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Officiant Cost

How Much Does an Officiant Cost?

low costLow: $50-$100
low cost Average: $263
low costHigh: $200-$400+

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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 $50 to $100 for a simple civil ceremony by a justice of the peace, possibly at your local city hall, county courthouse or at a park. An intern minister or retired judge might charge $100 to $200. And an experienced church minister or a professional celebrant might charge $200 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, has the witnesses sign the marriage license, and performs the ceremony. Afterward, the officiant mails the marriage license to the county so it can be officially recorded, and mails a copy to the couple.
Additional costs:
  • Some officiants charge extra for a rehearsal, and some charge a mileage fee of 30 to 50 cents a mile to travel to the wedding location.
  • The couple must pay the wedding license fee, which ranges from $10 to $95 or more, depending on the location.
Discounts:
  • Couples on a budget might wish to have a friend or relative get ordained online for free and perform the ceremony at no charge. The Universal Life Church offers ordination that is usually processed within a day or two, and the credentials are e-mailed. The ULC offers a list of regulations by state, but couples who wish to go this route should check with their county clerk's office or marriage license bureau well ahead of time to make sure their marriage will be legal.
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.
  • The National Association of Wedding Ministers offers a referral service by state, with information about each member's main religious affiliation. And RabbiRentals.com connects couples with rabbis who will perform weddings.
Article updated July 2007
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Recent Posts
Amount: $450.00 wedding officiants
Posted by: dsl in Seattle, WA.Purchased: 2007
My wife and I ended up paying a little more for our civil officiant. The quotes we were given in the Seattle, WA area ranged from $300-$500. I personally interviewed 8 candidates before deciding on our officiant and, in the end, know I made the right decision. The candidates were either too intellectual, too fidgety, etc. It was important to select someone who would reflect our values - warm and welcoming. This will vary from couple to couple so I would recommend giving this some serious thought! In the Seattle, Washington area, the following website is a good starting point:
http://www.myseattlewedding.com/categories/ministers_clergy/index.html
good luck!
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Amount: $525.00 cost of a wedding officiant
Posted by: B Crandall in San Diego, CA.Purchased: June, 2008
Type: nondenominational
I found as I looked for wedding officiants in San Diego that their was a big difference between the $200 officiant and the $400 plus officiant. And I'm not talking about money, I'm talking about quality of service and experience. You don't help couples or officiants by quoting national averages and applying them to a market that they don't apply to. It takes a lot more work to figure out what is appropriate in this area. Break your numbers down and you'll probably find that $263 works well in Omaha, NB. Your information is way to 'general' to be helpful to most couples and it probably makes things worse for the professionals that are trying to serve them.
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Amount: $0.00 Cost of Wedding Officiant
Posted by: Miranda in Dayton, OH.Purchased: August, 2008
I think the above comment has missed the point of this page entirely. It's pretty safe to assume that areas (like San Diego) that include a higher cost of living will also mean that services are going to cost more. The national average is just that, an average. The website administrator isnt going to do the leg work to find the cost of every officiant in every city. They are trying to give a general idea, so when people, like myself need to draw up a rough wedding budget, we can do so without already knowing the whole picture.
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Amount: $300.00 wedding officiants
