I had my first official wedding of the 2021 wedding season this month and it did NOT disappoint! Yes I was only there for 2 hours but I woke up feeling like I was partying in 1999. These are the moments I live for honestly and I’m so glad that my couples choose me to officiate their ceremonies. The decision comes easy for some couples to select me as their officiant and then for some it leaves a big question mark on their task list because they have no idea what to look for in an officiant. As a minister and officiant, we have a lot of responsibility before and during the wedding, so whether you choose me or not, you’ll want to make sure the person you choose is up to the task.
What should you look for?
· Choose someone you know or someone who knows you. If I know you or know of you, I’ll be able to use personal anecdotes during the ceremony. Plus, I’ll know how to work with you.
· Choose someone who has experience officiating. A seasoned officiant will know when you should be facing them or facing each other, we also know the order and the timing of vows and ring exchanges.
· Choose someone who has a clear speaking voice. This is easily done on our initial consultation call, if you love my voice (which I’m sure you will) then it’s a win–win for your ceremony.
· Choose someone who understands and matches your Wedding style and vibes. The last thing you would want is to choose someone who doesn’t have a sense of humor, who is uptight, or truly doesn’t enjoy their job.
· Choose someone who matches your religious beliefs. You don’t have to morally agree on everything, but the words of an officiant shares on your special day should be genuine, and if the beliefs are aligned, this is going to come across during the ceremony.
· Choose someone local. Now for the right officiant, like myself, I don’t mind traveling as I’m worth it! But I always believe that the closer your wedding officiant is to your location, the more likely they will be available for your special day.
I know that finding a wedding officiant is no easy task, a lot of couples wait until the last minute. But think about this for a minute, you are choosing me as your special person to unify your commitment. The suggestions I gave above aren’t commandments, just things to consider and I expect every couple I encounter to be comfortable in making the decision to hire me.
XO Minister Sharnise Sears