Baltimore Officiants Guide, Baltimore Wedding Guide Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

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Baltimore Officiants Guide

Finding the Perfect Maryland Clergyman for Your Wedding

New England cities tend to be traditional and progressive. In Baltimore, you can have a wedding as formal as all get-out, yet secular at the same time. Likewise, religious affairs are as old as the city itself. Lucky for you, Baltimore officiants run the gamut from highly conservative to lax and liberal. To help get the perfect officiant for your Baltimore affair, read on for smart tips.

Your Baltimore officiant search should begin as soon as you’ve set the date for your wedding, and once you’ve decided on the style and formality of the affair. You can always be married by a Justice of the Peace, but for more common options, you’ll need to broaden your enquires.

Traditional secular weddings.
If you’ve decided on a secular affair, search for titles like “Baltimore Officiants,” to find a variety of non-denominational ministers or inter-faith ministers. (The former are well-versed in most religions and can add the religious touches you choose.) All of these ministers can marry you outside a house of worship.

Traditional religious weddings.
Traditional, formal affairs call for a conservative minister, and the first place to looks is your house of worship. Even if your clergyman won’t marry you (the two of you belong to separate faiths, you’re getting married in a park), he might be able to point you in the right direction.

The first thing to keep in mind when interviewing Baltimore clergymen is whether or not you click with their personalities. The minister you choose is the one who makes your marriage official, so it’s imperative that you share similar views on the ceremony. Listen to his ideas, and offer your own. If his beliefs and requirements don’t match yours, move on to the next officiant on your list.

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

Once you’ve selected an officiant—and made sure his calendar isn’t booked up on your big day—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 transportation and lodging expenses.

Most officiants charge for their services, especially non-denominational and interfaith ministers. Religious officiants who offer services independent of their house of worship will charge a fee too. If you’re getting married in a Baltimore 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.

-David Toussaint