#301 - You Ask, We Answer #53

Our monthly episode of You Ask, We Answer; where we take time to listen to our audiences questions, select top trending picks, and answer them on the show. This month we've got co-host Mark Allan Groleau joining Michelle as a special co-host. Mark is a professional full time wedding officiant and a trainer of officiant and celebrants all over the world as he helps to teach others how to officiate an unboring ceremony! Mark and Michelle dive into your most sought after questions, and answer questions ranging from 'two languages and two religions', all the way to officiating 'non religious weddings'. Listen in and get ready to learn!

Question #1:

Is it too much for me to ask to be copied on emails she sends to our vendors regarding our wedding?

Question #2:

Ceremony readings that aren’t religious? Also, ideas for a unity ceremony that aren’t super cheesy or overdone (like the sand mixing)?

Question #3:

I’m using Unboring wedding academy and my moms best friends are our officiants. Having 2 officiants instead of just 1? Any advice or tricks?

Question #4:

I’m not changing my name so at the end of the ceremony what should they say instead of “the new mr and mrs. blank”?

Question #5:

Considering asking a friend to be an officiant. How do we go about asking? Should we pay for their certification/license?

Question #6:

How to go about choosing an officiant when you’re not a part of a church?

Question #7:

How to tell your parents that you don’t want to use their pastor?

Question #8:

Ways to make the ceremony more personalized to you and your fiancé?

Question #9:

Best way to incorporate 2 religions or 2 languages?

Question #10:

What suggestions do you have for an officiant in a ceremony with cultural elements that not all guests may be familiar with? (I.e. Chinese Tea Ceremony, jumping the broom, Filipino sponsors, Areas, etc.)

Question #11:

What’s a good thank you gift for your female officiant who is a friend?

Question #12:

What should your officiant wear?

Question #13:

When/how do they enter the ceremony?

Question #14:

How does an officiant approach “housekeeping details” like asking everyone to silence their phones or to stick around for a group photo when the couple recesses down the aisle, etc

Question #15:

Where is the best place to fit a handfasting ceremony into the larger wedding ceremony?

Question #16:

My officiant said he doesn’t come to the rehearsal!! What do we do?

Links We Referenced

https://www.unboringweddingacademy.com

https://unboringwedding.com

Mark's no stranger to the podcast so if you haven't heard him previously head back to:

Episode #150 - Will you Marry Us

Episode 241 - The Big Wedding Planning Masterclass.

The Big Wedding Planning Podcast is...

Hosted and produced by Michelle Martinez.

• Edited by Veronica Gruba
• Music by Steph Altman of Mophonics
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