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Wedding Ceremonies by Jim Burch

English
Ceremony Rehearsal
Interfaith
Civil Union
Richard
Kristen
Jennifer
Jenna
K

Recommended by 98% of couples

About this vendor

Jim Burch is a unusually-accepting, open, welcoming officiant who celebrates marriages from Marco Island to Sarasota.

Jim is considered one of the best officiants available by those 3,000+ couples (and counting) he has married, and by vendors in the wedding business. Jim makes certain that every wedding is a celebration of joy and love, no matter what your venue might be. He makes it his constant goal to help you make your wedding ceremony a day you'll never forget. All the time he hears it said: "That was the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen!"

Jim Can either officiate a wedding that is spiritual, special and warmly sacred. OR he can celebrate a wedding that just speaks about love and leaves the religious side ... to the side. (We all believe basically the same thing, just use different words, references, expressions and stories.) He will tell you about the two styles, and then you decide which fits you better. Whichever you choose, you will find your guests (and you) will be delighted with the ceremony.

Jim is able to draw on a reservoir of knowledge as an ordained Catholic priest who never stopped learning ... and not your usual issue for a "priest." He is married himself, with a wife, 5 children and 13 grandchildren. He has studied about love his whole life, has thought about it continually for many decades, and has taken the universal perception about goodness and divinity and learned to express it in contemporary (slightly-spiritual, or strictly-secular) language. He knows that every single human being is basically the same, with the same origin and destiny, the same hopes and goals for his or her life. and the same aspirations for their families. He has written 11 fascinating books on the subject of love and its expression, and has books and videos online at www.JamesHBurch.com. That is because his wide background gives him a most unusual perspective. You would be hard-pressed to find someone who speaks as clearly and as interestingly about things that matter as does Jim.

By focusing on your preferred approach to the ceremony - be it religious/spiritual or civil - Jim aims to cater to your needs, and he uses language and concepts that you and your guests will be most comfortable with, yet always leaving the newly married with a clear and sharp celebration of their love. Whether you envision something indoors or outside, he always makes your happiest moment everything you dreamed it would be and more.

Jim believes to the core of his being that we are all basically the same (different ages, colors, religious backgrounds, lifestyles, eexes, etc. make like interesting!) and he is open to all spiritual denominations - or none - providing officiant services for couples of all faiths and to those who are simply not religious at all. Your ceremony is completely tailored to you and your partner, as Jim takes the time to get to know you and your one-of-a-kind love story. Wedding Ceremonies by Jim Burch is licensed to perform weddings in many states across the country. Jim offers the following wedding ceremonies for everybody who loves someone else: Non-Religious Ceremonies, Interfaith Ceremonies, Single Faith Ceremonies, LGBT Ceremonies, Spiritual/Inspiring Ceremonies, Civil Ceremonies, Vow Renewal Ceremonies.

If you want to see nearly 1,000 thank you letters Jim has received from a wide representation of couples, take a look at this Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vk29taqxz3lk5cd/Thank%20yous.doc?dl=0 (You may have to copy and paste) Here are just a few:

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"We can’t thank you enough for the beautiful, beautiful ceremony that you most thoughtfully performed for us! Not only do we continue to talk about it, but our guests were also particularly touched by it. The words and philosophy were so beautiful and touching! We couldn’t believe how perfectly it matched us and our lives ... it was as if we were speaking our hearts during the ceremony. Everyone thought it was the most beautiful, intimate and loving ceremony they’d ever witnessed! We agree wholeheartedly!"

- Renee and John

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"Andrew and I received so much good feedback about you on our wedding day as well as afterwards. People thought your talk was absolutely beautiful and that you did a wonderful job as officiant of our wedding. We both know we made the right choice when we met you. Even though you do so many weddings we felt you gave our ceremony its own special touch."

- Andrew and Margaret

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"Thank you so much for officiating at our wedding ceremony recently. It turned out just the way we envisioned and our families couldn’t be more pleased. I feel that your philosophy really helped to unite both the religious and non-religious guests at our wedding. Your experience and care really made a difference in our trust and peace of mind."

- Celia and Steve

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"We can’t even come close to thanking you enough for the beautiful, loving ceremony you conducted on our wedding day. With all the details to attend to, we had almost lost sight of the real reason for the day. But your inspirational and, most of all, real, ceremony centered us, and grounded us, in a way we never thought possible."

