Why Consider a 1-Hour Coaching Session
So, you’ve offered or been asked to officiate for a friend or family member’s wedding. You’re excited, but also a little nervous. You’ve never done this before, and while you may have a few clues where to start, you don’t want to recreate the wheel.
You may be wondering:
What am I expected to do? What if I get so nervous I completely freeze? What if I say something wrong or something else goes wrong? What if I forget something important, or worse yet, make a mistake on the marriage license?
Imagine officiating a flawless ceremony from start to finish, and the confidence in knowing it couldn’t go any better if a professional was doing it!
I’m Stacy Prouty, a wedding officiant with Say “I Do” On the SunCoast and non-denominational minister. When I began officiating weddings 16 years ago, I was surprised by some of the things that can happen, mistakes that are inevitably corrected through experience and some really cringeworthy moments I wish I could forget (but I’ll tell you if you ask). Yikes!
I’ve had the honor of guiding new and one-time-only Officiants through the ceremony process, helping them avoid common mistakes and making the official start of the marriage unforgettable – in a good way!
Why Officiant Coaching?
There’s so much more to performing a wedding ceremony than reading a script for fifteen or twenty minutes.
- You need to have a complete understanding of what goes on during a wedding ceremony; how to work with your couple to personalize and incorporate the elements they want included. It’s a back and forth between the personal – you, the bride and the groom – and the experience of the audience (including parents, bridal party and guests).
- The couple may need help organizing the flow of things – people and parts of the ceremony including seating, special guests, the processional, layout at the arbor or ceremony spot, the recessional, and any optional traditions, etc.
- Then there’s the actual writing of the ceremony script and helping the couple with their vows – you know them and can guide them on the best way to make this important part of the ceremony comfortable and heartfelt.
- You need to know what’s required in the state of Florida (or wherever you may be officiating) for the ceremony to be considered “legal.” You are the legal witness and need to know what to do to make sure the couple has a valid marriage license, what makes it valid and how to fill it out and make sure it’s recorded as a legal document.
- The couple and their wedding party will be looking to you to start the ceremony, and guide them through what to do and when to do it and what to do afterward so that it is an event to remember!
- Last, you need to know what to do when things don’t do according to plan – how to keep going, keep everyone engaged and sometimes how to save the day!
Officiant coaching gives you the tools you need to perform a beautifully flawless wedding, this time and every time (if you choose to do this again)! To book a 1-hour video session for yourself, a friend or family member, email stacy@sayidosuncoast.com or call/text 941.356.3492.
