Bringing Your Own Officiant

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

So, I have someone that I would like to marry us. He is my old religion professor, who is also good friends with my mom. He is ordained to do so in our state. Every time I see him conversation always turns to the wedding. He seems to be a big mouse fan himself. And every time I see him I ask if he is going to come to disney and officiate our wedding. He finally realized that it isn't until 2010

He asked since he had his license or what ever to marry us in our state if that would cross over to Florida. I told him I didn't know and that I would find out.

Does Disney require anything? (I'm sure there is some paperwork )

For those of you who brought your own officiant, what did you do to make their trip easier? Pay for hotel room, airfare?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

 

[lurkyloo]

If he is an ordained member of the clergy, he doesn't need any special paperwork to perform a ceremony in Florida. If your professor isn't officially a member of the clergy, he can be ordained online by the Unversal Life Church, which is open to everyone. Disney doesn't ask to see any paperwork other than your marriage license.

We brought DH's Methodist youth pastor to WDW to officiate our wedding, and it was one of the best decisions we made. The ceremony was so personal, and because he has been such a big part of DH's life, it was really special to have him there.

We paid for 2 nights of hotel and his airline ticket, plus his meal at the rehearsal brunch, and of course he came to the reception.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

If he is an ordained member of the clergy, he doesn't need any special paperwork to perform a ceremony in Florida. If your professor isn't officially a member of the clergy, he can be ordained online by the Unversal Life Church, which is open to everyone. Disney doesn't ask to see any paperwork other than your marriage license.

We brought DH's Methodist youth pastor to WDW to officiate our wedding, and it was one of the best decisions we made. The ceremony was so personal, and because he has been such a big part of DH's life, it was really special to have him there.

We paid for 2 nights of hotel and his airline ticket, plus his meal at the rehearsal brunch, and of course he came to the reception.

Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to pass it along...

 

[twenty3curls]

If I'm having an Escape wedding and I choose to use my own officiant, and not one off Disney's preferred list, does that person count as one of my 18 guests?

 

[lurkyloo]

If I'm having an Escape wedding and I choose to use my own officiant, and not one off Disney's preferred list, does that person count as one of my 18 guests?

Unfortunately, yes - they will count toward the limit.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Unfortunately, yes - they will count toward the limit.

Strange...but good to know

 

[rumrunnergirl]

.

 

[twenty3curls]

I'm bringing my own and my planner said he will count as a guest because when you bring your own officiant they go to the reception, but when you use someone on Disney's list, they leave after the ceremony.

That makes no sense for Escape brides since we have to pay for our own post-ceremony meal/party and it's not included in the Disney package. And the officiant does not take up a seat since they'll be up front. Of all the things Disney tries to control in this wedding process, this one makes the least sense to me.

 

[DaPookie]

Unfortunately, yes - they will count toward the limit.

Only if they come to the reception. We had an officiant that was not on Disney's list, but chose not to come to the reception, and he did not count towards our limit.

 

[lurkyloo]

Only if they come to the reception. We had an officiant that was not on Disney's list, but chose not to come to the reception, and he did not count towards our limit.

Right, but you had a Wishes wedding and she was asking about Escape.

 

[DaPookie]

Right, but you had a Wishes wedding and she was asking about Escape.

I'm sorry, I didn't see who said Escape in her original post. I must have missed that.

 

[lurkyloo]

I'm sorry - I didn't mean to be curt!

 

[Lynn5700]

That makes no sense for Escape brides since we have to pay for our own post-ceremony meal/party and it's not included in the Disney package. And the officiant does not take up a seat since they'll be up front. Of all the things Disney tries to control in this wedding process, this one makes the least sense to me.

Yeah it doesn't make any sense. I was thinking about using my Uncle as our officiant, he is a pastor. My planner never mentioned that he would go toward the guest count. Weird.

Hmm maybe they count as a guest because Disney figures they will stay after the ceremony for the cake cutting and stuff. Normally your officiant will just leave after the ceremony. Ours did lol!

 

[twenty3curls]

Yeah it doesn't make any sense. I was thinking about using my Uncle as our officiant, he is a pastor. My planner never mentioned that he would go toward the guest count. Weird.

Hmm maybe they count as a guest because Disney figures they will stay after the ceremony for the cake cutting and stuff. Normally your officiant will just leave after the ceremony. Ours did lol!

Yea, I want to use my grandfather since he's a priest..and he's free! (Plus, I like the idea of using family for this initmate ceremony) Father George could afford to lay off the cake, so maybe if I promise he'll just preach and not eat, they'll will let me not count his as a guest!