Wedding Planning Articles
Ministers & Officiants
...."The most integral wedding player"
A Wedding Officiant is a state licensed person who presides over a wedding ceremony. The main requirement for a wedding to occur is for a couple to stand before an Officiant and participate in a brief exchange of information. This person serves in the same function as a Wedding Minister and, as such, the Officiant is certainly the most necessary element of your wedding. In the California Central Coast, we are fortunate to have a number of Officiants with a variety of styles who are available to participate in the planning and performance of your ceremony.
Religious, Spiritual, Civil
In the past, most wedding ceremonies took place within a church or synagogue. Today, we have many more choices. You may choose to marry in just about any location you can imagine - hotel banquet room, a flower filled garden, a on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The choice of wedding locations is now practically limitless. Your choice of ceremony location will, to some degree, dictate the Officiant you will have at your wedding.
If you plan to marry at your house of worship, one of the clergy practicing at that location will typically perform your ceremony. You may want a religious ceremony but want to marry at a location other than your church. Some churches have strict rules against having clergy officiating at marriages away from the church while others have developed a more flexible approach and are happy to officiate at an off-site location. Check with your house of worship for their policy.
Non-denominational ministers are available to officiate at wedding ceremonies in most any location. If yours is an inter-faith marriage, you might choose non denominational. Or you may want to have a minister from both faiths participating in the ceremony. Whatever your preference, in the California Central Coast we are blessed with a number of wonderful Officiants from which to choose.
Selecting Your Officiant
You may choose to stick with the traditional wedding ceremony & vows, write your own, or confer with your Officiant for ideas. Wedding Officiants have years of experience and can provide myriad ceremony options.
In your initial interviews, discuss your thoughts and preferences, reveal a bit about yourself, the tone/type of ceremony you envision. Ask about their experience, types of ceremonies they perform, any special type of services they provide. Use this first phone interview to select the Officiant who best meets your needs. Have a personal meeting to confirm compatibility, work out initial details, and complete your contract.