HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-28, Page 15MS –Many people play a role in
a wedding. The bride and groom,
bridesmaids, groomsmen, ring
bearers, and flower girls are front
and center on the day a couple ties
the knot.
Another central, and very
important, figure on a couple’s
wedding day is the officiant.
Officiants perform the wedding
ceremony and are the first to
introduce the newlyweds to their
guests as an officially married
couple.
Various types of officiants can
officiate a wedding, and
understanding each type can help
couples find the right one for them.
•Religious officiant:Couples
who want traditional religious
ceremonies often choose a religious
officiant, such as a parish priest or
rabbi, with whom they’re familiar.
For example, couples who grew up
attending a particular church might
choose the priest who’s been
preaching to them since they were
children, while others might choose
the priest at their current place of
worship.
Religious officiants may be
governed by certain rules that
restrict them to performing
ceremonies in a house of worship,
which might rule them out for
couples who want outdoor or
destination weddings. Couples
should inquire about such
restrictions as early as possible in the
planning process so they aren't
caught off guard.
• Civil officiant: Civil officiants
are officers of the court, such as a
judge or justice of the peace. Many
couples who are planning
destination weddings abroad still
choose to have a civil officiant
perform a wedding ceremony at
home. This is because some overseas
officiants may not be authorized to
marry couples in their home
countries, meaning their marriages
won’t be recognized once they
return home. Civil officiants make
sure marriages are legal, and they
also make great options for couples
who just want to get hitched without
a grand ceremony.
• Professional officiant:
Professional officiants are not
affiliated with a particular religious
organization. That makes them great
choices for couples who aren’t
religious as well as those who come
from different religious backgrounds
and won’t be converting to the same
faith. Professional officiants
typically meet with a couple once or
twice to get to know them before
writing the speech they will give
during the ceremony. Many will
share the speech with the couple in
advance of the big day, and some
even allow couples to write the
speech.
• Loved ones:Many couples ask
a friend or family member to
officiate their weddings, which can
add a fun and very personal
component to the ceremony.
Couples who want to take this route
should research local laws to
determine the steps loved ones must
take to become ordained ministers
who will be recognized by the state
or country where the ceremony will
take place.
Officiants play a significant role
during a wedding, and couples can
choose one who best fits their
personalities and ceremony
preferences.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2019. PAGE 15.
The right officiant can make the perfect ceremony
The right person
Marriages always start with choosing the right person, but choosing the right person to
officiate a wedding can be an important part of the process as well. Whether it’s a religious
officiant or a loved one performing the ceremony, a couple choosing the right person to take
control of their wedding is a crucial choice. (MS photo)
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