Which Officiant and Why?

[Fantasia Sam]

I was seeing a lot of Officiants being used who are new to me and so I thought I'd find out who you were using and why.

Back in 2003 I had originally chosen Rev Tim, because I had seen him perform some lovely ceremonies and to this day I love how he presides over a ceremony, so we met him during our Planning Session trip and I was excited about having him officiate our ceremony however throughout the meeting I didn't get the impression that he was really interested in us and certainly didn't have warm and fuzzies. I stayed quiet about it for a while but it was really bothering me when we got back and eventually I told Paul that we needed to switch, because I felt uncomfortable about something but couldn't put my finger on it LOL. Before choosing Rev Tim I had thought about Rev Jack but I have to say I really didn't like the fact that I had seen sooo many videos with Rev Jack seeing the bride for the first time in her wedding dress and kneeling down, I appreciated that it was a sincere gesture but it kinda was a turn off for me. Anyway I bit the bullet and sent him an email to see if he was free for our date, he was so I went ahead and just made the switch. I then asked my WP to speak to him on the morning to make sure he wouldn't do the kneeling down bit and instead we met at the lifts and he gave me a big hug!!

So what about you, who have you chosen and why?

[PrincessBride010103]

I completely agree with you about the kneeling in front of the bride! That is the reason why I didn't even consider booking him...it kinda creeps me out!

[GJLS10108]

I don't even know who to choose, so any suggestions and input would be greatly appreciated!:confused3

[autumnbride2B]

We used Rev Jack in October and he didn't any kneeling, hand kissing, etc. He was great and performed the ceremony exactly as we wanted. He did a wonderful job and there was nothing creepy.

[DisneyFairy19]

actually I have seen Rev. Day do the kneeling with the rose petals and I think it is sooo sweet. so I would love to use him, I have heard great things about him

[Fantasia Sam]

actually I have seen Rev. Day do the kneeling with the rose petals and I think it is sooo sweet. so I would love to use him, I have heard great things about him

Like I said "it always is a sincere gesture" just not my cup of tea, but he was a Fabulous Officiant and I would thoroughly recommend him - he worked with us to incorporate everything we wanted in our ceremony - he really is a sweetheart for sure!

[hiwaygal]

After checking the websites of the first three officiants listed in my packet from Disney, I emailed all three of them.

Rev. Kevin Knox was the first to respond. His responses were friendly and enthusiastic. He seemed to have the sense of humor we wanted. He sent his packet of information that included a lot of different ceremony "additions" and with that, I was able to customize our vows.

On our wedding day, Rev. Kevin was charming and respectful...and made us really feel at ease.

[yearbook50]

I'm having Ron Rosenzweig on the 8th.

I picked him because he was the only non-religious option for brides & I was told I couldn't bring in my own officiant if I'm having 8 guests.

I'll let you know how it works out in a couple weeks.

[hiwaygal]

I'm having Ron Rosenzweig on the 8th.

I picked him because he was the only non-religious option for brides & I was told I couldn't bring in my own officiant if I'm having 8 guests.

I'll let you know how it works out in a couple weeks.

No offense...but at first your post confused me!:rotfl:

I know I've heard of brides who have had their own officiant, but they do count as a "guest". Since your wedding is at Sunset Point, you were limited to the number of guests you could have.

I just didn't want other brides to think that they couldn't arrange for their own officiant if they had a certain number of guests.

I've only heard good things about Ron Rosenzweig so I know he'll do an excellent ceremony for you, but I also know that there are several other options for "non-religious" ceremonies. Rev. Kevin did an excellent job for us (non-religious) and his wife is also a notary/officiant for the State of Florida.

[yearbook50]

No offense...but at first your post confused me!:rotfl:

I know I've heard of brides who have had their own officiant, but they do count as a "guest". Since your wedding is at Sunset Point, you were limited to the number of guests you could have.

I just didn't want other brides to think that they couldn't arrange for their own officiant if they had a certain number of guests.

