Every wedding needs an officiant. The person that “ties the knot”, declares a couple, “husband and wife”, the one that signs the marriage certificate binding a couple together is an important choice for the ceremony.  Regardless if the nuptials take place in a temple, church, mosque, garden, wedding venue, or courthouse, the person who pronounces you married is someone that needs to be selected with some scrutiny.
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If, as a couple, you practice one of the big 5 religions:  Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, or Judaism, your particular affiliation has officiants in place for the union of two spirits. You need only visit with one of the religious leaders at their place of worship and adapt that ceremony to your personal tastes.

Some couples come from different religious backgrounds and want a blending of officiants to unite them. These couples, with their officiants, partake in a marriage ceremony that borrows customs from both backgrounds and traditions to satisfy the wants of the couple and the needs of the church to make certain the marriage is legal and recognized.

It is estimated that 37% of the United States population claims no religious affiliation. If you don’t want a minister to marry you, you’ll need to find a justice of the peace, judge, or licensed individual to administer the vows that unite two into one.

How do you decide who will officiate at your wedding ceremony?  Take these things into consideration:
Can the person legally marry you and have the union recognized in the State in which you live?  Inquiring at the courthouse or with your wedding venue staff is a good place to start.

Do you want to be married by an officiant of your religious affiliation or by a layperson?  If this is of concern to you, you may have to do some research to find out if there are any requirements of the officiant that you desire to marry you.

Is there someone among your family members or friends that can officiate?  Having a friend or family member who is licensed to marry can make for a more personal experience for all involved.

What type of ceremony and vows do you wish to exchange?  Again, discuss with your potential officiant to make certain that they will administer vows that are personal and meaningful to you.
Does the potential wedding officiant invite you to meet with them to answer your questions about the type of ceremony they would perform?

What are the fees expected for the service?  The answer to this question may help you eliminate potential officiants.
If you want to use a combination of officiants, will that be allowed and in what manner will these traditions and beliefs be melded into the marriage ceremony?

When it comes to a wedding ceremony many things will be remembered, but no one person aside from the couple will make such an impact on the occasion as the officiant.  We recommend you do your research and choose wisely.  If you are looking for the perfect wedding location be sure to add Le Pavillon at Parc Lafayette to your list.

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​It is estimated that about 40% of all married couples live together before tying the knot.  That means that when the church ceremony is done, all the guests have left the wedding reception venue, and the literal honeymoon is over, 60% of couples will be combining two households into one.

What’s the best way to mesh your belongings together under one roof?  Read on for practical tips!
Start with the address:  Which home are you going to occupy together? Is it the place that one of you already lives or are you getting a place that is new to the both of you?  If one of your places is large enough to accommodate the two of you and your lifestyles, many newlyweds find it economical to stay put for a while before investing in their first home.

Take kitchen inventory:
The kitchen is a great room to start when combining households. Check your appliances, you will usually need one of each.  Compare them ahead of time and start donating, gifting, or sell things online that won’t be utilized anymore.  If one of you is the primary cook and the other is the beneficiary, let that gourmet make the decisions. Cookware, serving pieces, utensils, and china may be best sorted after the wedding gifts have all been unwrapped. You may be purging even more if some items made the registry and where gifted.

Good art doesn’t have to match the sofa:
Decorative pieces and artwork usually hold a special place in the owner’s heart. There is a reason it was displayed in the first place.  Some couples find it best to store paintings and objects they cannot immediately part with so that their collections can be utilized at different times. Other couples find if they must pare down, that setting a number of pieces that can be kept and weeding out based on side-by-side comparisons is best. If you are fortunate enough to each have a room that is yours to decorate, you can put the piece your spouse considers less than desirable there.  If not, compromise is key.

Since your art doesn’t need to match the furniture:
If you have more furniture than space, you may have to make decisions on which pieces of furniture you keep.  Some couples find hiring a decorator or stylist a wonderful thing. They can look at your items, ask you which you must keep, and merge your styles in a way that combines your individual tastes into a great couple style that represents the two of you.

Yes, I really do need all these shoes:
Closet and storage space is where many couples find it difficult to merge living spaces; especially if you will need to share a closet. Professional organizers recommend that you split the space equally and go from there.
Just like in your relationship, combining a household will take consideration, honesty, and some give and take. Respect each other, keep a sense of humor, and call in the help of professionals if need be to make your first habitat together truly your “Home Sweet Home”.

Le Pavillion is a wonderful private event space in Lafayette Louisiana  for business meetings, wedding receptions, and large parties.  Call today for your tour and event estimate utilizing their team of friendly professionals.

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