Many people are very shy when it comes to payment to a wedding professional, but they are generally more embarrassed when dealing with their wedding clergy in regards to payment, and especially a gratuity. Some disagree on the fees that wedding officiants charge. Hopefully this article will shed some light.

Most officiants in Ohio charge from $150 to $300 for a wedding ceremony. Some do charge extra for rehearsals as some rehearsals take just as long as the wedding ceremony.  Most will ask for a deposit in advance and the remainder to be paid on the day of the wedding or a few weeks prior to the ceremony. It is best have a paper trail and pay the officiant by check (if accepted), or credit card. If paying in cash, get a signed receipt that is legible that has the officiant's name and contact information listed.

When officiant allows you to pay the balance at the wedding ceremony, it is usually more embarrassing for people since it is in person and there's no "right moment". The best time to pay is when the officiant is signing the license. There is always a shuffling of papers and you could always slip the payment to them in an envelope and just say "Thank you!"

And don't forget the minister gratuity. You can include that in the envelope as well. Gratuity,  you ask? Yes it is optional but realize that some ministers, even the ones you hire from the yellow pages do not work for themselves but for an association, church, or such organization. A lot of the "fee" that you pay is not going to your officiant.  What is the proper tip for an officiant? What ever you want to give. $25 - $100 is the proper tip and if that seems to be too much to you, consider this: your wedding officiant is probably the least paid of most of the wedding professionals present at your wedding. and yet you need that one person at your wedding ceremony more than anyone else there, or else. . . you wouldn't be married.

For those who feel the fees are too high for the wedding officiant. Please, take a look at all the cost of your wedding. Some are paying $1000 - $3000 or more on the Venue and then another $2000 or more on Catering. Flowers for the wedding may be $600 or more. Photography, $1000+. Looking at these prices and then what the officiant charges you ($200-$300) you will see that the officiant isn't getting much but is the most important person needed besides the bride and groom. As it was said above, without an officiant, there would be no wedding.