Outside of the couple getting married, there are two people who are essential in setting the tone for your wedding.  They are the DJ or Band and the Officiant.  Often, people book their DJ and Band quickly, but may not begin to search for their officiant until 6-8 months before the ceremony.  The officiant you select not only establishes the tone for the entire day, but helps you celebrate the uniqueness of who you are as individuals and as a couple.  Finding the right person is more than making a call to see if the date is available and asking what their fee is.  If you want a personalized and meaningful ceremony, you need to ensure that the person your select will work with you, honoring your beliefs and offering the flexibility you seek in designing your ceremony.  There are many questions to explore with the officiant, and ultimately you want to make sure there is a connection between the three of you that will add to the ceremony itself.  A good starting place as you begin this process is my article  Selecting a Wedding Officiant.    You may want to consider starting early, many of us, who create customized ceremonies, and establish strong relationships with our couples are booking well into 2010, and sometimes 2011.   Let me know any tips you may have!