If you already belong to a religious or other organization that has a resident officiant, your choice is probably clear. However, more and more couples are interviewing different celebrants, marrying in combined faiths or planning a wedding far from home. A scenic Vermont wedding calls for a very special officiant; choose with care and with an eye toward your and your groom's personal style.
Choosing an Officiant: The Basics
Vermont is a popular place for weddings, making many officiants' schedules busy. Start early in looking for the right priest, minister, rabbi or justice of the peace.With so many options, where do you begin? If you live in Vermont or have relatives or friends near your wedding locale, start asking for recommendations. Personal accounts can be invaluable to you at this time. You can ask your religious leader or a leader of a group that is important to you for out-of-state recommendations. The internet is another valuable resource; look up Vermont organizations in your favorite search engine or try such sites as Wedding Ministers and Vermont Weddings (look under "Wedding Officials").
Those seeking to marry in a large church or synagogue should ask about availability one year in advance, if possible. Some religious organizations require that the bride and/or groom belong to the affiliation; others are more flexible. Ask before setting your heart on a specific location. Couples planning a celebration away from their church or synagogue (such as an outdoor garden wedding or a wedding in a cozy Vermont ski chalet) should ask whether the officiant is able to travel and whether he or she has the date available. This goes for those asking the participation of a priestess or other religious leader as well. If you're planning on retaining a justice of the peace, call the Vermont town or county offices in your area of choice to find out who is available, and when.
Questions to Ask
Now that you have your choices narrowed down, it's time to start interviewing officiants. Most officiants in progressive Vermont are used to being interviewed before setting up an appearance at the ceremony. Don't be shy; this is your chance to decide how comfortable you are with your prospective choice and is an important step in the selection process.The most important question to ask is the celebrant's philosophy. If you're planning a combined-faith wedding, is he or she comfortable with this? Can the vows be altered, possibly with a snippet of Shakespeare or a poem of your own creation? What about flowers and decorations at the altar or entwined in the chuppah? Can progressive, reggae or another type of music be incorporated throughout the ceremony? If you and/or your groom have children, can they be included?
You will also want to know if backup is available in the event that the officiant is unable to guide your ceremony. If so, ask to meet with this person as well. Now is also the time to ask about pre-wedding counseling if desired; most Vermont officiants of all denominations and even non-denominational celebrants offer such services, which can be a boon to the bride- and groom-to-be.
The Officiant's Personality
Choosing an officiant can be a personal experience. He or she will probably want some information about you and your groom in order to make the celebration personal and to get to know you both better. Get to know him or her, too. Try to sit in on at least one ceremony performed by the officiant. Afterward, you and your groom will want to discuss how comfortable you felt with the officiant's style, how warm he or she seemed to be, and other traits you find important.Compensation
Many officiants typically receive some sort of financial contribution for their services. It's traditional to give an envelope to a religious officiant, though amounts vary; find out from other members of the congregation if you're uncomfortable asking the celebrant directly. If the amount is flexible, anywhere from $100-300 is customary. A justice of the peace probably has a set fee; ask at his or her office.Another way to thank your officiant for overseeing your ceremony is by inviting him or her to your wedding reception. Most will be delighted to stop in for an hour or two. Reserve a plate at the reception hall with this expectation; if your officiant says yes, your gorgeous Vermont celebration will be all the more special.