How to Become a Wedding Officiant (Complete 2022 Guide)

Last Updated: March 20th, 2022 by Noah Shaw

Marriage is one of life’s most important milestones for people of all backgrounds. To help make that possible, wedding officiants must lead the marriage ceremony and make it official.

This career guide will show you how to become a wedding officiant. You’ll discover the requirements to pursue this career path, as well as the crucial steps you’ll have to take.

Visit our Career Guide for a list of all our job insights for an in depth look at the new career path you are considering.

Job Description

As a wedding officiant, your job is to lead your client’s wedding ceremony and make the marriage official. That will include writing the event script to be followed by everyone involved.

You’ll do that by ensuring the couple satisfies all state laws and regulations for marriage and complete all the necessary paperwork to do so.

At the same time, you’ll also ensure that any religious or spiritual requirements for marriage are also fulfilled.

Lastly, your responsibility is to solve any problems that might arise during the event to run smoothly to completion.

What Does an Average Day for a Wedding Officiant Look Like?

Your average day as a wedding officiant can be pretty unpredictable. Some days will go smoothly without any hiccups, while others will require the best of your problem-solving skills.

Before deciding to learn how to become a wedding officiant, here’s what you need to know about your average day on the job.

Meet With Couples and Families

Always remember that the weddings you officiate are about the couple. It’s one of the most memorable days of their lives. So, you’ll spend a portion of your day meeting them and their families.

The purpose of those meetings is to ensure that you understand what the couples expect from their special day. At the same time, you’ll use the meetings to manage their expectations and explain the sequence of events on the wedding day.

Coordinate with Others

As a wedding officiant, you’re the person leading the wedding ceremony. So, in the days leading up to your next wedding, you’ll coordinate things with other wedding vendors and service providers.

There are several reasons why you’ll spend a lot of your day coordinating with other businesses like caterers and florists.

Firstly, your goal is to ensure that everything is where it needs to be and on time. For example, floral arrangements must be completed well before any guests arrive. 

Plus, any food and beverage arrangements must also be fresh and ready for when it’s time to eat.

More importantly, your goal is to minimize the risk of any problems emerging later.

Make Public Announcements

On days when you’re officiating weddings, you’ll also be responsible for making public announcements.

Typically, that means informing guests as the ceremony begins and letting them know what to expect from the day ahead.

Suppose the couple or their families need to announce to the guests. In that case, they’ll inform you to make a public announcement to everyone in the venue as well.

Troubleshoot Problems

No matter how well a wedding is planned, there can always be problems that suddenly occur. As a wedding officiant, you’ll also do a lot of ‘firefighting’ to troubleshoot and resolve those problems as quickly as possible.

Officiate Weddings According to State Requirements

Above all, you’ll devote your average day on the job to ensure that you are officiating weddings according to all state laws and regulations.

When you do your job correctly, you’ll ensure that the wedding follows the rules and is valid in the eyes of the state.

Process for Becoming a Wedding Officiant

The process that you’ll go through to learn how to become a wedding officiant is generally the same. That’s true whether you’re a one-time officiant for a friend or if you wish to turn this into a long-term career.

So, here are the steps you must go through to become a wedding officiant:

1. Plan Ahead, Start Early

First and foremost, you must plan ahead if you’re planning on being a wedding officiant. Going through the process, especially when becoming ordained and registering with the state, will take time.

Plus, there’s always a chance of complications or difficulties along the way that might disrupt your plans.

So, let’s assume you’re already scheduling the first wedding to officiate. In that case, you must ensure there’s plenty of time for you to become a wedding officiant before that day comes.

2. Refer to State Marriage Laws

Every state in the United States has different rules and regulations surrounding weddings. Unfortunately, those rules also apply to wedding officiants performing their duties at those ceremonies.

Some of those laws can make or break your career as a wedding officiant. For example, some parts of Virginia do not allow individuals to officiate weddings unless they are government employees or clergy members.

So, before you embark on this journey to become a wedding officiant, you must develop a strong understanding of the marriage laws and regulations that will affect you.

3. Become Ordained

Next, you must become ordained. Ordination can seem like a very challenging step just to become a wedding officiant. Still, it’s often misunderstood in this context.

