Tips For A First Time Officiant

Oh hi! Is your friend or family member getting married, and they asked you to officiate? That’s amazing, you must be pretty special! Is this your first time doing that? Feeling like you might need a little help?

Here’s some hot tips from Aireekah, Glitt3r Lyfe’s Lead DJ:

• Practice your presentation. Rehearse it with some friends! Feel comfortable with the words.

• Vocal warmups are fun and can help you feel even more comfortable! Sing in the car on the way to the venue, make some silly sounds, sing through a metal straw (a new favorite of mine), whatever helps you feel ready to go.

• When possible, do a soundcheck before guests arrive.

• If using a handheld microphone, make sure that it’s slightly tilted towards your face, at about a 45 degree angle.

• Hold the microphone about halfway down its body. You never want to cup the top metal ball (or grill) of the mic or it may create feedback.

• When you take your place at the ceremony, this is a great time to greet the audience and request that they turn off or silence their phones and not take photos.

• After the processional has finished and guests are standing, please say something along the lines of “You may now be seated”. If not, people won’t know if they should sit or stand, and that can get a bit awkward!

• After announcing the couple and saying they may kiss, consider stepping to the side so the photographer gets their “first kiss” shot without you in it. This is another thing you can practice!

• If you’d like to make any announcements after the recessional, please do not turn off your microphone. Your DJ will turn down your audio channel after your last words of the ceremony and bring it back up a few moments after the last person from the wedding party has exited. (This may be different with another sound person, so check with them first!)

• Most importantly, have fun! Jump around, shake loose, and get out some jitters before going up there. You’ll do amazingly, and what a sweet gift it is to marry people who are important to you. Congratulations to that!