Prairie Hive

How to Ask Someone to Officiate Your Wedding

If you’re looking for someone to officiate your wedding, you may be wondering how to ask someone to do that. It’s actually a pretty easy process, and there are a few things you can do to make it as easy as possible for the person you’re asking.

How to Ask Someone to Officiate Your Wedding


The first thing you’ll want to do is find out if the person you’re thinking of asking is even available on the date you need them. You can do this by either contacting them directly or checking their website.

Once you’ve confirmed that they are available, the next step is to reach out and ask them. You can do this in a variety of ways, but a simple email or letter will usually do the trick. Be sure to include all of the pertinent information, like the date, time, and location of the ceremony.

Reasons to Ask Someone to Officiate Your Wedding

When you are planning your wedding, one of the many decisions you have to make is who will officiate your ceremony. While many couples choose a friend or family member, others opt for a professional. Here are four reasons why you might want to ask someone to officiate your wedding.

  1. They have experience officiating weddings.
  2. They have a deep understanding of marriage and what it means.
  3. They can help create a ceremony that is personal and meaningful to you both.
  4. They can help keep the ceremony on track and running smoothly.

The Role of The Officiant in A Wedding Ceremony

When planning a wedding, one of the first decisions that must be made is who will officiate the ceremony. While many couples opt for a friend or family member to perform the service, there are also many professional officiants available. The role of the officiant is an important one, and it is important to choose someone who will fit well with your wedding style and personality.

The officiant’s job is to lead the wedding ceremony and ensure that everything goes smoothly. They must be able to keep things on track, while also remaining flexible enough to accommodate any last minute changes. They should also be able to personalize the ceremony to reflect the couple’s relationship and beliefs.

It is important to discuss your expectations for the officiant with them before asking them. Will they need to provide a script, or are they happy to work with you to create something custom?

Use Your Symbol of Friendship

Giving your chosen wedding officiant a small token to remind them of the important role they have in your life is one of the best and most memorable ways to ask someone to officiate your special day.

Some of the best gift or token ideas include a box of their favorite chocolate, treats, or cigars; a bottle of their favorite wine; a handwritten letter or card that chronicles how your friendship grew over time; a framed photograph of your favorite vacation or holiday spent together; or even a simple brunch date.

Do It on the Last Minute

If you still haven’t found the right person to officiate your wedding, why not ask them a few moments just before you tie the knot?

Now, you might think that this is a joke, and hopefully, it wouldn’t happen in your case, and it should never be your first plan either. However, there is still a big possibility that the person who was supposed to officiate your wedding wasn’t able to do the job for whatever reason.

Remember that wedding day mishaps can happen, and minor disasters will occur, from traffic jams to flat tires and a sudden onset of illness. All of these can make your designated wedding officiant miss your big day.

When these unexpected things happen, you can ask a family member or a friend to serve as a backup officiant moments before the wedding ceremony. This way, you can be sure that will be someone available even on short notice to share a few words and serve as the signatory for your marriage license.

But if no family member or friend is available for the job, be ready to ask a guest to perform your wedding ceremony even at the last minute to solemnize your marriage.

Prepare a Proposal for Your Wedding Officiant

This is probably one of the best and most unique ways to ask someone to officiate your wedding is to propose to them.

If you want to make your proposal more exciting, you can prepare a “Will You Marry Us? Gift Box” which contains all the things that can help set the mood. This is also the time for you to prepare the stuff that your chosen officiant will need to legally perform your special day.

This gift box can be a stunning custom printed box with a greeting card, a guidebook that includes steps on how to prepare and deliver the ceremony, and some personal tokens.

person writing on white paper

Why Do Most Couples Ask Family Members or Friends to Officiate Their Wedding?

Although the position of being a wedding officiant has long been considered formal, more and more couples today opt to have a family member or friend oversee the exchange of vows during their wedding ceremony.

One big advantage is associated with this choice and that is the fact that a person who knows both of you well will be able to speak with more confidence and authenticity about what makes the relationship truly meaningful.

When you choose someone who doesn’t feel awkward talking in front of your wedding guests and someone who fits and understands the theme of your ceremony, you can have peace of mind knowing that your celebration will feel more meaningful and personal. You can also come up with your own vows to make the moment more unique and special.

While many skilled people can serve as your wedding officiant, there is also nothing wrong to feel that the role of overseeing your ceremony should be given to a person who is personally close to you and your partner. And aside from entrusting this crucial position to someone that you feel more connected to, you can also use this chance to honor the person and his or her important role in your relationship.

Are Personal Officiants Allowed for Formal Wedding Ceremonies?

If you are planning to have a more formal wedding ceremony, you might assume that you can only stick to more conservative options for your big day. You might even think that you should find a formal officiant so you can keep up with your theme.

However, the good news is that someone you know personally can be a great fit for your wedding ceremony even if you want to host a formal event. But you have to make sure that you share your specific plans for your wedding. Through this, your chosen wedding officiant will be able to prepare the right words suitable for the occasion and its theme.

Help Your Chosen Officiant Get Ordained

Once you have found the person to officiate your wedding and they said yes to overseeing the ceremony, your next step is to assist them to get ordained for them to legally become an officiant. The good news is that this process is quite easy and straightforward. Always refer to your area’s local wedding laws to prepare the necessary documentation required for the process.

Pop that important question soon and find your wedding officiant right away!