Hey, whatcha workin' on? The second in a very long series

Hi! Well, the new year began, it's raining softly outside, and I'm busy creating albums for my clients. What an amazing time!
But I realized that I had really slacked off on accomplishing what I really wanted to do with this blog, which is helping couples with little things here or there about weddings and wedding planning and wedding photography that they might not get from friends or magazines. After all, I see and experience a LOT of weddings.
I've talked earlier about the vital components to a fantastic wedding experience - the planner, the person officiating, and the master of ceremonies. Think about it - you're not planning a big party, you're planning a chance for ALL of your favorite people, most of whom haven't even met before, to help you celebrate a huge milestone. And while you're both the honored guests, you should be just that - guests. The planner (or coordinator, but that's another blog) is the host, the one who runs the show and makes sure that all YOU have to do is show up. The officiant is the one whose job it is to bring your guests into your ceremony and make them feel like they're participating rather than just, well, sitting there. And the master of ceremonies is the one who can read, anticipate, and guide the party fluidly and flawlessly from one part to the next. SO vital!
What I'd like to focus on with this blog is the person who actually marries you. In a way, the officiate is indeed the master of ceremonies for YOUR ceremony. It's up to him or her to bring the audience in so that they feel like they're participating a bit - or keep the focus all about the two of you and treat your guests more as an audience. You should consider how YOU want the ceremony and if there's a way to influence it, get your wants known.
Here are some things to consider when finding the right wedding officiate:

How involved should your guests be?
Maybe you're NOT looking forward to saying your vows in front of everyone. Maybe you'd rather be facing your guests than your officiant. Maybe you'd like to share the experience with your guests. Or maybe you just want someone to say, "Do you? and you?" and be done with it!
Whatever it is, discuss it with each other first, then find someone who fits the bill.

How do you know them?
If it's the parish priest and you don't get a choice, so be it. But then it's on your shoulders to be as open and candid with the priest or pastor to get to know you two a little bit. By knowing a little about you, it can only bring a little personalization to what can be a very rote ceremony. I've seen absolutely fantastic Catholic wedding masses because the priests knew the couple, or saw one of them grow up, and could engage the audience with bits and pieces of their lives.

And while we're talking about officiants...
Keep in mind that any rules your officiant has for photography must agree with your own wishes. So find out those rules before you book them, or their church. You don't want to find out after your wedding that two minutes before the wedding, the officiant said no photos were allowed in the center aisle. And yes, that's happened to me before - even at an OUTDOOR wedding! So find out what those rules are and if you don't like them, speak up.

Cheers!
Rhee