Tips to Officiate a Wedding

Officiating a wedding may seem overwhelming, but it can be a fun experience.

Many people get nervous at the idea of public speaking. Because of this, it is avoided by a lot of people. However, when you have been asked to officiate a wedding for a friend, it is hard to turn that down. Not only is it a huge honor, it is also something that you want to do for your family member or friend. While you may agree to do it with a smile on your face, you may be panicking on the inside. If the idea of officiating a wedding gives you a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach, here are some things you can do to ensure you are ready for the big day.

Become Ordained

Of course, in order for the wedding to be legal, you must be ordained to officiate a wedding. Most of the time, getting ordained can be as easy as filling out an online form and receiving your certificate in the mail or via e-mail. However, it is important to check in your area to see whether or not this is a valid way to become ordained. It can vary between states, and even between counties. To be safe, contact your county clerk's office and ask what specifically you need to do in order to be ordained. That way, you know you are ready to officiate the wedding legally.

Maintain Eye Contact

Something many people tend to struggle with when they are not feeling confident is eye contact. Oftentimes, they will stare at the ground or above everyone's heads. However, looking people in the eye is a great way to connect with them. You can look in the eyes of the bride and groom while you are talking to them and occasionally make eye contact with people in the audience. Not only can this make the wedding more enjoyable and engaging for everyone involved, you will also likely feel more at ease.

Smile

Smiling is another great way to engage the audience while calming your nerves. Talking with a smile on your face can make your tone sound more positive. This can make for a more fun experience for everyone. After all, remember, it's a wedding, not a funeral. Keep a smile on your face and have fun.

Body Language

Your body language can convey a lot about how you are feeling about the wedding. Even if you are simply nervous and have no objections to the wedding itself, your anxiety can change your body posture. Make sure your body language shows confidence and happiness. You can do this by:

• Standing up straight
• Avoiding crossing your arms
• Avoiding too much movement or fidgeting

Pace Yourself

When people are nervous about speaking in front of an audience, they often rush through their speech. This typically happens unconsciously, but you want to make sure you pace yourself so you don't hurry. Pacing yourself can help make you easier to understand, and it can help keep the wedding ceremony from feeling rushed.

Prepare to Officiate a Wedding

Of course, you want to prepare what you want to say beforehand and practice it. While you don't necessarily need to have an exact script memorized of the right words, you don't want to be stuttering on the wedding day because you aren't sure what to say. Practicing is also important so that you can figure out an idea of how long the service will be.

Figure Out Attire

Ask what you should wear on the wedding day. Some brides and grooms may prefer you wear a dress or suit and tie, while others may just want nice pants with a dress shirt. Figure this out beforehand so you know what to wear on the big day.

Officiating a wedding may seem overwhelming, but it can be a fun experience. Enjoy yourself, make eye contact and smile, and don't forget to prepare so the wedding day goes smoothly for everyone.