. Officiants will also likely spend a fair amount of time communicating with the couple via telephone and e-mail to discuss ceremony ideas and requirements.

Legal Aspects

There are several legal aspects that the officiant of a wedding ceremony is responsible for handling. The officiant will need to verify the legality of the marriage by examining state issued licenses and identification. Once the ceremony is concluded, they will need to complete and file paperwork with the vital records division. Officiants will need to make copies of the documents and make sure the bride and groom receive a keepsake copy.

Ceremony Planning

The officiant will use the information obtained from the bride and groom to write a personalized ceremony. Knowledge of many different types of rituals is necessary so these can be incorporated into the ceremony if appropriate. Some common wedding rituals include breaking the glass, lighting the unity candle, the marriage vessel and the rose, jumping of the broom, unity cup, family medallion, and Celtic and Pagan hand-fasting. Many couples may wish to incorporate their own wedding vows into the ceremony. Some couples may even ask the officiant to write original vows for the ceremony.

Some officiants will attend the wedding rehearsal. Their role at this time is to supervise the flow of the ceremony and offer suggestions if requested. This is a time for the officiant to practice delivery of their part of the ceremony also. Most officiants will find this time for 'practice' helpful for making adjustments to their own contribution to the ceremony. This is a time that the bride and groom can voice any concerns they may have about the personalized touches the officiant has created for the couple.

Day Of

Officiants should be mindful of arriving at the venue a few minutes early on the day of the nuptials. The theme and level of formality of the ceremony will guide the officiant in the attire they choose for the big event. If there is doubt in the mind of the officiant, they should check with the bride and groom for their preference. The final, and possibly the most important job of the officiant, is to announce to guests the legal joining of the couple.

What to Charge

Officiants may want to check with other professionals in their area to determine an adequate fee schedule for their services. The internet is also a vehicle for researching common fees in their geographical area. Mileage charges are a consideration that should be weighed when setting fees.