Do you need a wedding ceremony script composition for your friend or relative to recite at your wedding? Numerous couples today decide to “DIY It,” and have a close friend or relative officiate their wedding. Some will get deputized for the day by the County Clerk, while others opt for online ordination. That is actually how I originally got into this profession. I started by officiating my niece’s wedding and loved it so much I decided to do more. Now that I have hundreds of weddings behind me, when I look back, I wish I could go back and have a “do-over” for my niece’s wedding.
![A photo of a Bride reciting her vows during the ceremony at Vista Ranch and Cellars Merced CA](https://jj45ba.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Wedding_10-2015_Vista-Ranch-5-1024x683.jpg)
Photo by Anthony Corbin
If you have decided that you want someone that you love and trust to conduct your ceremony, but would appreciate some professional assistance as well, I can help. Your close friend or relative may love you very much, but not have any idea on how to officiate a wedding. I have been both a relative and a professional, so I have a unique perspective. I will meet with you to help you to craft your wedding ceremony script for your loved one to recite. I will speak to them and offer some guidance about delivering the speech. I will also consult with them about the ins and outs of filing the essential legal paperwork.
![A photo of The officiant with the couple standing under a cedar tree after the wedding](https://jj45ba.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Wedding_08-2018_Lassen-Meadows-Ranch-officiant-with-couple-683x1024.jpg)
Photo by Brandon Scott brandonscottphoto.co
Here are some of the pros and cons of that big decision.
Reasons to choose a Friend or Relative.
- They know you well and care about you very much.
- They probably won’t charge you a fee.
- It makes the ceremony more personal.
Reasons to choose a Professional Officiant.
- They won’t go “off script” and say something embarrassing.
- They know how to work with the other professionals on your team. (Photographers, Videographers, Coordinators and Deejays, etc.)
- They know how to complete the crucial legal paperwork and will make sure that it gets submitted correctly and on time.
- By hiring a professional, you ensure that the intended friend or family member will be able to relax and enjoy the event and not have to feel like they are “working.”
- There is a very high rate of friend/relative officiants getting “cold feet” and backing out at the last minute. (Trust me, I get those calls all the time.)
- There could be some embarrassment over having to tell your friend/relative that you don’t like the ceremony script that they composed. With a professional, there is no awkwardness.
- They are experienced and know what to expect. (If you needed heart surgery, would you choose someone who cares about you or someone who has done it a hundred times.)
- Some states make it very difficult to have a friend/relative officiate legally.
![A photo of the Officiant with the couple on the second floor balcony in San Francisco City Hall](https://jj45ba.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Wedding_09-2019_San-Francisco-City-Hall-15-684x1024.jpg)
Photo by Scott and Dana Halvorson weddingsbyscottanddana.com
Here is a short article in the NY Times about