Why So Much For Twenty Minutes of Work?

Budgeting for a wedding is usually a primary factor in narrowing down a selection of wedding vendors. I know when I got married there were certain vendors I knew would never be in my budget and others I wrote off because their low prices hinted at a level of quality I was not sure I could trust.
We all know the "biggie" expenses of facility rental, catering and photography. It is the little things that are often overlooked and can add up. Don't forget to keep a wish list and spending journal so you can keep track of the minor expenditures too. Minor expenditures like your officiant.
Many couples completely overlook this aspect of their budget. Sometimes it is because they are using their own clergy and assume the individual's salary covers ceremonies within the congregation. This can be true, but out of courtesy the couple should always inquire to avoid an awkward moment or a budgetary surprise.
My rates are considered average for non-clerical wedding officiants and moderate for clergy in my area. I do not see the point in adding a premium for wedding officiating simply because I am an ordained minister with an advanced degree. I believe every couple should have access to affordable professional wedding ministry. However, I am still sometimes met with sticker shock and the inevitable question, "Why are you paid so much for twenty minutes of work?"
It is completely understandable for couples and their guests to assume officiants earn an unusually high amount of money for simply prompting the couple through their vows and pronouncing them husband and wife, but that is only part of the story -- albeit the most visible part.
Competent officiants spend time before the wedding pulling the pieces together and ensuring the desired flow of the ceremony. Time may be spent helping the couple customize vows, decide between a unity candle or a sand ceremony, and/or writing the opening words, a homily and a blessing. Ceremony composition is far more time-consuming than the joyful occasion itself.
Officiants are often present well before the service to calm nerves or confer with a wedding consultant, the DJs, the photographer and other wedding vendors. We are usually asked to stay for a portrait photo... sometimes waiting for a long receiving line to conclude or family portraits to be taken first. In the case of weddings at my home church, I'm often the one putting the sanctuary back in order following the ceremony. At times I am asked to bless the meal at a reception.
Officiants in my state are also responsible for ensuring accurate completion of the marriage license and submitting it to the appropriate county Clerk of Court. There are time, travel and postage expenses associated with this responsibility. I also like to provide an attractive keepsake Marriage Certificate for every couple I marry regardless of the size and scope of their wedding. It is presented to the couple in a binder that also includes a clean printed copy of their ceremony.
We must also acknowledge that wedding officiating is a business with accompanying expenses. Officiants must advertise, maintain home offices, have internet access, make long-distance phone calls and travel to the ceremony, among other costs.
Your officiant is a professional every bit as much as your caterer and your photographer. This is why I highly encourage prospective couples to consult with several officiants before selecting the one who will preside at their ceremony. Consultations help determine personality fit and assess professionalism on the part of the officiant. Nothing can ruin a ceremony faster than having an officiant who cannot write or assemble an eloquent ceremony, mumbles, flubs names and is incapable of maintaining the flow of the service.
Although officiant fees consistently rank next to last in terms of wedding expenses (tuxedo rental coming in at the bottom) we probably charge the least of all the wedding vendors and most pour our hearts and souls into the ceremony. We do not just do it as a job; it is a calling and an experience.
So be sure to remember to budget for your officiant, shop around and if you stumble across an officiant who really "clicks" with you, book sooner rather than later. Best of luck and happy planning!

 

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