We are thrilled to have our favorite Officiant’s on A Good Affair’s Blog today! As Wedding Planners we always get the most questions from our brides and grooms regarding the person who will marry them. It is funny that the ceremony is the most important part of the wedding, yet it’s often the last thing the couple thinks about. Here at A Good Affair Wedding & Event Production we only refer one company because they are the best and that is Dr. Linda Trott and The Clergy Network! For all the wedding couples out there be sure to read this informative article from Dr. Trott about why a professional is so important!

Guest Blogger: Dr. Linda Trott, The Clergy Network

A Wedding Officiator Is A Bride’s Best Friend Or Her Worst Nightmare!

Selecting a person to preside/officiate your wedding ceremony is not as easy as some might believe! For the bride and groom, a part from the obvious, that of liking the person who may become their Wedding Officiator*, there are important selection tips to be considered. I almost hate to call them “tips”, as their mandatory understanding and application are essential! Making an informed decision during the selection process avoids the “buyers remorse” an uninformed choice facilitates, and that will painfully follow long after the wedding day.

First things first, for a number of reasons, including the economy, people are putting up their “Wedding Officiator Shingle”. Through the Internet, there are those “purchasing” the academically earned titles which are awarded to degreed Officiators. A bride and groom might say, “So, as long as they get me legally married!” This thinking is regrettable and a big mistake for the bride and groom. So, we shall provide a series of reasons, over the next weeks, as to “why” an educated Officiator selection preserves a couple’s sanity and future joyful Wedding Day memories.  If you want the competent, talented, reliable, and compatible Wedding Officiator you deserve, then follow this blog and our “Selecting a Wedding Clergy or Wedding Officiator Series”.

Did You Know Questions

Did you know that a Wedding Officiator should have as much formal education as some types of Medical Doctors? As some types of Psychologists? As Lawyers! As College Professors?

It wasn’t all that long ago that a “Clergy” was as revered in society as any of the aforementioned professionals. To this day, a “real” Officiator is degreed and peer reviewed before even presiding their first marriage ceremony.  I, myself, had one of my two Doctoral degrees before going “solo” on my first marriage ceremony celebration. So, a Wedding Officiator is a true professional, just like a Medical Doctor, Lawyer, Psychologist, or College Professor!

“Valuing” – Starting Tip – Number One

“How much for just a 15 minute ceremony?”

If you don’t already, then start valuing the role of the Wedding Officiator to your wedding day experience! There is a tendency to undervalue the importance of the marriage ceremony while planning the wedding day. When selecting a Marriage Officiator, don’t begin your thinking with “How much is this going to cost me?”…. Or, begin a conversation with an Officiant  “How much do you charge for a 15 minute ceremony?”  These are sure fire questions which reflect a misunderstanding of the value of the Wedding Officiator.

A Bride & Groom Can Start Their Officiator Research With Understanding

Here goes…… the Wedding Officiator should be an expert public speaker, writer, educator, organizer, technician, and more., relative to “all things official” and to “all things marriage ceremony”. If a bride and groom see their Officiator as anything less than this, or expect anything less than this, then they are undervaluing the importance of the role of the Wedding Clergy or Officiator or Minister.  This puts the couple in dangerous waters! With understanding of the Wedding Officiators “job description” and related skills, a bride and groom can make a more informed decision on who is addressing their family and friends on the wedding day.  Remember, the Officiator is given “carte blanche” on a wedding day – As a bride or groom,  don’t give power to just anyone – Value the role of “Officiator”, and your selves by taking time to find out if your prospective Wedding Officiator deserves your respect. Do they respect their profession through investment? Did they put in the time? Did they put in the money to learn? Did they earn the degrees? Is this their full time chosen profession?

About this writer – Dr. Linda Wainwright Trott is a multi-degree Wedding Officiator in Southern California. Dr. Linda of “Ask Dr. Linda” has academically and experientially trained Wedding Officiators in University, and contributed to the National and International advancement of “Wedding Ceremony” wording and related education of the bride, groom and other wedding professionals. The Clergy Network, Dr. Trott’s officiator membership group, writes and presides marriage ceremonies in Southern California and world-wide.

 

Hope you enjoyed all the great information The Clergy Network shared. Be sure to contact them for your upcoming event, our clients have always been thrilled with their services.

 

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