Your engaged and have set a date, congratulations. Many things are flying around your head while you think about the wedding. Many things are discussed: the dress, tuxedos, wedding and reception venue, catering, flower arrangements, the cake, photographer, etc. But wait, aren’t we forgetting one person. The person who sets the tone of the ceremony and (don’t take this the wrong way) makes the whole affair a wedding. Let’s face it, without the wedding officiant (minister, judge, etc.) no one is going to be married (officially). It becomes just a big party.
DON’T WAIT
It is very important that you don’t wait to hire your wedding officiant. Many officiants start booking a year in advance. Especially for the peak months of the summer. It is currently December. In Ohio, June, July, August, September are the peak wedding months. If your wedding falls in one of those months in Ohio, you should already be searching for your officiant if you haven’t already booked one. These months go fast and if you really want to get the person you want book them now. If you are using your church minister or priest, check with the church to make sure they will be available. During non-peak months, you still should start to look at least 6 months out if not sooner. If you hire them early enough, your wedding officiant can be a source of suggestions on vendors who they have worked with in the past. Don’t lose out on this wealth of information.
HOW MUCH
Many people base their decision on how much the officiant cost. This is the wrong way to shop. You may pay a cheaper price but you may also get a ceremony that you didn’t expect. If you are going to look at the cost of the officiant, do this first. Take the prices for all your separate wedding professionals, and venue. Look them over. Now look at the fee for the officiant. Many will find that their officiant is on the lower end of the cost if not the lowest. In Central Ohio (2009) the average cost for an officiant for just the ceremony was about $200. Rehearsals may have cost extra as they take just as long as the wedding in some cases. One thing to take advantage of is if the officiant takes payments. Some only need a small deposit to book your day and time with the rest due on the wedding day or just before. Doing this, the fee will not look so big as you pay some now and the rest 6-12 months later.
LICENSED TO PERFORM WEDDINGS
In Ohio, your officiant must be licensed by the Ohio Secretary of State. Each officiant by law must show their license if asked. Even though they are ordained by thier church or organization and authorized by the same to perform wedding ceremonies, they still must have a license to solemnize weddings from the government If you want to be sure you will be married once the ceremony is over, ask to see their license. Remember, this is for Ohio only. Check with your State for local marriage and officiant laws.
Remember to select an officiant that you are comfortable with as they are going to be the one who guides the wedding in a way that reflects your beliefs and desires. If this person cost a little more than you thought, talk to them and work out a plan. Hire that person because they took all worry from you about how the wedding ceremony will flow. Start your search online at google, yahoo, or any search engine. Try a few keywords if you are from Columbus Ohio (or just call me….lol).: wedding officiant, Columbus Ohio, wedding minister.
Good Luck
-Rev. Joe Henry
Central Ohio Wedding Services (Wedding Chapel, Officiant)
