Average officiant prices?

$300 in Ohio, and we're covering his hotel for the weekend.

Our ceremonies are between $499-$599. All are customized. The higher of the range includes your love story being told. There are other Officiants in the area that are less expensive here in the Hudson Valley, and some that are more. I would say we fall in the average to high average range for those who are F/T Officiants. Always look at the fine print. Some will use templates; others have lower starting prices, but you pay for any special elements, such as a candle ceremony, writing of vows, sand ceremony, etc; some may have a great deal of experience, while others have little, are starting out, or are hobbyists. There is a lot involved behind the scenes that goes into the cost, such as writing, meetings, the ads we place so that you find pros & continuing education (cost of doing business), the time on the day of your event and rehearsals, if incl.

We are choosing to have someone close to us become ordained to do the honors.. we feel it's much more personal. We plan to give him money for doing so.. but not 4-500$! May be something to consider!

My officiant is from Bluegrass Holistic Ministries and is 200 without travel fees. I live in Kentucky though, and have found our average wedding related expenses are less than in a lot of areas.

ETA that I hid the other post because it double posted for some reason.

You get what you pay for. I can say that two of the officiants who weighed in on this thread are fantastic professionals. One by reputation, and one through personal experience. Neither of them are charging more than their talent is worth.

@franniloveshimdailey

I'm in Baltimore and ours was $475 but honestly she is FANTASTIC

No, it won't be more personal. It will be less professional. There's a difference. A vast difference, in performance, in presentation, in actual professionalism regarding getting, filling out and returning the license (and fixing it if it's screwed up). As money saving strategies, getting the cheapest officiant, or a non professional one is never a good idea. For starters, they may or may not be legal.

But perhaps just as important? It's the first part of the day; it shouldn't be the thing people sit through, cringing but smiling because it's your friend, counting the minutes to a cocktail. I've seen these friends on the wedding shows; they're all terrible. They're scared, they've copped a 'personal ceremony" off the internet and it's mostly awful. (As a side note, many "pros" are terrible too; they get an online ordination, which by the way, comes with zero training, and inflict themselves on the world.

Your wedding, with a non pro or an inexperienced one, will be the wedding that falls into YOUR inexperienced lap. You'll will be looking for your own readings and ritual elements, because they don't spend their days viewing life through a wedding lens. They won't know anything about complictated processionals or ceremony protocol and god help you if you have an element like the cords and veil, paint pouring or anything else that requires grace and confidence.

And thank you Rachel ;-)

I'm not sure what the norm is but ours is $375 and has been worth every penny

Ours is $300, but there's a $50 discount because she is also our DJ.

All those I looked at were between $150-$400. I think we're going with one who is $250.

600 in CT would've been 500 if it wasn't a holiday weekend

For a private wedding in my city and the immediately surrounding area, I request an honorarium of $50. For non-private weddings in the area I request a minimum of $100; if outside the area or in the next county, then 150-200.