- Judith and Fernando

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"We want to thank you for a truly inspiring wedding ceremony. It was everything we had hoped for and more. You spoke what we felt in our hearts, yet had never quite voiced ourselves. Thank you for everything. Our family and friends were all very deeply moved and have commented time and again that it was the most beautiful ceremony they had ever been to."

- Patricia and Patrick

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"Christine and I express our deep appreciation for your encouraging support of our marriage and your festive and warm ceremony … from the bottom of our hears, allow us to thank you for presiding over a wedding ceremony so beautiful and sincere that we hope it has set the tone for our entire marriage. … We truly loved every second of our ceremony, and we are both proud and thankful that a man with your convictions and beliefs officiated at our wedding."

- Christine and Christoph

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"We want to thank you for making our wedding day absolutely wonderful, unforgettable and so so happy! The ceremony was absolutely great and didn’t leave anyone indifferent. All our guests were very impressed and in awe by what you have said. Everything about you – your wisdom, voice, poise, looks - made our ceremony so special. You found exactly the right words to express what we both feel for each other. We also were impressed how smoothly everything went – we didn’t have to worry about anything: your kind voice, reassuring look and smile throughout the whole ceremony made us both feel taken care of. If there are angels on the Earth – you definitely are one of them. Your kindness, love and warmth are radiating throughout everything you do or say making people around you feel the part of your world full of love and care. Blessed and honored be the couples whom you willo marry in the future for they will be the fortunate ones to witness and share in the most unforgettable and sacred ceremony in their lives."

- Maria and Michael

Features

Just me

Experience

  • 30 years in business

  • We speak English

Links

Visit website

FAQ

Does starting price include the ceremony rehearsal?

No

What is the starting price for ceremony rehearsals?

$149

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

Non-religious
Interfaith
Ceremony Rehearsal
Vow Renewal
Civil Union

What religious affiliations do you serve?

Agnostic
Anglican
Baha'i Faith
Baptist
Buddhist
Catholic
Earth-Based
Episcopalian
Hindu
Islam
Jainism
Jewish
Lutheran
Methodist
Mormon
No Denomination
Orthodox Christian
Pagan
Presbyterian
Quaker
Shinto
Sikhism
Taoist
Unitarian

On average, how long are wedding ceremonies you officiate?

Less than 30 mins.

In which states are you licensed?

CA
CO
DE
DC
FL
KY
LA
MD
MA
NJ
NC
OH
PA
SC
TN
VT
VA
WV

What languages do you speak?

English

Still have questions?

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

Wedding couple

Reviews of Wedding Ceremonies by Jim Burch

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 praise the officiant for creating personalized, meaningful ceremonies that reflected each couple’s values, with a warm, engaging delivery. He was professional, responsive, and made planning stress-free through clear communication and flexibility. Guests and couples appreciated his calm presence and seamless execution on the day.

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 praise the officiant for creating personalized, meaningful ceremonies that reflected each couple’s values, with a warm, engaging delivery. He was professional, responsive, and made planning stress-free through clear communication and flexibility. Guests and couples appreciated his calm presence and seamless execution on the day.

K
Katelyn Sent on 03/21/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing officiant!

Jim was the best choice that we could have made for an officiant. He was incredibly accepting, and welcoming, and our ceremony turned out absolutely beautiful because of him.
Richard
Richard Sent on 02/27/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Taylor/Chen Wedding

Jim Burch was a wonderful listener from the very beginning when it came to how we wanted our wedding to look in terms of our values.
C
Catherine Sent on 02/23/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Jim is great!!!

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect officiant than Jim for our wedding. From the very beginning, he was organized, responsive, and genuinely invested in making our ceremony feel personal and meaningful. He took the time to really get to know us as a couple, and that truly showed in how beautifully he told our story during the ceremony.

Jim’s delivery was warm, engaging, and professional—striking the perfect balance between heartfelt and lighthearted. So many of our guests commented on how special and memorable the ceremony was, and that’s a true testament to the care and effort he put into it.
He also made the entire process completely stress-free, guiding us through everything we needed to know and making sure every detail was covered. On such an important day, it meant so much to have someone we trusted completely.

