Why I Became a Wedding Officiant

It all began one afternoon when my friends called to tell me they were getting married. We all knew it coming as they were engaged several months before but they had not set a date given she was here on a work Visa and the legalities needed to considered.

When I asked when and where, they told me that they had to be married within the week, so they were going to try and get in with the Justice Of The Peace. Her work Visa had not been renewed and they were facing at least two years apart if she went back home. This was not acceptable to me. These were not two people that were getting married so she could get a green card; she was looking to get a green card because she was in love with this man and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. I had to do something.

I wondered how hard it would be to get myself ordained as a wedding officiant and decided to find out by checking various websites on the internet. After a few minutes of research, I discovered it wasn't hard at all; all I needed to do is fill out a short email form and send the request. Before the next morning, I had an email stating I was an ordained minister and I could perform the same ceremonies that all ministers offered. I chuckled to myself; this was no longer a mail order ordination but an email ordination.

I had no interest in performing things such as baptism, my only concern was to become a wedding officiant and make sure that my friend did not travel half way across the world to get married in a courthouse.

I called my friends and told them that I could perform their ceremony and recommended they call their attorney and make sure all would be legal, they were a little shocked that I had pulled it off that fast.

Within a few hours, we had the all clear from the attorney and trying to put together a wedding in less than a week. I was suddenly stressing it all. I was a wedding officiant with no experience in performing weddings. Again, I went online, looked up various ceremonies and along with the input of my friends settled on a very casual but personal ceremony.

The wedding went off without a hitch, my friends are still married almost ten years later and I have officiated many weddings since. I have memories of most of the weddings that I have performed but none will ever have the same pleasure as that first one, when I was able to give my friends a lovely wedding that reflected their love for one another instead of the stark legalities that had forced them into moving their date forward.

Many places online will give you a certificate of ordination in a short time, but be sure that you can perform the ceremonies without extra paperwork in your locality. Your county clerk's office can tell you what you need. If you have any interest in becoming a wedding officiant, I highly recommend giving it a shot. You will be glad you did.

I love being a wedding officiant as I am able to be a crucial part of the most important in a couple's life. There is nothing more gratifying than being a part of someone's dreams. I have been blessed to be a part of the beginning of so many lives.