Hiring An Officiant for Your Wedding Ceremony
As a wedding officiant, I’m generally the last vendor to be interviewed. I don’t take it personally…most couples spend a lot of time and energy scheduling and hiring people to make the reception an event that will be remembered for a long time, and it’s the celebration that everyone looks forward to. But once every last reception detail has been completed, some brides and grooms will often say to each other, “Yikes! We don’t have anyone to marry us yet!”
When you think about it, the person who speaks the words of your ceremony is one of the most important people in attendance. A lot of couples belong to a church or house of worship; there’s already a relationship established with the clergyperson and the parties know one another. But what about those folks who don’t belong to a church? Or don't share the same religious background and neither wishes to convert? Or who don’t want to be married in a church? Or who don’t subscribe to a specific religion/belief system at all? Or who might belong to a religion that doesn’t support couples who live together…or have a child together…or where one of the parties is divorced? It’s this population that needs to find someone who will marry them.
Where do you start? I recommend talking to married friends for a referral, or a Google search like “ Officiant", or on Wedplan, Allwedding.com, or Wedding Wire.com. You will get many hits, no doubt, and it will be up to you to find just the right person.
Look closely at their website. You can hopefully learn about the officiant’s personality, credentials, experience, and sometimes even fees. Call the officiant and ask for a face-to-face meeting (you can send an e-mail asking the same as well). There should be no fee for the initial consultation, and the officiant should ask you a lot of questions about the two of you, what you want for your ceremony, and then let you know up-front whether he/she can deliver. Ask for referrals. Discuss the fee for service, and what that includes. Most vendors ask for a deposit to secure the date; expect the same when hiring your officiant. Remember, also, that the decision to hire because he/she is the cheapest is not how to hire an officiant. You want someone who has experience, professionalism and reliability (referrals can tell you about these). But even more important than how much the service costs, you should feel a connection with this person. He/she should be happy to give you want YOU want, and not dictate how the ceremony will be conducted. You should feel comfortable in his/her presence, and believe that this person really has your best interests at heart. sometimes this takes a leap of faith—no pun intended!
After I marry a couple, I send them a follow-up e-mail, thanking them for choosing me to officiate, and for honest feedback. They say that I made them feel at-ease, they appreciated my sense of humor, they were confident in my abilities, I was easily (and cheerfully) accessible, my referrals gave glowing recommendations, and that I made no judgments about them…when others did. You should use these to help you find the right officiant for YOUR ceremony. Good luck in your search!
Submitted By:
Rev. Robyn
Revised by
Brian Purcell
How Much Does an Officiant Cost?
Some churches charge a separate rental fee for the facility, while others offer packages that, for a few hundred dollars more, include the officiant's services and decorations.
Typical costs:
Expect to pay $75 to $200.00 for a simple civil ceremony by a justice of the peace, possibly at your local city hall, county courthouse or at a park. A experienced church minister or a professional celebrant might charge $300 to $400 or more.
The average cost for a pastor or priest to officiate at a wedding is $263, according to The Bridal Association of America.
What should be included:
Many officiants include a get-to-know-you meeting with the couple, followed by two or three planning sessions. Most officiants provide several options for ceremony wording and structure, as well as a choice of readings. On the wedding day, the officiant arrives early, and performs the ceremony. Afterward, the officiant mails the marriage license to the county so it can be officially recorded, and the county/city mails a copy to the couple.
Additional costs:
Some officiants charge extra for a rehearsal, and some charge a mileage fee of 55cents a mile to travel to the wedding location.
The couple must pay the wedding license fee, which usually is $30.00, depending on the location.
Shopping for an officiant:
Tip: To avoid-last-minute surprises, make sure you ask a lot of questions and work out details with your officiant -- such as whether flash photography will be permitted during the ceremony -- before you put down a deposit. The National Association of Wedding Officiants offers a guide on how to find the right officiant.
The Knot.com has tips on finding an officiant for interfaith couples and a list of questions to ask a civil officiant and to ask a religious officiant.
Tip: Be sure to start searching early for an officiant. Many officiants require a certain number of meetings, and some require premarital counseling sessions, spread out over several weeks or months.
Brian Purcell
(866)-990-4480
mywedding@twobecomeoneministry.com
