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My rates are
considered average for non-clerical wedding officiants and quite reasonable for
clergy in Central Florida. I do not see the point in adding a premium for
wedding officiating simply because I am an ordained congregational minister. I
believe every couple should have access to affordable professional wedding
ministry and that officiants should be as fair, consistent and open about their
fee structure as possible.
Typical Wedding Fees:
I include travel expenses, so my fees depend upon the location as well as the
scope of the wedding. The customary range in Brevard County is $160 (wedding
only) to $285 (wedding with a rehearsal) depending upon distance.
Please note that if you are on a tight budget, I am entirely sympathetic. I am
happy to work with you to arrange payment plans, skill exchanges, etc.
Full Breakdown
of Customary Fees By Region Throughout Central Florida
Fee Considerations or
premiums may apply. These rates are typical and can be used for budgetary
purposes. Exact fees may vary slightly depending upon your unique circumstances.
Please note that weddings on major holidays (i.e. Easter, Independence Day,
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve/Day) may incur an additional premium. My
cancellation policy is described in detail
below.
Fees Include:
-
All communication and meetings necessary to customize your
service
-
Crafting and preparation of your personalized service
-
Availability for questions and concerns regarding any aspect of
your wedding planning
-
Conducting the rehearsal (if contracted to do so)
-
Early arrival at the wedding venue to allow for coordination
with other wedding vendors, calm nerves and tackle any last
minute tasks necessary to get your ceremony off to a smooth and
timely start.
-
Officiating of your ceremony
-
Keepsake wedding folder which includes an attractive marriage
certificate, printed copy of the complete service, and a few
additional mementos.
-
Filing of the marriage license if the couple so desires
(Although anyone may return the completed license, I always
offer take on this responsibility if the bride and groom would
like me to do so. I file Brevard County licenses in person at
the courthouse within two business days and supply the Clerk of
Courts with a stamped return envelope addressed to the couple.)
-
Portable sound system if deemed necessary
-
Cheerful disposition, professional demeanor, charming sense of
humor and basic brilliance
-
Quick thinking and creative problem solving that has proved
quite handy at the least expected moments
Considerations
$25 deduction if any of the following apply
Deductions may not be available on
certain holidays
-
MILITARY: I'm an Army
brat with a soft spot for our men and women in uniform. Active duty, retired
and reserve status apply.
-
STUDENT: Based on personal experience I am entirely sympathetic to the
financial needs of undergraduate and graduate students
-
MID-WEEK: Monday-Thursday are off-peak wedding days, so why not?
-
SMALL WEDDING: Elopements and small informal ceremonies with less than ten
or so guests.
-
VOW RENEWAL: If the couple is already married, there is no legal paperwork
for which I am responsible.
-
ASTON VILLA FC FANS: A small quiz may be administered.
-
UUCB: Couples scheduling
their
ceremony at the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard.*
*Rental fees for UUCB are separate
and the responsibility of the UUCB Board of Trustees. The sanctuary is $80 for
the first hour and $30 for each additional 30 minutes. I recommend a 3 hour
rental of $200 to allow for deliveries, decorating, prelude, ceremony,
post-ceremony photography and putting the sanctuary back in order.
I offer an additional $25
discount for couples who have taken a
Marriage Education class with me.
Small Ceremony / Private Elopement
Package
Please note: I do not charge set fees for other ministerial services such as
child dedications, memorial services and other
rites of passage simply because they are typically
less formal, require little to no coordination with other vendors, tend to be
scheduled with very little lead time and are usually shorter in duration.
Instead, I accept a voluntary honorarium at your discretion.
Cancellation Policy
Although it happens rarely, there are times a couple may have to cancel their
contract for any number of reasons. I am mindful of the expenses associated with
wedding deposits and strive to be fair with my cancellation policy. A contract
may be cancelled upon notification via email or regular post. I do prefer to
have something to print for record-keeping purposes.
My contracted deposit is considered non-refundable as it guarantees the date and time of
the ceremony and thus I decline any other business while the contract is active.
When a wedding is cancelled, I clear my calendar and will again speak to other
couples who inquire about that same date and general time period.
In the event I rebook: I will of course happily refund the
original deposit from the
couple who cancelled. I do not think it fair to retain the deposit if no
business has been lost. I do not insist a subsequent booking be for the exact
time of the original wedding. Simply rebooking something for the same day may
suffice.
In the event I am unable to rebook: In these instances I have to
make a judgment call. Factors such as the demand for the time period in question
and how far in advance I have had the opportunity to rebook are considered. For
example, I may reserve the right to keep a deposit if I have had to turn down
several requests while the contract was active, but do not have adequate time to
rebook after the cancellation. On the other hand, I may refund a deposit if I
have had time to receive subsequent inquiries after a cancellation that did not
result in a booking.
