• What Your Wedding Officiant Actually Handles Before the Ceremony

  • A lot of couples think the officiant shows up, says some words, and files the paperwork. The ceremony work starts earlier than that. Here’s what You Had Me At I Do actually handles before you walk in — the same care we describe in our officiant FAQs and on Forgotten Coast location pages.

    We write and perform your ceremony. If you need planning or coordination for a Forgotten Coast wedding, Forgotten Coast Wedding Company is a related business under the same ownership. You Had Me At I Do remains your officiant.

    Before the ceremony

    • Ceremony structure. Processional through vows through the kiss — what happens, in what order, and who stands where. We help you choose a style that fits your crowd.
    • The script itself. There’s nothing we must include and nothing we can’t include. We start from a working ceremony and tweak until it sounds like you. Some couples write their own and we perform it.
    • Readings and rituals. We help you choose them, or leave them out. We don’t charge extra to customize.
    • Rehearsal. Most couples want it the day before. We schedule it when it actually works for you. See professional officiant vs a friend if a friend is still on the table.
    • Details that belong to the officiant. Wind and sound on a Gulf beach, where you stand so vows are heard, and marriage-license timing for destination couples. We don’t book your house, chairs, or photographer.

    The license, after

    You bring the license to the ceremony. We sign it and return it to the issuing clerk. Florida and Wisconsin are different processes — use the license page for the state where you’re getting married, and confirm details with the clerk when you apply.

    What stays with you or a planner

    Full planning, vendor management, lodging blocks, rentals, and a day-of timeline for the whole weekend. The officiant job is the ceremony, the rehearsal, and the license.

    Florida couples: start on the Florida page. Wisconsin couples: the Wisconsin page.