We at Philadelphia Officiants want to answer all of your questions! Below, we’ve provided the answers to those we receive most often, and of course you should feel free to contact us directly for any additional information you may need!
Are Your Officiants Legally Authorized in Pennsylvania?
This is the most common question we receive, and the answer is YES. Apparently there are several officiants in the Philadelphia area attempting to scare couples by claiming that other officiants are not legally authorized to perform marriages in Pennsylvania. While the law surrounding “internet ordinations” in one local county is somewhat unclear, every single one of our professional officiants carries multiple ordination credentials from established institutions and is absolutely, positively authorized to perform legal marriages in Pennsylvania.
When Should We Hire An Officiant?
As you can probably imagine, some months (such as April through October) are much busier with weddings than others! Generally, however, most couples contact us between six and 12 months before their wedding day. We suggest you reach out as early in your planning process as possible to hire your officiant, as our popular Saturdays sell out very quickly! We’re also happy to accommodate short-term bookings as our schedule allows, so please contact us to check availability for your date no matter when it is!
What Do You Charge to Officiate a Ceremony?
We base our pricing on which package you choose (Legal Marriage, Classic Ceremony, or Custom Ceremony), any options you select, and the date, time and location of the wedding. When you contact us with this information, we’ll gladly provide you with a complete and accurate price quote right away!
What Discounts Do You Offer?
While we understand why many couples desire a discount for military members and other public service sectors, it’s important to us to be able to offer our very best price to every couple who hires us. For this reason, we don’t offer any discounts to select individuals or groups. We do, however, frequently offer promotions and special deals – contact us to check availability and our price quote will always include any current offers or specials.
Will You Reserve Our Date?
Once you’ve contacted us and confirm you’d like to be matched with an available officiant (for Custom Ceremonies), we’ll send you a digital contract and will place a courtesy hold on your date for 10 days. This will give you time to speak personally with the officiant before signing. Officiants for Legal Marriage and Classic Ceremony packages are assigned based on availability, and do not require an initial consultation prior to booking.
What Is The Deposit Amount?
We strive to keep our payment terms simple: for Custom Ceremony packages, we collect a minimum 50% reservation fee at the time of booking, and the balance 30 days before the wedding date. (Of course, you are welcome to pay in full with the signed contract, but we don’t require it.) For Classic Ceremony or Legal Marriage packages, we collect full payment at the time you book our services.
Do You Accept Credit Cards?
Yes – as a matter of fact, they’re the only form of payment we accept! We give you access to our convenient online booking system so you can sign your contract and make a payment the same day, if you so desire!
Can We Customize Our Ceremony?
Absolutely! Philadelphia Officiants has built our reputation on completely personalized wedding ceremonies that reflect each unique couple we serve! When you book a Custom Ceremony package, we’ll work with you to create a wedding ceremony that is tailored uniquely for you! We also offer options for the ceremony scripts we use for Classic Ceremony and Legal Marriage packages, so that you’re sure to find one that’s a perfect fit. Please visit our Philadelphia Elopement Packages page for more information on our elopement ceremony services.
Will You Perform Ceremonies For Couples With Different Religious Beliefs?
With pleasure! We work with interfaith couples on many of the weddings we perform each year as part of our Custom Ceremony packages. Our team of experienced wedding officiants has a wealth of resources available to help you craft a custom ceremony that will honor both of your backgrounds, beliefs and traditions.
Can We Have a Religious (or a Non-Religious) Ceremony?
No matter what your preferences are when it comes to a religious vs. secular ceremony, our professional officiants will be happy to accommodate you. We want your wedding ceremony to be exactly what you desire.
Will You Marry Same-Sex Couples?
Philadelphia Officiants honors the marriages of all couples, and has performed hundreds of LGBT wedding ceremonies. We believe in marriage equality for all, and proudly serve all couples.
Am I Able To Change My Wedding Date, Time, or Location?
We want to be part of your wedding whenever it is, and in the unlikely event of a change in date, time or venue, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate you. However, we cannot guarantee our availability for the change in plans, so we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible if you need to adjust anything. This gives us the greatest chance of finding a solution that works for everyone.
Will You Attend Our Wedding Rehearsal?
Customarily, our officiants do not attend the rehearsal, since you’re really only rehearsing the entrance and exit and not the actual ceremony itself. If you wish us to be there, however, and if we’re available, we can generate a separate contract for your rehearsal for an additional fee. Please note that almost all of the couples we work with choose to instead utilize our free Wedding Rehearsal Guide and have their rehearsal directed by a family member or friend.
This is a Secret, But We’re Already Legally Married – Is That Okay?
We actually deal with this more often than you’d think! Many of the couples who hire us (especially military couples) have already married, but want to enjoy a more formal ceremony with family and friends. As long as you’ve adhered to your local marriage laws and can provide a copy of your marriage certificate for verification, we’re happy to accommodate you!
How Do We Hire You For Our Wedding?
It’s easy! Just complete our simple contact form, and we’ll be in touch quickly with a price quote and additional information.
I Don’t See An Answer To My Question – What Do I Do Now?
If we haven’t provided all the information you need, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly! You can email us anytime at info@ceremonyofficiants.com or 800-721-VOWS.