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
Unless you are going to a
Wedding Chapel,
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 their 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)