Posted by: Susan Gates in Long Bach, CA.Purchased: September, 2008
I worked with a reverend Peter Otto with Divine ceremonies. He showed up always on time, both to rehersal and on our day. Very friendly, warm, and understanding. Our service was just beautiful. I am so glad I choose to go with hi.
Here's his site: www.DivineCeremonies.com
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Amount: $300.00 Officiant Cost.
Posted by: Christine Stonger in San Juan Capistrano, CA.Purchased: April, 2008
Type: Cleric
Chris Gilbert was our cleric.
He was Perfect.
Light-hearted, but well presented...
My guests loved him.
(as did my husband & I)
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Amount: $275.00 retired judge in chicago
Posted by: D.D. in chicago, IL.Purchased: February, 2009
Type: nondenominational
typical price for professionals with wedding experience. agree with comments above about the misleading nature of these averages.
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Amount: $400.00 Phoenix Officiants
Posted by: a user in Phoenix, AZ.Purchased: March, 2009
I've gotten quotes for mostly about $300-400 for Phoenix officiants. It definitely seems like the quality is a lot better than for people who charge less. I think it's expensive but it is worth it. I really like the lady who is going to officiate our ceremony in October. Her name is Gwen Waring.
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Amount: $0.00 Legal Officiant- Some States NOT Legal
Posted by: SuzieQ in Tempe, AZ.Purchased: 2009
Type: officiant
"Couples on a budget might wish to have a friend or relative get ordained online for free and perform the ceremony at no charge". Our friends had a friend perform their wedding and he totally choked. Plus I know the MUST say certain things to make it legal. Friend don't always get it right. I say if you can afford it...leave it to the pros..afterall it the reason for the wedding...The Wedding Ceremony. Jsut my thoughts
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Amount: $50.00 Legal Officiant
Posted by: Brianna in Redding, CA.Purchased: April, 2009
Type: Officiant
I am a legally ordained minister but you wouldn't know it at all! :-)
Someone like me, who has no experience would only charge a friend $25-$50 depending on where the wedding took place. We are in Shasta County (Northern California) where a GOOD EXPERIENCED officiant will run you about $150-$200. In California, there are no set words that one must say. Heck, you could bark like a dog if you wanted to, so long as the couple asked you to do so as long as you signed the marriage license and had at least one witness!
Friends get nervous, yes, but having someone meaningful with you rather than a stranger if you're doing something a little more informal and less traditional (and I don't mean by way of outfit and party decor!) if you humbly ask said friend to practice and rehearse, they're not going to be offended!
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Amount: $0.00 This is WHY you need to hire a PRO
Posted by: SuzieQ in Tempe, AZ.Purchased: 2009
Type: Hire a PRO
Brianna- Sorry to tell you but California Family Code sections: 400 states that you must have the DECLARATION OF CONSENT. So, this is why paying someone $50 (like you) who doesn't know what they are doing, makes my point. Thank you for your ignorance!!!! While your couples may want to bark like dogs durring the ceremony....that is fine.... but for couples who want the ceremony to be LEGAL...... and want to be actually married..... leave it to the PROS! Thank you Brianna! You are a perfect example of WHAT COUPLES SHOULD NOT TO DO!
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Amount: $250.00 SuzieQ not so accurate !
Posted by: Reverend Lisa in Rosemead, CA.Purchased: May, 2009
Type: Hire a Pro ! REALLLY?
Suzie before you bash a fellow poster, please be sure of the quote you are making. It is not Family Code 400, that is the definition of an Officiant, the code you are referring to is Code 300 and that specifies the need for a marriage consent and the license, the consent and license become valid as a marriage contract as long as it is followed by a solemnization by a person that is defined in code 400.