You don’t necessarily have to become a clergy member to become ordained. 

Instead, you can choose from a long list of ordination organizations and apply directly to them. Some will even allow you to go through the entire process online!

You can choose from organizations related to your faith and denomination or those that are secular in nature.

Be sure to do your research into the organization you choose. Firstly, it should provide you with support and align with your beliefs.

However, it must also be registered as a 501(c)3 religious organization to be legal.

4. Study Different Marriage Procedures

You must also devote some time to studying different marriage procedures during this process.

There are likely differences in procedures between denominations even within the same religion. 

Some differences might also be cultural, depending on where the bride and groom’s families originate.

The best way to learn about the procedures is through the ordination organization you choose in the previous step. 

A reputable organization will have resources you can rely on, including people willing to mentor and guide you through the process.

5. Register With the State

As you’ve seen repeatedly, each state has different rules for weddings and their officiants. So, you must check to see if your state requires you to register as an officiant before conducting your first wedding.

Some locations might also require you to have a letter of good standing from the organization that you choose to ordain you.

Once you complete ordination and registration, you’re ready to officiate weddings.

Find A Wedding Officiant Job Near You!

Are You Suited for a Wedding Officiant Career? Skills, Credentials, Tools and Technology

There are no formal educational requirements when learning how to become a wedding officiant. However, you must take the time to develop particular skills and proficiencies.

Here are some of the most crucial skills and proficiencies to succeed as a wedding officiant:

Personality and Skills

In your day-to-day work as a wedding officiant, your public speaking, interpersonal, and mentorship skills are the most important.

Firstly, you’ll be leading the wedding ceremony by speaking according to the script you’ve prepared. So, your public speaking skills, like voice projection, is necessary to ensure that the couple and all guests can hear you clearly.

Besides that, our interpersonal skills must also be exceptional. Throughout the rehearsals and wedding, you’ll be interacting with the couple and their family members on what will be a life-changing occasion.

Lastly, your mentorship skills will also be necessary from time to time. For example, most of your clients will be experiencing their first weddings. So, you’ll need to guide them through the process, step by step.

Credentials and Proficiencies

As part of your work, you must also have a firm grasp of state marriage laws and regulations, religious wedding procedures, and overall wedding logistics as part of your work.

Firstly, all states will have unique state marriage laws and regulations that apply to the weddings you officiate. Therefore, to run a successful business, you must always stay current with those laws to ensure that your officiating ceremonies are always compliant.

Next, understanding religious wedding procedures will also be crucial if you’re officiating a religious ceremony. The procedures differ not only by religion but also by denominations within those religions.

In some cases, you might choose to officiate secular or non-religious weddings. Those procedures must also comply with relevant laws and regulations, as well as your client’s desires.

Lastly, you must also be well-versed in wedding logistics. As a wedding officiant, you should have an understanding of the big picture, even in areas that you’re not handling personally.

For example, you must know who to refer to when there’s a problem with any equipment, seating arrangements, or anything else.

Speaking of the big picture, check out our guide to How to Become a Photographer! Capture stunning images for weddings, graduations, family portraits, and more!

How Does a Wedding Officiant Find Work?

Wedding officiants are typically self-employed. So, part of learning how to become a wedding officiant includes learning to market your services independently.

Here are 4 quick ways you can find work as a wedding officiant:

  • Advertising online, particularly on websites related to wedding planning and services
  • Building a website for your business, so future clients can find you through search engines
  • Encouraging your past and current clients to share testimonials of your services at their weddings
  • Advertising through other wedding businesses, including at bridal houses, newsletters, or through local bridal magazines.

Besides that, another crucial work source is networking in the wedding services industry.

The wedding industry in a town or city tends to be tight-knit. That means various wedding vendors and service providers are familiar with one another. Plus, they’ve most likely worked together during previous weddings.

By being an active part of that industry, other wedding businesses will refer clients who need an officiant to you. 

Don’t be afraid to connect with other wedding officiants, as well. It’s common for wedding officiants to pass jobs onto each other, especially when they are fully booked or are unable to cater to the client’s needs.

