Your 'short list of candidtates' and your interview questions can come in any order. For the questions that you will ask, first brainstorm an initial draft of questions (write down ideas for questions whether they make sense or not; brainstorming is not editing or censoring]). Draw ideas from the questions below and from ideas on our officiant fee page. Put the draft down. Pick it up later of the next day. Edit it further. Soon your questions will be ready.


You may want to tell the prospective officiant that you have prepared a list of questions and ask them if they are okay with this (your way of connecting with them and reassuring them that you are friendly information gatherers, not interrogators).


You don't want to overwhelm the officiant of course but you do want to make sure that you end up with the answers you need in all areas important to you (refer to officiant fee page)..


Some couples have used a Microsoft Word table to organize the questions and answers. You may place the names of the officiants as columns (horizontally across the top of the table) and your questions as rows (down the left margin). It doesn't matter how you organize it, just that you end up with the information you need to make an informed choice


Email Me with any questions small or large. I will be happy to share what I know. Paul

• What is unique about your services? What can we expect would be different about you from others in this area?
  
  
• What is your fee? What's included in your fee?
  What is not included? Do you include rehearsal? Driving time? What are your rehearsals like? How long? Why do we need a rehearsal?
  
  
• Are there any extra costs after we pay the initial amount? Do you charge for extra in-person meetings to work on the ceremony script?
  
  
• What is the best most reliable way for us to hear what others say about you? We were told that any vendors another vendor would give us are not the most reliable because the vendor wouldn't ever give us a 'bad' reference. Not that there are any, of course.. We would like to know the type of vendor to contact to ask about you.
  
  
• Do you require money upfront? Do you require a contact agreement? What are your policies? Is there any amount that is non-refundable? Under what circumstances?
  
  
• Are you registered with the city, state or county? If not, why?
  
  
• How accessible/responsive are you by phone and by email?
  
  
• How much say-so do we have in the script? 100%? Do you start us with scripts and script tools? Do you have a ceremony starter kit with starting ceremonies and vows? Do you offer options for personalizing our ceremony further?
  
  
• On our wedding day, do you read from a script or have our script memorized? Do you only use the script or might you say something extra?
  
  
• Then ask yourself (each of you): Do I feel comfortable with this person? Is there a clear green light to engage their services? If not, don't move forward until this is entirely resolved. Often, just talking about your concerns to the prospective officiant will clear matters.
  
  
• Lastly, associates' styles and fee inclusions will vary.(e.g., some may only do rehearsals under certain circumstances. and some may not be comfortable changing their prayer or in not having one at all). This is another reason for thoroughly interviewing, especially on aspects important to you two. Email Me with any questions small or large. I will be happy to share what I know. Paul
  

Come here and we will assist you in finding good officiant minister candidates to interview (the candidates we provide you will have been checked to be available for your date and matched to the form you send us; this saves time and energy). Our officiant finder service is free.