I get it. I really do. You think it will be more personal, more meaningful if your favorite uncle/cousin/sister/college friend steps in to legally marry you and your person.
It might work out ok, but it might not. As a wedding professional, I've seen some things.
It's true that most anyone can become ordained and licensed to officiate weddings, but just because they can, doesn't mean they should.
You remember this, right?
"We are gathered here on the joyous occasion to celebrate the special love that Monica and Chandler share. It is a love based on giving and receiving, as well as having and sharing, and the love that they give and have, is shared and received, and through this having and giving, and sharing and receiving, we too can share and love and have and receive." ~Joey Tribbiani
Not everyone will know the order of events of a ceremony, how to write a love story, how to
include just a bit of tasteful humor, how to run a rehearsal, or most importantly, how to
properly fill out and file your paperwork.
I've seen weddings that looked more like a stand-up comedy routine than a wedding ceremony, someone whose hands were shaking so badly that they dropped the wedding rings, someone who never told the guests to sit down after standing for the bride...the list goes on and on.
If you're still not convinced to hire a professional, I have an option for you. I offer a ceremony writing service. I meet with the couple, just as I would if I were officiating myself. This includes an obnoxioulsy long questionnaire we fill out together which helps me to get all the details I need to write a custom ceremony. Once completed, I email the script to you, so your favorite person (who is ordained and licensed) can read it and it looks like they know what they're doing! I can even include information on conducting a rehearsal and filing paperwork.
You can have the best of both worlds - your favorite person officiating, AND a ceremony that doesn't suck.
I'll be there for you.
