The Most Common Mistake Wedding Officiants Make (And 3 Tricks to Prevent It!)

It might be a small slip of the tongue or memory, but it can lead to a disproportionately big embarrassment. Whether you're about to officiate your first wedding or you've done it for years, it's the most common and preventable mistake we wedding officiants make.
There's even a photo of the exact moment I made the mistake in a wedding ceremony! 'Wanna see it?
Yeah. Ouch.
This video will give you 3 tricks I use now to prevent ever messing up like that again.
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[@kerriesalwa1878]

Mark!!! I officiated my first wedding last night and It went SO SMOOTHLY and I know it was because of your videos. I was able to stand up their confidently and marry my two friends without fear of fumble. Thank you so much for putting these videos out there and for your guidance. This was the message I just got from the groom..... "Thank you so much again!! You were so amazing!! Everyone I talked to just gushed about you and could no believe you had never done that before! Talk soon! ❤️🙏💍"

[@acfd672]

Mark, just like those below, I officiated my first wedding today and I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off without your videos. Thank you so much for committing your time to helping people like us!! You’re a saint!

[@JesusStarchild]

Hey, thank you for putting these videos together. Super helpful for a newbie like me. I was asked by my best friend to officiate their wedding and then the next week my nephew asked me to officiate his wedding. My goodness…2 weddings and I never even thought about doing this at all… you are definitely assisting me in my feeling of being overwhelmed. I appreciate you and thank you for these helpful, insightful and wonderfully put together video lessons.

[@kimredding1624]

I officiated my niece's wedding in Boston this past weekend. My first one. I watched all your videos to prepare. You taught me well. I followed all your recommendations as best as the bride and groom would allow me. I told their love story. They said their own vows. It was fun. AND I got so many compliments. Someone told me that by far it was the best wedding ceremony she'd ever been to. Thank you so much for all your support and examples. Your series is A plus. I'm very grateful to you.

[@jostott1730]

You are helping me so much this morning - thank you - Love Jo x

[@grimeremover]

After doing my 1st wedding back in August for my son & his bride and with a significant portion of help coming from you...I'm getting itchy to do another wedding! Seeing your video reminded me of the great time and honor it was to have performed this for my son & his wife! Thanks for sending this out- sounds like you've had a busy year settling down! Tim

[@grimeremover]

@@unboringwedding I do not have anything lined up but will be working on that! Thanks again for all the guidance back in August. I've since met 2 people who are officiating for the 1st time and have guided them your way! Tim

[@JoyKinTTV]

I was asked last night to Officiate My 2nd Cousins Wedding. It probably is next year no date set yet. But I sure am nervous. These tips should help me out as I want to make sure it is the best day of her life. Thanks for the information. Yes, I have never been to a wedding before in my life so it will be more for me to learn.

[@rickregister9424]

Thank you for the new video. I was trying to find different ways to not make mistakes. This is one that I had not thought of yet. I'm glad to see you are back to making the videos I started to think you had quit doing it.

[@rickregister9424]

@@unboringwedding I did not think that lake house and Canada went hand-in-hand. That sounds like it would be an awfully cold lake.

[@rickregister9424]

@@unboringwedding I may take you up on that bud. I would love to go north as long as I don't have to experience the frozen parts lol

[@stephspeakslife]

I have my first wedding next month.....glad I found this video first!!

[@Msleft1]

Perfect timing! Officiating my first wedding tomorrow!

[@Msleft1]

It’s a very basic wedding just bride and groom using the sample vows you provided! Slowly easing into it:)

[@Msleft1]

Mark Allan Groleau Thank you so much for the course. Your approach is excellent.

[@danielleprice4184]

Thank you doing my first one in 3 1/2 hrs so nervous

[@RealKimJungUn]

Was asked to officiate my friend's wedding as a favor, definitely a great vid. Thanks brother!

[@thomassustaita6813]

So oddly enough I did most of these things you said off instinct. I officiated my first wedding a month ago for two good friends of mine and only now have discovered your videos. Mostly because I was asked by the wedding planners if they could use me again for another couple so I decided to do some more research and ta da!!!! KZbin to the rescue. So with my friends it was a little unique mostly because the brides name was eerily close to the groom’s ex-girlfriend!!! And a few times during a private practice on my own I slipped up and said the ex-girlfriend’s name!!! There is no way I can do this at the actual ceremony so I did the mantra thing like crazy, highlighted and bold their names in the script and just practiced over and over. I though about changing the order of the names since I was so used to saying the groom’s and the ex-girlfriend’s back when they were together with the thought that if I started with the bride’s name first I could break up the old association with the ex. I stuck with the original order but did 2 out of your 3 tips and the ceremony went off without a hitch. I’m looking forward to officiating future ceremonies and will be watching your videos for tips. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

[@awesome7135]

This guy is awesome

[@thecabornchapel1540]

I've officiated hundreds of weddings and have yet to mispronounce their names mainly because I capitalize and highlight their names and proofread three times. It's one of my biggest fears

[@phyllismagee5327]

Awesomeness

[@markofmckinney941]

Thanks for sharing these! I'm marrying my nephew and his longtime girlfriend next Saturday. I feel like my risk of this happening is low, but will work the repetition just in case.

