Such a rip off!!!!

Does anybody know of any officiants who DONT charge you 500 or more to do a 1/2 hour ceremony? I can't believe how much money people make off of the wedding industry! I just need a male priest/judge/ect. to do a personal ceremony in suffolk county. If anyone knows of someone and has a price quote i would really appreciate it. thanks!

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

Officiants are more likely to charge you money. I dont know what religion you are. If you belong to a church, its called a donation. It goes towards the church.

My church never gave me a specific amount to donate , which I feel is the right way to do things. I know that some churches give a 'mandatory' amount that you have to give and they 'call it a donation'

If a church isnt an option for you...call around and see if you can get better quotes!! GL

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

Im getting married at the thatche cottage so the donation wouldnt work for me. Ive been calling around but i cant find anyone for under 500 and refuse to pay that much for 1/2 hour.

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

I know at the Fox Hollow the fee for Reverend Nick is $350. Not sure if he has some sort of deal with the Fox Hollow but it's worth looking into and giving it a try. I wish I had a number or e-mail address to give you. Maybe ask the girls on the Fox Hollow thread if they have more information.

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

I know what you are saying but...the officiants that charge that fee (and more) aren't just doing a 1/2 hour ceremony. Their fee includes time to meet with you and your FH, write a personalized ceremony just for the two of you, and (sometimes) many revisions of the ceremony to make sure you and FH are completely satisfied with it. Our officiant, Janine Burns, met with us at least 4 times and emailed us many times w/revisions to make sure we were happy with the ceremony. She spent many hours perfecting it and we were really happy...we had a really unique ceremony.

I'm not telling you this to upset you, but maybe their fee will make more sense to you after reading this. I feel that their fee after many hours of work, is justified...I though the same thing as you did when I first heard the average fee for a 1/2 hour ceremony, but a lot more goes into it then showing up for 1/2 hour

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

Our church is asking for a $400 donation... and we are thinking of giving $600. I think $500 is def. way too much for half hour!!!

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

our church is charging us 650$, but we are having a mass and it covers the organ person, singer, alter boys and donation, so yea i think 500$ is a lot just to do personal ceremony.

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

I'm using Rev. Deb Viola. She's charging $350. I think Pastor April was really affordable too but wasn't available on my day. Good luck. I was totally shocked at prices as well!

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

I understand that they meet with you and personalize the ceremony but these people do 100's of ceremonies a year- i dont think it takes a lot of time for them to finalize a ceremony. I just think that it is a lot of money to give to somebody- i can write my own ceremony- i just need sombody to perform it and 'legalize' the marriage. Its a joke how muc tese vendors rip people off- photographers, florists, ect. As soon as you say 'wedding' there is a high mark-up in prices

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

Hi! I am also getting married at the Thatched Cottage this summer and I am using Reverend Renwick Jackson. He was recommended to me by a co-worker and we met with him and he is really nice and will do whatever you want for the ceremony. I'm not sure the exact amount off the top of my head but I know that I remember thinking, wow, I can afford that!!! good luck!

his info:
(631) 286-7955
[email protected]

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

www.reverendlauratria.com

I'm paying $385 but only doing a 15 min ceremony

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

I know it sounds like a lot of money but this person is uniting you with your FH for the rest of your life. That should be the most important part of your day. For me, $500 was a small price to pay to be officially married to dh. JMHO

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

we had DH's brother marry us, he did some ordination online but we got married at city hall just in case. you can always ask a friend to marry you and it would be FREE

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

My officiant was $400 and I ended up putting more into his envelope because he met with us asked us questions about the ceremony and how we wanted it. He also gave us a large packet of sample readings and vows. And every person that walked out of the ceremony said what an amazing job he did. He really took the time to personalize the ceremony that is why I gave him more than his fee. But honestly 400-500 is what they charge. Its not just a half hour its his time he/she puts into it, travel, gas and so on.

Hope this helps!
Rev. Gambuzza did mine he was great!

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

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Posted by gabandcarl

Does anybody know of any officiants who DONT charge you 500 or more to do a 1/2 hour ceremony? I can't believe how much money people make off of the wedding industry! I just need a male priest/judge/ect. to do a personal ceremony in suffolk county. If anyone knows of someone and has a price quote i would really appreciate it. thanks!

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im right there with u! since FH & I are paying for 95% of our wedding, we're on a pretty tight budget, and i cringe at the amount officiants charge. i havent really done much digging, but i did read a post on here ages ago that this girl got married upstate by a justice of the peace and they cant charge u, they can accept a tip though...ive been meaning to call my town hall to find out more info, just havent gotten around to it...but should u find any decent prices, please let me know

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

pastor april quoted me $375 if we didnt want to write them ourselves.
http://www.churchofancientways.org/fees.html

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

we got married by the mayor of our town/where we got married. I am not sure what he normally charges but I am sure it is not much. He did ours for free since he is a family relative.

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

we used our town clerk from the marriage license office...the charge was $75 for her to come to the location. DH's sister did the majority of the ceremony & she did what was needed to make it all legal. I think it would've cost the same if she did the whole thing.

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

Yea, I'm paying about $600 for a 28 min and 42 second ceremony...

seems off....but I guess that is that part where we actually 'get married'.

What's another couple of hundred thrown in to all the rest we are paying!

Re: Such a rip off!!!!

I've been speaking with Rev Amundensen from Ceremonies of a lifetime & his fee, which also includes his wife, who is also a rev. is $450.00. Thsi includes 2 meetings with them, the rehearsel dinner & the ceremony. I was amazed. It's so expensive.