Does my officiant have to be of a certain religion? What are the alternatives?

It depends on your religion. Each one has different standards and rules. For example, Catholic marriages must be performed by a Catholic priest.

An interfaith wedding ceremony combines aspects of different religions, like the Jewish tradition of breaking the glass and a Catholic prayer. The officiant doesn’t have to practice a specific religion to oversee either of these parts of the ceremony. There are many interfaith officiants who specialize in working with couples to create a ceremony that best fits them. You could also consider having two officiants -- one of each faith.

A nondenominational wedding ceremony doesn’t adhere to a particular religious tradition, so anyone certified to perform a marriage can officiate. Civil wedding ceremonies incorporate no religious tradition at all and can be performed by a judge in a courthouse.

There are a number of ways to find an officiant: Ask friends and family for recommendations, inquire at your place of worship, check the phone book, or search online. Sep 11, 2009