At the heart of your wedding celebration is your ceremony. The vows of love and commitment that you exchange on this day set the stage for your happy and successful marriage.

Years ago, most couples got married in a church, with their own minister or pastor performing the ceremony. Today, however, many couples choose other ceremony locations, and find that they must hire an officiant to “make it legal.” Here are a few questions to keep in mind as you make this important decision.

• What is the officiant’s spiritual background, and will he or she be incorporating those beliefs in the ceremony?
• Will you be allowed to write your own vows and personalize other parts of the ceremony?
• Can you review (and edit) the ceremony prior to the wedding?
• Are there any extra fees for modifying the ceremony, or for travel, attendance at the rehearsal, or filing the license?
• In case of emergency, does the officiant have a a backup plan?

The most important consideration when choosing a wedding officiant is finding someone with whom you feel comfortable and who feels honored and delighted to be sharing your special day with you.