Wedding minister, officiant or celebrant are all terms that are used to describe the people who preside over wedding ceremonies. There's a wide variety in price ranges and a wide variety in the services they provide. You should expect to pay at least as much as you're paying for your cake and perhaps as much as for your flowers! Certainly there are people out there who will come and read the ceremony they've always read and you'll get what you pay for with them. But think about what's valuable and what's going to make a long-term difference in your life. Hmmm -- cake or a solid marriage? We certainly know which stays on our hips, but right now you need to know what will keep you saying "Yes!" for the rest of your lives. BILINGUAL WEDDING MINISTER OFFICIANT
What a wedding officiant's services cost depends upon what he or she does for you. The more services they provide, the more expensive they will be:
Rehearsal: do they handle the rehearsal? (I'd opt for someone who does rehearsals, that way you know they're invested making sure that not only is the wedding ceremony well-written, but also that it will go off without a hitch.) Are they expected at the rehearsal dinner? I know that the food is going to be fabulous at all the events surrounding your wedding, but the celebrant is not really a member of your community. They are attached to you, but your party is time away from their life, which is to say, work time.
Writing: do they do 4 hours or 40 hours? Some people have ready made wedding ceremonies and you can choose between those ceremonies and tinker until you're ready. Other people have processes in which they expect you to engage so that together you create a wedding ceremony that far exceeds your original expectations. You deserve to be wowed by your wedding ceremony and then you deserve to wow the crowd!
Therapy or Counseling: Are you solving marital or familial problems with this person? If you don't have formal sessions, are they available if problems crop up? Weddings are stressful and it's helpful to have someone outside the family/community to offer some perspective and support.
Travel Time, Expenses: if it takes someone 2 hours each way to get there, that's reimbursable time. Gas gets more expensive every day. If your minister has to spend the night before the wedding or afterwards, that's your expense. If there's plane fare involved, you're responsible if you want this person to be there. As rewarding as it is to work with couples to create platforms for expressing and realizing their dreams, it is also very hard work. Weddings are not vacations for your celebrant, and you don't want them to be!
All of this can seem overwhelming as you're planning to spend thousands of dollars on your wedding day. But more than anything that will happen that day, your wedding ceremony is an investment in the future. When people look back on your wedding day, wouldn't you rather that they remembered what you said to one another and what was said about you than how fabulous the blue cheese puffs were?
Bottom Line?: Give your relationship the chance it deserves to succeed wildly, against all odds! After all you deserve it. Your relationship deserves it! If you want in-depth pointers, ideas, information about designing your perfect wedding ceremony, explore my site! And now I'd like to invite you to sign up to receive 2 free templates for creating the wedding vows of your dreams and the marriage of a lifetime: