Having a friend or family member officiate your wedding?
That's great! But likely they aren't a pro who does this all the time.
So we have compiled some helpful tips that will make your ceremony go smoother and look better in photos!
That's great! But likely they aren't a pro who does this all the time.
So we have compiled some helpful tips that will make your ceremony go smoother and look better in photos!
Stand up, Sit Down.
At the very end of the processional, when one partner walks down the aisle to meet the other, all of the guests will rise to their feet for the entrance. Make sure your officiant asks the guests to be seated once the processional is complete. People in groups often don't know what to do unless they are told by someone who is in charge. |
Hold Hands!!!!!(!!!)!!!
This is less of an officiant thing and more of a thing for you and your coordinator to remember-- HOLD HANDS once the two of you get up to the front of the ceremony! If you are holding a bouquet, hand it off to the first member of your wedding party as soon as you join your partner and officiant at the front. It will look SO much better if you are holding hands for your photos. |
Rings, please!
We all know that wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of rings - it is one of the only traditions that is in 99.9% of the weddings we do. Make sure that your officiant includes a prompt in their script for you to actually place the rings upon one another's fingers. If that gets left out, you may be left standing there still holding your rings after saying your vows. |
Move out the wayyyyyyy!
You do not want the floating head of your officiant behind you as you share your first kiss as newlyweds. So instead, they should add another prompt to their script either saying they will step aside before their pronouncement or just stepping aside and then pronouncing the newly married couple. |
Family Photos
Unless family photos were completed before the ceremony, you should ask your officiant to include a small sentence at the very end of their script, once the wedding party has processed out of the ceremony. Something like, "will the family members who have been asked to be in photos please remain here at the ceremony, while the rest of the guests are excused to cocktail hour. Thank you!" |
