Wedding Costs: An article from The Insider Magazine
Such an important subject especially when the couple is paying for their own wedding and on a budget. I was disappointed to see that the ceremony got the smallest piece of the pie chart along with stationary and cost of alcohol. (Though I'm in good company.) Without a decent ceremony the day starts off with a thud instead of a celebratory high note with bells ringing,birds singing - everyone is in the mood for love!
A ceremony is truly the centerpiece. The celebrants' words and his or her ability to allow the couple to be present to their moment, sets the tone for the entire wedding day. It is the celbrant's job to get it right so that the ceremony is uniquely theirs not just a fluffy confection of the same old, same old.
It seems so silly that the cake and candy counter costs more than the celebrant.
You should probably know some Rabbis charge 10% of the entire cost of the wedding so they would be taking quite a bigger chunk out of that pie chart.
I would say the average cost for a skilled officiant is @$400.00 ($66 less than a cake.)
(More for destination and if there is a rehearsal.) I am always willing to work out something for a couple who truly are on a budget. My sweet simplicity ceremony is $275.00 .