Skip to main content
Weddings

About

I'm a wedding officiant based in Rochester, New York. My philosophy is that a couple should have the wedding ceremony of their dreams. I believe it is their day and that they should start their marriage by celebrating it in a way that symbolizes the love that they have for each other. My job is to perform the ceremony of their wishes without any prejudice as to what paths in life brought them to this occasion. Elopements, Commitment Ceremonies and Vow Renewals are also available. Ceremonies can be religious or non-religious.

My interest in officiating weddings began while watching other officiants perform wedding ceremonies. I knew it was something I was capable of doing. I've always enjoyed weddings and admit to getting teary-eyed when I see a bride being escorted down the aisle by her dad. In 2014, the opportunity for me to begin officiating weddings occurred when a nearly 40-year career in radio & TV broadcasting came to an end. With a background that included radio announcing, it was a natural fit for me to make the transition to such a joyful vocation. After taking the steps necessary to make officiating weddings legal, I very quickly began accumulating a number of booked wedding ceremonies.

I pride myself in creating wedding ceremonies customized to the couple's wishes. Your wedding ceremony will be a professional yet joyous event. A small PA system is included if needed

Personalized Ceremony $300 - We plan every detail of your ceremony together. Includes a rehearsal (if needed), a planning meeting, phone calls, Zoom and e-mails.

Simple Ceremony $150 -
After asking just a few questions, I will have all the basics covered and will officiate your short and simple ceremony. Runs 10 minutes or less. No rehearsal or meetings included; everything is discussed on the phone, Zoom and e-mails. Perfect for elopements and small gatherings.

I am based in Rochester, NY but willing to travel if available. Fees may apply.

illustration popular

Vendors you may like

See other vendors that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

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 types of weddings and events do you provide services for?

Non-religious
Interfaith
Ceremony Rehearsal
Vow Renewal
Civil Union

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY

What languages do you speak?

English

Reviews of Paul Pakusch, Wedding Officiant

M
Matt Sent on 07/08/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Very Responsive and Great Personality

Paul already had stellar reviews when we came across his website, and after meeting him it was clear why. He is very responsive and is a pleasure to work with. He is invested in creating the ceremony you want and his price is very reasonable. We recommended him to my brother-in-law and he performed their ceremony as well. Can’t recommend him enough!
T
Tiffany Sent on 06/21/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Paul was our officiant for our wedding

Paul was a pleasure to work with and did an amazing job for our special day!
A
Alex Sent on 06/20/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Couldn’t ask for a better officiant!

Paul was amazing! He really went above and beyond to make our day special. You can tell he has a passion for what he does and he was a comforting presence throughout the entire process. I highly recommend him!
Ashley
Ashley Sent on 01/11/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Absolutely Amazing

Paul was absolutely amazing as our officiant! :) We had one meeting before the wedding at a Dunkin Donuts. He made us both feel super comfortable, and went through the whole process with us patiently. We couldn't recommend him highly enough!
A
Allyssia Sent on 01/03/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Getting married made stressless

Paul was fantastic. He was professional, knew what questions to ask, sent the ceremony in advance for our review and had meetings to make sure it's what we wanted. He is overall a great guy that won't let you down!
C
Casey Sent on 12/21/2022
5 out of 5 rating

A friendly guy- a beautiful ceremony

Paul was a wonderful officiant for our wedding. He made planning our ceremony a breeze, and when the day came, he did a beautiful job.
C
Cara Sent on 12/12/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Paul was an excellent choice!

Paul is professional, friendly, responsive and helpful. Paul helped us with every step of our ceremony and made it an easy process. Questions were answered promptly, he gave suggestions when asked and was very accommodating. He was also very reasonably priced compared to others! If you’re looking for an officiant I highly recommend Paul!
Danny
Danny Sent on 11/29/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Day 2022!

Paul was excellent to work with on our wedding. We are from Texas and wanted a destination wedding in Niagara Falls, so Paul took great care of us. He even suggested a few spots around the Falls that we scouted out once we arrived and settled on a beautiful spot on Goat Island. The ceremony was perfect! Paul was so easy to work with, he made a few suggestions and left us alone to decide what we wanted. I recommend Paul to anyone planning a wedding in that area!
M
Matthew Sent on 11/27/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Fall Perfection

Anyone who needs an officiant for their wedding Paul is the person for you. He made me and my wife’s elopement stress free, but still memorable. He was an effective communicator before the big day to make sure all details were exactly how we wanted. He went off the beaten path to get to the perfect spot for our ceremony in front of a waterfall. Don’t waste time shopping around for other officiants and hire Paul.
T
Tiffany Sent on 11/27/2022
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect ceremony!

Paul was great to work with! He went through everything with us beforehand and made sure we had the exact ceremony we wanted. He arrived to the wedding early and even gave us a copy of our wedding ceremony printed out as a keepsake! Several people asked if we knew him ahead of time because he was able to make our ceremony so personal. Highly recommended!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

73
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2020 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2018 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Effortless Occasions Effortless Occasions Wedding Planners

Paul is an absolutely fabulous officiant and a pleasure to work with. He has an exceptional ability to connect with his clients and give them a very personal and unique experience. I highly recommend any bride or groom to use him for their officiant needs.

Preferred Vendors
Effortless Occasions
4.9 out of 5 rating , 11 reviews
· Wedding Planners

Map

Addresses map
Next Wedding Officiants: Rev. Doug's Officiant Services

Other vendors in Buffalo for your wedding

Wedding Vendors