Is it rude to ask the wedding officiant to step aside during the kiss?

Just wait til you get there and run through it once, with someone acting as the photographer. If he doesn't move, then ask him if he'll be moving during the actual ceremony. If you don't feel comfortable, get FH to do it Honestly though I doubt he'll take offense.

However, I would not do it via email or phone. That might come across as rude.

I second catrapoin - it's something I haven't even thought about, so I'm glad you're asking here. It's a good question to ask our officiant too.

I would just nicely ask him in advance. Personally, I liked that the officiant was in the background. Otherwise it could have been a pic of us kissing anytime during the wedding. Our photographers took pics of just us at the alter and elsewhere, which including some kissing shots.

Its completely your choice but he will be in every other picture. This literally isn't ur first kiss but its ur first time saying your vows... he will be in that picture. The priceless look on your husbands face when he first sees you. . He will be in that picture also. If its something u want then ask. Is he suppose hurry up and move away and that's it.

I did, he was fine with it

If you're doing the rehearsal, ask him then. You never know, this may be a commonly asked request and he may have already been planning to step aside.

However, I'm glad you mentioned it so I can put it on the list of our meeting with the photographer and our officiant. Thanks!

Like Rev. Ann, I also step aside and the photographers usually thank me for it.

I always do that, unless there is no place for me to go, lol (some of those gazebos are little....I'm very rarely in the middle anyway; I stand to the side so my mic stand is usually hidden by the bride's dress and I"m not the center of attention.

Another shot I really like is when the photographer takes my place and takes a pix of the couple with their group behind them.

I love pics where the photog stands where the officiant is and then you get your guests in the backround with your first kiss. If you really want good pics of just you two do a first look

I havent even thought about this. I wouldnt really mind him being in the picture, but i dont know if he would or not. Best thing to do is just ask him during rehearsal.

Not rude at all! As a photographer, we always ask at outdoor weddings for our B&G if he/she can step to the side right before the first kiss so we can sneak around and grab a shot with family behind them instead of them. Not one has told us no yet and they actually get excited!

As an officiant, it is not impolite to ask. I go through the event with the couple, and do a table top before hand. During the exchanging of vows, if the couple wrote their own, I stand aside a bit. This way I'm not at the focal point of the photograph. If I give the vows, I stand centered. Right before I bless the union and offer the couple out, I will gently slid to the side. I may be in the frame, but not backdropping the kiss. As a previous person responded...it's not the couple's first kiss, but is their first kiss married. I don't want to spoil that.