Philadelphia Officiants Guide, Philadelphia Wedding Guide Advice from OurWeddingDay.com

Bride Sign In
Vendor Sign In

Philadelphia Officiants Guide

Finding Your Philly Wedding Officiant

The City of Brotherly Love is a wonderful, chic, and oh-so American place to get married, so finding your officiant is one of your first, er, patriotic duties. You should start your search as soon as you’ve set your wedding date, and once you’ve decided on a religious or secular affair. As you’ll discover, below, you can also have both.

Like many New England cities, Philadelphia has a socially conservative bent. Finding an officiant for an off-beat ceremony won’t be as easy a task as, say, California, but the sources are there. Should you be opting for a “nuts and bolts” affair, your job is a breeze. You can be married by a judge, a justice of the peace, or a county or court clerk. Look for people under the titles “Philadelphia Officiants” or “County Clerk.” You will probably have to have your ceremony performed at City Hall, but some officiants will travel to your reception site.

Traditional secular services.
If you want a more traditional -- but still secular -- wedding, search for people under titles like “Philadelphia Wedding Officiants,” “Wedding Minister,” “Secular Officiant,” or “Interfaith Officiant.” Once you start your search, it’s imperative to remember that the officiant you pick has similar wedding ideas as the two of you, and that you trust and enjoy being around him. This is the person, after all, who will marry you. Non-denominational ministers are those who are familiar with different faiths and who can incorporate them accordingly. You might go this route if you would like to add religious touches to your affair, but are getting married somewhere outside of a house of worship.

Religious services.
Should you be planning on a religious ceremony, the first place you need to look is your house of worship. According to the Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway, officiant and author of Wedding Goddess, “Understand that many religious clergy are bound by the protocol of their house of worship, and will conduct themselves from that point of view. If you are a Catholic bride with a Jewish groom and you want to marry in the park, you can’t expect a Catholic priest to offer that kind of ceremony.” However, your pastor might be able to steer you in the right direction. If that fails, opt for the services listed above.

When you are ready to start talking with Philly officiants, visit the OurWeddingDay.com Philadelphia Local Vendor section for a great list of Philadelphia contacts.

Once you’ve selected an officiant, remember that it’s customary to invite him to the rehearsal dinner, along with his spouse, even if he is too busy to attend. If he is traveling a long distance to your wedding, you should pay for his transportation and lodging.

Most clergy charge for their services, especially the non-denominational and interfaith ministers, and religious officiants who offer services independent of their house of worship. Catholic priests are usually not paid, if you are using their Church. However, a "love offering" of at least $100 is appreciated. Some Christian ministries include the clergyperson’s services in the package. In other words, if you rent a house of worship and they provide ministerial services, there is no direct fee. If not, expect to pay. Some officiants can be pricey, so find out the fee or expected donation upfront.

Use these tips, and let freedom ring your love.

-David Toussaint