Weddings

You need an officiant.

You may think, “Hey, we’ve asked Dave, my fiance’s incredibly irresponsible former roommate, to get ordained online and that should be good enough.” It’s not.

You need an officiant.

Here’s the services an officiant should provide:

• pre-marital counseling–it’s not scary or boring, no matter how it’s portrayed on television. PMC puts all the cards on the table, asks hard questions that need to be asked before making a lifelong commitment, and helps line up dreams and goals, and teaches communication skills that will be needed.
• wedding ceremony planning–this is the reason everyone is coming to town, to see you and your betrothed tie the knot. How religious is your ceremony going to be? Are there prayers and readings? Are there special rites and rituals, like a unity candle, or shouting “Olé!,” or the service of communion? In what order, and why? How long will it take? How long should it take?
• wedding officiating–the actual service always requires grace and patience from those getting married, because something–usually super minor, and unnoticed except by the wedding party–goes wrong. You need an officiant who can assure you, it’s not something to worry about. Before I was a minister, I was a comedian. I can read a room, I can work a room, and as I have seen it all, I can help keep you and your betrothed in the center of why we gather: your formal commitment to one another. The rest is details.
• corralling folks and miscellaneous duties–a guy in a robe and stole commands authority, and at the service of those getting married, it is a super useful tool. Is your aunt trying to assert her plans for your reception? Send the minister to go talk her down. Has everyone gathered in the reception area early, and they need to wait outside? Send the minister to kick them out. Are two groomsmen a little drunk and arguing loudly? Send the minister to knock their heads together–spiritually, of course.

You need an officiant.