An officiant can include a priest, minister, pastor, justice of the peace, rabbi, or any person legally allowed to marry you. For a religious ceremony, you will need to select someone who can guide and advise you on your ceremony. Many faiths have specific rituals which need to be honored when holding a wedding. Your officiant will be to perform and lead those rituals which hold special meaning for you and your family. You should make this selection as a couple. Both of you need to have confidence the officiant can direct the wedding, handle any diversions and support you two as you move toward married life.
Don't be surprised if a religious wedding officiant has requirements for you two before they will agree to perform your ceremony. Religious officiants take their spiritual leadership very seriously and their duties toward leading their congregations are paramount. Most priests, ministers, rabbis and pastors will want you to be a member of their congregation before they will perform a ceremony. Expect to spend some time allowing the officiant a chance to get to know you and offering some pre-wedding counseling. Many churches require engaged couples to attend classes which give instruction on adjusting to married life and the churches expectations of the new couple.
A justice of the peace will not have as many obligations as a priest or rabbi, but you will be responsible for more of the ceremony planning. The Missouri Marriage License Law website is an excellent site for the legal requirements for a Missouri wedding. JOPs are not required to marry you anywhere but in the court house. Some will travel to your location if travel expenses are offered. Make an appointment with a JOP and explain your plans. Treat this person with respect and be mindful of the commitment you are asking from them. You are not the only couple to get married in your county and a JOP can hardly afford the financial burden of spending every weekend traveling to the far-flung corners of Missouri to marry couples. Judges can also marry couples, although this is not an established part of their job. If a family member has a judicial tie, they can ask for you, but don't expect to walk into the courthouse and line up a judge. The romantic idea of being married at sea or on the river by the captain is a good one, but beware of a few hitches. Only certain cruise ships can offer this service. Where the ship itself is registered impacts who can conduct sea ceremonies and who cannot. Checking with the cruise line will give you all the answers you need.
When searching for a wedding officiant, the first step is to agree as a couple on what type of leadership you need. Once you are clear on your desires, meet with potential candidates and discuss your plans. Look for suggestions from the ceremony site, your wedding planner, other brides and your religious institutions. Because this is such a personal decision, it is best to start this search somewhat early in the planning process.
Regardless of whether you are planning a religious or secular ceremony, the wedding officiant plays a vital role. Spending some time now searching for an officiant with the a supportive blend of personality, experience, and leadership will have big pay offs when you two are facing each other and speaking your vows.