San Francisco Officiants Guide, San Francisco Wedding Guide Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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San Francisco Officiants Guide

Religious and Secular Marriages in the Bay Area

San Francisco offers a Golden Gate of wedding opportunities, and finding an officiant is part of the potluck. The rather bohemian flair of the Bay Area means you can easily get married by an interfaith or non-denominational minister. The Knob Hill conservative edge of the city means you can find a traditional clergyman too. Whichever your style, read on for heavenly tips.

Your San Francisco officiant search should begin as soon as you’ve set the date of your wedding, and once you’ve decided on the style and formality of your ceremony. You can always get married by a justice of the peace, but for more common options, you’ll need to broaden your enquiries.

Traditional, secular weddings.
If you’ve decided on a secular affair, search for titles like “San Francisco Officiant,” to find a variety of non-denominational ministers or interfaith ministers. These officiants can marry you in places outside of a house of worship—Golden Gate Park, the Palace of the Legion of Honor, wherever your love takes you in a city full of sublime settings.

Religious weddings.
Formal, religious affairs call for a conservative minister, and the first place to look is your own house of worship. Even if your clergyman can’t marry you (you belong to different faiths, you’re getting married on Fisherman’s Wharf…), he might be able to point you in the right direction.

When “interviewing” clergymen, make sure you vibe with their personality. They’re the one who makes your marriage official, so it’s imperative that you share similar views on the ceremony. Listen to their ideas and share your own. Should you have significant disagreements on the wedding, move on to the next person on your list.

When you’re ready to start talking with San Francisco officiants, visit the OurWeddingDay.com San Francisco Local Vendor Section for a great list of regularly updated contacts.

Once you’ve selected your officiant—and made sure his calendar isn’t booked for your big day!—remember to invite him and his spouse to your rehearsal dinner. Should he be traveling a long distance for your affair, it’s customary to pay for his travel and lodging expenses.

Most officiants charge for their services, especially non-denominational and interfaith ministers. Religious officiants who offer church services independent of their house of worship will charge a fee too. If you’re getting married in a San Francisco church where the minister is part of the package, you won’t be expected to pay him. Instead, a “love offering” of at least $100 is appreciated. Some officiants can be pricey, so find out the fee or expected donation upfront.

Follow these guidelines and you’ll be as high on love as those San Francisco hills!