“But We Don’t Want a Stranger Officiating Our Wedding!” We hear this concern from couples sometimes, and we completely understand it. Your wedding ceremony is one of the most personal moments of your wedding day. Of course you want the person standing with you to understand your relationship, your personalities, and your story. So when couples tell us, “We don’t want a stranger officiating our wedding,” our response is simple: Neither do we. A professional wedding officiant shouldn’t feel...

When couples start planning their wedding, the role of the wedding officiant can sometimes seem pretty straightforward. The officiant stands at the front. They say a few meaningful words. The couple exchanges vows and rings. Everyone cheers. Then the officiant signs the marriage license. Simple, right? Not quite. While the actual ceremony may only last 15 or 20 minutes, a professional wedding officiant does much more than simply show up and perform the ceremony. An experienced officiant can...

Here's all you need to know about the legal aspects of who can and can't perform marriage ceremonies in NC.