If you're getting married in New York City, you'll need to choose the right wedding officiant to make your union legal. Whether you're having a wedding party that could fill Yankee Stadium , or you're keeping it intimate with a few close friends and family, wedding officiants do more than ask you to say, "I do." They solidify your vows in front of your gathered guests and make your wedding a dignified affair.

Just because New York City wedding officiants add solemnity and dignity to your marriage ceremony, it doesn't mean they don’t also have fun. If you're planning a light-hearted ceremony to reflect the playful aspects of your relationship, choose among New York officiants who can gracefully mix the serious side with the silly side. Wedding officiants should match your wedding theme and venue; for instance, if you're holding a ceremony at the Bronx Zoo, look for New York wedding officiants who are comfortable giving a speech with their back to the giraffe cage.

Many New York couples choose wedding officiants who are affiliated with their religious community. If you're looking for a particular denomination of priest, rabbi, or other religious figure, ask your house of worship to match you with a wedding officiant whose personality is a good fit for your wedding ceremony.

Whether you choose a minister with a lifetime of wedding experience, a New York Justice of the Peace for a secular ceremony, or a close friend who's been ordained just for your wedding, you'll need to be sure you're choosing people whose personalities are a good match for yours. Good wedding officiants will immediately put you at ease and make you feel comfortable asking questions.