This April of 2008 a local bridal blog interviewed Nora Haberbusch for their feature on local wedding officiants. Below are the questions and answers from the interview.
How have you been officiating? And why did you become an officiant?I began officiating after my “training” in March of 2005.I had done some wedding photography before I began officiating and even though I enjoyed it I like the connection when working with a couple in planning their ceremony more during this process. I always enjoyed creative writing and this is a perfect outlet for me while working with couples to plan the ceremony of their dreams.
Do you allow couples to write their own vows and/or ceremony?Absolutely they can customize any part of the ceremony they would like or even create the entire ceremony themselves. I do custom write every ceremony after a series and discussion of and present that to the couple if they do not have something specifically picked out. There are no restrictions as to what can be said or done – it is the couples ceremony and I am there to help them create the day they only imagined before.
What are the most unusual ceremonies you have done? I haven’t done anything that I would call unusual, but instead unique to that couples taste. I have done various ceremonies that were themed around sports (I wore a referee outfit), horses (bride rode a horse down the aisle), doves, butterflies, Celtic traditions, various European traditions, Renaissance themed, nature, cosmic, Dr. Seuss, religious, civil, secular – there are many different kinds I have done. I encourage couples to make their ceremony uniquely theirs.
Do you require to have a mention of God in your ceremonies?No, I leave that decision to the couple to decide – I also let them decide if they would want to use words such as “obey”.
What do you wear at weddings?I try to truly blend, I don’t wear anything that will stand out or make someone say “that was the officiant wearing that…thing”. I generally wear all black – black pants, jacket and a colored shirt under the jacket. I do not want to be overly fancy to take away from the clothing the bridal party is wearing.
Where do weddings take place?Anywhere a couple can imagine – I travel to many places local parks, stores, gazebos, lakes, wineries, homes…many different places. Don’t forget unique locations such as on a boat, or even in a cave (ice box cave).
Do you require a couple to have a rehearsal?No I don’t require a couple to have a rehearsal, and nor do I require the couple to have me attend the rehearsal. Every ceremony when it is finished looks much like a screenplay and many couples have successfully had a rehearsal without me being present. Weddings that do not require my presence at the rehearsal are discounted – inquire for the specific pricing.
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