[@markofmckinney941]

@@unboringwedding the wedding ceremony went really well! I failed to ask the congregation to sit after the processional, but soon after the did, I thanked them, we laughed, and moved on. Best thing about it, I had the best seat in the house! Thanks again!

[@susanasamaniego4253]

Very good 👍ideas, how much do u charge for a ceremony Roughly..? And how do u do ur marketing..?

[@budove58]

I've officiated several weddings always for friends or family and I expect to know them well but at some point during preparing I realize that's a false security because I dont necessarily know their partner as well. I know I'll get one name right, the other is a mistake waiting to happen.

[@CowboySanta]

Any videos about how to get started officiating weddings? I've recently had this idea. I've been working as Santa off and on for a number of years. And thought, hey a lot of people go to Vegas to be married by Elvis. Why not get married by Santa? How special would that be? But don't know how to get started. Other than doing the online ministry thing, which I've done. But now what? Oh, I've also kind of envisioned a winter wonderland/santa workshop chapel. But that's probably a ways down the line.

[@klaydodd8135]

Have my first wedding and would love some advice or a sample script. I am a friend of the couple so I have no experience

[@hipcuteguy]

HI Mark, Thanks for this reminder. The subject of names came to me. Are there any rules to use the complete full names of the couple? I usually mention it once at the very beginning and use their single names afterwards. For example, Today is a joyous day as we come together to witness the marriage of John Paul Jones and Mary Jane Ellen Cooper. I saw other officiants use the full names also with the rings on occasion. Much appreciated.

[@hipcuteguy]

@@unboringwedding By using the complete full names at the beginning sets a stately tone to the ceremony, this is going to be my style henceforth. I appreciate your reply and point of view. Thank you. R

[@debrasikanas7151]

Hello Mark, I have been trying to reach you since Thursday (today is Sunday). I am hoping to enlist your help in officiating my first wedding (October). Debra from MI.

[@ericac.4316]

So I had officiated my first wedding very recently and I knew the young lady since she was young but not her soon to be husbands name. I had said his name correctly the first time but as I continued to read my script, I called him another name and of course they corrected me laughing but it happened again as I continued to read my script. I had the wrong name written down 🤦‍♀️ this was definitely a live and learn.

[@zina6581]

I've been married 3 times, and the first 2 times, the minister called the groom by the wrong name...

[@sdhute]

Great mention of names. I'm marrying two good friends who have similar names to other friends.

[@MrPddouglas]

I just did my first wedding on October 7th. I got the couple's name wrong after their personal vows. I did it on purpose. In their vows, they used their pet names to address each other. When they were finished. I said "Pebbles and Matty, I'm sorry... I mean Jennifer and Matthew...."They laughed and the audience laughed.

[@NiteRythemzRadio]

Lol, funny story

[@melaniem39]

I did this for the first time in 15 years. I nearly died and I'm petrified it's going to end up on youtube. Sigh. It was the same situation... copying and pasting the names in there. I might have to try the highlight thing.

[@kellybookamer8265]

Is it customary to always say the bride’s name first and then the groom’s? Or is this a decision the couple should make?

[@benbutler4622]

After they are married you say the grooms name then the brides

[@Apaulshi]

I know it might not be conducive for everyone’s plan… but some ministers will not marry a couple that they haven’t counseled. You’d actually BE their friend with less chance of forgetting their names 😊

[@unboringwedding]

True. And for every couple who goes that route, there’s another who doesn’t. This video is for their officiants. Thanks for your comment.

[@Yraur]

I Think men really don't realize how much we have centered the world around the man in almost every area.

[@cuevas8405]

This is basically 3 tips on how to not get the Couple's names wrong so we do not have that little oopsie you just had

[@Yraur]

Imo.....the most common mistake is when he annnounces the couple as mr and mrs John brown ans he omits the bride's first name. Then second mistske is when he says man and wife. It should either be man and woman, pr husband and wife Then when he says you may now kiss the bride. That too is wrong. Why in the world can't people get that? Why not just say bride and groom, you all may now kiss.

[@GilliMarieMoody]

Lol. Love this. With much respect, might I suggest that you Not chop off your lovely head? I promise you that your video editor will be pleased. Cheers🥂.

[@unboringwedding]

Thanks for the tip - noted! :)