Just because you live in the City That Never Sleeps, doesn’t mean that finding a fantastic wedding officiant should keep you up all night. Our top 10 list of the best wedding officiants in New York City is here to help you find a wedding officiant that will make your big day that much more special. The wedding ceremony is one of the biggest moments of your life and you need a wedding officiant who will not flub a single word.
Find an officiant that will make your love story stand out.
If you want a wedding officiant that is going to make your ceremony memorable and interesting, then your run-of-the-mill wedding officiant is not going to cut it.
You need an officiant who is an expert.
An awesome wedding officiant may be one of the last items that you check off on your wedding planning list, however an excellent wedding officiant is worth every penny.
Here is our list of the top wedding officiants in New York City that will help you say, ‘I do.’
1. Family or Friend
Family and friends know you and your significant other better than any wedding officiant in New York City ever could. All of the time and memories that you have spent together will come out during a ceremony performed by a close family member or friend. XO Juliet offers a ceremony writing service to ensure that your family member or friend will create a ceremony that you will cherish forever. If you want a ceremony that will be memorable for everyone, then choosing a family or friend will make your special day that much more special.
Pros: Family and friends will not charge you a penny for performing your wedding ceremony! If you are on a budget then this is a fantastic option to save some money. They will be honored to officiate your ceremony and help you on your big day. Plus, who wouldn’t want a best friend or beloved family member marry you?
Cons: You may not have a family or friend who is certified to perform a wedding ceremony. That may seem like the end of the road, however there is a solution. There are plenty of online services that allow the average person to become an officiant. Your family member or friend can easily take the course and become certified in a matter of hours.
Cost: $299
Phone: (716) 259-1839
Reviews: 5/5 stars on WeddingWire.
2. Officiant NYC
Officiant NYC may not have the most creative business name, but they make up for it with their incredible wedding officiants. Their team works with you and your partner to create a unique ceremony just for you. Whether you are religious, traditional, atheist, or anything in between, Officiant NYC has the best New York City officiants that will make your big day that much more special.
Pros: Officiant NYC has an initial meeting with couples to see if they are a good fit for the company’s services. If their officiants do not believe they are a good fit for a couple, they will not hesitate to recommend an officiant who would be a better fit. They take wedding ceremonies very seriously and will listen to exactly what your wedding wishes are.
Cons: Officiant NYC does not have information about who their wedding officiants are. If you are looking for the best New York City officiants, you may want to see more information about who their officiants are before setting up a meeting.
Cost: $400 – $1,000
Phone: (347) 583-7755
Reviews: 5/5 stars on WeddingWire. 5/5 stars on Facebook. 5/5 stars on Yelp.
3. Rev. Brad
Rev. Brad first got his start in the wedding industry as a photographer, but quickly realized that he was a born wedding officiant. Since 2009, Brad has been a top New York City wedding officiant who has performed hundreds of ceremonies. He welcomes all couples in love — regardless of their backgrounds and beliefs. You can also use a wedding package service through his wife, where his officiant price will be deducted from the price of the package.
Pros: Rev. Brad has a video sample of a wedding that he officiated right on his website. That is a great resource for couples looking for a New York City officiant, as you can get a sense of how he officiates weddings. His wife is also a wedding officiant, so you have a built-in backup in case of an emergency.
Cons: Rev. Brad typically does not do rehearsal ceremonies before your big day. That makes sense from an officiant that has performed many ceremonies in the past, but from a couple perspective it can be extremely unnerving. If you want him to perform a rehearsal, you will have to pay him an extra $300-$500. That could be a huge turnoff for couples that want a rehearsal ceremony.
Cost: $400 – $600
Phone number: (917) 532-4030
Reviews: 5/5 stars on WeddingWire. 5/5 stars on Google. 5/5 stars on Yelp.
4. Common Ground Ceremonies
Common Ground Ceremonies is run by Samora Smith, a NYC-licensed wedding officiant who works to help couples craft a ceremony that will be remembered and cherished for years to come. Samora has married more than 1,000 couples since she became one of the best New York City wedding officiants in 2010. She also performs baby blessing ceremonies and premarital wedding counseling.
Pros: Common Ground Ceremonies has a few fun rituals that you can add to your ceremony, such as a dove release or a wine box and love letters. If you are looking to have children involved in your wedding ceremony, Samora understands how to seamlessly incorporate children. She also has a book of more than 300 vows that can help you craft your wedding vows.
Cons: Common Ground Ceremonies can get extremely pricey — extremely fast. Her highest price is almost $2,500, which is more than many couples spend on a single vendor — even photographers. If that is out of your price range, you may want to find another New York City wedding officiant.
Cost: $399 – $2499
Phone number: (646) 736-2510
Reviews: 5/5 stars on weddingwire. 4.8/5 stars on Google. 5/5 stars on Yelp.
5. Alice Soloway Weddings
Alice Soloway Weddings was founded by — you guessed it — Alice Soloway. Alice performs all of the ceremonies she books. Not to mention, she is a certified life cycle celebrant. That means her job is to create wedding ceremonies that are inclusive of all cultures, beliefs, and perspectives. Alice thrives on sharing great joys and sorrows, while making real connections with everyone that she meets.
