Before the Wedding FAQs

💍 What Happens After We Book Our Great Officiant?

Once your booking is confirmed, you'll receive information about your Great Officiant and the next steps in preparing for your ceremony.

You'll have the opportunity to communicate with your Officiant, discuss your wedding vision and begin thinking about what you want your ceremony to look and feel like.

Depending on your ceremony package, you may also complete a questionnaire or participate in a ceremony design meeting.

And don't worry if your wedding is still several months away. Much of the detailed ceremony planning happens closer to your date.

📝 Do We Need to Complete a Wedding Ceremony Questionnaire?

For couples who select a personalized or customized Wedding Ceremony package, our relationship questionnaire is a wonderful way for us to get to know you.

We'll ask questions about how you met, your first date, your proposal, what you love about each other and the moments that make your relationship special.

You can share funny stories, romantic memories, inside jokes and all those little details that make your love story uniquely yours.

Your Great Officiant can use this information to help create a ceremony that reflects your personalities and relationship, according to your selected package.

📞 When Will We Have Our Wedding Ceremony Design Meeting?

For ceremony packages that include a detailed design meeting, we generally schedule that conversation approximately 3 to 4 weeks before your wedding.

This timing allows us to review your latest plans, confirm your ceremony details and incorporate any final decisions.

During your meeting, we'll discuss your ceremony style, wording, vows, readings, traditions and any special moments you'd like to include.

If you've selected a customized ceremony, this is also when we can bring together the elements that make your ceremony uniquely yours.

And YES, you can absolutely reach out to your Officiant before then!

💬 Can We Communicate With Our Great Officiant Before the Wedding?

We want you to feel comfortable, confident and connected with the person performing your Wedding Ceremony.

Once your booking is confirmed, you can communicate with your Great Officiant about your ceremony and wedding plans.

Have a question about your vows? Want to include a special tradition? Need advice about your ceremony?

Reach out!

We offer unlimited reasonable communication with your Great Officiant throughout the planning process.

Detailed ceremony design and additional planning services depend on the package you've selected.

✨ Can We Help Design Our Wedding Ceremony?

This is YOUR Wedding Ceremony, and we want it to reflect who you are!

You can share your preferences for the tone, style and overall feeling of your ceremony.

Do you want something romantic and traditional? Short and sweet? Fun and lighthearted? Spiritual? Completely non-religious?

We can discuss your ideas and help incorporate appropriate elements within your selected ceremony package.

Couples who want a more detailed, fully personalized experience can choose one of our customized ceremony options.

🎤 Do We Need to Write Our Own Wedding Vows?

Some couples love writing personal vows. Others would rather repeat beautiful traditional vows after their Officiant. And some couples want a little of both!

All of those options are perfectly fine.

If you decide to write your own vows, here's a little advice from Great Officiants: Tell your love story in three parts!

• 1. Your Origin Story: How did you meet? What first attracted you to each other? When did you realize this person was someone special?
• 2. Your Life Together: Talk about the journey you've shared, the memories you've created, the challenges you've overcome and what you love most about each other.
• 3. Your Future Together: Share your hopes, dreams and plans for the future. Most importantly, make the promises that will guide your marriage in the years ahead.

Your Great Officiant can help you choose a vow style that feels comfortable and meaningful.

And remember, your vows don't need to be a ten-minute speech! A few sincere words from the heart can be incredibly powerful.

🎭 Can We Include Special Traditions, Readings or Unity Ceremonies?

Your Wedding Ceremony is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your backgrounds, beliefs, personalities and traditions.

Depending on your ceremony package, we can help incorporate meaningful elements such as:

• Unity candle or sand ceremonies
• Handfasting ceremonies
• Wedding Lazo, Arras or Veil traditions
• Special prayers or blessings
• Family participation and readings
• Wine box and love letter ceremonies
• Religious and cultural customs
• Fun, creative or themed ceremony elements

Some special traditions require additional planning, materials or ceremony time, so please discuss your ideas with your Great Officiant in advance.

🚶 Do We Need a Wedding Rehearsal?

For many small and simple Wedding Ceremonies, a formal rehearsal isn't necessary.

For larger weddings with a wedding party, multiple entrances, special traditions or complicated ceremony logistics, a rehearsal can certainly be helpful.

Here's the good news! If we've done our job right during your ceremony design meeting (and we usually do!), you'll have such a clear understanding of how your Wedding Ceremony will flow that you won't necessarily need your Great Officiant at the rehearsal!

Your wedding planner or venue coordinator can usually guide everyone through the processional, recessional, where to stand and when to walk.

Of course, if you'd like your Great Officiant to attend or lead your rehearsal, we're happy to discuss availability and any additional fees. Rehearsal attendance is not automatically included in every ceremony package.

📜 When Should We Get Our Marriage License?

In California, your Marriage License must be issued before your Wedding Ceremony.

California Marriage Licenses are generally valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

We recommend taking care of your Marriage License approximately one month before your wedding whenever practical.

You can obtain your license through a California County Clerk's office.

Or, if you qualify for a California Confidential Marriage License, Great Officiants has authorized Notaries who can issue your license at our Long Beach office or through mobile service by arrangement.

Make sure your license is ready before your ceremony so your Great Officiant can legally solemnize your marriage.

📋 What Wedding Details Should We Share With Our Officiant?

As your wedding approaches, please make sure your Great Officiant has the most current information about your ceremony.

Important details include:

• Your confirmed wedding date and ceremony start time
• The complete venue name and address
• The exact ceremony location within the venue
• Your wedding planner or coordinator's contact information
• The approximate number of guests and wedding party members
• Your ceremony processional and recessional plans
• Special readings, traditions or family participation
• Microphone and sound system arrangements
• Any last-minute changes or important instructions

If your ceremony is outdoors, please also discuss any backup plans for unexpected weather.

The more details we have in advance, the easier it is to make everything run smoothly on your wedding day.

⏰ How Early Will Our Great Officiant Arrive?

Our Great Officiants generally arrive between 30 minutes and 1 hour before your scheduled Wedding Ceremony.

This gives us plenty of time to check in with your wedding planner or coordinator, confirm the final ceremony details, check the microphone and sound system, and make sure everything is ready for your big moment!

We also use this time to coordinate with your wedding party and anyone participating in special ceremony elements.

💖 What Should We Do in the Final Week Before Our Wedding?

The final week is all about confirming details, finishing preparations and getting excited!

Here's a helpful checklist:

• Confirm your ceremony time and exact location
• Review your final ceremony details with your Officiant
• Complete any outstanding questionnaires or planning information
• Prepare your personal vows, if you're writing them
• Make sure your wedding rings are ready
• Confirm who is bringing any unity ceremony materials
• Check that your Marriage License has been issued
• Arrange for the Marriage License to be available at the ceremony
• Confirm any remaining payment arrangements
• Make sure your planner or coordinator has your Officiant's contact information

And then comes the most important part:

Take a moment to relax, enjoy the excitement and remember why you're getting married!