I do reserve the right to deduct incurred expenses from any deposit.
Initial Consultation:
The first thing we do is an initial consultation,
which is of course at no charge and with no obligation. This provides you the
opportunity to decide if you would like me as your officiant and I become
familiar with the scope of the ceremony based on your vision. The consultation
can be as simple as a telephone conversation, an email exchange, or we may
arrange a time to meet in person. If we arrange a time to meet in person and you
change your mind, please do extend me the courtesy of calling in advance to
cancel. I understand completely.
To schedule a consultation
please call 321-255-9086 or email
brevardminister@cfl.rr.com.
Date and
Time Reservation:
Should you decide to retain
my services, a non-refundable deposit reserves the date and time of your
nuptials. I never double book and prefer to serve one couple per day. In the
event of multiple weddings on a single day I make sure I have plenty of time
between ceremonies. I don't want the stress either!
I always allow
for travel time, early arrival, reasonable unexpected
delays and ample time for pictures and
witness signatures. If notified in advance I will also allow time
for a meal or reception blessing to inaugurate the post-ceremony
festivities.
The deposit is due with the
signed contract and guarantees reservation of the date and time. The balance is
due one week prior to the date of the ceremony, but may be paid at any time.
After
Retaining Services:
I continue to work with you
from my office to develop a service tailored to your needs and desires. Some
weddings can take as few as a handful of exchanged phone calls and emails to
others that require extensive communication, perhaps personal meetings spent
re-crafting the ceremony and the ironing out of last minute details.
At the rehearsal and
ceremony, I function not only as a celebrant but as a service coordinator
ensuring smooth continuity, an experienced professional managing group emotional
energy, and sometimes even a trouble-shooter resolving unexpected glitches of
all sorts.
Payment
Methods and Confirmation:
When received, I always
respond with written confirmation for receipt of payment.
Acceptable methods of
payment:
Cash, Money Order, E-check,
Debit & Credit Card via PayPal. The PayPal address is:
paypal@brevardminister.com. You may pay with a personal check. Checks
returned for insufficient funds incur an additional $25.00 service fee and will
be due payable in cash, money order or paypal within ten days of notification.
Click
here for step-by-step
instructions for submitting payments via PayPal.
Zip Codes:
32901, 32903, 32904, 32922, 32925, 32926, 32927, 32931, 32934, 32935, 32937,
32940, 32955
Melbourne, West
Melbourne, Rockledge, Viera, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Patrick AFB, Satellite Beach,
Indian Harbour Beach, Palm Shores, Eau Gallie, Indialantic
$160 Wedding Only
$60 Deposit
$100 Balance
$235 Wedding & Rehearsal $100 Deposit
$135 Balance
Zip Codes: 32905, 32907,
32908, 32909, 32951, 32952, 3295,
32754, 32780, 32796, 32920, 32949, 32950
Palm Bay,
Merritt Island, Melbourne Beach, Mims, Titusville, Cape Canaveral, Grant,
Malabar
$185 Wedding Only
$85 Deposit
$100 Balance
$285 Wedding & Rehearsal $100 Deposit
$185 Balance
Metro-Orlando Venues
Exact fees for the
Metro-Orlando area depend upon the mileage from my home
office to the wedding venue, but the
following are good budgetary guidelines. Please call or email with
the address of the venue for a more precise quote.
South East of I-4 / 528
Harmony,
Kissimmee, St. Cloud, etc.
Wedding Only
$200 - $260
Wedding with a
Rehearsal
$310 - $435
South West of I-4 / 528
Disney World,
Grand Cypress, etc.
Wedding Only
$260 - $310
Wedding with a
Rehearsal
$410 - $485
North East of I-4 / 528
Winter Park,
Oviedo, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, etc.
Wedding Only
$235 - $310
Wedding with a
Rehearsal $385 -
$460
North West of I-4 / 528
Apopka, Winter
Garden, etc.
Wedding Only
$260 - $335
Wedding with a
Rehearsal $410 -
$485
Indian River County Venues
Exact fees for Indian
River County depend upon the mileage from my home
office to the wedding venue, but the
following are good budgetary guidelines. Please call or email with
the address of the venue for a more precise quote.
Indian River County North of SR-60
Wedding Only
$210 - $260
Wedding with a
Rehearsal $335 -
$410
Indian River County South of SR-60
Wedding Only
$235 - $310
Wedding with a
Rehearsal $385 -
$460
Rev. 01/2010 |
Officiating Fees