Pros: Alice Soloway has awesome online reviews for her officiant services, which makes her stand out as one of the best New York City wedding officiants. If you choose one of her more robust packages, she will help coordinate your wedding and ensure that the ceremony runs smoothly.
Cons: Alice Soloway is the only New York City wedding officiant at the company. That means if your date is already booked, there is little chance that you will be able to work with her. It is also unclear if she handles the marriage license and certificate, where most New York City officiants handle that for their couples.
Cost: $225 – $2750
Phone number: (347) 247-3009
Reviews: 5/5 stars on Yelp. 5/5 stars on Google. 5/5 stars on WeddingWire.
6. Honeybreak Officiants
Honeybreak Officiants is a woman-owned wedding officiant business that have worked with couples from all over the world. All of their wedding officiants have detailed descriptions, so you can get to know your wedding officiant before you even meet with them. Their officiants meet with the couples before they book with them to make sure that they are a perfect fit for the couple.
Pros: Honeybreak Officiants offers a photography and officiant package. Couples can get an excellent New York City wedding officiant and photographer all at once — and save a few bucks in the process. They also have a great tool on their website where you can see the exact dates that they are already booked for. That will save you some time as you will not have to wait to hear back from them regarding whether or not they are booked for your date.
Cons: Honeybreak Officiants has several wedding officiants, which is great as your date will likely be available. However, if the officiant that you were looking to work with is already booked, you may be out of luck. You should reach out and see if their officiants are available for your big day.
Cost: $550 – $2,400
Phone number: (860) 478-6060
Reviews: 5/5 stars on Google. 5/5 stars on Yelp. 5/5 stars on Weddingwire.
7. A More Perfect Union
A More Perfect Union delivers top notch wedding ceremonies that couples will absolutely adore. Hope is the main officiant at A More Perfect Union and she is dedicated to getting couples ready for their wedding and marriage. She aims to join the body, mind, and soul through the services that she offers. There is no doubt that Hope deserves to be on this list of the top 10 wedding officiants in New York City.
Pros: A More Perfect Union offers a workshop called the Zen Bride. If you are stressing out about your big day, you may want to check this workshop out. Brides-to-be will de-stress with meditation and yoga, and they will connect with other brides in the process. This is pretty awesome and unique if you ask us!
Cons: A More Perfect Union does not disclose exact pricing for their officiant ceremonies, and simply says that prices start at $500. That can be frustrating for couples that are looking for the best New York City wedding officiants and they may not be able to afford their services as there is not enough information to determine it before meeting with Hope.
Cost: $500+
Phone number: (917) 504-4468
Reviews: 5/5 stars on Yelp.
8. Illuminating Ceremonies
Illuminating Ceremonies personalizes wedding ceremonies for couples that are genuinely in love. (And we’re guessing that’s you!) Christopher Shelly offers wedding ceremonies anywhere in the world, but primarily in New York City. You will surely have a memorable wedding ceremony with Chris at the helm. Christopher also has a home in Cincinnati, so make sure that he isn’t off in Ohio for your big day.
Pros: Illuminating Ceremonies brings a lot of humor out on their website. Christopher injects humor into all of his ceremonies and it’s very clear based on the website. Christopher was actually on the Rachael Ray show four times, where he married four couples. There are few New York City wedding officiants who have married someone on national television.
Cons: Illuminating Ceremonies does not have any information about their officiant pricing on their website. That would be disappointing to some couples who want to know if they would be able to afford Christopher’s services.
Cost: Not stated.
Phone number: (718) 222-0110
Reviews: 5/5 stars on Google. 5/5 stars on Yelp. 5/5 stars on Facebook.
9. The Heart Of The Wedding
The Heart of the Wedding takes storytelling seriously, which is why they made our list of top 10 wedding officiants in New York City. Gerald Fierst has spent his entire career telling stories and would love to tell your love story on your big day. He cherishes your vision for your ceremony and will bring it to life while working closely with you.
Pros: The Heart of the Wedding is focused on telling your love story in a way that will resonate with everyone on your big day. You can check out Gerald’s resume right on the website and get a feel for his experience and how he would fit in your wedding. He also has a page of all the unique ceremonies he has officiated.
Cons: The Heart of the Wedding doesn’t have the most online reviews compared to some of the other top wedding officiants in New York City. That is certainly not a bad thing, however, since Gerald may not prioritize getting online reviews from past customers.
Cost: Not stated.
Phone number: (973) 746-4608
Reviews: 5/5 stars on WeddingWire.
10. Weddings By Aretha
Weddings By Aretha rounds out our list of the top 10 wedding officiants in New York City. Aretha Gaskin is an award-winning wedding officiant that delivers an effortless wedding ceremony to couples in the New York City area. She also can coordinate your wedding, which could be a nice benefit as you will not have to hire a separate wedding coordinator.
Pros: Weddings By Aretha has nothing but 5 star reviews across several online platforms. She will surely do an amazing job on your big day and there are plenty of couples to back her up. She has an extensive portfolio on her website with hundreds of weddings that you can check out.
Cons: Weddings By Aretha has a high price point, which may knock her out of your consideration. Thankfully, there are plenty of other top wedding officiants in New York City that you will be able to afford.
Cost: $850 – $1500
Phone number: (347) 273-8099
Reviews: 5/5 stars on WeddingWire. 5/5 stars on Yelp. 5/5 stars on Google.