See below-
(a) Marriage is a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between a man and a woman, to which the consent of the parties capable of making that contract is necessary. Consent alone does not constitute marriage. Consent must be followed by the issuance of a license and solemnization as authorized by this division, except as provided by Section 425 and Part 4 (commencing
with Section 500).
(b) For purposes of this part, the document issued by the county clerk is a marriage license until it is registered with the county recorder, at which time the license becomes a marriage certificate.

I would suggest as PRO you reread it and refrain for quoting inaccurate information.

http://law.onecle.com/california/family/index.html
Reverend Lisa
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Amount: $0.00 Experience is what counts...
Posted by: Officiant Eric in Agoura Hills, CA.Purchased: 2009
Type: Wedding Officiant
Hi everyone. I am a wedding officiant in the Los Angeles are and wanted to share with you some information.

In every area of the country you can find "cheap" officiants to perform your wedding, however I must say this is one area in which you should find someone experienced.

Remember, this person will have the attention of all of your guests, plus the bride and groom. You will want someone that is a good public speaker, doesn't get frustrated easily, and has a great personality. A little humor wouldn't hurt either.

-Officiant Eric Schwartz
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Amount: $0.00 pro schmo
Posted by: Sara in Wolfeboro, NH.Purchased: 2009
My brother's non-religious wedding was in a small NH town. There are only 2 justices of the peace in the area. One was very evangelically religious (not a good fit) and had a stutter, so they picked the other. She was terrible. She couldn't speak in public, arrived at the last minute, and had nothing meaningful to say in the ceremony. I am now planning my own wedding in the same area and have gotten one of my friends ordained online to do it. I chose carefully and picked someone who is outgoing and has lots of experience speaking to crowds. Its not hard to research online all the necessary requirements for an officiant, ceremony, and licensing in each state. I like the idea of having someone who really knows us and not a stranger who I've just met 3 or 4 times. I would rather have a friend or relative who can say something meaningful about us and our marriage even if they stumble a few times, than a polished 'pro' who can do the ceremony in his sleep but lacks sincerity or depth.
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Amount: $375.00 Best Officiant EVER
Posted by: Happily Wed 09 in long beach, CA.Purchased: August, 2009
Type: Fun and Romantic
Alan Katz is the best Officiant in the So Cal area.
His team of 15 Officiants professionally perform any type of ceremony. Religious or Non religious.
They show up early and help you custom design your ceremony.
They also issue your marriage license.
Stay away from the low price losers. this is the price point you need.
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Amount: $389.00 We LOVED our professional officiant
Posted by: Misty Tremont in Denver, CO.Purchased: March, 2009
We worked with Maureen Thomson of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants and we couldn't have been happier. She has a team of officiants who work for her. She respected our own beliefs, encouraged our input but gave us as much guidance as we needed. On the day of the wedding, we had a freak snowstorm and everything had to be changed at the last minute. Our wedding planner freaked out but Maureen was the picture of calmness. I felt SO much better having her there.

I agree, this is not a job you want to leave to an amateur.
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Amount: $400.00 Wedding Officiant
Posted by: Dino in Bay Area/Sac, CA.Purchased: September, 2007
Paul Griffith was our officiant. He said he would charge me basically whatever I wanted to give. He is someone I know from work, and I know other people who used his services and were very happy. I am glad to see from other postings that I was in the ballpark with the money. He did a truely wonderful job. Calm and in control, he made everyone feel relaxed and up for the occasion.

Prior to the ceremony, there were some kids playing loud rap music across from the wedding area, he had the forethought to go over to them and asked them to turn it down, which they did. Like I said, calm and in control.
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Amount: $0.00 2nd official ceremony
Posted by: Reverend Larry in madison heights, MI.Purchased: November, 2009
Type: for a friend..
i officiated my 1st wedding in Sept. for a young couple "dead set" against hearing "God" mentioned anywhere during the ceremony.....personally, that didn't sit right....but it wasn't MY wedding, so i crafted specifically what they asked for...happy couple and surprisingly, happy parents...i also dj'd the wedding so i wasn't motivated to tap them twice...

second cemerony was this last saturday and was the complete opposite and with much shorter notice: didnt find out til the night before about the sand ceremony, and that the grooms mother was catholic and wanted the whole 'sign of the cross' thing every other minute, prayers before, during, and after, etc...easily a $10,000+ wedding, with every bell and whistle thrown in (that ive ever personally seen, anyhow)


i did this for free......she is my friend, and I gave her my word, but had i known it was going to stress me out like it did, even though i rocked it, i would have charged at least 200 minimum....

Boy did I earn it too.....
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Amount: $0.00 whats really important...
Posted by: Reverend Larry in madison heights, MI.Purchased: November, 2009
Type: the whole point
whether you have a friend do it, or spend a fortune, the point is that it is YOUR day!!

