Because now I want to know how much you paid for your officiant, if anything.
Last time it didn't cost anything because I asked a judge I practiced in front of all the time. The guy we want to use and who we think would be absolutely perfect and bring the exact feel we want to our ceremony is more than I expected to hear, but for all I know he's right there in the ball park.
Post by thinkofthesoldiers on Jul 8, 2013 20:29:28 GMT -5
$200, but the suggested donation was $100. He was our pastor and also a very close personal friend, so we wanted to make sure he knew how much we appreciated his personal touches to our ceremony and the sermon he presented.
One of my coworkers (an ordained minister - not by the Universal Church of Life or whatever it's called, lol) married us for $50. Cheapest thing at our wedding. lol
I have to say that I am a little jealous. We couldn't get a Rabbi to marry us because I am Catholic and I passed the 9 month required mark to be married in the Catholic Church due to health issues and such.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
Post by polarbearfans on Jul 8, 2013 20:46:49 GMT -5
I'm still embarrassed. I told my husband to give the priest $300 and I found out way after he gave him $50 because that is what his parents thought was fair and that it should have been free. Everything was free! The location, marriage counseling, and no "fee" to marry us. I'm so embarrassed and want to write a letter and send a check but he would probably have to donate it regardless but he was so good to us. I cannot believe my husband did that.
I have to say that I am a little jealous. We couldn't get a Rabbi to marry us because I am Catholic and I passed the 9 month required mark to be married in the Catholic Church due to health issues and such.
Where are you located? We used a network of officiants that work together, or alone, to officiate at weddings, both interfaith and not.
I can see if they have any suggestions in your area.
H is not catholic (Greek orthodox) but a GO priest would never officiate at an interfaith wedding, but we has friends in the same situation use these officiants and they were (are) wonderful.
People still comment on our ceremony.
Arizona. Most of the Rabbis out here are Orthodox or extremely conservative when it comes to interfaith weddings. That would be great and then I could at least have a Rabbi and a Pastor.
Post by adhdfashion on Jul 8, 2013 21:12:06 GMT -5
Through tons of emails and friends I tracked down my childhood pastor that baptized me. He charges $100. I am sure my Dad gave him way more than that. I also hired his son to play the piano during the ceremony.
Whatever the fee was to get H's brother dispensation to officiate a marriage in Massachusetts, so $30 or so. Plus we got him a gift similar to the gft for H's other brother who was our best man.
I think we paid $250. The guy was really awesome. We talked to him maybe twice on the phone before the wedding (we had a destination wedding). He showed up 20 minutes before the ceremony, introduced himself to me, hung out with my husband and his groomsmen, pounded two drinks, knocked the ceremony out of the park, pounded another drink, and left. Over two years later and our guests still talk about him.
I was a member at the church we were married, and the "honorarium" was $125 in 2003. No idea what it is now. That covered three pre-marital counseling sessions, planning for some things like the readings, the rehearsal, and the pastor. The organist was an additional $100. I am amazed at some of the costs listed here! I would never pay $1000 for an officiant!