Gift for officiant

Money is always appriciated. With a nice card with thanks

A good gift would be treating him as a guest instead of making your friend work on your wedding day. Hire a professional.

Agree with Victoria A.

I disagree with @futuremrs.barton, my brother is officiating our wedding and I think it's a special way for him to be a part of the day since he's not standing up with the bridal party, he's standing up in a different way. I don't think it's any more "work" than your maid of honor making a toast. I plan on giving him a letter saying how much I appriciate him and some money because he would appriciate that more than a gift (I know my brother well enough to know that about him)

@VictoriaA it is most definitely work. A lot goes into marrying a couple. I just really hope he is a professional, and not ordained just for the wedding. Other than the bride and groom, the officiant is the most important.

Hire a pro

@futuremrs.barton we wrote the ceremony together we incorporated a lot of special things including our hourglass ceremony. And besides having to be a confident public speaker, exactly what do you think goes into being an officiant? He has his prompts to get everyone in order and he knows that he is the one to keep the ceremony on track and he's going to do an amazing job and if he fumbles it won't be a big deal he's my brother and he's in front of friends and family. Can't imagine what he would mess up its all written down.

"I don't think it's any more "work" than your maid of honor making a toast."

He does pre marriage counseling? Coordinates timing of music and ceremony? Writes a personalized ceremony?

Hiring a professional will make a huge difference in the quality of your ceremony.

I cried writing mine as well its very beautiful and special. Yes he is legal and we have followed all the appropriate steps. He has even considered doing after my wedding as a professional, every professional has to have their first wedding. I wouldn't worry too much about the work part the official has very similar duties as your bridal party, they have to show up they have to follow the order they have to say a few words and they have to do one extra thing which is sign and file a document which I'm going to be right there with him to do that as well. OP you know your officiant best get him something that he would appriciate the more personal the better.

@FB99 took the words right out of my mouth.

Saying that being an officiant is as easy as making a toast is a huge slap in the face to a lot of users like Cecilia.

@Victoria it may be "ok" if he fumbles but if he is not a professional your wedding could easily not meet the legal obligations to be wedded. Good luck.

Ah, so he is not a professional. How was he ordained Victoria?

@ big brother fan my church does marriage counseling and my wedding will be blessed by my priest but we are getting married outside and is not a religious ceremony, he has met with the DJ and has the points for music, and we already have the ceremony written. @FB99 no contract he's my brother if he doesn't show up I will have someone stand in his place and read the ceremony we have written the ceremony will not be legal and we will have a court house wedding later on to make it legal as plan B. And a professional has just as much chance running into an emergency.

As you can see, you won't get many good answers to your question here because people are opposed to this. We are having a good family friend (like an aunt) do it and couldn't be more excited. I've been to several weddings where friend or relatives officiated and never seen anything bad happen. I've also been to several weddings with hired officiants and they have all been boring and lifeless, with the exception of one, which was just awkward (the officiant basically insulted the couple). It's not a black and white issue. You can have bad experiences with friends or family or with professionals.

ANYWAY, in answer to your question: I got our officiant a very nice earring and necklace set with real silver and semi-precious gemstones. We will also write her a nice note. But I think it depends on the person. She would think money is impersonal and she has amazing style and loves jewelry, so it was an easy choice for her.

@futuremrs.barton he's ordained through the state of Michigan and has an identification card as an officiant from the State of Michigan

Green paper with presidential faces on one side.

@Victoria that sounds like a train wreck. You are better off paying for a PROFESSIONAL and being legally married at your wedding than having to go through all that mess. If you are so set having your brother (thought it was a friend??) marry you, at least get a contract.

Unfortunately people are so stuck they they won't give you much advice to your actual question. We are having a family member do ours and couldn't be more excited or sure in our choice. We are planning to give money and probably a nice bottle of wine.

@Jessie it is a black and white issue. I don't understand how people think it's ok to not hire a professional and think that all being an officiant entails is just reading a script.