American Council of Wedding Officiants

The Officiant's Code of Ethics

As an ordained ceremonial minister, I agree:

To maintain professional standards of service to the public that will bring honor and recognition to the ministry, my colleagues and myself.
To serve each client with respect, sensitivity, and professionalism, and to provide all services in a timely, sincere and respectful manner.
To offer every client a personalized ceremony that includes elements of their story as revealed to me through the interview and consultation process.
To ensure that clients have complete choice of and final say over their ceremonies, and that my personal beliefs are immaterial to this process.
To encourage clients in choosing, planning and producing a ceremony that is satisfying to them, and to respectfully provide a ceremony that is as accurate as possible in all aspects, including the pronunciation of the names of people, places, and things.
To meet the client for a no-obligation interview to discuss services prior to the ceremony.
To provide unlimited consultation to clients while creating their ceremony.
To conduct a rehearsal where necessary to the ceremony.
To perform the ceremony in a professional, prepared, and appropriate manner.
to provide the client with a keepsake copy of their ceremony.
To provide a service that recongizes the unique personalities of the client, being sensitive to their needs, wishes, values, philosiphical and spiritual beliefs, and cultures.
To not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, or sexual orientation.
To gain knowledge of and remain in compliance with all laws concerning the performance of marriage ceremonies and other rites in every country, state, county or other municipality in which I practice, including obtaining the necessary legal authority to solemnize marriages and appropriately filing client marriage documentation as required by law.