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Wedding Preacher for Hire

French
Ceremony Rehearsal
Interfaith
Civil Union
Madalyn
Crystal
Zhenqi
Tess
D

Recommended by 98% of couples

About this vendor

Congratulations on your engagement! I have been officiating at weddings for over 15 years. My goal is to work with you to make your day remembered and cherished--whether your wedding is a grand affair on the grounds of the Virginia Museum, or at a treed oasis at a remote Air B&B--. just you and your beloved. I perform both secular and religious weddings (I am an ordained minister). My top fee (including travel time and a rehearsal the day before) is $500. My micro weddings range in price from $50 to $200.

I serve the areas of Charlottesville, Richmond, and Williamsburg, Virginia and places in between. During our first conversation by phone, Zoom, FaceTime or in person, I will ask you questions like "Are you planning to write your own vows, or use traditional ones? Will you have reading? Would you like me to suggest some?" That kind of thing.

If after our conversation you decide we are a "fit," I will have you two sign a contract. Half my fee is due at that time. Close to the time of your wedding, we will have another conversation. By then, you will have provided me with any subsequent decisions you have made. From that information, I will prepare a draft of your service. We will review that together so that we can be sure that I have captured everything.

If you have a rehearsal, I will be there. I recommend rehearsals, especially if you have a significant number of people in your wedding party.

I have a small, portable, battery operated amplifier, which I am happy to bring with me to your wedding.

Premarital counseling is offered but not required.

What You'll Love About Wedding Preacher for Hire

Couples love warmth and kindness of this pastor. She has invaluable knowledge and resources which results in beautifully crafted personalised ceremonies. Check out the reviews to see what other couples loved about working with Wedding Preacher for Hire!

Features

Woman-owned

Links

Visit website

Weddings with this vendor

Lauren & Parker's wedding
Lauren & Parker
43 photos

FAQ

Which of the following are included in the price of your wedding officiant services?

Ceremony Rehearsal

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$100

What is the starting price for pre-marital counseling (per session)?

$75

What types of weddings and events do you provide services for?

Non-religious
Interfaith
Ceremony Rehearsal
Vow Renewal
Civil Union

What services do you provide?

Premarital Counseling
Bilingual

What religious affiliations do you serve?

Agnostic
Anglican
Baptist
Catholic
Episcopalian
Evangelical
Jewish
Lutheran
Methodist
No Denomination
Orthodox Christian
Presbyterian
Unitarian

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

VA

What languages do you speak?

French

Still have questions?

Reach out about anything you didn't see answered here—no question is too small!

Wedding couple

Reviews of Wedding Preacher for Hire

This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

Powered by AI

The officiant is warm, professional, and attentive, taking time to know each couple and craft deeply personal, well-paced ceremonies. She's responsive, flexible (often available on short notice), provides rehearsal guidance, resources, and even sound equipment. Guests praised the smooth, meaningful ceremonies and many highly recommend her.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The officiant is warm, professional, and attentive, taking time to know each couple and craft deeply personal, well-paced ceremonies. She's responsive, flexible (often available on short notice), provides rehearsal guidance, resources, and even sound equipment. Guests praised the smooth, meaningful ceremonies and many highly recommend her.

D
David Sent on 05/19/2026
5 out of 5 rating

The best ceremony ever

We are so grateful to have had Gay as our officiant—she played such an important role in making our wedding day truly special. From the very beginning, she was warm, professional, and took the time to really get to know us as a couple. She made the entire process feel personal and meaningful, helping us create a ceremony that perfectly reflected our relationship.

On the day of the wedding, everything was handled flawlessly. Her delivery was thoughtful, well-spoken, and engaging, striking the perfect balance between heartfelt and lighthearted. She made us feel completely at ease up at the altar, which meant so much in such an emotional moment.

We received so many compliments from our guests about how beautiful and personal the ceremony was. We couldn’t have asked for a better officiant and highly recommend Gay to anyone looking for someone who genuinely cares and goes above and beyond to make your ceremony unforgettable.
T
Taylor Sent on 11/06/2025
5 out of 5 rating

A wonderful experience!

Gay was exactly the person to marry my husband and me. She is very warm and welcoming, flexible and willing to tailor the service to exactly what you dreamed of, and she very quickly got to know us/made the service very personal as if she had known us for years! I could not recommend her more.
K
Kate Sent on 11/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wonderful officiant!