I've only heard good things about Ron Rosenzweig so I know he'll do an excellent ceremony for you, but I also know that there are several other options for "non-religious" ceremonies. Rev. Kevin did an excellent job for us (non-religious) and his wife is also a notary/officiant for the State of Florida.

Oh opps. Yeah, Sunset Pointe has the 8 person limit for guests & I was already at 8 guests without my officiant. When I talked to my coordinator about it since said it had to be one of the ones on the list & that Ron was the only non-religious one and I never pressed the issue further. I've heard some bad things about Ron since I booked him which has made me nervous.

[hiwaygal]

Oh no! I'm sorry you are worried! I'm sure it will all be fine!

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I completely agree with you about the kneeling in front of the bride! That is the reason why I didn't even consider booking him...it kinda creeps me out!

Can I ask how old you are? Just curious.

[pink_tink8i8]

I'm having Ron Rosenzweig on the 8th.

I picked him because he was the only non-religious option for brides & I was told I couldn't bring in my own officiant if I'm having 8 guests.

I'll let you know how it works out in a couple weeks.


I'm going to use him too for the EXACT same reason

[Mermaid_Ariel]

I'm having Ron Rosenzweig on the 8th.

I picked him because he was the only non-religious option for brides & I was told I couldn't bring in my own officiant if I'm having 8 guests.

I'll let you know how it works out in a couple weeks.

Rev. Kevin Knox has a non-religious ceremony option. *shrug*

[DisBride2007]

I also used Ron for the same reason as stated above. Many Dis posters here told me that people like Rev. Kevin could perform a "non-religious" ceremony, but to me, if a reverend or a pastor is performing the ceremony, it is religious no matter what the words say.

I am surprised and saddened to hear that some people may have had a negative experience with Ron. We had a great experience with him, and all our guests loved him.

[cseca]

We are using Rev. Knox because he's the first one to respond to my query... the others I emailed didn't even respond... oh well...
He is very quick in answering your questions.

[hiwaygal]

We are using Rev. Knox because he's the first one to respond to my query... the others I emailed didn't even respond... oh well...
He is very quick in answering your questions.

:rotfl: That's pretty much why I chose him too.

I never heard back from Rev. Jack and Rev. Tim took about a week.

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Wow I was just going to answer this question and I had a menopause moment and I can't remember his name!:rotfl:

[PrincessBride07]

We chose Pastor Kirk Baine. We chose him, because we wanted a religious man who was active in a church. I met him when I went to my planning session. I walked out of his office knowing that this was the perfect man to marry us.

When I first started looking around I looked at Jack Day. I had heard many wonderful things about him, and I am sure he does a good job. I just did not get a good feeling from him either. When I saw his robe option section, it seemed to me that he was more of a businessman rather than a religious man. I might be wrong, but that is the vibe I got.

[Fantasia Sam]

Wow I was just going to answer this question and I had a menopause moment and I can't remember his name!:rotfl:

LOL now I really want to know who you did use!!?

I've seen Ron perform a couple of ceremonies and I think he's a fine officiant. You know what I think they all are LOL just each gives a different feel :) I like that there is so much choice :) It's good that there is enough business for them.

I also attended a couple of Disney weddings in 2006 where the brides had their own Minister/Officiant perform their ceremonies and those were prolly the most poignant I have ever attended because the Officiant clearly knew the couple so well, soooo touching!

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

LOL now I really want to know who you did use!!?

I've seen Ron perform a couple of ceremonies and I think he's a fine officiant. You know what I think they all are LOL just each gives a different feel :) I like that there is so much choice :) It's good that there is enough business for them.

I also attended a couple of Disney weddings in 2006 where the brides had their own Minister/Officiant perform their ceremonies and those were prolly the most poignant I have ever attended because the Officiant clearly knew the couple so well, soooo touching!

