How much does a secular ceremonial officiant cost?

Dear lovers,

You want to complete your civil ceremony with a symbolic moment in your image. So you are leaning towards the secular wedding ceremony and want to use the services of a professional officiant rather than a loved one but have no idea how much a secular ceremony officiant costs. And inevitably you ask yourself the famous question: How much does a secular ceremony officiant cost?

You have surfed the web to find out more and have discovered the most diverse proposals and realize that you are no further ahead on the right price to pay to obtain a quality service.

The profession of officiant is recent and is not currently subject to any regulation as to the skills required, the methodology put in place and especially the prices charged, which is why it is difficult for the uninformed to take an informed decision.

The proposals vary very significantly since they range from €300 to more than €3000! As for the lowest proposals, they frequently come from wedding planners or wedding organizers who offer couples an “Organization & Ceremony package” and take on the role of celebrant for the occasion. While I have no doubt that some of them are doing very well, I would like to warn you because although these two professions are complementary, they are nevertheless different and therefore require different skills.

A secular ceremony is not a spectacle or a parody of a religious wedding. On the contrary, it is a crucial moment rich in emotions which must be conducted with respect by a person with a certain authority. I have been a secular ceremony officiant since 2009 and all the couples who contact me tell me of their sincere and thoughtful wish to commit to each other and often tell me that the secular ceremony is in their eyes their REAL marriage . Consequently, if your officiant runs around in all directions a few minutes before your ceremony to resolve problems with wedding cakes or table plans, the credibility of your choice of secular ceremony risks being affected, particularly in the eyes of your loved ones. who often don't know what to expect.

Let's come back to the price: It also happens that the officiants offering ridiculous prices are beginners and underestimate, due to lack of experience, the time necessary to design a truly personalized ceremony but I will come back to this point in a bit. further away.

If we take the other extreme, some officiants charge high or even very high prices. I would not allow myself to insinuate that their prices are not justified but I advise you to check very precisely the services included in this price: Travel costs, sound equipment, decoration, rehearsal, number of meetings in person, etc. Some officiants charging prices over €2,000 offer a master of ceremonies service rather than an officiant. In my opinion, the term master of ceremonies describes a role quite different from that of the officiant. The master of ceremonies hosts the event more like a ceremony-show and sometimes includes in his performance the participation of musicians, dancers, actors, etc. Why not ? If this idea tempts you.

As far as I am concerned, I consider that a secular ceremony deserves to be a magical moment combining emotion, humor, love & sharing rather than a café-theatre type show but once again, I am certain that this type of performance is very entertaining. Other officiants offer high prices, quite simply because they have smelled “the right thing” and intend to practice this profession for a limited period while ensuring that it is as lucrative as possible, but rest assured, it is not This is only a minority.

In my humble opinion, it is reasonable to consider that an average between €800 and €1000 is a justified price for a quality service provided by an experienced professional to which you will, in most cases, have to add travel costs. . 1000€!!! Ah anyway, you say to yourself! (I hear you ?). A good officiant spends at least 20 hours getting to know you, designing and providing you with personalized discussion and decision-making tools, writing your tailor-made scenario, contacting your loved ones, having regular updates with you and of course officiating on the D-Day. I am convinced that over time, the profession of officiant will be considered an essential moment of the wedding and a real added value in the same way as the profession of florist, photographer or caterer.

To conclude, I advise you to choose with your heart: If from the first contact , the officiant is available, warm and caring, if he knows how to establish a climate of trust and complicity with you, if the idea that he celebrates your ceremony makes you want to smile, don't hesitate!

I hope I have been helpful to you. For more information , do not hesitate to send me an email