How to Find a Wedding Minister
On average, American couples spend more than $20,000 on a wedding. Included in that budget is at least a few hundred dollars spent on a minister or officiant for the ceremony. You should begin searching for your minister at least six months before the ceremony, if possible.
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Instructions
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Create a list of values that are important to you when selecting a minister. If you have a budget in mind, write it down. You should also consider the religious denomination of the minister, personal characteristics you are seeking and the minister's flexibility and ability to work with others in the ceremony.
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Speak with family members and friends. The people around you may have experience with certain ministers in the area, or they may know somebody else who does. Ask questions about ministers, and see if the values of your family members and friends agree with your own. Ask what others valued about certain ministers. If possible, ask to see recordings of their weddings.
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Search for churches and ministers in the area where the wedding will be held. Visit a website such as For Ministry and enter information about your location and denomination. In the search results, you should see several listings in that given area. Visit the websites of the churches you find and evaluate them.
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Call churches and ask to speak to the minister. Inform the minister of the details of your wedding, and mention the circumstances of your life. Some ministers may refuse to marry couples who are living together or are divorced.
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Ask the minister if it would be possible for you to speak with former clients of his. If so, speak to at least a few different clients to get an idea of what the minister is like.
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Meet the minister in person to see how she presents herself. Ask to review video of ceremonies in which has she officiated. Share your desires for the ceremony with her. If she tries to push her ideas on you or doesn't seem open to yours, she may not be the minister you want. Once you decide on a minister, confirm the details of the ceremony with her.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit wedding celebration image by Warren Millar from Fotolia.com
