Your New York wedding officiant makes a big difference in creating a ceremony that’s tender and true to you. I’m a wedding professional, and I’m sharing my tips for finding the perfect officiant for your wedding. My partner and I go a step further in simplifying your wedding planning by offering a combined officiant-photography package.
In this post:
- What to Look for in Your New York Wedding Officiant
- Your Officiant and Photographer Team
- Planning Your New York Elopement
What to Look for in Your New York Wedding Officiant
Lots of people can serve as your New York wedding officiant. They include
- State and federal judges
- Clergy
- Friends and family members registered with the state (You can find more information on that here.)
- Professional officiants
Whomever you choose to serve as your officiant, you want to make sure that they’re a good fit. Here are some things to consider when you’re choosing your New York wedding officiant.
- Do you want to work with a friend or family member, or would you prefer a pro? There are ups and downs to working with someone you know and someone you don’t. In the case of a professional, they’re bringing a wealth of experience and comfort with public speaking. It can be worth the fee for a smooth ceremony.
- Are they reliable? No one wants to scramble for an officiant because the person they’d chosen pulled out at the last minute. Find someone you can trust to show up and deliver the experience they promised.
- Can they create a ceremony script that feels authentic to you? We’ve all been to that wedding where the officiant clearly doesn’t know the marriers at all. It’s awkward and disappointing. And if you’re eloping? You feel it all the more. Find someone who knows how to get at the core of your relationship ahead of your wedding date, so you can feel confident that your ceremony will reflect your relationship.
Whether you’re having a backyard elopement or a big party at a lakeside resort, an officiant is an integral part of your wedding ceremony. They can make a big difference in creating a ceremony that’s moving and honest.
Want more information about getting married in New York State? Check out our guide, which includes tips for getting your marriage license and eloping in the Adirondacks.
Your Officiant and Wedding Photographer Team
If you’re looking for a New York wedding officiant, you’ve landed in the perfect place! I’m Sarah, a wedding photographer serving New York and Vermont. My second photographer, Drew, is also a licensed wedding officiant! We offer an elopement package that includes both photography and officiant services.
Your New York Wedding Photographer
As a wedding photographer, I’m inspired by a lot of things, especially astrology, the natural world, and cycles of transformation. I’m always looking for the beauty in the light and shadows. Magic lingers in the in-between spaces and quiet moments that aren’t produced.
You can see in my photography that I value weddings as rituals that are sacred to you and your partner. I’m here to preserve your day with reverence, not force you into stiff poses. Learn more about my photography journey and approach to your day here.
Your New York Wedding Officiant
Drew is my second photographer and a licensed officiant in New York state. He’s also my best friend and biggest supporter. He gets the photography side of things and how deeply special and unique each wedding is. I absolutely love working with him to do elopements. He co-creates the moments my photos help you relive again and again.
Planning Your New York Elopement
The photos featured in this blog post are from an elopement that Drew officiated and I photographed. My best friend Steph married her husband Dale in our backyard. It’s such a beautiful, peaceful space. We offer it to marriers whenever we can.
One of the things I love about working with Drew as a photographer-officiant team is that we get to simplify people’s lives. When you’re eloping, you want the day to be intimate and tailored to you. We get to deliver that experience because we’re a team professionally and in life.
Would you like us to officiate and photograph your wedding? Inquire with us here!
Maybe you’re a little untraditional, a little witchy, a little wild. Maybe you don’t mind
getting your dress a little dirty, running through a field, twirling in the rain, or feeling
the earth beneath your feet as you say your vows.
Maybe you see beauty in contrast — light and shadow, color and mood,
softness and grit. You don’t care about perfection; you care about how it feels.
That might mean walking down the aisle beneath towering pines, hiking to say your
vows with Lake George stretching out below you, or stealing a quiet moment in a
sun-drenched field, just the two of you. Maybe it’s a candlelit barn that’s seen a hundred
years of stories before yours, its walls holding echoes of the past as you start something new.
Some places hold history. Some places hold energy.
And some places feel like they were waiting just for you.
Some love stories glow. Others burn.
Yours does both.