For example, if you become a religious wedding officiant, you would likely get client referrals from other officiants who can’t conduct religious ceremonies themselves.

Find A Wedding Officiant Job Near You!

What is the Average Pay of a Wedding Officiant?

As you continue discovering how to become a wedding officiant, you’ll find that the average pay on this career path can vary significantly. 

According to surveys done by WeddingWire, wedding officiants can earn an average of $300 for every ceremony that they officiate.

Their data also shows that:

  • Wedding officiants in the lower range earn $100 or less, and
  • Most wedding officiants make anywhere from $200 to $450 per ceremony.

Clients might also pay you a tip for your services in some cases.

Your average pay as a wedding officiant will also depend on where you are in the country. In some areas, officiants have a higher market rate because couples are willing to pay more.

Still, you can expect your average pay to be in the range of a few hundred dollars per ceremony.

How Can You Earn More as a Wedding Officiant?

Aside from your basic fee, you can also increase your earning potential by charging clients:

  • Rehearsal fees, typically by the hour.
  • Transportation fees, typically by the mile.
  • Equipment rental fees, such as microphones and speakers.
  • Wedding planning fees, if your clients want you to handle that as well.
  • Venue rental fees if your clients want you to provide that as well.

When you work as a wedding officiant, you can offer other add-on services based on your personal strengths. These add-ons will not make the event much more special for the couple and their guests but will also increase your overall earning potential.

For example, if you’re an excellent writer, you can choose to offer custom ceremony scripts for your clients to use. 

You could also provide premarital counseling to help couples manage their anxieties or other concerns before the ceremony takes place.

Read More: How to Become a Florist. Still want to be involved in weddings but aren’t sure if becoming a Wedding Officiant is right for you? Florists play a big role in atmosphere of ceremonies. 

Wedding Officiant Job Outlook

The job outlook for wedding officiants is very positive. Millions of couples get married in the United States every year, even during the most challenging times.

For example, The Wedding Report, which gathers data directly from wedding industry members, reports that there were still millions of weddings being planned even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their estimates showed that:

  • 2021 would see 1.93 million weddings.
  • 2022 would see 2.47 million weddings.
  • 2023 would see 2.24 million weddings.

While wedding budgets rise and fall with the times, one thing’s certain: millions of people every year will want to have their weddings.

That’s excellent news for anyone interested in learning how to become a wedding officiant.

4 Types of Wedding Officiants

As a wedding officiant, you can choose to serve your clients in several different ways.

Here are 4 types of wedding officiants that exist in the industry:

Ordained Wedding Officiant

Some couples want a friend or family member to officiate their wedding. In that case, you can choose to become ordained online and act as a one-off wedding officiant for that couple.

Religious Wedding Officiant

Couples that prefer a religious wedding will require a religious wedding officiant. In this role, you can specialize in the customs and traditions of your religion or a specific denomination.

Civil Wedding Officiant

Some government employees are qualified to act as secular wedding officiants. Common examples include notary, city clerk, judge, and many more.

Professional Wedding Officiant

Lastly, some devote their entire careers to being professional wedding officiants. These are often called ‘celebrants’, and they specialize in a wide range of wedding ceremonies, whether secular or based on a particular religion.

Because they work full-time as wedding officiants, they also tend to understand the overall wedding ceremony deeper.

Read More: How to Become a Hairdresser. Play a more creative role in weddings by becoming a hair stylist! You’ll make brides look and feel their best for their big day.

Professional Associations

Typically, you’d learn how to become a wedding officiant through associations that provide the necessary training and ordination.

Here are some of the top professional associations for wedding officiants. You can network, seek mentorship, and receive the training you need for this role.

The American Association of Wedding Officiants (AAWO)

American Marriage Ministries (AMM)

The International Association of Wedding Industry Professionals (IAWIP)

The International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO)

The American Humanist Association

Top Colleges and Universities

There are no formal education requirements for learning how to become a wedding officiant. However, some career wedding officiants choose to pursue a degree in Public Administration. They do that to support their broader aim of serving their community.

Some of the top colleges and universities for public administration include:

About Noah Shaw

An editor & writer on staff at LandYourLife, Noah is a career research enthusiast passionate about helping others find & work towards their ideal vocation.