How to Hire a Wedding Reverend

"Reverend" is an honorary prefix used to indicate a person recognized as a spiritual leader in a Christian church. It is often used interchangeably with the terms minister, preacher, cleric and parson. Many Christian church affiliations embrace the use of "Reverend." Each organization has its own set of requirements that must be met in order to be recognized as a reverend with the authority to perform a wedding ceremony.

Instructions

1. Hire a reverend who is affiliated with a recognized religion. In order to be certain that the ceremony is legal and binding, the officiant must meet the guidelines established by the state in which the ceremony will take place.

2. Check out the experience of anyone claiming to be a reverend before you hire a wedding officiant. The requirements for the privilege of the title are considerably different among various denominations. No experience is required for some, while other religious affiliations require post-graduate studies.

3. Ask your pastor or minister to perform the wedding ceremony. If you don't have any contact with a reverend, check with your friends or family members for recommendations.

4. Interview several ministers before you decide on the right one, if you don't regularly attend a specific church or synagogue. In some religious organizations, anything goes as far as the bride and groom are concerned. Other organizations require their reverends to follow very strict rituals and guidelines for the marriage ceremony.

5. Ask questions that are important to you before you hire a reverend to perform your wedding ceremony. Identify specifics that you want to control, such as writing your own vows, choosing your own songs and musicians or any other part of the ceremony. Consider hiring a minister who agrees with your idea of the perfect wedding ceremony.

6. Check with your travel agent or the local government website for wedding requirements if you plan to marry outside the United States. Some countries allow only certain religious affiliations to perform wedding ceremonies.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan to answer specific questions before you hire a reverend to perform your wedding. Some clergy are not allowed to perform a marriage ceremony if either of the parties have been previously divorced. Interfaith and mixed culture marriages may require special action by the church before a ceremony is allowed.

• If you use a "mail order" reverend, check with your county clerk to determine if a marriage ceremony performed by him will be accepted by the state as legal.