Because I am a wedding minister myself, I don’t get to see other officiants as often as I would like. However, I do make it a practice to talk to other experienced and discerning wedding vendors (DJs, photographers, videographers, musicians) to learn their perceptions of officiants they have seen.

I ask this question: “How good are the wedding ministers you’ve seen?” The responses could be better (putting it politely).

In some cases we can't help. Some stories these professionals have shared -- from sheer officiating incompetence to inappropriate, impromptu remarks to hitting on wedding attendants to drunkenness -- are an embarrassment to our profession. There is no place for this in any ministry.

Thankfully, most men and women I've known in ministry are truly responsible, caring people who want to help people.

Wedding Ministers is committed to helping wedding officiants succeed in ministry. When we do this, everybody wins. Brides get more professional ministry and more magical wedding ceremonies. Ministers enjoy the fruits of making a difference, not merely making an income. And we enjoy playing a small part in making a better experience for everybody!
 
 

Rev. Your Name is WM Certified. 

As you shop on the Web for someone to officiate your wedding, in many cases you have no assurances the person is fully prepared or ready yet. Unlike doctors or attorneys or therapists or even schoolteachers, there are no legal competency requirements or required examinations for wedding officiants.

After a thorough evaluation process we certify those officiants who demonstrate mastery of basic wedding ministry knowledge and skills to earn WM Certification.

This includes familiarity with wide variety of wedding ceremonies and rituals, ceremony structure and design, officiating, basic pastoral/personal ministry skills, legal responsibilities and more (see below).

WM Certification is competency-based. Not every minister who applies for certification receives it automatically. Those who do can be identified by the WM Certification Seal of Trust.

WM Certified officiants are trained professionals who have fulfilled the requirements for WM Certification in either of two ways.

1. Those with years of experience are thoroughly researched; brides and vendors are contacted to verify their competency and expertise.

2. For those with less experience, we have an extensive Wedding Ministry Certification Training Program. Those who have completed the Certification Program and have demonstrated competence in all basic understandings and skills of the wedding ministry profession become WM Certified.

What This Means For You

PEACE OF MIND from Your First Contact

With a WM Certified officiant, you have the reassurance you’re talking to a true wedding professional who has received specific, focused instruction and personal, hands-on training.

Your WM Certified officiant is trained to listen for what you want, to discern both your spoken and unspoken desires for your ceremony, to understand where you are coming from, and to provide helpful suggestions, answers, and options. You feel helped, heard, and understood. You know you and your ceremony are in good hands. You feel reassured, taken care of, safe. Peace of mind.

PEACE OF MIND on Your Wedding Day

The wedding day is typically a day of heightened emotions and expectations. Your dreams of a perfect, perhaps fairy-tale wedding day, rest in large part, upon the skill and experience of your wedding minister. It is NOT a given. When you are facing each other to share your wedding vows, it is a moment of profound intimacy. Unlike any other moment in your lifetime, your souls are exposed and vulnerable. It is an incredibly sacred moment.

Your WM Certified officiant is thoroughly trained to discern the dynamics of this incomparable moment and channel all the built-up energy, emotions, and events into one, unforgettable symphony of Beauty and Love. Because you feel so safe with your WM Certified officiant, you can let go and embrace the moment with all your heart and soul, knowing you’re in the hands of a caring professional. Peace of mind.