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All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Wedding Officiants by: Blake Kritzberg
Tracking down a wedding officiant can be a little intimidating. Perhaps you remember a time when it was hard to get one if you weren't among the "regularly churched"! But times have changed, and hiring an officiant for your wedding is now standard procedure. Basically, brides-to-be find themselves in one of two camps: Either they have a regular church and a favorite minister, who might be a longstanding family friend, or they need to find one through word-of-mouth or web sites. The latter situation often costs more, but allows for a lot of flexibility. Depending on your tastes and faiths, you can often find a judge, a Catholic priest to marry you outdoors, a Rabbi to officiate at an interfaith wedding, a non-denominational officiant who encourages you to write your own vows, and so on. How to find officiants A good national directory for finding Catholic officiants is www.rentapriest.com. If you're stuck for ideas, try asking vendors. Your florist or caterer is probably well acquainted with local options. Another excellent way to find officiants is to visit a large wedding forum, like The Knot, and post on boards for your local geographic area. You can often get an idea of the flavor, preparedness, flexibility and even appearance of a popular local officiant. When should you book an officiant? Some officiants book early. If you're really particular about whom you want to do the service and can't budge on the date, try to book more than six months in advance. Some couples book a year ahead. How much do officiants charge? A minister at your own church may not charge anything at all, but may accept donations. In that case, a $100-200 donation is about average. Ask the minister yourself if there's any doubt. An officiant you engage yourself will set his or her own rates. Rates generally range from $250-600, but some well-known officiants may charge more. Do we send an invitation? By custom, you invite your officiant to your rehearsal dinner as a guest. You also invite the officiant and his or her spouse to your reception with a formal invitation, just like other guests. Unless the officiant is an old family friend, he or she may decline to stay, but an invitation is proper. You aren't expected to invite the officiant's children. Can you use a friend as an officiant? It's done all the time, and can make weddings very personal. A father, mother, or the friend who introduced you can make for an amazing event. Be sure to pick someone comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, and brush up on your state's laws and licensing requirements. Here's a good site to begin your research: www.northernway.org/marriagelaws.html Your chosen friend or family member can become ordained "instantly and online" at the Universal Life Church, which in some areas will enable them to perform legal weddings. Again, be sure of your state's laws. Many times, ministers ordained by ULC will also have to register in their state and obtain a license before they can practice. Call your local county clerk for clarification. Universal Life Church: www.ulc.org Do I meet with the officiant before or after booking, and what should I expect at the meeting? Ideally, an officiant will allow a "getting to know you" meeting before you book them, though not all will. Most at least offer telephone interviews, which helps you see how they fit with your personal style. During your first meeting, the officiant will typically tell you about his or her background, discuss the logistics, bring up any premarital counseling requirements, ask some questions about your personal history, and show you a sample ceremony script. This is a good time to discuss special unification ceremonies or personal vows, bring up interfaith issues, and learn whether your officiant plans to attend your rehearsal.
Guide to a Growing Trend: The "Green" or Ecological Wedding Does it seem like the phrases "ecology" and "wedding" could hardly have less in common? With the average wedding costing well over 15 thousand today, one would think so. And yet, the "green" or ecologically-friendly wedding is gaining momen....... The Bigger the Carat the Better the Wedding? Ahh . . . sweet romance. The flowers. The chocolate. The late night whispers of “I love you.” For most people in love, the culmination of months of togetherness and special friendship comes down to o....... Pick the Wedding Dress that Compliments Your Body For those of us who don’t look like Pamela Anderson or Halle Berry, picking the correct style wedding dress can be crucial to your overall look. Worrying about if you picked the right dress is the last thing you want to worry about on your wedding day. W.... There’s More to Wedding Invitations Than You Might Think Everybody talks about wedding invitations, but what about all the other terms and items that are associated with them. Below are explanations of some of the more common terms and items that you’ll p....... Eight cheap honeymoon ideas for couples on a budget Between paying for the wedding and setting up a new household, many couples find there’s not much money left in their budget for the honeymoon. But who says you have to spend a fortune to enjoy a romantic honeymoon at your dream destination? Here are eigh.... Dressing Your Bridesmaids For a bride, shopping for bridesmaid dresses can be one of the most difficult aspects of wedding planning. How can the bride find a gown for her maids that will display her own taste, look great on e....... Learn More About the Las Vegas Weddings