How Much Does a Wedding Officiant Cost in 2025?

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When you’ve set the date and combine your pre-marital efforts to plan for your wedding, it is an exciting time in your life. Make no mistake, though, it’s not all wine and roses, as you must include the costs of both of those and everything else necessary to make your big day special. Budgeting for your wedding can also make this memorable time quite stressful.

The ceremony, the outfits and the reception will all cost money. And don’t forget about the officiant who’ll help you tie the knot. How much will that essential role set you back? 

Average Wedding Officiant Prices

The prices for the officiant can vary greatly depending on where you’re holding your wedding and whether it is a civil, religious or secular union. The average United States prices for the different types of officiants are:

Civil Wedding Officiant Cost

If you intend to marry in a city or town hall, courthouse or other government building, you’ll have to fund your marriage license and the price of the civil officiant. Much will depend on the ceremony’s duration and whether the officiant has to travel to administer it. Also, if you marry during the week, you’ll pay less than on weekends. Depending on the state, you can expect to pay between $30 and $100 for your marriage license, with the civil officiant costing anything from $40 to $850. 

You’ll pay more if the town Mayor marries you than if you’re wed by a Justice of the Peace or city clerk, for example. If you book a 30-minute wedding in a clerk’s office during the week, you can expect a lower cost than the Mayor marrying you in an hour-long ceremony in the town hall on the weekend. In Sacramento, Calif., a Deputy Commissioner of Civil Marriages charges $49 for a civil marriage ceremony on a weekday at their offices. 

Religious Officiant Cost

Most ordained ministers and pastors charge no set fee, especially for members of their congregations. Even if a parent or relative is a congregation member, you could get by without charge if you marry in the officiant’s house of worship. However, there will likely be a hiring charge for the venue and a donation requested for the officiant’s time. 

Hiring fees can be pricey. The average cost of a church wedding in the U.S. is between $200 and $800 — sometimes, the clergy determines the officiant’s fees separately. If a donation is requested, your budget should also be between $200 and $800 for most officiants, depending on your circumstances.

Remember that officiants from certain denominations may require marriages in the church, mosque or synagogue to abide by stipulated religious laws. Should you and your partner desire a wedding in a place of worship, the priest, imam or rabbi may charge extra if one or both of you aren’t regular worshipers in the congregation or members of the faith. These additional charges may include mandatory or optional pre-marital counseling.

Interfaith Officiants

When the religious denominational officiant cannot or will not bless your union, interfaith officiants possess broad knowledge of different religions and readily officiate at weddings where they can even lead your vows in more than one faith. Doing so allows you and your betrothed to marry in both your chosen faiths.

Finding a suitable venue might be problematic for this type of wedding ceremony, although more progressive religious denominations may offer their places of worship for a price. The interfaith officiant will invariably charge more than the average religious officiant due to their diverse knowledge and respect for traditions and cultures. For example, an interreligious officiant in New York could cost as much as $2,500 for a fully customized wedding.

Secular Officiant Cost

If you choose to hold your wedding at a country club, on the beach, or in your backyard, you may employ a secular officiant to conduct the ceremony. Secular officiants are professionals often known as wedding celebrants who undergo training and become certified through recognized organizations. All they do is conduct weddings, so they’re frequently experienced and guarantee no hiccups during the ceremony.

Due to their know-how and guarantees, wedding celebrants often charge more for their services. Their rates vary greatly, so it’s better to make direct contact to determine prices for a short service or if you want to include a rehearsal and a fully personalized wedding service. Secular officiants may also charge additional for their traveling expenses.

Amateur Officiant Cost

If you want to save on your wedding budget, ask a friend or family member to perform your marriage vows. How much to pay an officiant friend or relative depends entirely on what you decide between the two of you. The person would require instant online ordination through a recognized non-denominational religious organization, which is likely free or charged nominally. You’ll immediately have a legally ordained wedding officiant available for your big day. 

Before proceeding, you should check the validity of the website offering the ordination, as some scam sites sell questionable credentials. The trick is to identify those organizations offering free ordination and start with them — otherwise, you may find your marriage isn’t legal. Then, choose an amateur officiant you know will cope with the occasion and do a fantastic job at your ceremony.

What to Ask Prospective Officiants

Wherever you choose to get married, you must be happy that the officiant you choose will do an excellent job, making exchanging your vows an unforgettable experience. You also want to ensure any potential technicalities involving the ceremony are dealt with beforehand and that no gray areas exist when the time arrives for your union. Consider checking these points with your prospective officiant:

• Will you meet us before the ceremony?
• Can you perform a wedding rehearsal?
• Can you perform a religious ceremony?
• Can you customize our ceremony to make it personal?
• Do you deal with signing, recording, and registering the marriage license?
• Do you have any video examples of other ceremonies you’ve carried out?

Add any other questions you might have to satisfy yourself that your wedding officiant is perfect for the nature and magnitude of your special occasion.

Choose the Officiant Perfect for Your Special Day and Budget  

Hopefully, exchanging wedding vows is something you’ll only do once in your lifetime. It is a momentous occasion in any bride’s life and one you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Ensure the person officiating helps you to achieve the perfect wedding day and doesn’t break your bank doing so. True love lasts forever, and so should the memories of your perfect wedding day.