We’re so grateful for the role Jim played in our wedding and would highly recommend him to any couple looking for an officiant who goes above and beyond.
Kristen
Kristen Sent on 01/31/2026
5 out of 5 rating

A thoughtful and wonderful human

When we first stumbled across Jim, my now husband and I were both lost in a sea of folks who were promising to be the best and "everything we ever needed", but with Jim, it was so easy to see that he was a perfect fit. He was looking to truly connect to us and make OUR day special for us, not just what he thought it should look like. He took the time to call us and understand both who we are and what we were looking for, and as nervous as I was standing up there, his warm personality made the evening very stress-free. We have family and friends from many backgrounds who come from an array of religions, spiritualities, and beliefs- and Jim connected to absolutely everyone there with the underlying theme of love, which is what brought us all together in the first place. We got an array of compliments about him, and I could not recommend him enough! Your day is special, not just another day in the office (as it may feel with some vendors), and Jim makes it feel like such!
D
Deima Sent on 01/13/2026
5 out of 5 rating

Best Officiant!

Jim did a fabulous, touching and sweet ceremony at our wedding. I highly recommend him!
Jennifer
Jennifer Sent on 11/16/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfection!

We planned our Wedding from CT with no idea how or where to have the Wedding. We only knew that we wanted to get married with our toes in the sand!

I found Jim Burch online and was impressed by his reviews. After a short FACETIME call with Jim, I knew he was the one! Jim not only explained the process in a way that erased any anxiety I had, he helped guide me through the steps and steered us in the perfect direction from the Resort to stay, the place to hold the wedding, and our quaint reception afterward. Everything was perfect.

Jim has the unique ability to create your ceremony uniquely for YOU! After our conversations he learned enough about us to make our ceremony personal, everyone in attendance was so appreciative of how he tailored everything exclusive to us and our family. I am so happy he made our Wedding such a beautiful, memorable experience.

I highly recommend Jim for his thoughtfuless, flexibility, and knowledge. You will not be disappointed!
S
Stephanie Sent on 11/14/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Service

I just want to say Jim is truly a gem, we live out of state so finding someone you don’t know to officiate your wedding is kind of nerve-racking, but he had wonderful reviews and was very communicative and had a FaceTime call with us. Don’t hesitate to use him he is awesome
S
Sydney Sent on 11/04/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Seamless, Professional, and Truly Caring

We couldn’t have asked for a better wedding officiant! From start to finish, he made the entire process seamless and stress-free. He delivered our ceremony naturally and with warmth, making it feel personal and heartfelt, and he was dressed perfectly for the occasion. Communication was a breeze; he was always easy to get a hold of, which was especially important for me as an out-of-state bride. His professionalism, reliability, and genuine care made our day even more special. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an officiant who makes everything run smoothly and feels truly invested in your celebration.
Jenna
Jenna Sent on 06/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Ceremony on Sanibel!

From our first call with Jim, we instantly connected! We shared commonalities regarding religion and spirituality as a whole and I knew that he was going to highlight this in the ceremony he curated for us. Leading up, we exchanged several emails and Facetimes so we were always on the same page. We received so many lovely compliments about the flow, content, and overall delivery of our ceremony. It was a HOT day and it didn't phase Jim-- he showed up in a full suit ready to go and didn't miss a beat. The ceremony was exactly what we were hoping for and it was such a delight to have Jim as part of our day. I couldn't recommend him more!
A
Alexandria Sent on 06/09/2025
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend!

Jim was our wedding officiant for our elopement and I couldn't be more pleased with the service Jim provided. He was amazing to work with and super helpful and responsive. He answered all my questions and made the process super easy. I would highly recommend Jim!
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

488
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2026 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2025 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2024 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
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
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2009 Winner
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Team

Jim Burch
Jim Burch
Owner

Professional Network & Endorsements

Sarah Botta Photography Sarah Botta Photography Wedding Photographers

I've worked with Jim a few times as a wedding photographer. I love hearing his ceremonies as they are just so beautiful. If you're on the search for a wedding officiant, look no further. Jim will do an amazing job!

University of Maryland Memorial Chapel University of Maryland Memorial Chapel Church & Temple Weddings

Thank for your wonderful work with our clients at the Chapel. We are happy to endorse you! Cheerfully, Mel. Coles Event Sales and Office Assistant

Whitehall Estate Whitehall Estate Mansion Weddings

A wealth of knowledge and always a pleasure to see and talk to! Jim is the consummate professional. Anytime we know he will be at our property, we look forward to seeing him. Also, Jim is my "go to" professional to refer clients to, especially if they are unsure about something related to ceremonies or need experienced advise! Thank you Jim for all you do for the wedding industry :)

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