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Officiant fee?

sardough28sardough28
First Comment
in Connecticut
I'm starting to look at officiants, but I have no idea what is a reasonable fee.  So far, I'm seeing prices around $600, but this seems like an awful lot to me.  Can anyone give me a general idea of a typical officiant fee (whether it be JP, Rev., Minister, etc)?  TIA!
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Re: Officiant fee?

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    SillyLGooseSillyLGoose
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    edited December 2011
    My church charges a $500 "donation" outside the suggested tip/gift for the priest.
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    christikaochristikao
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    edited December 2011
    I think it depends on how complex you want the ceremony to be. One of my friends used a JP and it was around $200 including travel. Most likely FI and I are getting married at his parents' church(Catholic) and that will cost us about $1000. 
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    kls114kls114 member
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    edited December 2011
    Agree with Christi. We are getting married in our church & when all is said & done with "donations" etc. we are probably looking at about $800-$1000.
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    Whippet8Whippet8 member
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    edited December 2011
    My grandmother is a JP and usually charges $100, but she usually does lwo key private ceremonies. We were married in a church, and with donations and everything...it was around $800-$1000, I cant remember.
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    PRLJMBPRLJMB member
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    edited December 2011
    i used a JP and she was $175 super helpful and worth way more I think.  Also, I had talked to a church and their fees were around $400 total but it was negotiable and more based on what you wanted to donate I believe.
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    akulajiakulaji
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    edited December 2011
    We're using JP Sara Carson.  She's charging us $75, but we don't need a rehearsal.  She's hiking with us out on our favorite hiking trail.  That $75 includes her travel fee.
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    jmestylejmestyle member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My JP is also my DJ (Bert from After Hours), he is charging us $100.I never looked into any others but I know the church was going to charge us $1000 to getmarried there
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    crushme8602crushme8602
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We looked at 3 JP's - We are using Sara as well but she's charging us $125 (akulaji she must like you!! haha :). The other charged $100 and the other $325. Our ceremony venue fee (not a church) is $400.
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    sardough28sardough28
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for all the info ladies!!  This really helps :)

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    CTGirl30CTGirl30
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    edited December 2011
    Our JoP is charging us $250.
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    herb0622herb0622 member
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    edited December 2011
    Our church is charging us $500 as well which includes fees for the ceremony, organists and altar server tips
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    akulajiakulaji
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Crushme, are you doing a rehearsal with her?  We are doing a simple ceremony just to 'officially' marry us... just us, Sara and my friend that will officiate our public ceremony later in the day.  I think that's why she's only charging us $75.  There's really no preparation for her, no rehearsal and she doesn't have to worry about tailoring her words to accommodate an audience.  I think she told us her average cermeony is around $125, so I think you're getting her standard deal.  Ours was just an unusual circumstance.
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    Jennie2010Jennie2010 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    $250.00
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    LaLee628LaLee628
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    edited December 2011
    Our minister didn't have a fee because we're members of his church (though we got married outside of the church) but we gave him $200 as a thank you along with a separate $250 donation to the church.
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    crushme8602crushme8602
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    akulaji - oh I'm definitely not complaining at all! I think her fee is very reasonable and I totally love her! She's so sweet and gave us so much info and ways to make our ceremony really ours :)
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    melabes9846melabes9846
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    It was supposed to be $575 but she can't come to our rehearsal, so she took $100 off to bringing it to $475. We didn't want to spend that much, but once we met her we reallly liked her and didn't want to use anyone else!
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    starrbuk13starrbuk13 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    our JP was $150 + another $40 or so for travel (1 hr each way).  but $50 of it was a donation to an animal charity.
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    romyjm8romyjm8 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Out JP is $150 and that includes rehearsal & travel.  We may throw in a few extra for a "tip"
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    sardough28sardough28
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for all the feedback!  I'm so relieved to know that you can get a great JP without having to spend a lot of money!!
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    sweetpe75sweetpe75
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We've got Robert Chatfield, he's also the Mayor of Prospect and he's charging us $100.00, which includes rehearsal.
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    coffeecolecoffeecole
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    sweetpe75,  have you met Robert yet?  We were recomended him by our venue and I just wanted to know what your impressions of him were?? Thanks :)
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