The Officiant Fee.

This page provides some food for wedding planning thought. Perhaps an idea or two, or the exercise below, will have value for you and assist you in having the most beautiful wedding ceremony in the world for you both.
(I hope so).

HOW WEDDINGOFFICIANTS.COM IS SET UP

Each Weddingofficiants.com associate is an independent officiant and runs their own affairs entirely. This includes their fee amounts and what's included in their fees: basic fee and travel fee (if they travel--some don't). The reason that I want you to know this is because this site would not be able to tell you what each associate charges because we don't know this for each associate. Rest assured that the associate who contacts you will be most happy to give you whatever information you need and will answer all of your questions so you can properly compare apples with oranges when interviewing for your officiant..

HOW QUALITY RELATES TO THE OFFICIANT FEE

I find that two universal principles play here: (1) That in life we typically get what we pay for and wedding officiants are no exception to this; and (2) Not all officiants are equal; they each see and do their jobs differently. The combination of these principles means that an above average or way above average officiant is likely to cost more than an average or below average quality officiant for a given ceremony site area. All other things being equal, it also means that you will typically receive a proportionately higher quality result for whatever you spend--you'll get what you pay for.

SAVING MONEY WITH A LOWER-PRICED OFFICIANT

All other things being equal, I will want to spend less than spend more (who wouldn't?). I like knowing that I saved money or that I did well to not waste it. However, I've had lessons along the way. I have learned that if saving money means exposing myself to more risk than I'm uncomfortable with (could end up costing me more in the long run), then all other things are not equal. And so, now in my life (wasn't always this way), if cheaper means more risk, I will drop it like a burning hot potato. I wanted to share this with you because I think this is relevant when considering an officiant. Do you agree?.

MORE ABOUT "NOT ALL OFFICIANTS ARE EQUAL"

Some see officiating as a job. Some can't wait to get out of bed in the morning to learn more and to go further than they did the day before. Some think the ceremony is about them and that they know what is right or wrong for the couple. Some "get" that it's all only about the couple, not themselves. Some have only one agenda: to assist the couple to know what they want and to honor it by making come alive in the most beautiful way on wedding day. Which one would you want to guide you in developing your script? Which one would you want conducting your rehearsal? Which one would you want up there with you on wedding day? Which one would you trust the most to follow through on their promises?


YOUR LOVE DESERVES IT ALL---YOUR POCKETBOOK DOESN'T HAVE THAT MUCH.

I am sure you would agree that you have limits on what you can spend on your wedding and that it can be (and probably has been already) challenging to make choices or cut corners. I would guess that the main reason for this is because your love together knows no boundaries and deserves it all, yet your pocket book has a bottom. So what to do? Something's gotta give of course and so the question becomes: which corners to cut? I don't know this for you of course, but I have written an exercise that you may find interestiung and perhaps offer you an insight into what is best for you.

EXERCISE:

1. Take out a pencil and paper and draw 4 verticle columns on the paper entitling them at the top, as you see below. Then, together, brainstorm and write down in the first vertical column (on the left side of the paper) a list of categories of costs . These categories will reflect your plans for wedding day; from cakes and flowers and venue to the ceremony and music provider, etc.

2.Then, in the next vertical column (2nd from the left side--Categories Rated), and corresponding to the categories you just wrote down, using a number range from 1-5 (go higher if you have more categories), rate each category from least important to you (lowest number) to the most important to you (highest number). This may not be easy to do this because your love together deserves it all without any limitations, but nonetheless, make choices.

3. Now, in the next column (Category Budgets), keeping in the same row as the categories of the prior columns, write down the approximate dollar amount you've budgeted for each category.

4. Then, in the last vertical column (along the right side of the paper--Budgets Scored) put a number from 1-5 that corresponds to the size of the amounts you've budgeted for each category (5= the most amount of money budgeted, 1=the least amount of money budgeted). Your worksheet will look something like this:

5. Now look the 4 columns in the example and then in your example. Observe the relationship of the items to each other in each column.Does the #1 of the each category match the #1 of dollars budgeted? How about the others? The lowest? What else do you see? Of course some items just cost more and need to cost more. Does the couple who did the above example chart have the higher dollar amounts budgeted matching their priority ratings? Or is there a higher priority item that is getting a lower budget allowance? How about your chart? The same? or? Any insights so far? When you look at your own chart, are you seeing any clues about cutting corners?

6. Now, apply what you learn from observing this to reflect on which corners to cut for your wedding day. Ask yourself: Am I willing to trim the budget for a lower rated item in order to have more available for a higher rated item? If not, reflect on this a bit so you can understand this more. Consider this idea: that the results of the exercise provide you the opportunity to see clearly what is important to you and to be able to best honor it.

It has been my hope, in writing this page, that, perhaps, your planning will be enriched and more quality will be added to your wedding day. Thanks for reading it.

Best Wishes,
Paul Michael

Dear Officiant, Are you flexible, experienced, personable and good to work with? Is it your intention to serve couples per how they want it (they are the CEOs and you are their able, caring staff member)? If so, email me. Prospective associates from all states, all ethnic and cultural backgrounds and all denominations, are welcome! NOTE: It doesn't matter that we are already in your area. This is because we are a "matching" service, and because each couple is unique, and each officiant/minister/civil officiant is unique, we need to have a wide variety of officiants/ministers/civil officiants available to do our matches well. Thank You, Paul.

©1999-2005 The Marriage Toolbox Family of Sites  paul@weddingofficiants.com COUPLES: when emailing, use your 3-part i.d. in the subject so we can locate our file for you. *Officiants are known as: wedding officiant, wedding minister, wedding officiator, marriage officiator, marriage minister, marriage officiant, marriage official, wedding clergy, marriage clergy, wedding celebrant, marriage celebrant, wedding officiate, Justice of the Peace, JP, rabbi, priest, father, pastor, civil officiant, notary, notaries and reverend.