5 Tips for Having a VIP Read or Officiate Your Wedding
If you’ve asked a bestie or a close family member to read or officiate at your wedding, you’re likely wondering what you should tell them prior to the big day so that everything goes off without a hitch. These tips are as much for their sake as they are for yours—no one wants to get up in front of an audience without a clue as to what’s expected of them! With these five tips in your back pocket, you’ll feel confident having a VIP read or officiate your wedding, and they’ll feel confident too.
Step to the Side
We’re starting here because it affects your photos, so it’s arguably the most important: if a VIP of yours is officiating, remind them to step to the side after making things official. Just one step off to the side is perfect, provided they stand with poised posture and their hands folded in front of them. That way, if they still end up in some of the wide-angle photos, they look professional and photo-ready.
If you’re having doubts about asking a VIP to perform such a crucial job, we should add that this is a perk of hiring one of our recommended officiants. You don’t need to tell them what to do since they already know not to be in the way of your big moment!
Ask an Experienced Speaker
Before you ask a VIP to read or officiate, be sure that they are comfortable speaking in public and have experience doing so. Just because someone is witty, knows you well, or becomes a stand-up comedian after a couple of shots doesn’t mean that they have the necessary background knowledge to make your ceremony memorable (for the right reasons). Voice projection, organization, and the ability to calm their own nerves in order to avoid a shaky voice or mumbling are all extremely important—especially if they will be on video. In addition, your guests will want to clearly hear everything being said so that they can share in your special moment.
No Cell Phones Allowed
One of our biggest pet peeves is when a VIP whips out their cell phone mid-ceremony in order to read off of it. We get it: it’s 2022 and we do nearly everything on our cell phones. That being said, reading off of a clearly printed or typed piece of paper that is enclosed in a pretty notepad or folder is always the best option. Just look down at your phone. Odds are that you have a design on your case or your pop socket, and your VIP does too. You don’t want that in your photos!
As if those reasons weren’t enough, we all know how technology can be. Your VIP’s phone could die mid-reading, and they may not be able to access what they need if your ceremony is taking place in an area with spotty cell service. We don’t want you to have to go without your reading or speech of choice, nor do we want that kind of embarrassment for your VIP.
PRO TIP: Be sure someone has two additional copies of all of your readings printed on the wedding day as backup!
Posture
This one matters more than you might think! Be sure to remind your VIP to pull their shoulders back and stand with appropriate posture. When the photos surface a couple of weeks later, both you and they will be glad that they did!
Practice Makes Perfect
It might sound cliché, but it’s true. If you have your VIP practice when everyone is together at the ceremony rehearsal, it will make a world of difference in easing their nerves.
Having a VIP read or officiate at your wedding really can be a ton of fun! We hope that these tips allow both you and them to enjoy all of the laughs and happy tears without any of the stress. At Weddings with Verve, we’re in the business of making the entire wedding planning process and day-of coordination less stressful. Leave us an inquiry so that we can get on the phone and chat about what we can do for you!
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