Recently I have spoken to several couples who were thinking about having a friend officiate at their wedding.  They were not sure if this was the best idea, so quite wisely, asked me if they could come in for a free consultation.  As a wedding officiant based in Massachusetts, I am always delighted to meet with people who are trying to make this decision. There are a few questions I ask, the first is why?  I get many answers to this from budget restrictions to wanting to have someone they know officiate so they can have something personal and special.  From this answer we begin an exploration of what a professional who is focused on customizing weddings can provide, versus the friend or family.   Carol of Intermezzo Players has written about what she has observed at the weddings where friends have officiated.  As she suggests, if you have someone who is use to public speaking, and can speak from their heart you have a possibility that this will work out for you.  However, there are other considerations you may want to think about.  Feel free to respond with questions you may be having, or your own experience.