It’s hard to believe that I have been officiating wedding ceremonies for over 12 years. Yeah, I’m getting a little old (just hit the big 4-0 this year). What started off as a simple passion project for me has taken off beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I’ve met some of the most incredible couples along the way (some of whom have remained lifelong friends), heard some of the most incredible love stories (you just can’t make it up) and have been grateful for every moment of it. Every day is a big day with a demanding “Day Job”, being a devoted husband and proud dad to a toddler who keeps me on my toes. Despite the busyness, I’m happy to continue the journey of helping couples prepare for their one big day.
After officiating my 400th wedding ceremony in Spring 2024, I thought to myself “Hey, I think I actually know a thing or two about weddings and ceremonies.” I’ve been reflecting on some helpful things that I’ve observed and learned throughout the years around what makes a wedding ceremony so good. If I can look back through my mental highlight reel of some of my favorite ones, here’s what I’d say can really help make a ceremony (and wedding day) great. I’ve never been a part of a bad ceremony, but looking back, there are surely some things that can possibly take away from the moment and enjoyment of a couples’ wedding day. It’s your wedding day. You planned it. You only do this once and you want to make sure you’re getting everything out of your wedding day that you hoped for. With that being said, here are a three helpful things couples should consider when thinking about and planning their wedding ceremony.
Hire a GOOD day-of coordinator!
Every couple is different. So is every ceremony and wedding day. The one thing that every good wedding day has in common though is a coordinator. I’ve seen so many couples do it themselves or “sorta hand it off” to a friend or family member. And by the time it comes to their ceremony, they’re just stressed and want to get on with it. No matter the size of the gathering or scope of the venue, make getting a good day-of coordinator your first move. You will thank yourself for it when you look back on your wedding day with nothing but positive memories and no stress.
Make the mutual investment of planning your ceremony as a team!
We’re all busy enough. Planning a wedding is a lot of work. And, most of the time, thinking about and planning for the ceremony is one of the last things couples do. If I had a nickel for every time a couple reached out less than a month before their ceremony needing an officiant, I’d have a lot of nickels (and less mileage on the car). When couples equally take the time to meet with an officiant and discuss what kind of ceremony they want, it definitely makes a difference come the wedding day. I can remember ceremonies where it didn’t seem that bride and groom were equally connected to enjoying the moment. I would think back to our initial meetings, the level of engagement in discussing the ceremony and planning it together. What you put into the ceremony as a team will really determine how much you get out of it. Talk to each other about what you want in a ceremony. Make your lists of what you want and what you don’t. Give yourself time to find the right officiant who can capture exactly what you want for your ceremony. You’ll look back fondly on your wedding day and thank yourself that you did it as a team.
Relax & just enjoy the moment!
If you’ve got a great day-of coordinator and feel confident about the ceremony that you’ve planned with your officiant, that’s all you need. Between your officiant, the coordinator and the team surrounding to make your ceremony (and day) special, you’re totally covered. After all the planning and waiting, couples who have invested so much into their wedding day sometimes get to their ceremony and the nerves simply follow them. It can be an emotionally packed moment that you’ve worked so hard to enjoy. There will always be unforeseen hiccups in a wedding day but with the right team in place, the good news is that you are not responsible for it. If you have a great team that you trust handling your celebration, you can simply give yourself permission to take a deep breath, relax, take it all in and enjoy this one very special moment as you start the rest of your lives together.
Best Day Ever Officiant 