What is a wedding officiant - and why do you need one anyways?
- Kiki Stephens
- Nov 17
- 3 min read
I’ll bet if I asked the average person what an Officiant is most people would respond with “What’s that?” I know this because I often tell people I’m an Officiant and the response is usually — “What’s that?” Now, if I ask a couple getting married, their answer would be slightly more nuanced because they’re actually in the trenches, looking these things up. But I don’t think even they fully understand, since couples are often surprised by how much detail I go into when we talk about their wedding.
“I often tell people I’m an Officiant and the response is usually — ‘What’s that?’”
So have you ever wondered what the person standing up there between the couple actually does? I mean, they just show up and talk…right? Anybody can do that. Well, I’m going to let you in on a little industry secret — it’s very hush hush — that is NOT all a good Officiant does. And the great ones do even more! So let’s pull back the curtain, build your expectations — and your standards — and get you clued in on what to expect.
the basics
To start with, an Officiant is someone who leads a religious or secular ceremony. So basically this can be anyone who has been authorized to perform your marriage ceremony. (The barriers to entry are pretty much zero. Which is why so many couples have friends and family officiating, but I digress.) An Officiant also guides the ceremony, sets the tone for your I do’s, and attends to legal requirements.
“An Officiant is someone who leads a religious or secular ceremony.”
Examples of religious Officiants are members of the clergy, priests, preachers, ministers, chaplains, etc. Secular Officiants come from a plethora of backgrounds: judges, justices of the peace, and other government officials.
Online Ordinations
What you’ll note that’s missing is the online ordination. All online ordinations are technically under the umbrella of a religious organization, including Universal Life Church, American Marriage Ministries, The Church of Spiritual Humanism, etc. (I’ve actually been ordained by all of those, by the way.)
The rise of the celebrant
There is another type of Officiant that is gaining in popularity around the world: the Celebrant. These are people who have taken very specific training to further themselves in the nature and symbolism of all types of ceremony. I recently graduated as a Certified Master Celebrant from the Celebrant Academy here in the United States.
Think of it this way: all Celebrants are squares: all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. True story. In other words, all Celebrants are Officiants, but not all Officiants are Celebrants.
“All Celebrants are Officiants, but not all Officiants are Celebrants.”
Some people use the title ‘Celebrant’ without formal training—often because they assume it’s just another word for Officiant. But professional Celebrancy involves specific training and a distinct approach to ceremony writing and delivery.
Good vs. Great
Ok. Now that we have the who out of the way, next we come to the what — what exactly does an Officiant do? Well, a good Officiant will ask you some questions, work with you and your vendors to make sure the day moves according to plan, perform the ceremony, and then file your paperwork for you.
A great Officiant will dig deep into your story, ask thoughtful and specific questions, and learn what sets you apart. They'll communicate and coordinate with you and your vendors professionally. They’ll craft a bespoke ceremony that has your guests laughing, crying, and saying it was the most amazing ceremony ever, and asking how long you’ve been friends with your Officiant. That’s when you know the magic happened.
A great Officiant will make your guests laugh, cry, and wonder how long you’ve been friends.
Why You Need a Professional Wedding Officiant
So why do you need — nay, deserve — a Professional Wedding Officiant (with a capital P)? Simply put, without an Officiant, you’re just throwing a party, because you’re not getting married without one. People put hours into deciding which hors d’oeuvres to serve, which flowers to use, etc. Shouldn’t you put as much effort into picking the person who is going to solemnize the most important part of the day — one of the most important parts of your life? And if you’re putting that kind of effort into finding an Officiant, shouldn’t you make sure you’re getting a great one - the kind of professional who can turn your ceremony into the highlight of your day?
“Without an Officiant, you’re just throwing a party.”
Anyone can stand up front.
Not everyone can make it magic.