The Wedding Where...

Amanda Walck Ottinger
  • 5.0 (1)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Join me, Amanda, owner of Officiating by Amanda, as I share stories of weddings I've officiated and lessons I've learned, advice for the dating, engaged or married, reactions to wedding ceremonies in movies and TV shows, special guests from the wedding industry sharing their stories, behind the scenes interviews with some of my couples, and the answers to your questions.   With 10 years under my belt, I've got many, many tales to tell!

  1. APR 30

    Bonus: Officiant FAQ

    Send me a message or any questions! You can plan the most personal ceremony in the world and still get tripped up by one simple question: when should we book the officiant? I’m Amanda, and I’m answering the real FAQs I hear from couples all the time, including the ones people forget to ask until they’re already stressed. If you’re planning a wedding in a busy season or a competitive market, this conversation will help you build a timeline that leaves you choices instead of leftovers. We talk through why a consult call matters even if you think you already know what you want. I share what I’m listening for on that first conversation, how to show up “50% prepared” when you’re still figuring out your style, and how ceremony length affects everything from pricing to pacing. We also get practical about writing your own vows, different ways to deliver them, and how to find a format that feels like both of you instead of a performance. Then we get into the legal essentials: marriage license basics, authorization rules, witnesses (sometimes), and the key lines that turn a wedding into a legal marriage. From there, we cover rehearsal options (Zoom, in-person, and what you can skip), what happens when something goes wrong on the day, and whether officiants usually stay for the reception. If you want a ceremony that feels human, calm, and unmistakably yours, this is your roadmap. Subscribe, share this with a newly engaged friend, and leave a review with the biggest question you want me to answer next. Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    28 min
  2. What's The Process?

    APR 28

    What's The Process?

    Send me a message or any questions! Most couples think hiring a wedding officiant is simple: send a message, sign a contract, done. The truth is the process matters, and when you understand it, you avoid date confusion, last-minute stress, and that uneasy feeling of not knowing what you’re paying for. I’m Amanda, and I’m pulling back the curtain on how working with me actually flows from start to finish. We start with the inquiry and the few details that instantly change everything: your wedding date, ceremony start time, location, and how flexible you are. I explain why those basics help me confirm availability, estimate travel, and even suggest a better-fit officiant if I’m already booked. You’ll also hear how my officiant network works and why personality, ceremony style, and even scheduling preferences can shape who’s best for your day. From there, I walk through the complimentary consult call and the exact questions I ask to build a ceremony that sounds like you. We talk vows, readings, unity rituals, ceremony length, tone, and the marriage license. I also share why “we don’t need a consult call” can be a red flag and how a clear process protects you from scams and misunderstandings. Then we get into the quote, what a soft hold really means, how booking is finalized with a deposit and plain-English e-contract, and why communication naturally goes quiet until the two-month mark when we lock in the script, rehearsal plan, timeline, and license steps. If you’re planning a 2026 wedding or beyond, this is your roadmap for vendor communication, wedding planning logistics, and a smooth ceremony experience. Subscribe for more wedding stories and planning clarity, share this with a recently engaged friend, and leave a review so more couples can find the show. Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    24 min
  3. It was a Wedding but Not a Marriage

    APR 24

    It was a Wedding but Not a Marriage

    Send me a message or any questions! A wedding can be a life-changing promise without being a legal contract, and that difference matters less to love than most people think. I’m Amanda, an officiant for 12 years, and I’m pulling back the curtain on commitment ceremonies: the weddings that look and feel like a traditional wedding day, complete with vows, rings, guests, and celebration, but skip the marriage license and the state paperwork. We dig into the real reasons couples choose a non-legal wedding or commitment ceremony, from student loan debt and medical bills to alimony clauses, custody concerns, health insurance costs, VA or disability benefits, and the tax surprises that come with “filing jointly.” I also talk about later-in-life partners who have done the legal part before and want to protect assets, while still choosing each other fully. The throughline is simple: skipping legal marriage is not anti-love. It’s intentional love. Then we get practical. I explain what I can and cannot say as your wedding officiant when there is no license, why language like “union” and “partner” can matter, and how common law marriage rules vary by state. We also tackle the big etiquette question: do you have to tell your guests it’s not legal? Finally, I share planning tips for booking vendors, deciding how public you want to be, and designing a ceremony that reflects your story without over-explaining it. If this sparks questions or sounds like your path, listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend who’s wedding planning, and leave a review so more couples can find these options. Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    24 min
  4. We got Back into the Swing of Things

