Getting to know your wedding officiant.

I spend a lot of time watching weddings on YouTube and perusing the overwhelming wedding websites available to stay up on trends and make sure I’m offering couples choices and advice that will improve their wedding ceremony. Every once in awhile I come across an article about wedding Officiants, like this one: 10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Officiant
 
It’s a cool article that talks about getting to know your wedding Officiant. I spend a lot of my energy trying to get to know you and make sure I’m setting the tone and using language that works for you. It’s only fair that you should be able to get to know me too. In an effort to do this, I’m taking the 10 Questions that get to the “soul” of an Officiant from JP Reynolds’ article and answering them here.

When we meet for our in-person meeting or over the phone, even texting or email, please know that you can ask me anything. I'm not shy and if I don't know the answer, I'm really good at finding one for you.
 
1. What was the most moving wedding you celebrated?
 
The most moving wedding ceremony I celebrated was held in a correctional facility. This was a wedding between a man and woman who each had nine year old daughters from previous relationships. These girls were so happy to be there and when his daughter saw him, she ran into his arms and he picked her up and held her for a while. Then he hugged his future daughter and the bride melted. Only after the girls had been hugged did he look towards his bride. The way they looked at each other was magical. I’ve never seen two people need to be with the other the way these two were – it was like I was in the middle of a novel. I’m not sure if it’s because he was incarcerated and she was his link to the outside world, or if she was so sure of her decision that their wedding could not wait, but the tenderness in how they held hands through the ceremony was palpable and intense. They shared their own written vows with each other and they were both written from the heart with a need to be heard by the other. I believe love can happen anywhere and to anyone and these folks proved it to me – and I love them for that.
 
2. What was the biggest wedding mistake you ever made and “vowed” never to repeat?
 
At the second wedding I performed, I didn’t check to make sure that the witnesses had signed both copies of the marriage license (there are two copies – one for the Office of Vital Statistics and one for the Register of Deeds). The wedding occurred on a Saturday and I realized this while I was standing at the Register of Deeds’ office on Monday afternoon. Oh. My. Goodness. I was so embarrassed. I immediately called the bride and explained what had happened, apologized, and let her know that I would fix this. She texted me the contact information for both her witnesses. I connected both witnesses, who thankfully lived in North Carolina. They each met me halfway that evening and I had the marriage license in the hands of the Register of Deeds the following morning. That was the first and only time that will ever happen!
 
3. Have you ever turned down a couple’s invitation to perform their ceremony and why?
 
I haven’t. It’s funny, in all of my meetings over the years, there was one couple that I didn’t feel I clicked with and I thought about letting them know, but before I could call them, they emailed me and very graciously let me know that after speaking with family that they had decided to move in another direction. Whew! When you know it, you know it. This is why I recommend for everyone to schedule an in-person meeting with your wedding Officiant. You are going to know if you work well together. They will too. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for a second interview, references, or a sample ceremony.
 
4. What do you talk about when you meet with couples?
 
This is a great question. When meeting with a couple, we talk about how they met, their vision for the wedding, and weddings in general. I love observing people and listening to a couple explain how they met is a wonderful time for me to get a feel for a couple and their varying comfort levels. Not everyone is an extrovert and in most couples there is someone who would rather be doing anything than wedding planning. Meeting people where they are is something that comes naturally to me and in our in-person meetings, this is an advantage to me because I’ve been where you are and I think you’ll be in good hands with me. I have a calming sense and also a very playful and fun side. What I love most is geeking out about love.
 
5. What do you think is your main responsibility as an officiant?
 
My main responsibility as an Officiant is to show up for the wedding on time. Beyond that, it is to set the tone of your wedding ceremony with my presence and the words we choose for your ceremony. I am in charge of holding the space and making sure the ceremony flows smoothly, with you being married on the other side.
 
6. What’s the best compliment a wedding guest ever gave you?
 
I have two favorite compliments I’ve received from wedding guests.

1. Tell me where your church is because I’ll show up.
2. Can you record books so I can listen to your voice all day?

I don’t have a church, but it was such a lovely compliment that led to a wonderful conversation about finding love and inspiration in places you never expected. I have friends who are voice actors and they work really hard, I've thought about it, but it's not in the cards for me right now.
 
7. What is your biggest challenge when officiating a wedding?
 
Acoustics are my biggest challenge as a wedding Officiant. I always arrive early to make sure I can work with the DJ or sound person to hook up my lavalier mic or make sure I am comfortable with whatever microphone is available. I don’t always use a microphone, but I prefer using one so I can settle into where my voice is its most velvety. I have no problem projecting, but there is a big difference in my voice when I’m sharing a ceremony by a quiet stream versus the oceanfront on a windy day.
 
8. What is the funniest or oddest moment in a wedding you celebrated?
 
There are two moments that jump to mind. The first was during a wedding when the bride and groom were sharing their vows. While the bride was very pragmatic and took and gave directions very well, the groom was really energetic and didn't listen to directions at all. They had decided on using a repeated vow, where I would say the phrase and they would repeat it to their beloved while looking into their eyes. The groom did a great job of repeating, but he looked at me the whole time. The bride cleared her throat and said, 'you were supposed to look at me!'. Everyone laughed and the groom apologized. I asked him if he would like a second try and he said yes. The guests were all smiling and the bride approved, so we did it a second time and he was perfect! 
Another funny moment in a wedding I celebrated was recently on a farm in Maryland. There were peacocks, chickens, cows, horses, turkeys, you name it – but it was the cat that had to make an audible appearance. We were coming to the end of the ceremony and this cat wandered into the opening of the tent and started yowling. It yowled once and everyone looked. It yowled twice and everyone tensed up. I was glad I was at a place in the ceremony where I could improvise and said that ‘Even Meow-Meow approves’.  Everyone laughed and the cat moved on. Moments like that are wonderful – they make us smile and give us memories.
 
9. What is your rock bottom wish for every couple?
 
That you can find a way to honestly communicate with each other. If you can do this, then you’re all set.
 
10. What do you love about celebrating weddings?
 
I love so many things about celebrating weddings. I am a lighthouse for two ships at sea. To stand with a couple at the beginning of their long and loving marriage is an honor – to be trusted with this responsibility is truly awesome. When I write personalized ceremonies for wedding couples, I pull from questions they’ve answered, my observations of them, and my own experience.  My darling husband and I have been married for 16 years now and we have taught each other so much about love and what it takes to make a marriage work, how love will find a way – even if we have to stay up till 3am discussing how we feel. I get to watch brides and grooms hold hands while they start their next chapter in life – together, with all the potential for love and greatness. Being in the midst of this potential is what I love about celebrating weddings.