How far in advance should you book your officiant?

@Chivy - well, mine was a different kind of scenario, I guess. I didn't have a specific person in mind, so I was going off of the civil celebrant list provided by Fairfax County. Essentially, I was planning to go through the list until someone was available. I was lucky to be anal enough to basically ask the officiant I wanted again early enough in the timeline she had originally told she would start booking in.

I would maybe talk to him now and let him know the situation and maybe talk to him about his "when." I don't know if that makes sense. Discuss when he would be comfortable firming up his availability to be your officiant, so that you can also still have time to get your ducks in a row.

I'm always surprised by this thread- anyone who is notarized can perform legal marriages in Maine- just need a license for them to sign- which you can get and marry the next day- no waiting time... lawyers who are members of the bar can also perform ceremonies---

I think it's nice when there is someone special you know who can marry you- I don't have an issue with this, but it seems to be a big deal here on ww.

I talked to him today and told him it's gonna be next year. I asked if he still wanted to marry us and he said yeah, just let him know the details. The next time I talk to him I'll bring up payment and a contract. I hope that doesn't offend him. I mean what would actually be the point of the contract? If for any reason he cancelled, I wouldn't pursue any legal action.

Get a contract and whether the pay is included in the contract or not, he is bound by the terms of it, which means you should "book" him asap and he's locked in. If he's not worried about missing out on work (since you said he offered), then why are you? And if you are worried about him missing out on work, then you can pay him.

How you manage to be so consistent with your decisions and advice is amazing to me.

Svetlana's comment was totally spot on. You just didn't want to hear it.

You ARE a work opportunity. And if something 'better' comes along? He'll bail on you.

Hire a pro, get a contract and let him do a reading if he's 'available". You do not want to be looking for an officiant much later than mid summer. Good ones are booking 2019 now.

I get calls literally every week from couples whose "best honored friend" bailed on them because something "came up". And you do NOT want to be in that position for Labor Day weekend.,

Lol I don't think I can afford his normal booking fee. And Celia, no she was not helpful because I didn't ask any of that. My date is my date regardless of where it is and who performs the ceremony.

Book as soon as possible! I thought it was one of the last things you book so i didn't start looking until 30 days before and almost everyone was booked!

You should be booking now. Since you apparently don't really care what we have to say about any possible issues you might run into by not hiring a pro, I'll just say you should definitely have a contract with your friend to make sure both of you know who's responsible for what (what a shame it would be if you thought he was going to file your license after the wedding, and he thought you were going to do it), and definitely pay him for his time. If he won't take a payment, give him a very generous tip. The ceremony is the most important part of the whole day, and I don't know why anyone would potentially mess that up when they hire a non-pro.

If you can't pay him his fee, then he shouldn't be doing your wedding. Friends don't ask pro friends to work for free.

If it's important for him to officiate, then get a contract, pay him and rest easy. But do it now.

Celia, I guess you missed the part where I said he asked US?

In addition to what Fall Bride wrote, officiants in NYC have to be registered with the city.

I don't understand why you keep asking questions if you don't want any input on them.

Everyone suggesting a contract, can you explain why exactly? If he breached it in any way, we wouldn't sue him. He's very professional anyway, so I'm not worried about that. Is there another reason for it?

Ok so, the "average officiant booking timeline" isn't applicable here - because you aren't booking a professional officiant. Therefore you aren't looking at market comparisons and worrying about peak wedding seasons or average booking timelines.

If you have 1 specific person you want to do your wedding - ask them now! All you need is to reserve the date with them, why would you wait? You only run the risk of them getting too busy or changing their mind. Ask them now, make sure it's legal, and be prepared with a backup plan!

Do you seriously not understand why contracts are important? How did you make it to adulthood?

Lindsey I do want input. But if the input isn't on the actual questions I'm asking, it's hardly of any use to me. I never asked what does my friend need to do to be able to perform my ceremony. He's done weddings before. So all of that is no concern to me in relation to my questions.

If he asked you, you should still have a fee and a contract. If he is not willing to put that together, then you need to move on, or you may be stuck.

Lack of sugar @LG.

So if you ask me if there's something in your teeth, but your underwear is tucked into your dress I shouldn't tell you because that's not what you asked me about?

Lindsey if I ask you where to get a good burger would you tell me how to make a pizza as a response?