    APR 18

    We got Back into the Swing of Things

    Send me a message or any questions! Coming back after a break feels weirdly like walking into school mid-year. You’re excited, you’re rusty, and you’re not totally sure where your rhythm went. That’s where I’m at right now, stepping back into podcasting while stepping into a packed wedding season as an officiant in Northeast Pennsylvania, with maternity leave planning in the background and a calendar that suddenly has zero empty space.  I share what “wedding season” really looks like from the vendor side, including why fall is the true peak here, why spring is a close second, and why July weddings often get skipped. We talk about the whiplash between the slow season and the moment wedding expos hit, when consult calls and last-minute elopement requests stack up fast. If you’re planning a ceremony, work in events, or you’re just curious about the behind-the-scenes pace, this is a real look at how quickly the workload ramps.  Then we get practical: how I balance quick sign-and-go paperwork ceremonies with longer, more personal wedding ceremonies that need real lead time. I walk through the systems that keep me sane, like a heavily labeled Google Calendar, task timelines for script writing and reminders, and tools like Motion AI to prioritize what actually needs doing first. I also talk about learning to say no, building recovery time, and leaning on a trusted referral network so couples still get someone who can show up fully present.  If you’re in your own restart season, I hope this gives you momentum and a little calm. Subscribe to The Wedding Where, share the show with a friend who loves weddings, and leave a review so more listeners can find the stories and the planning advice. Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    21 min
  5. I Almost Quit

    FEB 19

    I Almost Quit

    Send me a message or any questions! A fever, a delayed start, and a flying pair of slippers push Amanda to the edge, then sharpen her standards. We share the red flags, the chaos, and the exact boundaries that turned a near-quit into better work and clearer contracts. • the difference between normal stress and cruelty • early red flags and why cancellations matter • rehearsal missteps and payment/license issues • timeline collapse and ceremony tech gaps • the slippers incident as a boundary line • compressing a 30-minute script to 10 • vendor coordination, meals, and respect • contracts, clauses, and clear scope of work • office hours, arrival windows, and audio requirements • lessons for couples and vendors to protect the day If you haven't already, please subscribe, like, comment, and share to help us reach even more listeners who might laugh a little at the wedding wear For the links referenced in the show, visit Linktree at OfficiatingByAmanda If you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast, just send an email to theweddingwear podcast at gmail.com If you're ready to inquire about officiating services for your own big day, you can reach me at officiatingbyamanda at gmail.com Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    22 min
  6. They Had Been Together Forever

    FEB 12

    They Had Been Together Forever

    Send me a message or any questions! The love story you rarely see on TV is often the one that endures: two people who build a life first, then choose the moment that truly fits to say I do. We open up about couples who didn’t rush—some waited through degrees and residencies, some raised kids and paid mortgages, and others navigated health realities and insurance choices before making it legal. Along the way, we unpack how pop culture’s whirlwind romances can distort expectations, and why the slower path can be just as passionate, more grounded, and often more joyful. I share favorite ceremonies that prove time is a powerful witness. You’ll meet second-grade sweethearts who honored a playground promise as adults, a pair who turned twenty years of “someday” into a celebration of everything they’d already built, and college friends who reconnected after other marriages and timed their wedding to gather kids, aging parents, and even early grandkids in one room. We also talk candidly about COVID’s hard lessons: in states without common law protections, legal marriage can unlock hospital access and decision-making rights when it matters most. If you’re feeling pressure to follow someone else’s timeline, breathe. There’s no deadline on commitment, and no single script for a meaningful ceremony. Long-term couples bring humor, calm, and deep knowing to their vows—not as a beginning, but as a continuation. Whether you’re newly smitten or decades in, you get to choose the moment that makes sense for your life, your family, and your values. If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs permission to wait, and leave a review with your own slow-burn love story—we might feature it next. Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    24 min
  7. One Year Of Wedding Stories

