Officiant....can you ask for a lower price?

What's the worst they can say? No?

Personally I think it's rude. There are reasons people charge the amount they do.

I found a officiant that charged $900. Clearly I couldn't afford that, so I kept looking until I found someone in my price range.

I would first see what that price includes. See if you can pick and choose/create your own package. Worst they can say is "nope."

Our officiant was $300 in Metro Richmond, Virginia. He's been awesome. That price includes the rehearsal, day of, help with the ceremony vows, a pre-martial counseling session, name change kit, and he's going to be filing our marriage license.

Hope that helps!

I mean .... you can. but he can also be insulted by it and say thanks but no thanks. did you not ask for his prices before you had the get to know you meeting?

When I first started looking I found a bilingual officiant that charged $700 . I felt this was way too much for a 20 minute ceremony. Therefore I kept searching and found someone for less than half of that who has an amazing spirit and truly made my FH and I feel great about our choice.

I don't think it's rude at all. They all pretty much do the same thing. Some may offer more "counseling' some just charge higher because they are more "well known". Their prices are all based on how good they think they are. If they're real professionals, they should be willing to work with you and meet in the middle at least.

Agreed with OTW, the worst they could say is no.

Being a professional doesn't mean you have to cut your prices for everyone that walks in the door. Some offciants should be charging more than others - more experience, more weddings done, more education, etc. I disagree that they all do they same thing. Just like photographers and florists - some are better than others and the good ones charge more. I don't find $225 unreasonable for an officiant and I wouldn't ask for a reduced price. I would keep looking if I couldn't afford that one.

The price is 225 more than they want to spend. Not 225 total.

And yes, the do all do the same thing. At the end of the day, they pronounce you man and wife, or man and man, or wife and wife or whatever. Yes you may pay for their experience or education, but if they're professional they won't be offended by you trying to negotiate your price. This is the wedding industry, and everything is at a premium. They should be used to brides wanting to save money.

I agree with Emily.

However, I think she said the officiant they found was $225 more than they thought, not just $225.

Regardless, yes you can ask. No they don't have to change their price for you. If they're too expensive, move on or cut your budget to be able to afford them.

I was planning on spending between $300-$400 dollars. They came in at $525. We are also having an outdoor wedding and I would like to have a speaker and mic so guests can hear (nothing worse than not being able to hear). This officiant also happens to run a well known DJ company and is the owner. So he offered to bring his own speaker and mic and would match the price of my DJ. So now I am pay $250 more to the officiant for his sound system (his assistant would also take care of the music). and trust me they were wonderful people to talk with we vibed with them. They were fun, laid back...just what we were looking for.

I don't think it ever hurts to ask, though I would have asked before you actually met with them. Any initial contact with a vendor, the first words out of my mouth were $x is my budget, are you able to work with it? That way we didn't waste anyone's time.

It couldn't hurt to ask. The worst they can tell you is no. If not, you can always explain that you have a budget. Ask for other references.

I'm sure you'll be able to find someone else you like in your budget!

I can lower my fee if the couple comes closer to me or decides to skip a rehearsal.

Be prepared to give up something in order to get a lower price (just like with a florist or photographer).

It's not like haggling the price of an article on Pawn Stars.

If you can afford it, I wouldn't ask. Just because he is a professional and might be offended - especially since he is bringing the sound system and taking care of that. Why risk ruining a relationship you already seemed to have build?

Ours was $750, which included customized vows. No counseling or rehearsal (our venue required a long trip and a ferry trip). He also took care of the paperwork after the wedding. The couple we've met with before were over $1000.

BUT - we really liked our officiant. He created a beautiful ceremony for us and with us. Our guests commented on how inclusive he was of different religions and how the ceremony was beautiful and witty and not boring and told the story of us. ... I was thinking of the officiant as the most important vendor for the day. He does the thing everybody came out for - married us. The party after is the celebration, but the ceremony is the main event.

I wouldn't ask, honestly. I would tell him it's out of your budget and if he wants to work with you he'll ask you what your budget is. The officiant is the most important part of your wedding whether people realize it or not. Without them you won't be married at all so I think paying a little more to make sure you have a quality officiant is worth it.

Thank you, Gabriele & Amber!

I would say, this price is our budget. Is there something you can do within that range?

If you want to ask but may want to go with him anyway, i might say something like "Thanks for meeting with us! We will get back to you in a couple of weeks about how we want to proceed. We really like you, but you are a little over our budget so we have to look carefully at the numbers."

I don't think it's rude to put it out there. There's no reason for him to be offended - people negotiate all sorts of things all of the time. But the way I phrased it is a little more timid and leaves it in his court.

Sorry I missed that it was $225 more, not $225 total. In any case, I do not believe that they're all the same at all. A bad officiant can make your wedding awful. I don't want to just be married, but rather have a meaningful ceremony with an engaging officiant.

Like others said, I think you should only request a lower price if you are willing to give something up from his services.