The New Normal: Friends, Family Officiating at Weddings

Wondering how to plan a ceremony when not religious? “A large and growing number of couples are opting for a family member or friend to preside, especially if they’re looking for a personal touch or a religiously neutral ceremony. The shift seems linked to changing relationships to organized religion, say experts and those who have participated in such weddings.” Source: The Baltimore Sun

Forty-three percent of couples in the U.S. had a friend or family member act as their wedding officiant, up from 29 percent in 2009, according to the 2016 Real Weddings survey by wedding website The Knot.

“There’s been a dramatic increase in the number of religiously unaffiliated Americans, sometimes referred to as the religious “nones,” especially among younger people.” reports Ann Duncan, associate professor of Religious Studies at Goucher College. “There are a lot of folks who still have some form of religious or spiritual practice, but are not formally connected to a particular religious denomination or community, and so they need somebody else to provide that service,” Duncan said. 

Choosing that special someone who knows those funny or quirky personal details will make your ceremony truly memorable. Working together to produce heartfelt vows, reflective of your hopes and dreams for your future marriage will be the icing on the cake! 

By the way, couples are opting for Premarital Prep from a religion-neutral source like Wisely Wed, for these same reasons.