Officiant: The Most Underused Vendor at Your Wedding
For me your officiant is the underrated and underused vendor.
Cos alot of people think their job is just to read the script and say the legal stuff.
And yeah, technically that’s true… but if you actually use them well, your officiant can basically run your ceremony for you.
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So lemme walk you through few things they can help you with.
1. They’re your Ceremony Guide
Not everybody who will be at your wedding has been to a wedding before.
So some of guest literally won’t know when to stand, when to sit, or what’s supposed to happen next.
So they just… guess.
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But your officiant can completely fix that.
They can talk your guests through the whole ceremony in a calm, confident way - like:
“Everyone, please rise for the bride.”
“You may be seated.”
Simple stuffs like that.
...but it can save guests from standing awkwardly for ten minutes straight while the music plays because they didn’t know if they should sit yet.
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Also,
...they can also handle all the important little transitions that are needed to make your ceremony feel smooth.
Like for example, if there’s a reading, they can introduce it so guests aren’t confused.
If you’re doing a unity candle or sand ritual, they can explain what’s happening so people actually get it
...instead of wondering what the jars of sand are for.
So basically yeah - your officiant can help make your ceremony feel intentional and like you're carrying your guests along.
2.) They can Save Your Ceremony photos
Let’s talk about phones.
We all love a good guest shot ...but if we're being honest.
Someone standing in the aisle with their phone out, trying to record your vows can ruin the ceremony photo you’ve been dreaming of.
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This is where your officiant becomes your superhero.
A Quick announcement at the start like:
“Before we begin, the couple kindly asks that you keep your phones away so their photographer can capture this moment beautifully.”
Boom.
Problem is solved.
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Or if you want something more considerate and that actually works.
You can do something like a "photo moment"
If you don't know what it means
Basically yeah ...before the ceremony starts, your officiant can say,
“Alright, everyone take out your phones, get your shots and once you’ve got them, tuck them away for the rest of the ceremony so we can all be present.”
It’s simple, sweet, and people actually listen because they feel included.
You'll get your unplugged ceremony and your guests get their momen
Win-win.
3. They help your timeline stay on track
This one’s underrated.
You know how ceremonies sometimes end and suddenly everyone’s just …standing there?
Like, “What do we do now?”
That’s what your officiant can fix in two sentences.
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At the end, they can just say something like:
“After the ceremony, the couple will be taking family photos here at the altar. Everyone else can head over to the patio for cocktail hour...”
That one sentence tells everyone exactly where to go and stops your entire wedding from turning into a traffic jam.
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And also
...It'll also help keep your photographer happy!
Because now they’re not chasing your family members who wandered off to grab drinks before photos.
4.) They’re great for transitions too
Your officiant is basically the voice that connects every moment ...the vows, the rings, the kiss, the recessional.
If and it's a big if
They handle those transitions well, your ceremony will feel ...seamless.
If they don’t …well, you end up with those weird pauses where nobody knows if it’s time to clap yet.
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So talk to your officiant about what kind of tone you want.
Like, do you want it to feel light and funny?
Quiet and emotional?
They can adjust how they speak and pace things so the ceremony feels exactly like you.
5.) Make your Guests feel Comfortable
You might not realize how much this matters, but your officiant’s voice is the very first thing your guests hear.
They set the entire tone of your ceremony.
If they’re warm, calm, and clear
Your guests automatically relax.
They laugh when they’re supposed to, they know what’s happening ...and everything just flows.
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So if you haven’t yet - discuss with your officiant before the wedding.
Tell them what kind of vibe you want, how formal or casual you’d like it to feel and what parts matter most to you.
6.) They take pressure off you completely
When your ceremony starts, your officiant becomes your lowkey coordinator
(even if you have one).
Cue-ing your walk, teling people what’s next, and filling any awkward silences if something runs late.
You won’t even notice it in the moment, but you’ll feel how calm everything feels ...and that’s only because your officiant is quietly running the show for you.
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So yeah...don’t sleep on your officiant.
When you actually use them - use them fully
Not just to say the script.
And it's a Wrap...
So brideys ...that's all for now.
If you've have any questions or thoughts...feel free to email me (plannarly@gmail.com).
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And i'll see you guys in my next post.
Byeeee💗