5 tips for choosing the right officiant, by Celebrantissimo

1) Take a closer look at the websites of the selected service providers

Internet communication remains the first step in your search for wedding suppliers. And the same goes for finding a good officiant for a secular ceremony! It’s important to focus your search and know what kind of ceremony you want for your wedding. A well-written, well-maintained website with testimonials from brides and grooms, not to mention photos and videos, gives initial confidence. Especially if the officiant tells his or her story and reveals a little about him or herself. Avoid sites that lack originality and are full of platitudes, and read your officiant’s itinerary carefully. Many officiants indicate their prices, which already gives the bride and groom a clear idea of their budget for this beautiful moment. There is a plethora of awards in this field. But a unique, made-to-measure secular ceremony requires at least 25 to 30 hours of work (not including attendance on the big day).

The officiant’s website is his or her showcase, your first point of contact, and may even inspire you to contact him or her for a first meeting. Politeness, kindness and availability are the first essential parameters for a touching and successful secular ceremony!

2) Meet with your officiant to discuss your budget and define your dream secular ceremony.

Finally, you have a first appointment with your officiant. If you’re lucky enough not to live too far away from each other and to meet, a real get-together will of course help create the bond of trust that’s essential to building that important moment for both of you: the celebration of your love, from an original, solemn and light-hearted angle at the same time.

During this first meeting, he or she should inspire the same confidence you felt when discovering his or her site. At the outset, he’ll lead the interview by asking the right questions to find out what kind of ceremony you’re dreaming of. And if the two of you hit it off, you’ll be the one asking all the questions. Every couple is unique, with their own story to tell, and the officiant will dig deep when you first meet to find out what you’re looking for. His experience should reassure you, and even the practical aspects of your ceremony are important to raise: the venue, the guests, plan B in case of unforeseen weather conditions, for example…

This is also the time to talk budget: either your officiant has already sent you a quote, and this is the opportunity to ask for more details about his or her services. Always ask for a detailed quotation for the services offered. It’s a guarantee for both parties, allowing you to get straight to the point and forget about the administrative side of things. After all, you’ll be spending many long months together!

3) Choose a secular ceremony officiant who listens and empathizes

He’ll be able to capture your couple’s history, your wishes, your values and your tastes. Ease of contact is paramount, and this – difficult – profession subtly balances a creative, often artistic spirit with impeccable organization, not to mention warm management of the speakers who will come to speak at your ceremony. Your wedding ceremony is a reflection of your couple and their values, but also a solemn gathering of family and friends… And all these aspects must be reflected in your officiant’s speech and the intelligent construction of your ceremony. Your officiant must be creative enough to offer you a ceremony that’s tailor-made to your image. The approach to your witnesses, the support provided by the speakers and the human contact are all very important. As such, don’t hesitate to ask your officiant to show you excerpts from his or her created ceremonies.

5) Don’t forget the qualities needed for a successful performance on your wedding day

To officiate a beautiful secular ceremony requires oral experience, a mastery of texts, ease in front of an audience, poise and your officiant must know how to reassure your guests, who will also be making a speech.

Yes, officiating is a very demanding service, and it would be a shame to underestimate this part of the day in your organization’s overall budget.

In fact, the laic ceremony will set the tone for the rest of your day and evening. Thanks to a beautiful, made-to-measure ceremony, your family and friends will savor this moment of shared celebration. Because it’s also about a beautiful meeting between the people you love and who love you!

(Photo 1: Cooper Photo – Photo 2: Smile Photographie – Photo 3: Cécile Creiche – Photo 4: Alison Bounce)