Next to your future spouse, the second most important person on your wedding day will be the person conducting your ceremony. And yes, you need them to show up that day, also! So why do most couples procrastinate contracting the officiant (celebrant) after many other vendors such as venue, photographer, entertainment, hair, and make-up? Most couples know they may find someone, and if they cannot find a professional, they know they may have a friend or family become ordained. It would be best if you looked for many qualifications in the person responsible for presenting you as a married couple for the first time. We encourage you to select a professional, reliable, certified, and trained celebrant who will make your day unique and memorable.
THE PROFESSIONAL – When deciding on your wedding celebrant, there are a few crucial items to look for. He/she shall ask personal questions during your initial meeting. If he/she has video footage, this is a perk. We suggest finding out how many ceremonies he/she has performed and if they are experienced in speaking in front of a crowd. Additionally, will the outline or script be written ahead of time so that the planner and couple have a copy?
TRAINED CELEBRANT VS. MERE OFFICIANT – Many couples decide to have a friend or family member officiate the ceremony to include them in the wedding. Remember a few different types when deciding who will marry you: trained celebrant and mere officiant. A celebrant serves as a writer, editor, and director, making your ceremony meaningful and memorable. The officiant is the person who makes your marriage legal and may not offer the presentation as a trained celebrant.
PLAN B – Most people getting married do not think about the possibility of anything happening to their officiant; however, we have had a few hiccups and even a situation when the officiant was unable to perform the ceremony last minute due to circumstances that were out of our hands. For example, a fire was covering a large area, and the only highway to access the venue was shut down. Luckily, it was a very small island, and the officiant had access to a boat to get to the ceremony on time. Our officiant was rushed to the emergency room on the wedding day for another event. Since we confirm our talent the week of the wedding (not the day of), we did not know something had happened until his wife (an officiant) showed up to perform the ceremony. The great news is that if something should happen to the person conducting your ceremony, we have it covered! Jessica Jordan Events has a wonderful network of contacts to save the day, and Jessica herself is a registered officiant in the city of New York.
Don’t stress about finding the perfect celebrant to officiate your wedding. Call Jessica Jordan Events to ensure all bases are covered! Let us know any questions or concerns you may have in the comment section below regarding your marriage celebrant.