How do I know if a Wedding Officiant supports Marriage Equality?
You have decided to get married! Planning a wedding is such an exciting time, but it can also be very stressful. Where will you get married? Who will you invite? What will you and your partner wear? Who will marry you? How will you find vendors that support marriage equality?
The most important part of your wedding day is the ceremony. It should be heartfelt and fun while highlighting the meaningful promises you make to each other. Your wedding officiant has a key role in your ceremony so you should look for someone who feels it is an honor and a privilege to share this special moment. These are your memories, make them count.
Tips for choosing your officiant (or any other wedding vendor):
- Decide what type of ceremony the two of you want such as a religious or non-religious service. Do you want a simple ceremony or would you like a customized service that reflects your love story? Do you want ceremony rituals to symbolize your union such as a unity candle or sand ceremony?
- Search for officiants online using wedding websites such as Wedding Wire, Gay Weddings.com, LGBTweddings.com. Read the reviews! Reviews are the best gauge of how other couples felt about the officiant. Just remember, some people do not like to write and may leave a one line review even if they thought the officiant was fantastic. Search for reviews that show the officiant’s personality and depth of caring, not just that he/she showed up on time.
- Once you have your list, visit their websites. Is the website welcoming to all couples or does it repeatedly refer to the bride and groom? Look at the pictures and the affiliations. Does the officiant support marriage equality or just indicate he/she does gay weddings.
- When you have narrowed it down to two or three officiants, contact them. An email request is ok to see if your date is available but I like when the couples call me. I can put them at ease and immediately answer any questions they have. Make certain, to be honest right away. Some couples tell me up front that this is a gay or lesbian wedding while most let me know subtly by mentioning their partner’s name or referring to his or her gender.
- By now, you should have a good feel for which officiant you want to perform your ceremony. Officiants typically have a network of wedding professionals they can refer you to. Don’t be afraid to ask if the other vendors support marriage equality. I have met with each vendor that I refer and have had a discussion about marriage equality. Your vendors should not be a point of stress for you.
Choosing an officiant for your wedding is a big decision. You will remember this day for the rest of your lives. Do your research, a caring, experienced, and professional officiant is worth his/her price.