Choosing the Right Wedding Officiant

​When I put together this list, I approached it as if my wife and I were looking for someone to renew our vows. I also thought back to all of the meetings (in person and over the phone and Zoom) I have had with prospective couples and the questions they had asked me.

Before you reach out to any officiant:

(1) Are they local (If not, will it be difficult for them to attend the rehearsal? On the wedding day, how much extra time will they need to allot to make it to the ceremony site on time? What is their backup plan if any highway is closed or delayed due to an accident?
(2) Reviews. Google their business name and look at their Google Reviews. Check sites like WeddingWire, The Knot, and Yelp. If all of those sites are consistently positive, keep them on your list.
(3) Look at their website. Is it up-to-date or do they have review badges from 2018? Do they have any sample ceremonies you can read and any photos or videos so you can see what they look and sound like (and again, are these from a decade ago or fairly recent)? For some couples, the way their officiant will look in their wedding photos is important.
(4) Rates. The officiant will be your least expensive vendor and fees won’t vary by that much (maybe a hundred dollars or so). Don’t cut back on your budget by choosing an officiant you are just okay with to save a little bit of money. Your ceremony should be one of the focal points of your wedding day. I think that officiant’s should be upfront with what they charge (some might charge more based on a phone call with you if you are getting married at an exclusive property for example).
(5) Get a feel for their style from their site. Are you looking for a non religious ceremony, but all of their sample ceremonies and their background is based on ceremonies with readings from the Bible? Do you want a serious ceremony, but their site is heavy on humor? Or the opposite, are you looking for a light-hearted ceremony but the tone of their site is extremely serious?
(6) What is their level of experience? Are they just starting out and working part-time or are they a professional officiant?

After you reach out to an officiant:

(1) Do they get back to you right away or after a few days? Keep in mind that a delayed response might mean that all of your correspondence will take a while?
(2) Do they reply to your inquiry and reference any questions you asked or do they send you just a standard email (not referencing your date or location or the type of ceremony you inquired about)?
(3) Do they offer a next step (e.g. to answer any further questions or meet over the phone or by Zoom)?
(4) Are they responsive when you ask to meet with them (in person, by phone or by Zoom)?
(5) When you meet with them, do they represent what you saw on their website? Do you get along with them and feel comfortable?
(6) When you speak with them, if you ask questions not related to the ceremony, are they happy to answer or do they say it is outside of their scope (e.g. are they a “team player”?)


These are just a few things to consider when choosing your wedding officiant. I am always happy to answer any and all questions and love weddings! Just let me know how I can help.


Kindly,


Brian Borgia
Monterey Bay Wedding Officiants

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