My fiance and I do not belong to a church so we are having to hire someone to marry us and can't seem to find someone under $300 is it my imagination or is this expensive??
2007-10-27 13:43:09 · 12 answers · asked by tashbemee 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I think $300 is quite expensive. My husband is a pastor and when he performs weddings for non members he charges $250. This includes a minimum of 4 premarital counseling sessions along with the rehearsal and the actual ceremony. He will lover the price if the couple will have their sessions during "business" hours instead of weekends or evenings because just like most people he has a family and wants to be with them. What are you getting for your $300? I think it also depends on where you are. We live in a moderate sized town in North Carolina but I imagine larger cities a minister might charge more.
Happy a beautiful wedding and a long and happy marriage.
2007-10-27 16:24:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, maybe it's because I live in a rural area, but that's expensive to me. Is this person a minister, or simply a wedding officiant? Have you called your local county clerk's office to inquire how much a judge or justice of the peace would be? I live in Michigan and even a Court Magistrate can marry people legally in this state. Check with your local county or city office, if you have not done so already. Just make sure the person is LEGALLY able to marry you!
Good luck!
2007-10-27 14:13:11 · answer #2 · answered by iloveweddings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That seems pretty steep to me, too. I paid $125 for a judge to come out to our wedding, and she did a great job. Since you don't belong to a church, I'd say a judge is definitely the way to go. "Wedding ministers" are pricey, and the judge will still add a prayer into your ceremony if you want. Call the county courthouse and speak to the clerk there. They can tell you the cost and availability. If you go the judge route, you don't have to get married AT the courthouse, either.
2007-10-27 13:57:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow - I seriously undercharge! That sounds like a lot. I usually get between $100 and $150 depending on how well I know the couple.
2007-10-27 15:15:04 · answer #4 · answered by Asked and Answered 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually the clergy are more expensive. You can go to the courthouse. Ours is $25 and then $75 for the marriage license. My fiance and I will probably go to the courthouse with our parents as witnesses and then go out to dinner with our whole family that evening and that'll be the wedding.
2007-10-27 13:47:21 · answer #5 · answered by Rockit 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That seems normal, especially if you want your officiant to travel to a ceremony site.
You could have a friend get ordained to marry you online depending on what state you live in.
2007-10-27 14:07:38 · answer #6 · answered by Katherine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We paid $200... try to go through a friend who may know someone who can marry you... Do not pay over $300... they are so ripping you off...
2007-10-27 14:30:40 · answer #7 · answered by Elle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is about average for an offciant...At my court house it was 65 for the license and 40 for the service. That was it! total!
2007-10-27 14:55:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're paying our officient 465$!! This is what they do (its a couple) for a living though, it isnt a secondary thing for them.
2007-10-27 15:33:31 · answer #9 · answered by Squeaker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About right. They are giving up their time also.
2007-10-28 03:18:28 · answer #10 · answered by mimegamy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