    FEB 4

    One Year Of Wedding Stories

    Send me a message or any questions! A year ago I hit record with one simple goal: save the wedding stories I’d been telling in kitchens, cars, and green rooms for years. Twelve months later, we’re celebrating a wild first season filled with real ceremony chaos, heartfelt wins, and the kind of lessons only learned when microphones, timelines, and emotions meet. This anniversary special blends gratitude with good data, spotlighting the moments you loved most and the surprises I never saw coming. We walk through the numbers that actually matter: 1,313 plays, a catalog that stretched from regular episodes to a vow mini‑series, and streams from 19 countries with unexpected momentum in Japan and the Netherlands. I revisit the gateway episodes—yes, the infamous prison bra story—and unpack why listeners keep returning to candid takes on timelines, vendor boundaries, and designing ceremonies that feel like you rather than a Pinterest board. Along the way, I recap standout interviews: a first bride’s behind‑the‑scenes honesty, an officiant’s hard‑won pet peeves, a photographer’s art-versus-wrangling balancing act, and a counselor’s pre‑“I do” checklist that saves couples stress. Then we look ahead. Season two keeps the heart and raises the bar with more reaction episodes, smarter planning insights, and fresh guest voices from across the wedding ecosystem. I share realistic scheduling gaps, why the show’s name leaves room for guest hosts, and tease new stories like forgetting to write the script, doing a ceremony backwards, and the clause you inspired in my contract. If you’re a vendor, a past couple, or someone with a wedding tale that deserves the mic, consider this your open invite to join the conversation. If these honest, unvarnished wedding stories make you laugh, nod, or rethink your plan, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more people find the real side of weddings—and gives us more reasons to keep telling these stories. Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    24 min
  8. We Chased Waterfalls

    JAN 22

    We Chased Waterfalls

    Send me a message or any questions! Waterfall ceremonies surged for us this year, from hidden Poconos drops to popular park spillways, and each one taught us how to balance beauty with access, rules, and sound. We share real venues, what worked, what failed, and the simple choices that keep vows audible and guests safe. • why spring flow and fall color create different risks and rewards • managing sound near loud water without overpacking tech • permit rules, deposits, and venues that ban weddings • accessibility, footwear, and realistic guest planning • when to step back for vows and move close for photos • lessons from Marshall’s Falls, Illick’s Mill, Nolde Forest, Hawk Falls, Dry Run Falls, Sweet Arrow Lake • backup plans for no cell service and limited parking • nearby dream locations to consider across the region • concise ceremony pacing to respect public spaces If you haven't already, please subscribe, like, comment, and share to help us reach even more listeners who might laugh a little at the wedding wear For the links referenced in the show, visit Linktree at OfficiatingByamanda If you have a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast, just send an email to theweddingwear podcast at gmail.com If you're ready to inquire about officiating services for your own big day, you can reach me at officiatingbyamanda at gmail.com Support the show Thank you for sharing the podcast with others who may enjoy it!  Share your funny wedding stories with me at theweddingwherepodcast@gmail.com.  Any links referenced are on linktree.

    30 min
See All (62)

About

Join me, Amanda, owner of Officiating by Amanda, as I share stories of weddings I've officiated and lessons I've learned, advice for the dating, engaged or married, reactions to wedding ceremonies in movies and TV shows, special guests from the wedding industry sharing their stories, behind the scenes interviews with some of my couples, and the answers to your questions.   With 10 years under my belt, I've got many, many tales to tell!

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Walck Ottinger
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Wedding Where...
  • Show Website
    The Wedding Where...