Las Vegas Officiants Guide

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Finding a Winning Officiant in Nevada

Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world, with roughly 130,000 marriages per year -- finding a Las Vegas officiant for your nuptials shouldn’t be a problem! “Brides can find anything from the classic Vegas schmaltz of little chapels on the Strip to fancy affairs in the major hotels,” says the Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway, officiant and author of Wedding Goddess. “Most people,” she adds, “are not looking for traditional clergy, but you can find Catholic priests and other ministers.”

Should you be marrying in Las Vegas, start your Nevada officiant search as soon as you’ve set the date of your wedding, and once you’ve decided on a secular or religious affair. Of course, simple weddings are the easiest, especially in Vegas. You can get married by a judge or justice of the peace, or a county clerk.

Traditional secular weddings.
If you want traditional elements added to your secular wedding, Vegas is far ahead of the crowd. A city known for dazzle, Vegas prides itself on offering a variety of officiants (many ordained online, and many who are non-denominational), who can add religious touches, whether you’re getting married in a chapel or in front of an Elvis impersonator! Despite the sinful fun of the city, whomever you pick needs to click with your personality and have similar beliefs and ideas about your ceremony. He’s going to marry the two of you, so the right vibe is essential. If you’re not comfortable with either his personality or his views, move on to the next person on your list.

Religious weddings.
Vegas, too, has become much more formal in weddings, so you can go the traditional, religious route. Your house of worship is the first place you need to go for advice. If you’re traveling to Vegas for your wedding and your clergy person can’t or won’t travel as well, he might have a recommendation. Know as well that a Catholic bride and a Jewish groom are going to have a harder time finding a local officiant to marry them on the Vegas Strip. If your clergyman can’t provide help, opt for the services listed above.

When you’re ready to start talking with Vegas officiants, visit the OurWeddingDay.com Las Vegas Local Vendor section for a great list of contacts.

Once you’ve selected an officiant—and made sure he’s available for the wedding and wedding rehearsal—it’s customary to invite him and his spouse to the rehearsal dinner. If he’s traveling a long distance, you’re expected to pay for transportation and lodging.

Most officiants charge for their services, especially non-denominational and interfaith ministers. Religious officiants who offer services independent of their house of worship will charge a fee too. If you’re getting married in a Vegas church where the minister is part of the package, you won’t be expected to pay him. Instead, a “love offering” of at least $100 is appreciated. Some officiants can be pricey, so find out the fee or expected donation upfront.

Follow these guidelines, and your officiant search won’t just be the luck of the draw.

-David Toussaint