Whomever you trust, make absolutely certain that, irregardless of compensation, YOU take the time out of your day to tell them EXACTLY what you want. If youre not sure, ask your parents. More than likely you're trying to make them happy anyway...

the point is...KNOW what you want....do your homework....if you leave it up to them...you get what you get....but not necessarily what you really wanted...had you asked they would have been more than happy to oblige...

Some may see this as a paycheck, i see this as an opportunity to make your special day as 'perfect' as humanly possible...if you dont get the same vibe from them....WALK AWAY

or just "go to Vegas"....
if its gonna be cheap, might as well have fun too!!!
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Amount: $375.00 What a Fun Wedding we had
Posted by: Happily Married 09 in Long Beach, CA.Purchased: November, 2009
Type: Romantic
Our Officiant Alan Katz at SoCalOfficiant as the best. He made our wedding so much FUN.

It was just how we wanted it and we will never forget it.
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Amount: $0.00 Cost of Officiant
Posted by: Rev. Ari in Dallas, TX.Purchased: 2009
Type: Just a Thought
Just something to think about; most couples don't mind spending hundreds of dollars on the cake, thousands of dollars on the dress and even more on the reception, but complain that $300 is expensive for an officiant. Would you still be able to be married now if there wasn't a cake? (yes) would you still be married if there wasn't a designer dress? (yes) would you still be married if there wasn't a reception? guests? flowers? music? (yes) would you still be married if there wasn't an officiant? People have their priorities messed up
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Amount: $0.00 ALAN KATZ
Posted by: Robert Sanchez in Los Angeles, CA.Purchased: January, 2010
Type: LOW PRICE LOSERS
Just because you charge people an arm and a leg does not mean you are the best. It just means you love the money$$$$$$$$$. We had a very professional officiant at our wedding for $200.00 donation. SOmeone that loved when she was doing. Not just taking advantage of us. The real losers are jerks like you Mr. I understand that everyone has to make a living. LOL but the wedding business is a place were money hungry vultures lurk. MAYBE LIKE YOU?
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Amount: $600.00 $500+$100
Posted by: Marina in Saint helena, FL.Purchased: February, 2009
Type: Wedding
We are getting married in Saint Helena, CA and were given a price off $500 for the wedding officiant plus a fee of $100 for some sort of certificate that he will be getting afterward. Could somebody help me and advice is the extra fee is standart? Thank you ;)
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Amount: $0.00 Pay for a Wedding Officiant?
Posted by: Mike Jones in South, NJ.Purchased: August, 2005
Type: Church Wedding
Our Minister did not charge and would not accept any money. He felt it was God calling for people to marry through Christ for FREE. How can someone get married without mentioning GOD? I guess people will say and do anything to make money!!!
I paid the Church $100 which covered electric and someone to clean after the Wedding Ceremony.

Normally the biggest expense is the RECEPTION.

I wish you all the best on your wedding day!
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Amount: $0.00 Looking for an officiant
Posted by: Andrew Harris in DC, WA.Purchased: 2010
Type: For my wedding
I am looking for an officiant to do my wedding for 06/23/2012. I am willing to spend 100-400 for the officiant. I am also looking for an estamate. The wedding is a same sex wedding. Please Please help me out.
Thank you.
Andrew
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Amount: $0.00 Having a friend do ceremony
Posted by: Robert Koehler in Tanoa, FL.Purchased: 2010
Having a friend "ordained" on line to officiate your ceremony is a bad, bad idea. First, if you do the research you will find that courts have actually dismissed these marriages claiming they never existed because the officiant was not properly qualified. In some states a ULC minister can officiate without a problem; in other states it is prohibited.

In addition, the main quality you should look for in an officiant is someone with significant experience. The reason for that is simple. For someone performing their first wedding, or even for someone performing their third or fourth, they are going to be just as nervous as the bride and groom. The officiant needs to be your "rock" - someone who can hold his/her head up high and act in a professional manner even if the bride and groom start to break down. A friend of the couple is going to be just as emotionally involved in the ceremony as any other member of the audience.
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