When it comes to planning a wedding, most couples know they need to book a venue, a photographer and a caterer. And they know they need someone to marry them, but who? If you’re dreaming of a ceremony that’s personal, meaningful and built entirely around the two of you, a non denominational wedding officiant might be the perfect fit.
So what is a non denominational wedding officiant and what kind of ceremonies are they right for? Find out below!
But wait, what is the meaning of officiant?
Before we dive into non denominational wedding officiants, let’s clear up what we mean by officiant. An officiant is a licensed person who can legally marry you and your partner during your ceremony. Learn more here!
What is a non denominational wedding officiant?
A non denominational wedding officiant is perfect for couples who want a meaningful and personal wedding ceremony that isn’t tied to one specific religious institution or tradition.
Here’s the technical bit: “non denominational” describes a person or organization that is spiritual or religious in nature but not under one specific denomination. For example, you may have heard of non denominational churches that are broadly Christian but not a specific sect of Christianity, such as Catholic, Anglican or Lutheran.
That definition describes our team beautifully. The wedding officiants at Young Hip & Married honour and respect all faiths and beliefs without being tied to any single denomination. Our officiants joyfully marry couples of every background: one faith, two faiths, blended cultures and traditions, or no formal faith at all. Every ceremony is personalized to you two, and we incorporate the beliefs, traditions and cultural elements that feel right for you. Your ceremony gets to be everything you want it to be and nothing you don’t.
Civil wedding officiant VS non denominational wedding officiant: What’s the difference?
A civil officiant is usually a government official, like a marriage commissioner or Justice of the Peace. They generally have less freedom and flexibility with their ceremonies, such as only being allowed to officiate in certain locations or having to follow a set ceremony script.
Find out what the difference is between a marriage commissioner and a wedding officiant!
A non denominational officiant is usually independent, meaning they aren’t employed by the government, which gives them more freedom, flexibility and creativity to personalize your ceremony. Independent officiants in BC are typically licensed through a religious organization, and that licence is what allows them to legally marry you. A great officiant will honour your beliefs, whatever they are, and craft a ceremony that feels completely authentic to you two.
Can we still include aspects of our religions into a non denominational wedding ceremony?
Absolutely! At Young Hip & Married, our wedding officiants love blending different languages, cultures, religions and beliefs to ensure your ceremony is personalized to you two and your loved ones. Because our officiants honour and respect all faiths, any religious inclusions are guided by you and warmly welcomed by your officiant.
With our Custom wedding package, your officiant will design a ceremony that tells your story and represents who you are. You can incorporate prayers, readings, unity ceremonies and so much more!
If it’s important to you to include your religious beliefs in your ceremony, make sure you talk with your officiant about this ahead of time. They should be receptive and supportive of your ideas and help to make sure your ceremony is as meaningful as possible.
Can we get married in a church with a non denominational wedding officiant?
It depends. If you are getting married in a non denominational church or non denominational religious institution, they will likely have officiants connected with their organization who can marry you. If you’d like to bring in your own officiant but still get married in the church or on their property, you’d have to speak with the church leaders.
If the church or religious institution you’ve selected is under a specific denomination, they are less likely to allow officiants from outside of that denomination to marry you. If it’s important to you to get married there, speak with the church leaders to see what accommodations can be made or if there’s any flexibility with the ceremony script they usually use.
Planning your wedding ceremony? 7 reasons to choose a non denominational officiant:
Training & professionalism: Non denominational wedding officiants usually undergo specific training on how to officiate weddings, and they’re often experienced officiants with many weddings under their belt. And if they belong to a larger organization (like Young Hip & Married), they have a dedicated customer service team behind them to assist with your booking and a talented pool of backup officiants, should an emergency arise on your wedding day.
Customization: When an officiant isn’t bound to one set ceremony script, they’re able to customize the ceremony to you. That may mean weaving in your own faith, the faiths of your families, your values and spirituality, or focusing entirely on your love story.
Flexibility: Wedding officiants can offer more flexibility to couples. Instead of only being able to marry couples inside a church, at a courthouse or within a few miles of home, our wedding officiants will hike, bike, canoe, helicopter ride and sail to wherever you want to tie the knot!
Focus on you: A non denominational officiant focuses on what’s important to you two: your story, your values and your people. They can tell your love story and create a script based solely on you.
Personalization: If you’re looking for a personalized experience for your wedding ceremony, a non denominational officiant is the way to go. From meeting you over coffee to hear about your love story, to interviewing your friends and family, to leading your rehearsal and officiating on the big day, your wedding officiant is going to create a ceremony experience that is reflective of who you are.
Creativity: Wedding officiants have the option to be more creative than marriage commissioners can be. Since they’re not tied to a specific script or setting, they can incorporate creative elements and design a completely custom ceremony. In your backyard in French? On the beach and featuring a surprise musical performance? At your local coffee shop with your favourite barista as your witness? Let’s do it!
Inclusivity: We want your wedding to be as inclusive as possible. Our officiants honour every faith, culture and background, so your ceremony can be a welcoming and celebratory place for every single guest on your list!
Meet our team of non denominational wedding officiants and book your ceremony package today!
