Here comes the bride! There’s nothing more exciting than watching someone walk down the aisle and say their promises to their loved one for the rest of their life.
If you love weddings and can’t get enough of this kind of picture, then perhaps becoming an officiant for weddings is a good career choice. Officiants preside over wedding ceremonies and are the ones who ultimately get to say, “You may now kiss your bride” at the end!
So, ready to learn how to become a officiant for weddings? Keep reading, and in this guide I’ll break it down for you in five simple steps.
Step One: Start With Research
The first step to becoming a wedding officiant is to figure out where you want to get ordained. Marriage laws vary by state, so the exact requirements are going to depend on where you’re planning to start officiating.
On top of that, there are sometimes restrictions for international weddings. Make sure that you’re aware of where you’ll be able to officiate once you get your ordination.
Step Two: Get Ordained
Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time for you to actually get ordained. There are a ton of different ways to get ordained, but the most common include:
- Getting ordained online through the Universal Life Church
- Getting ordained through a religious seminary school
- Getting ordained through a celebrant institute
There’s no right or wrong way to go about your ordination. As long as the certification at the end is recognized, you’re all set!
Note that institutes may have more resources to help you officiate your first wedding. For instance, they can provide tips or supplies that you might need to make the ceremony a success.
However, that’s not a requirement—it’s just something that could make your job easier later down the line!
Step Three: Start Branding Yourself
Once you’ve gotten ordained, the fun is just beginning. Now it’s time to actually set up your business as an officiant and start getting clients.
You may want to register your business as an LLC or other official entity. Or, you may choose to go about your business as a freelancer. Whatever the case, make sure to get the legalities out of the way first.
Then, you can start marketing yourself. Sites like Angie’s List, Thumbtack, and Craigslist can be great ways to put your name out there and start connecting with clients. Alternatively, you can use social media to start building your brand and showcasing your work.
Tips for First-Time Officiants
If it’s your first time officiating a wedding, you might not know exactly what to do or where to start. To help you out, here are a couple of tips to make your first gig a success:
- Always communicate with the couple: Ask the couple about their timetable, what they want you to wear, and what kind of ceremony they want. The more you communicate, the easier it will be for you to deliver a great ceremony.
- Prepare ahead of time: While you might have been able to wing your graduation speech in high school, you don’t want to wing it when you’re officiating. Once you land a gig, give yourself plenty of time to prepare so that you can perform the wedding smoothly and without feeling nervous.
- Don’t forget after ceremony tasks: Once the ceremony is over you may need to sign a marriage certificate or complete other wrap-up activities. Make sure to take the time you need to complete these tasks.
With those tips up your sleeve, you should be well on your way to officiating a great wedding that everyone enjoys!
Get Started as an Officiant for Weddings
Whether you want to become an officiant for your friend’s wedding or for a career move, you now know how. When it comes to learning how to become a officiant for weddings, the key takeaway is that you’ll need to get ordained in some degree.
Luckily, you can easily get ordained online. It won’t take long at all, and you can start officiating weddings from there on out!
With that ordination under your belt, it’s time to get out there and get started as a wedding officiant, and to help young lovers on their quest for romance.
