08/18/2023
Why An Officiant Charges As Much As They Do
The average price for a full service ceremony runs between $400 - $500 with HST. More and more I hear the question “why does an officiant charge so much – it’s only a few minutes. Well that few minutes is the reason we are there in the first place. It also sets the tone for the rest of the day.
A professional wedding officiant does not just show up on the day of your wedding and wing it. There is a lot that goes into it before that moment when you say “I Do”. Let’s break it down.
Prep Work
First, there is the initial contact. In my case, I receive an email from head office requesting my services. I then contact the couple and in a long email tell them exactly what to expect in the process. Then you will need to have a consultation with him or her to make sure that you will be able to work together(either in person or sometimes via phone or video chat). Prior to the wedding (usually about a month before), your officiant will meet and work with you to customize and craft a ceremony that’s unique to you and your future spouse, perhaps including religious elements, any family traditions you want to incorporate, readings you love, and more. This can take quite some time—usually two to three hours of advanced preparation – setting up files, preparing a draft ceremony and looking at suggestions for readings etc.This does not include edits or any additional back-and-forth that may occur after the initial draft is presented. And if you’re writing your own wedding vows, your officiant will likely provide even more personal assistance. Therefore, a good portion of what you are paying for is a true professional creating a ceremony just for you.
Travel and Event Time
This is probably the most obvious part—you are paying for your officiant’s travel, presence, and services on your actual wedding day. And usually your officiant will arrive well before your ceremony begins to set up and prepare, and stay well after—and if your wedding is running late, that’s even more time.
Business Expenses
There are lots of costs associated with running a business—and these costs aren’t just for your officiant’s benefit, but for yours, too. You probably want your officiant to reply to your phone calls and emails in a timely fashion—they need phone service and Internet to do that. And you’ll probably need copies of your ceremony script, so your officiant will need a printer, scanner, and/or copier. There is also the billing program or software your officiant may use to ensure that you’re billed properly.
You’ll also want to make sure that your officiant is licensed to perform weddings in your area —that license costs money, too.
Rehearsal Time
Your officiant may or may not attend your rehearsal, but if so, that is usually an additional charge.
Expertise and Education
When you hire an experienced wedding officiant, you are paying for their expertise to ensure that your wedding ceremony will run perfectly—and that you and your spouse will actually, legally be married when all is said and done. Professional wedding officiants are always looking to stay fresh and improve. With that comes education, from conferences to courses and more.
Marketing and Advertising
Officiants need to market themselves and potentially advertise in order to have couples like you find them. Whether it’s advertising on websites or in print, attending wedding shows or other events, officiants need to be able to connect with couples—and it usually costs money to do so.
Equipment
While sometimes a music or audio-visual company will provide sound equipment for your officiant to use, some officiants are able to provide this for your ceremony. It is obviously important for your family members and friends to hear your ceremony proceedings, and sound equipment, which can include wireless microphones and speakers, do cost money to purchase and maintain.
License Handling
Without an official marriage license, you and your spouse are not actually married—and that is a bit of a problem, right? While you and your future spouse are responsible for actually obtaining your marriage license, your officiant is the one who will ensure that it is properly filled out, signed, and returned within your province’s required period. The officiant is also responsible for keeping a separate record of your marriage. Should anything happen with the registration of the marriage, it is the officiant who will have the ability to rectify it with the government. This is obviously a big deal, and you’ll want an experienced officiant handling it, so the handling of your marriage license is an important part of your officiant’s fee.
Emergency Backup
A professional officiant will always have a back up. Imagine your guests sitting there and no officiant! Or a last minute scramble because your officiant cancelled. Hiring an officiant who works with a large company ensures that your wedding will go on even if a substitute has to be called in.
But I Just Want a Short Ceremony!
As you can see from the above a shorter ceremony doesn’t really change much of the background work. Most officiants offer reduced prices for signing only. If a planning meeting isn’t required that saves a little of an officiant’s time but there is still a lot more involved than you see!
If your first question when looking for an officiant is “how much do you charge?” the you will likely get what you pay for.
WITHOUT THE CEREMONY IT’S JUST A REALLY EXPENSIVE PARTY!
