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Weddings
English
Spanish
Ceremony Rehearsal
Interfaith
Madison
Ryan
Lambert
Bradley
Jeff

Recommended by 100% of couples

About this vendor

Celebrate Your Story with First Coast Officiant

If you are looking for a personalized wedding ceremony in Jacksonville, Florida, meet Russ Wilson of First Coast Officiant. Russ is dedicated to the idea that every couple deserves a ceremony as unique as their bond. Drawing on more than 17 years of experience as an ordained pastor, he brings a calm, professional presence to your wedding day, ensuring the process is smooth and stress-free from the first draft to the "I do."

Bespoke Ceremony Services

Russ understands that your wedding is more than just an event; it’s a milestone. He leverages his background as a published author to craft custom scripts that capture your voices and captivate your audience. Whether you are planning a traditional religious service, a modern secular celebration, or a creative hybrid that honors your heritage while staying true to your personality, Russ specializes in tailoring every word to fit your vision.

From formal grand ballroom weddings to intimate coastal elopements, First Coast Officiant is here to make sure your ceremony is the highlight of your day.

Features

Small team (2-10 members)

Experience

  • 1 year in business

  • We speak English and Spanish

Links

Visit website

FAQ

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$695

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?

Bilingual

What religious affiliations do you serve?

No Denomination

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

FL
GA
KY
OH

What languages do you speak?

English
Spanish

Still have questions?

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

Wedding couple

Reviews of First Coast Officiant

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

Review summary

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Reviewers praised the officiant as professional, personable, and flexible, delivering meaningful, personalized ceremonies that reflected couples' stories. He handled last-minute changes and bilingual needs with ease, calmed nerves, and communicated promptly. He also completed paperwork efficiently and came highly recommended.

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.

Reviewers praised the officiant as professional, personable, and flexible, delivering meaningful, personalized ceremonies that reflected couples' stories. He handled last-minute changes and bilingual needs with ease, calmed nerves, and communicated promptly. He also completed paperwork efficiently and came highly recommended.

Madison
Madison Sent on 04/22/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Best Officiant Ever

I cannot recommend Rusty enough as the best officiant! From the beginning, he was helpful and patient and even went out of his way to do a virtual meeting (Due to us living out of town) with us to get to know us and discuss our ideas and make sure that our ceremony was everything we wanted it to be. He answered our questions in a timely manner and gave helpful feedback to create a ceremony that felt intimate and authentic to us and our personalities . He did not make us feel pressured to include anything that we didn't want to and was adaptable to changes as needed to make it personal to us. Rusty even went out of his way the day of to make sure he was there to calm our nerves even when last minute we had to move our wedding reception inside due to the weather not cooperating with our original plans. He adapted with ease and gave us the reassurance that everything would still be ok. He is a big part of why our special day is one that we will never forget . After our ceremony he also took care of all needed documentation in a timely manner to obtain our marriage certificate and kept us informed every step of the way. I definitely recommend Rusty for anyone who is looking for a wedding officiant.
Ryan
Ryan Sent on 06/01/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Hire Russ!

Russ was incredibly professional and flexible with the many changes that had to be made on our wedding day. I cannot recommend him enough!
Lambert
Lambert Sent on 05/16/2026
5 out of 5 rating

The best in the biz

We absolutely LOVE Rusty! He was so personable from the beginning and incredibly efficient with everything we wanted and needed before our big day. We didn’t give him much time but Rusty came through and delivered BEAUTIFULLY. My husband speaks Spanish so it was really nice to have our officiant speak both our native languages. He followed through with everything we asked for and we truly couldn’t be more grateful he was there for us on our big day. Thank you Rusty. You are spectacular at what you do! 
Bradley
Bradley Sent on 05/07/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Hess Wedding


Rusty performed the wedding ceremony for my wife and I in 2014. Prior to the wedding day he took the time to get to know our interests and personalities. He learned our story and was able to incorporate those aspects into the ceremony making it feel unique and special to us. He did a great job, and we still talk about how well the ceremony went every time we watch our wedding video. We would recommend him to anyone.
Jeff
Jeff Sent on 04/24/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Thank you for making our day special! HE’S YOUR GUY!

We couldn’t recommend our Rusty enough. From the start, he really took the time to listen to what we wanted and made sure the ceremony reflected us, not just a generic script. Our venue and setup were a little different than the norm, but he adapted seamlessly and handled everything with confidence.

What stood out most was how personal and meaningful the ceremony felt. It wasn’t dry or routine. It felt intentional, thoughtful, and genuinely connected to our story. If you’re looking for someone who will actually make your ceremony feel special instead of just going through the motions, he’s the right choice.
M
Monica Sent on 04/22/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Personable & Comfy

Weddings are always so stressful and expensive. I wanted everything to be as personable and comfortable as possible and Rusty absolutely delivered. He was easy to talk to, flexible with plans and timing, beautifully well- spoken, and his sense of humor and comedic timing was perfect for our ceremony. Officiant would be an easy ‘check off’ of your list if you use Rusty at First Coast Officiant. 🩷
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

6
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Team

Russ Wilson
Russ Wilson
Ordained Pastor

Map

Location
Travel range
This vendor will travel up to within 100 miles

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