Chapel Las Vegas weddings is a well-known las Vegas chapel that has been featured on the Jay Leno show, the Travel channel, the Discovery channel, and A&E, among others. Featuring Eddie Powers as a popular Elvis impersonator, this las Vegas wedding chapel has a.... Preparing for your wedding Part I Congratulations and best wishes on your upcoming wedding. You are probably busy with preparation for the most important day of the rest of your life. You want it to be a one-of-a-kind, memorable occasion for you and your guests. The following are suggeste.... "Photos your photographer won't take at your wedding....unless you ask for them!" It has been my experience, with 40 years as a wedding photographer, that the most forgotten people when it comes to photos at a wedding are often the individual parents of the bride and/or groom. Most photographers will be sure to include the par.... Wedding Rings – Through the Ages and for All Eternity The exact origin of the wedding ring is uncertain and is rife with superstition and mythology. Papyruses dating back to the ancient Egyptian civilization depict wedding rings, and historians credit t....... Marking Togetherness: Beyond the Unity Candle By now, surely everyone's familiar with the unity candle, but did you know there are other unification ceremonies to choose from when planning your wedding? Although the unity candle seems to have been with us forever, in reality it's only about...... Get Fit For Your Wedding Day Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day. Selecting a dress that will make you look and feel great is an important first step. But what happens when you look in the mirror and notice trouble spots like saggy arms or unsightly folds in your bac.... The History Behind Traditional Anniversay Gifts Nobody can say with any amount of certainty when the tradition of giving anniversary gifts started. Most probably it evolved over time. Traditionally, each wedding anniversary is celebrated by giving....... Choosing a Wedding Date –- When You’re Feeling Indecisive He – or she – proposed, and you answered in the affirmative! Now's the time to bask in the romance, and enjoy the first phase of your new life together. But soon, you'll need a response for that timeless question: "when's the wedding?" For s....... Weddings of Las Vegas - For a Unique Wedding Just when you thought it would never happen—it did! Not for the fainthearted, Gothic Weddings offers an unusual twist on an ageless service. Now you and your dearly beloved can tie the knot in this intriguing las Vegas chapel buried in the underworld of t.... Amateur Wedding Photographers... Since I have been surfing the net over the past few years, I have come across many, many photography sites, some excellent and some appalling. The danger is that when a "photographer" with a new website, is simply someone having just taken up the hobby,...... Inexpensive Centerpiece Decorations When planning a wedding, most brides focus first on the church, lining it with flowers and ribbons. By the time costs for the wedding are taken care of many couple’s find that they are skimming close....... So You’re Planning an Outdoor Wedding The best advice I can give you is to test your ideas in the actual location under realistic conditions to eliminate unpleasant surprises. Work with an experience coach or wedding consultant if you can, and then keep in mind the following things: 1..... How to Have a Dream Wedding on a Budget No one wants to pay more than they have to for anything, especially something as costly as a wedding. And if you’re like me, and you had to foot your own bill, then you certainly want to keep costs d....... Legal Issues Surrounding Divorce There are two types of divorce: absolute and limited. Absolute, or “divorce a vinculo matu monii”, is the judicial termination of a marriage based on marital misconduct or other statutory causes after the wedding ceremony—such as adultery. After the divor.... I Need a Wedding Director and a Tux? Well folks, I never thought I’d be writing a column like this one, because quite frankly I never thought I’d be this old. This week’s subject matter is going to be a bit of a surprise, and I’m alread....... Wedding Day Hair Styles - A Top Ten Checklist The big day is fast approaching, and the energy of the moment sweeps you up. But does it carry your hair along too? Use the following checklist to ensure your wedding day hair is everything you dream it will be: 1. Which stylist? Make book.... How to Choose the Right Wedding Dress Style Everyone thinks they know how to choose a wedding gown. What most women don’t realize is fabrics, style and measurements can influence the style of wedding dress that best compliments a particular bo....... Course Of Treatment Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 23, 2004 My husband is 45. We are getting ready to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. He now tells me he has fun when he is out of town in a grou....... Unique Beach Wedding Receptions The most unique beach wedding reception ideas are sparked by imagination not tradition. Never mind etiquette, tradition and timelines. That information is outdated and stuffy. Do what will make you and your guests happy. It is a time for f.... For Second Weddings Only - Eight Useful Tips Wedding Planning? Prevent favorite guests comparing your second wedding, to the first. It isn't tricky but it may take some thought. Whether guests will or will not compare weddings is likely to be d....... How To Create a Toast Chances are you will run into an occasion in life which requires you to give a toast. Perhaps the event is a wedding, or a