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FutureMrsBeeson
Dedicated September 2019

Officiant Cost

FutureMrsBeeson, on March 14, 2018 at 11:13 AM

Posted in Wedding Ceremony 46

How much did you all pay for an officiant? FH and I are not religious. We are looking for a secular officiant, but it's harder than we thought it would be. We originally had a family friend that was going to officiant for us, but sadly he passed away a few months ago. Since then, it's been hard to...
How much did you all pay for an officiant? FH and I are not religious. We are looking for a secular officiant, but it's harder than we thought it would be. We originally had a family friend that was going to officiant for us, but sadly he passed away a few months ago. Since then, it's been hard to find anyone we like. I know we still have time, but vendors book well over a year out in our area (Seattle).

We are meeting with a vendor off Wedding Wire next week. She sent me a quote in advance, and whew was I shocked at the price! It's almost $1k! She has great reviews, and I think we'll like her, but I didn't budget for this much of an expense.

Does this seem reasonable? Granted, Seattle prices are higher than average. For all of you city folk, what did you pay for your officiant?


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46 Comments

  • FutureMrsBeeson
    Dedicated September 2019
    FutureMrsBeeson ·
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    I found this vendor on Wedding Wire, too. I'm just shocked at how expensive she is! Her quote includes

    - Providing you with a large selection of options for different parts of the ceremony (readings, vows, ring exchange)

    - Support in writing your own vows if you choose

    - Crafting an original piece for the ceremony that tells your "Love Story"

    - Facilitating the rehearsal

    - Arriving early on your wedding day to check in with your DJ, wedding or venue coordinator and make sure things are set up correctly

    - Officiating your ceremony

    - Filing your marriage license with the county

    - Providing you with a lovely keepsake copy of the ceremony


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  • FutureMrsBeeson
    Dedicated September 2019
    FutureMrsBeeson ·
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    Thanks for sending this my way! Now I need to check my other vendors. I'm still stuck wondering why her prices are more than double the average. Should I mention this to her? I always feel weird trying to bargain.


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  • Mrs.McFly
    Dedicated June 2018
    Mrs.McFly ·
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    The justice of the leave has officiants and in va they can't charge more than 50 plus mileage
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  • PrincessLawrence
    VIP June 2018
    PrincessLawrence ·
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    Our original one was I believe $400 but she decided to quite so a family friend is doing it now and we plan to get her like $150

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  • K
    Savvy June 2018
    Kathryn ·
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    We're paying $400 for our officiant plus an addition $100 if we do a rehearsal on a different day (which I think we will). We are in the Ventura/Santa Barbara area which appears frequently in lists of the most expensive places to get married in the US so I'm glad that he fit exactly into our budget, which was $500. He does charge 750 for a premium package. In our area, I found various officiants online for 300 to 1000 dollars so your price seems high.

    Our officiant is a nondenominational pastor (who can do either a religious or nonreligious ceremony) so it might be worth looking into a pastor/priest/rabbi who can do a secular ceremony.

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  • Heather
    VIP January 2019
    Heather ·
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    We did not budget 1k for an officiant. Let's hope we find ours for less!
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  • Shannon
    Expert October 2017
    Shannon ·
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    Ours was $89 and he was great. He worked with a small chapel and they also provided officiants that would come to your location within the same county. He was seriously the cheapest that we could find in our area and he was perfect. We had decided that we didn't care as long as we were married at the end. haha. We didn't even meet him or talk to him before the wedding. The company he works for scheduled it with me.
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  • B
    Master April 2019
    Brittany ·
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    In my area the average seems to be about 500. And that’s including all the wedding “bells and whistles”. I would definitely say 1000 is a little excessive.
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  • Rachel
    Expert September 2019
    Rachel ·
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    I've seen them costing $500-1000 around here (Michigan), BUT if you know someone you can get them for around $100. Of course, that unfortunately doesn't help you....... I agree, check around and see if some nondenomonational, Wesleyan, or Episcopal pastor would be cool with marrying you. Typically they're pretty chill and open to all different types of people, at least in my experience. They'll probably be less expensive as well.

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  • AC
    Devoted September 2021
    AC ·
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    We are paying $380 in south florida. She already sent us the vows so we can review them and they are perfect. Very customized
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  • LizzyG
    Devoted September 2018
    LizzyG ·
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    My mom is marrying us so it isn't costing us anything, I told her to just put it on my tab lol.

    But in our area a justice of the peace can do it for around $100. If its a judge or minister it may be more. But $1k is ridiculous.

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  • Kelli
    Savvy August 2018
    Kelli ·
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    We found a local officiant who was highly recommended through people in the area and he was $250 which includes rehersal.

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  • R
    Devoted September 2018
    Robbi ·
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    Nothing. He is officiating for free. I asked around if any of my friends knew someone who was just ordained online. We aren't very religious and wanted someone we really didn't know to marry us. Someone gave me his name and email, we messaged back and forth, got a good vibe and he's our man. He is eating dinner w/ us and invited to the dance, along w/ his wife, but other than that cost...free! Anything I've looked at on-line has been nothing cheaper than 200. Noooooo thanks!

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  • Holly
    VIP June 2018
    Holly ·
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    Mine is $250 for a secular officiant (local - WI - found on WW). Comes with unlimited telephone and email support, meetings, rehearsal, custom ceremony, personalized ceremony booklet, and signing and filing marriage license. I think $1000 is way too much! I would keep looking.

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  • Stefanie
    Savvy November 2018
    Stefanie ·
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    FH and I are using a family friend, but my brother paid $300 when he got married. We're in the Midwest, though, so there's some difference there.
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  • Tobemrs.knudson
    Devoted June 2018
    Tobemrs.knudson ·
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    I don't live in a big city but I would think 500-700 would be about normal before tip and travel were included. Here most were about 300-400 not including travel. We ended up finding an officiant through some friends for about 100. It was extremely difficult to find someone for our none religious ceremony because I refused to even consider any one who was a pastor minister ect. Just because I didn't want to pay anyone associated with anything religious.
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  • M
    Just Said Yes March 2019
    Megan ·
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    In nyc metro area, all the quotes I got were between $750-1000.
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  • Michelle
    Dedicated May 2018
    Michelle ·
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    30 bucks a day! She will be there for the day before and the day of. She owns the lodge that I'm getting married at. Her and her husband are both officants that work with the court house so the will go where ever. She's amazing.
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  • J
    Dedicated April 2018
    Jamie ·
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    I found my officiant on Facebook. Posted in local groups, she had several packages available ranging from $125-$300 she also has specials for payment all at once it was $25 off each package. We communicate on the phone few times and emailed back and forth a bunch getting the vows just right. Our was very none reglious and was beautiful. Good luck
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  • Kelli
    Expert August 2018
    Kelli ·
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    Yikes!! When I got married the first time in 2005 we paid $30 for a notary to marry us, not all states allow notaries to perform weddings but they're typically much cheaper if that is an option. This time around the officiant is included with our venue so we didn't even have to try to find someone. I never knew it cost that much for an officiant!!! Maine is definitely a good place to get married I guess lol.
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