“I do,” in the Nude: Officiating a Naturist Wedding

We’ve talked about what to wear (and what not to wear) as a wedding officiant. We always suggest you read the room, and meet the couple at their desired level of formality. 

 

But what happens when the couple tells you the chosen wedding attire is… nothing at all? 

 

We mean nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero buttons or boxers in the bunch, just a few dozen folks outside in the buff. 

 

This was the somewhat unexpected situation one AMM minister found herself in, when she was asked to officiate a ceremony for a couple belonging to a naturist (nudist) community. (Out of respect for everyone’s privacy, we’ll keep the officiant and lovebirds anonymous here.)

 

An unflappable professional with lots of experience, our minister let the couple know that when it came to wedding day styles, she just wasn’t as comfortable in (nothing but) her own skin as their other guests would be. While she’d be honored to help guide their special day, she said, she’d be keeping her pants (and shirt and shoes) on.

 

(This is just what we recommend doing, too — dress for the tone of the wedding and your comfort. Whether you wear a swimsuit or a wool suit, or anything in between, dressing comfortably and authentically lets your personality and officiating skills shine through, while keeping you at ease. Just make sure your chosen attire doesn’t distract from the couple’s big day.)

 

 

Thankfully, the happy couple was very understanding, and the rest of their ceremony planning was a breeze.  

 

The only real difficulty the day of the wedding, according to the officiant? 

 

“Keeping my eyes at eye level,” she said with a laugh. “That was a challenge, but I managed it.” 

 

Here at AMM, we think this is just more evidence that officiating is the best job around, and that all couples deserve a wedding ceremony (and officiant!) that reflects their personal style of love and commitment. We support the right for all people to practice spirituality and religion in a way that aligns with their personal values and beliefs.

 

...so, what’s the most unusual thing you’ve worn (or not worn) to a wedding? Tell us!

 

 

 

Planning a wedding au naturel ? Read:

So You Want to Have a Nudist Wedding…
 

 

Updated July 26, 2021

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You might also like: 

 

 

• 876 feet in the air: Officiating an adventure wedding on the New River Gorge Bridge
   
• Avoiding a Terrible Wedding Toast -- What *Not* To Do

 

• Did I Just Say That? -- 3 Ways to Handle Wedding Ceremony Mistakes
   

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