birthday party, or an event recognizing some achievement. With more formal....... EVA'S WEDDING DAY THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN FOR MY DAUGHTER, EVA, UPON HER WEDDING DAY: EVA’S WEDDING DAY When you were born, I knew from the start You were a special girl, near to my heart Your compassionate spirit and engaging smile Brightened my days.... 5 Tips To Select The Best Wedding Reception Location Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many reception facilities while having little or no bias to “sell” one location over another. Most Brides and Grooms know where they will be hol....... Nine Ways to Save Money on Wedding Photography Weddings are memorable events couples and their families want to remember forever, and what better way to capture these moments than by a camera. Weddings may be gone, but the feeling of joy will alw....... How to Find The Perfect Wedding Dress You want the perfect wedding dress, so you have made it a major focus of your pre wedding planning. There are some things you need to find from the bridal shop, before you even look at your first gow....... Should a Man Wear a Wedding Ring or not? Strange as it may seem the use of a wedding ring by men was not common until recently. Whereas women have worn wedding rings for eons, men have not. The use of rings as a symbol of everlasting love e....... The Meaning of \"Charm\" in a Bracelet Charm bracelets have been around for a long time, given as gifts to The $30 K Wedding Alternative Thwart wedding bell apprehension when you explore your nuptial options. The mayhem of a marital union can evoke enough tension to make the happiest bride say, “I don’t.” A second wedding, overbearing....... How Your Wedding Shoes Can Make Or Break The Most Important Day Of Your Life Have you thought about your wedding shoes yet? This article gives you the reasons why you should think about them before anything else. You look breathtakingly beautiful, your hair looks perfect, yo....... Wedding Entertainment - selecting a quality DJ Wedding Entertainment – selecting a Quality DJ By Todd Mumford Months in advance of your wedding ceremony, comes hours and hours of planning – how many people to invite, what food i...... How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits Many women want to be slim. Maybe you’re one of them. Perhaps you’re getting married soon and you want to fit into your wedding gown comfortably. Or perhaps you simply want to look (and f....... Candlelight Wedding Chapel: A romantic place Candlelight Wedding Chapel is a well-known las Vegas entity that has been featured in a country music video by Diamond Rio. Howie Mandel married here, and John Tesh renewed vows with his wife. This las Vegas wedding chapel has a lot to offer clients from.... Belize-A Great Romantic Gwtaway or Wedding Destination Today Norm Goldman, Editor www.sketchandtravel.com and www.bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest Joshua Berman (http://www.stonegrooves.net/contact.html),co-author of Moon Handbooks Belize( http://www.moon.com/catalog/belize.html) Joshua.... Seven Tips for Choosing a Maid of Honor Choosing your Maid of Honor is more complicated than it looks. Nowhere else in your wedding planning is it easier for vexing problems to turn up! Why? Because the Maid of Honor’s duties are often vag....... Perfect Gift Idea!! Just Add Your Pictures Need the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person?? Well, this is a must read. I make 6x6 scrapbook albums that all you have to do is add pictures!! I make them in Baby, Boy, Girl, General, and Wedding. I also make them to order. If you would like inf.... Wedding Gifts - Something Old, Nothing New..! The old tale about a bride and groom receiving half a dozen toasters from well-meaning relatives on their wedding day has passed into 70s history. But, what to buy the modern couple? It's a question ....... Gift Ideas for a 50th Wedding Anniversary The big 50. The fiftieth wedding anniversary is an important, yet seldom reached milestone in any couple's relationship. Unlike other anniversaries, this one is such a 'biggie' that other people can ....... How To Get Perfect Wedding Day Hair Wedding day is the most special day when you wish to present yourself in the most beautiful way. Your hairdo contributes greatly in giving you a flawless look. Search out for the best professional hairstylist in your area and ask him or her about which ha.... Fulfill a Wedding Tradition with Estate Bridal Jewelry We all know the old verse “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” But it’s way more than a verse, its something many brides follow to the rule. So why not fulfill a wedd....... Packing for Your Destination Wedding Are you planning a destination wedding? Congratulations! Before you head off to your dream wedding and honeymoon, don't forget the packing for the wedding itself. Much will depend on where you're hav....... How to Plan a Cheap Wedding There’s no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 – $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don’t worry if your bu....... Let Them Eat Cake -- Just Not at Your Wedding It's a fact, however odd it seems, that some brides don't like cake -- and don't want one at their wedding reception. Others like cake just fine, but prefer to serve something a little more distincti....... Weddings - That Special Day Standing in front of all her loved ones, donning an elegant white gown and a radiant smile, the bride smiles at her groom, tears in her eyes, and says, “I do.” The audience feels a rush of excitement....... |
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