I have to go look at our wedding license.....:rotfl:

[tink8jr]

We used Rev. Jack I liked his attitude he was willing to help me and answer all of my questions, he reminds me of a grandfather :goodvibes he did kneel but it didn't bother me I thought it was sweet, he is traditional and I like that also about him. :rotfl:

[Tiggerific04]

We used Pastor Sigfried Jaeger. He isn't used much (my planner told me she didn't know of anyone who had used him before) but he is on the Disney list. He is incredibly sweet and flexible and willing to do pretty much anything to make your ceremony perfect. I booked him only 4 days before we left and he kept telling me how honored he was that I chose him and how much he was looking forward to my and DH's wedding. He did everything just as I had asked. He mingled with our families before the ceremony and they all thought he was great. :thumbsup2

[lurkyloo]

I also attended a couple of Disney weddings in 2006 where the brides had their own Minister/Officiant perform their ceremonies and those were prolly the most poignant I have ever attended because the Officiant clearly knew the couple so well, soooo touching!

OK, because Sam said this, I'm going to jump in and say - if there's any way you can swing bringing an officiant you have known a long time, do it! We covered airfare and (Value) hotel for ours and it was the best money we spent. :thumbsup2 The whole service was so personal and so meaningful - I can't wait to see it again on video!

[monana]

If you have your own pastor come to florida from another state to perform the wedding, does he have to get any kind of license in Florida? or do you just have to get your marriage license in your home state so the pastor can do everything in the state your from?? How does that all work?

[lurkyloo]

You have to get a Florida marriage license to be married in Florida, but any officiant who is a pastor/minister/rabbi etc. of an established religious institution can perform the ceremony without special certification. I'm not sure how it works if, say, you want your brother to marry you - if you he can be ordained to do it online, like through the Progressive Universal Life Church, or if he would need to fulfill certain Florida state requirements.

We got our marriage license through the mail from Brevard County - maybe you could call them and ask about bringing a non-religious officiant, if that's something you want to do...

http://199.241.8.125/index.cfm?FuseAction=MarriageLicenses.Home

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I have to go look at our wedding license.....:rotfl:

Rev. Meyers

We were very pleased with him......

[Skylarr29]

We are using Rev Kevin Knox. We are meeting him when we are there for our planning session in the begining of August. He seems so nice on videos I have seen of him and he has answered all of our emails the very same day! I also think he is a very nice looking man and I found that to be a plus.

[mushumadness]

we used Kevin Knox

He was fantastic!! really down to earth, went through everything before the ceremony. A great guy. He even went and picked up our marriage certificate from the court house for us and fetched it to us.

[craigs bride]

we are booking our wedding through gettingmarried will they pick the Officiant for us ?

and are the Officiants mentioned the most popular ?

[JandJ]

We had Rev. Jack Day and we loved him! He didn't kneel or anything and I didn't even know he did that but I didn't care, he was so sweet! He was sincere and charming and did our ceremony exactly as we wanted. DH liked him, and he's very particular, so I knew we made the right choice! DH's Best Man got sick and couldn't come to our wedding so we didn't have anyone to give our toast so Rev. Jack did it and it was perfect! He stayed for cake and sparkling cider (I had non-drinkers so I ordered a bottle of cider), he took extra pictures with us after the ceremony, and gave us marriage advice - it was so cute!

I'd be curious to hear if current brides are just as happy with him as we were.

[FIREFLY01]

We Used Rev Luther Kistler, He Was Great!, Very Personable, He Was The Only One Who Actually Personally Wrote Us Back Didn't Send Us A Form Letter. We Met With Him And His Wife After Our First Planning Session And Decided Right Then He Was The Man!!!
We Were So Right He Kept In Touch With Us All Through Our Planning, Sat Down With Us Before The Rehearsal To Go Over Things Personally, Then Had The Rehearsal. On Our Wedding Day, He Started Off Talking About Us, Like We Had Known Him Forever, He Even Made Us All Laugh, To Lighten The Mood And Relax! He Is Great

Oh Yeah And The Cheapest Of All The Ministers!!!!!!

[parisgirl]

We used Rev Tim, and i have to say he was wonderful, we only met him the day of the wedding but we spoke to him several times before we left the UK and he just got it so right. I believe that our ceremony would not have been as perfect if we had anyone else.

Toni x