Ask your Best Man to serve as backup officiant to ward off wedding day disasters

Here’s how asking your Best Man, Person of Honor, groomsman, or another member of the wedding party to serve as a backup wedding officiant can save the wedding day...

 

...and make you even better friends than before.

 

Listen now:

 

Shit happens, but that shouldn’t keep your wedding ceremony from happening! 

 

Wedding officiants are human, just like the rest of us. Which means even the best of them sometimes oversleep, wake up sick, or get a flat tire on the way to an important appointment… Just like the rest of us! 

 

But when that important ‘appointment’ is your wedding ceremony, it can be a problem.

 

That’s why it’s a good idea to ask your best man, groomsman, or another member of your wedding party to get ordained before the wedding day to serve as a backup officiant. 

 

‘Backup Officiants’ are just what they sound like. These are the heroes that step up to officiate your wedding at the last minute, when an unexpected disaster strikes and your primary officiant isn’t able to make it to the ceremony. 

 

Choosing a member of the wedding party to serve as your backup is an easy way to ensure a stress free wedding day. They’re already part of the wedding planning process and know the tone and vibe of the wedding you have planned, plus it’s guaranteed they’ll be wearing something that looks good in ceremony photos. 

 

Related: What to Wear (and Not Wear) as a Wedding Officiant

 

 

The best backup officiant will be a groomsman or wedding party member who : 

 

• Stays calm under pressure
• Is comfortable talking in front of a room full of guests
• Has a good sense of humor and can think on their feet
• And is familiar with tone and vibe you want for your ceremony 

 

 

 

To prepare, your backup officiant will need to get ordained with American Marriage Ministries before the wedding ceremony. This is free and only takes a few minutes to complete. They might also need to register with the local government as an ordained minister, but only some states require this. 

 

• Get Ordained with American Marriage Ministries 
• Minister Registration Requirements by State

 

If registration is required, it might take a couple days or weeks to process, so leave plenty of time to ensure stress-free paperwork and planning.

 

Then, give your backup officiant a simple ceremony script that will work in a pinch and come up with a simple contingency plan for the wedding day.

Here’s to planning ahead for a stress-free wedding ceremony! 

 

 

P.S. Don't have a 'Best Man'?

 

Anyone of any gender from your wedding party will make for an excellent back up wedding officiant. Your Best Person, Person of Honor, or Attendant of Honor is perfect for the role. Practice with them before the ceremony, then relax knowing you're covered no matter what happens the day of the wedding! 

 

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You might also like: 

 

• Exorcisms, Flus, and Flat Tires: Backup Officiants are Essential
   
• Wedding Officiant Do's & Don't's
   
• How to Ask Someone to Officiate Your Wedding - Our Favorite Way to Say 'Will You Marry Us?'
   

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Interested in Wedding Traditions From Around the World? 

 

Want to learn more about wedding traditions from around the world, or create unique rituals and traditions of your own? Browse AMM's Ultimate Guide to Wedding Unity Ceremony Ideas: All-In-One Resource for inspiration! 

 

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Unity Ceremony Ideas: All-In-One Resource

(Photo: Kobus Louw / iStock)

 

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