I Officiated a Friend’s Wedding & Here’s How it Went…

Are you on the fence about officiating a wedding for friends or relatives? Here’s what other Friend Officiants had to say…

You’ve just been asked to officiate a friend’s wedding. And although you’re honored they asked you, you're still not sure about whether or not to go for it.

We get it, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of officiating a friend’s wedding before committing! Being an officiant is more work than rolling in on the wedding day as a guest, it’s true. You’ll have to make sure you’re ordained online and registered, do some script writing, deliver the ceremony script in front of a crowd, learn how to tie the handfasting knot they want to do, and be supportive and good looking all day… (Ok, that last part will be easy!) 

We hope you’ll say yes to the joy of officiating a wedding for a friend, but you don’t have to take our word that’s not to be missed… Let these friends who stepped up as wedding officiant for the day convince you! 

• Get ordained online to officiate a wedding

Below are quotes from real people who were asked to officiate a friend or relative’s weddings and said yes. 

Quotes lightly edited for grammar and clarity)

I officiated a friend’s wedding and here’s how it went: 12 ‘friend officiants’ share their experiences on officiating weddings: 

1. A somatic bodyworker says this made her smile when officiating a wedding for friends: 

“I recently officiated a friends’ wedding near Canyonlands National Park in Utah, and instead of throwing flowers or rice at the end of the ceremony – because of Leave No Trace – we blew bubbles! The bubbles floating up the sunny canyon were so stunningly beautiful. It was glorious.” (Jen Wenz, owner of Jen Wenz Somatics at Sanctuary)

2. This former bridesmaid upgraded to officiant: 

“I officiated my best friend's wedding and it was so cool (honestly more meaningful than my experiences being a bridesmaid)” (ElkOptimal6498)

3. This friend says officiating weddings gives her a chance to create space out of chaos: 

“I’ve officiated two friend’s weddings and I think outside of the ceremony, the officiant can be a person who creates space the couple reflect on their upcoming marriage amid the chaos of wedding planning.” (R Z on Cup of Jo) 

4. This friend officiant loved this ‘epic’ hiking wedding at sunset (See the photos below!) :

“So honored to have officiated a friend’s wedding this weekend. At the end of the day we hiked in suits and dresses to Taft Point to catch the sunset. The bride and groom were generous enough to help us capture some epic shots too! What a weekend.” (@kingsulee)  

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Kingsley Choi (@kingsulee)

5. This brother brought humor and love into officiating sister’s wedding: 

“Officiated my sisters wedding this past weekend, couldnt have been more honored that they asked me. Only added a few of the many memorable and funny moments during the ceremony.” (naturefromhome)

6. This comedian loved officiating a funny wedding for her sister, with staged objections (as a wedding prank) from family members (Watch it on TikTok below!) : 

“I officiated my sister's wedding dressed as a Vegas Elvis, but everyone had objections! Thank goodness I was a benevolent and merciful officiant. The couple was shocked but ultimately delighted.” (joliedarrowcomedy)

@joliedarrowcomedy I officiated my sister’s wedding dressed as a vegas elvis, but everyone had objections! Thank goodness I was a benevolent and merciful officient. The couple was shocked but ultimately delighted. . #wedding #weddinginspo #couplehumor #vegaselvis #jusmarried #funnyweddingmoments #prank #weddingprank #trolling ♬ original sound - Jolie Darrow 🥴 (Tim Allen)

7. This officiant stepped up for family to make them the main characters in a love story: 

“I’ve officiated three family weddings and totally love it. It makes me feel so close and connected to the couple. (I also said no to officiating a friend’s wedding, which was tricky…😂) I like to include the couple’s love story in my remarks and then print and frame it for them. We all deserve to have a moment in our life where we are the main characters in a beautiful love story.” (SuzieQ on Cup of Jo)

8. This last minute wedding officiant saved the day, and then kept going: 

“I got ordained after helping out friends who, at the last minute, didn’t have anyone available and asked me to step in since they knew I had the personality and wasn’t afraid to be in front of a crowd (which I am, but I hide it well 😬😂). Since then I’ve done weddings for several other friends…” (rainbowcanibelle)

9. This friend says officiating an Alabama wedding was a blast: 

“I officiated a friend's wedding a couple of years ago and it was so fun! (EnchantedGate1996)

10. This friend officiated an atheist wedding and the entire process was easy peasy: 

“I got certified…for my friend's wedding, as he and his fiance were atheists. I also officiated a family member's wedding a bit after. Easy.” (PayMeNoAttention)

11. This daughter officiated her mom’s wedding to welcome her new stepdad into the family: 

“I officiated my Mom’s wedding on Saturday! An amazing day and an even better addition to the family.❤️” (@madisonndrum)

12. And this friend considers officiating a wedding to be one of the most meaningful things they’ve ever done:

“I’ve officiated two of my friends’ weddings and consider them some of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It is such an honor to make the love between two people known.” (Annie on Cup of Jo)

Get Ordained Online to Become a Wedding Officiant with AMM!

Get ordained online free with AMM and learn how to become a wedding officiant for friends and relatives! 

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Why choose AMM for your ordination? American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings. Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expire.

Officiating weddings is an incredible honor, and a great way to show your love and support for the people getting married. As a wedding officiant, you will help to create memorable ceremonies and memories that last a lifetime.

AMM Ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state* (it's much harder in Virginia, where we're looking into our options). After getting ordained with AMM, you might need to register your ordination with your local county clerk’s office. Click the link above to get started! 

Explore More Wedding Ideas & Inspiration from AMM

• Friend Officiating Wedding Script (Wedding Officiant Script)
• Asked to Officiate a Friend’s Wedding? Ask These 5 Questions to Plan an Unforgettable Ceremony!
• Unlocking The Skill: Officiating A Wedding Training