Cost of a Wedding Officiant

How much should I budget for a Wedding Officiant?

There is a wedding officiant for every budget. The range of fees is something like $25 to $1200, with most fees falling in the $50 to $400 range. In the $50 to $150 range, a justice of the peace may perform a civil ceremony at city hall, a local courthouse or possibly a park. The average cost for a minister to officiate a wedding is $250, with more experienced ministers and professional officiants likely to charge more.

Some people opt to have a friend or relative perform the ceremony. This is easily accomplished if your friend or relative is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church and can be a wonderful way to make your special day really inclusive.

The fee a prospective officiant might charge may depend on several factors such as the officiant's level of experience, date of the ceremony. An officiant may charge more for ceremonies held during peak wedding season and on weekends. It's important to consider what's included in the fee and if the fee if for the entire ceremony or if it is an hourly charge. Some officiants require a separate booking fee. While a quick rehearsal on the day of the wedding might be free, a separate rehearsal may incur an additional charge, sometimes as much as $125. If your officiant has to travel, travel fees of up to 30 to 50 cents per mile may be charged, if driving is required. If the officiant is traveling very far, there is the cost of airfare and a hotel room to consider.