Officiant's/Ministers

jenn601

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for a minster around North GA.. I've talked with a few but I'm not really sold on them.. We were hoping a friend of the family would perform the wedding but it fell through because he had prior engagements.. The cost of hiring someone is completely unreal to me, the cheapest I've found so far is $250 & I was hoping someone had a recommendation of a good & affordable one.

HYDROPHILE

If you're looking for a good and affordable minister/officiant under $250, I suggest you seek out Justices of the Peace. 

$250 is a very reasonable price for a minister.  We are paying $400 for our minister, and that was a good price (we are also getting married in North Georgia.)  He gave us a $100 discount as well. 

If you have a friend in Georgia willing to do it, they can answer a few questions, pay a fee, and be a licensed/certified Minister.

jenn601

We actually talked with two preachers that are family friends of my aunts but both ended up having prior engagements. I had looked around at price's in Savannah  & up here around Nashville & had found price's mostly between $150-$200 so I definitely didn't expect that much of a difference.. Its not an issue to pay any of it really, I'm more or less just looking for any recommendations of a good one in the North GA area so that the traveling fee won't also be added on.

chelseaandtom

I LOVE my minister. He is amazing and such a sweet, genuine man. His name is Dr. Bill Coates and he's the preacher at First Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA. You can google the church to find out more about him. He performed my ceremony and it was fantastic. He really took the time to get to know myself and my husband and made the ceremony really personal. Definitely check him out!

HYDROPHILE

One problem we had is that I was raised Catholic, and my fiancé was raised Southern Baptist.  We wanted a non-denominational ceremony.

PuppiesAndRainbows

Reverend Deanna Lancaster (she books fast)
Jeremiah O'Keefe-West

Your expectations on pricing are not realistic. This is the person performing your ceremony - it's not the place to skimp. Most ministers will have a consultation in advance, will customize your ceremony, travel to the site and get there early, and perform your ceremony. $400-$500 for this service is entirely reasonable.

apierce12

I am in the same situation- my Fiances family is Catholic and my family is Southern Baptist.  Your pricing expectations are NOT unrealistic at all. I think more than $250 is simply WAY Overpriced for a minister to come perform a 30 minute ceremony.  Most of their ceremony's are already typed up and you can chose from many of them/edit them/or make your own with their guidance.

Check out Ed Wilson who owns Get Wed By Ed.  His prices were very reasonable, he is extremely down to earth and lets you make the ceremony exactly how you and your fiance want it.

jenn601

Thanks for everyone's suggestions! I actually booked the minister yesteday, Ken May the minister at Antioch Christian in Canton. His fee is just $250, of course I haven't been able to meet with him yet but I have spoken with him on the phone & through email & he seems wonderful! Since he's in Canton & I have family there they actually have heard great things about him so I'm pretty happy with my choice & the price with it.. I don't really think its unrealistic to think that someone charging $400-$500 is a little much though.. especially when they only spend an hour or so at the most the entire time with you.. But of course thats just my opinion

sharkgrl

for anyone else looking, try Rev Dawn with http://www.seventhsenseproductions.com/ She is doing our 7/9 wedding...worked with us to make a very personal, perfect ceremony...reasonably priced, and just awesome.