As wedding officiants since 2010, we’ve officiated thousands of weddings. And at every single one of those ceremonies, we’ve stood at the front and held something in our hands.
What exactly is that thing? What is it used for and how do you decide what to hold? Let’s dive into wedding officiant binders, folders, tablets and more!
What are wedding officiant binders and folders?
Wedding officiant binders and folders are the book-like items that officiants hold during the ceremony. They contain the ceremony script, as well as other important pieces for the ceremony.
Throughout your wedding ceremony, your officiant will reference and read from the papers or notes in their binder. They will likely have this book open the entire time so they can keep your ceremony running smoothly.
While traditionally officiants may have held Bibles or other religious texts, modern day officiants often hold slim notebooks or tablets.
Different types of officiant binders, folders & portfolios
While we generally refer to them as wedding officiant binders, these “binders” don’t actually have to be binders at all. They come in all shapes, sizes and forms!
You may see an officiant carrying a:
- Binder with pages that they’ll flip through
- Folder with pockets to store other ceremony pieces
- Clipboard with notes attached
- Notebook with the script written or printed inside
- Stack of papers that they lay out on a stand or altar
- Tablet, such as an iPad
Any of the above options can work for a wedding ceremony as they all can hold a ceremony script. Later in this post we’ll explain how officiants can choose what type of “binder” to carry and if you, the couple getting married, can make any special requests.
However, if you see either of the following options being used, you might consider it a red flag:
A phone. While phones are amazing and you can definitely hold ceremony scripts, vows and speeches on them, we still think they look a little tacky in wedding photos.
If your officiant wants to utilize tech, they should opt for a tablet instead. It just photographs better!
Nothing. Unless you’re getting married in a very short elopement ceremony with a very experienced officiant, you don’t want them to show up empty-handed. Even if they swear they have your entire ceremony memorized, you don’t want to worry about them forgetting something.
It’s like when a server at a restaurant takes your entire table’s orders without writing them down. Sure, they may have a great memory, but it’s just stressful for you! Will they remember you said no cilantro or not?
What goes in a wedding officiant’s binder?
The most important item in an officiant’s binder is the ceremony script. Check out our post on ceremony script outlines to understand exactly what should go into yours.
Your ceremony script details the words to be spoken and actions to be taken during your ceremony. In addition to the actual ceremony, your officiant should also have the following information in their script or in their binder:
- Timeline of the ceremony, include processional and recessional
- Ceremony vendor list and contact information
- Music cues for the DJ or band
- Ceremony announcements they need to make
Besides the script, some officiants also use their folders to hold other pieces needed during the ceremony. For example, they may also hold:
- Their registry book
- The couple’s marriage licence
- The couple’s vow books
- Any small props needed for the ceremony
If the ceremony props are too big to fit into a folder – for example if a couple is planning a handfasting ceremony with a large piece of rope – your officiant can work with your planner and venue to find another place for these items.
They can store things at the front of the ceremony space, on a table or altar. They can leave things, such as the marriage registry, in their bag until after the ceremony. Or they can have things set up on your signing table.
How to decide on the perfect binder or folder for your wedding ceremony
For couples:
As the couple getting married, know that it is your officiant’s job to come prepared with their own binder. This isn’t something you have to provide.
Your experienced and professional wedding officiant should already have a binder/folder that works for them. (Looking for an officiant you can trust? Meet our team!)
However, if you have any special requests, you can definitely let your officiant know. For example, if you’re having a Halloween wedding, you can ask your officiant if they have a binder that might suit that theme. Or purchase a ghoulish iPad cover that they can use for the ceremony.
You may also need to let your officiant know about any venue information that may affect their binder/folder. For example, your officiant may ask about wifi or the availability of a table.
For wedding officiants:
As a wedding officiant trying to decide what to carry during the ceremony, choose something that you’re comfortable with. If you’ve never used a tablet before, don’t show up at a wedding with a brand new iPad!
Like with wedding officiant outfits, you want to choose a binder/folder that is professional and discrete. Even if you’re the most fun officiant ever, you don’t want something like your iPad cover to steal attention away from the newlyweds.
Whether you choose a book, a binder or an iPad, take the time to practice. You’ll likely be practicing the ceremony anyway, so make sure to do so with your actual binder/folder. That way you can work out any kinks, such as pages that get stuck together or a short battery life on your tablet.
Speaking of tablets: If you decide to go the technology route, make sure everything is fully charged. You may even want to bring a portable charger or charging cable with you. If you need wifi, ensure it works at the venue. Or better yet, download everything you need ahead of time so you can do your ceremony offline.
Regardless of your chosen format, we strongly encourage you to have a back up. This could be a physical copy that you print out and keep in your bag or an emailed copy that you can pull up if need be.
