(Photo by Sweet Mondays Photography)
A recent GROOM’S ADVICE entry got me thinking and responding to yet another discussion about whether a couple should hire a pro or a friend as an officiant. So, i posted this:
A PRO has the benefit of (hopefully) having:
1) Experience- He/she remains calm and collected in case anything unexpected happens. A pro most likely has been in all sorts of circumstances, from having car races in the background or the Goodyear blimp flying overhead…and will know what or what not to do.
2) Knowledge- He/she will know the legal ins and outs of the marriage license and associated paperwork.
3) Training- He/she will have learned how to craft the ceremony and possess public speaking skills so he/she won’t have to rely on having a few drinks to calm nerves…!
BTW i find it refreshing that saving $$$ was not mentioned in the article. In the end, a few hundred dollars paid to a professional is not a tremendous cost, considering the headache you can avoid by having your marriage recorded properly…not to mention starting off the celebration with a meaningful, well-performed CEREMONY!!!