Finding an Officiant

Ideas & Inspiration

The late and beloved Sean Patrick O'Reilly

Finding an Officiant

Q: How do I find an experienced officiant if I'm not practicing a specific faith but want a meaningful and spiritual service?

A: If you are a free spirit, faithwise, the search for an officiant can seem daunting. After all, you are choosing the person who will join you and your beloved on one of the most important days of your life. But with the flush of options available—from courthouse quickies to having Internet-ordained friends presiding over your celebration—couples of all belief systems are finding happy solutions. Officiants—a general term (also called celebrants) for people who are legally authorized to perform ceremonies—cost between $250 to $1,000. In addition to performing the nuptials, this cost might include a rehearsal and meetings with the couple to discuss vows and other elements of the ceremony. 

Bellevue-based officiant Gary Mason, a minister with a degree in religious studies from Indiana University, explains that many couples hire secular officiants because marrying in a church or courthouse does not fit their needs. "I find a lot of people don't want to go the way of the churches because there's a lot of religious counseling involved," he says. "A judge ceremony is kind of mechanical. I like people to walk away with the warm fuzzies." To that end, Mason conducts short, simple and personable ceremonies that feature customized vows and include recognition of family members and friends, taking time to thank those who have traveled for the wedding. Mason also provides a professional sound system, which is helpful for outdoor ceremonies and large rooms.

Husband-and-wife team Ken Buttars and Pat Stimac of Green Lake–based A Heavenly Ceremony are ministers who work with couples throughout western Washington. "People often ask what kind of ceremonies we do, and we laugh," Stimac says, "because we've done agnostic, multi-faith and multicultural ceremonies." Stimac and Buttars collaborate with each couple on writing vows and designing the ceremony. They've performed ceremonies with dogs as wedding party members and have married couples at Safeco Field, with the ring bearer carrying the rings in a catcher's mitt. 

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