How to Get a Priest for a Beach Wedding

Never leave finding the officiant for wedding ceremonies until the last minute.

The difference between a minister, priest and pastor are frequently misunderstood. A priest is an ordained minister of the Catholic, Orthodox or Anglican churches, who is sanctioned by their order to perform sacraments and rites. Not all priests are sanctioned by their order to perform such rites outdoors and finding a priest who has such permissions can take some time and careful searching.

Instructions

1. Contact your local parish. The parish may be able to direct you to priests in the area who have received the proper clearance to perform weddings outdoors .

2. Visit online directories of priests if your local parish has no priests available or if looking for a priest in another parish.

3. Consider going to the another diocese for assistance locating a priest if none has been located using your parish.

4. Schedule a meeting with the priest once you locate one willing and able to officiate your ceremony. Use this meeting to verify that the priest is comfortable performing a ceremony outdoors and is a good fit for your wedding.

Tips & Warnings

• Some Catholic dioceses will refuse to acknowledge a marriage performed outdoors or will not allow the priests in that diocese to perform such services. In these cases.

References

• Wedding Ministers; Officiant Shopper
• Rent-A-Priest
• The Diocese of Rockville Center; Arranging Your Marriage in the Catholic Church