How to Officiate a Wedding Ceremony
While the reception is the most difficult part of a wedding to plan, the wedding ceremony is actually the most important. An officiant must conduct the ceremony and marry the couple. This must be a person the bride and groom get along with, and who will see eye-to-eye with them on the details of the ceremony. Often, the couple to be married will ask a close friend or relative to officiate their wedding. This is a distinct honor and requires planning.
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Instructions
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Become ordained, if you aren't already. You can get ordained on the web at sites similar to The Monastery.com. You shouldn't be charged a large amount of money -- most sites are either free, or charge only a small fee.
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Talk with the couple about their expectations. They will have definite preferences for how the ceremony should go, and you need to hear and understand these views to know what's expected of you. They may have specific religious preferences, or want a portion of the ceremony worded in a certain way.
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Consult somebody who has experience being an officiant at weddings. You may even want to speak with a minister who has conducted many weddings. He may be able to provide helpful tips and pointers to help you in your role.
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Wear appropriate clothing on the wedding day. The couple may ask you to wear something specific, or you may be able to choose your own clothing. Either way, you should look dressed-up and pulled together. Formal affairs call for a suit and tie, or even a tuxedo, if it's a black-tie event. You can dress in slacks and a button-down shirt, if the wedding is more casual.
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Speak loudly and clearly. You may be speaking into a microphone, but that doesn't mean that everyone will be able to hear you, especially if you're outside. Enunciate and speak slowly -- slower than you think sounds normal.
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