Gay was one of the best decisions we made for our special day! From start to finish she was responsive, warm, and professional! We had a unique/intimate ceremony and she was able to walk us through the process in designing the ceremony of our dreams. Whether you’re aiming for a more traditional religious ceremony or non-religious vow exchange, Gay will make your ceremony a truly beautiful experience.

Many of our guests mentioned how lovely she was, AND the speed at which she exited the scene when the time came for the first kiss (and photo!) - it was an athletic feat!

Madalyn
Madalyn Sent on 10/30/2025
5 out of 5 rating

She's the best!

We are so grateful to Gay Lee! We had the perfect small wedding at her home. She was available on short notice, professional, responds quickly, affordable, and the perfect officiant for what we wanted. She offered many options for readings and other customizations for the ceremony. Overall we would HIGHLY recommend Gay Lee!
R
Rachel Sent on 10/29/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Professional and Attentive

We had a wonderful experience with Gay, we were able to have several meetings to discuss what we were looking for, talk about our life leading up to marriage, run of show for the ceremony and other details. She was also prompt to mail our marriage license as promised!
Crystal
Crystal Sent on 08/27/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Reliable and Personable

Gay did a great job taking my husband's and my preferences into account. She was very communicative leading up to the wedding and provided really helpful guides and resources to help us make the ceremony.
Zhenqi
Zhenqi Sent on 12/18/2024
5 out of 5 rating

The Perfect Blend of Warmth and Professionalism

Dr. Gay was an absolute joy to work with as our wedding officiant! She is incredibly warm and easy to talk to, taking the time to truly get to know us as a couple. Her dedication to making our wedding ceremony special and unique was remarkable. She not only respected our thoughts and ideas but elevated them, creating a ceremony that perfectly reflected our personalities and love stories. We couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful, supportive, and professional officiant. Highly recommend Dr. Gay to anyone looking for a personal and memorable wedding experience!
S
Shannon Sent on 12/02/2024
5 out of 5 rating

What a wonderful officiant!

Not only did she take the time to walk us through the entire ordeal, but she guided us through getting the license, and even gave us so many options for what should be in our ceremony. She gave us so many ideas and in the end we got to pick what best fit us. I would and have recommended her to anyone I know needing an officiant.
M
Marshall Sent on 11/15/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you Gay Lee!

We were very pleased to have Gay Lee as the officiant of our wedding ceremony. She did an amazing job, and we loved working with her.

Gay Lee is very kind and friendly. We felt she was exceptionally outgoing, and it made collaborating on the plans for our ceremony an enjoyable experience. She was not overbearing and gave us lots of flexibility to ensure we decided on whatever worked best for us.

The ceremony itself went very smoothly! We heard positive reviews from all of the guests. Gay Lee did a great job during the rehearsal preparing us and making it as stress free as possible.

We would highly recommend Gay Lee! She is an awesome person, and her personality and professionalism went a long way in making our wedding a special, unforgettable memory for us. Thank you Gay Lee!
Tess
Tess Sent on 09/26/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Great officiant, beautiful ceremony

She did a beautiful reading for our ceremony and personalized it for us when we mentioned that travel is a big part of our lives. She listened carefully when we explained what we wanted for the ceremony and incorporated it into the big day. She was very responsive and even though she moved away during the year we planned the wedding, she was totally flexible about our rehearsal and ceremony locations.
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Awards

128
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
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Professional Network & Endorsements

Virginia Schweninger, Harpist Virginia Schweninger, Harpist Wedding Musicians

We have done a several weddings together recently, and each one felt so fresh and sincere. Highly recommended!

The Mill at Fine Creek The Mill at Fine Creek Banquet Halls

Reverend Gay Lee Einstein is a wonderful choice for a celebrant for your wedding day. Her kindness and compassion comes through in each of her customized ceremonies. She is very organized and wonderful to work with through both the rehearsal and day of the wedding! We love to hear that a couple has chosen Gay to help them solidify their union.

Aaron Watson Photography Aaron Watson Photography Wedding Photographers

Rev. Gay Lee Einstein is always a pleasure to work with! I love how her kind and caring nature helps the couple feel at ease during their wedding day. Gay Lee’s attention to detail and professionalism makes her a joy to be around. She is a genuine person whom I consider as a friend! I highly recommend her!

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