Sample Wedding Officiant Contract: Defining Your ‘Terms of Service’ for Professional Officiants

Julie’s Just Us Elopements

123 TRUE LOVE LANE
KISS, WA 12345
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]

This Agreement is made between AMM Minister Julie Howard and the Couple (as defined below), to retain an Officiant to perform a marriage license signing ceremony, elopement, or other marriage service as outlined below.

Julie Howard is an inclusive & affirming officiant, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion(s), gender, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. Your love is welcome here!

THE COUPLE

MARRIER #1 
* Full Legal Name (as it appears on your ID & marriage license): ____________________________________________
* Phone Number: (______)_____________________
* Email address: ___________________________
* Physical address: 
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

MARRIER #2 
* Full Legal Name (as it appears on your ID & marriage license): ____________________________________________
* Phone Number: (______)_____________________
* Email address: ___________________________
* Physical address: 
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

IMPORTANT: The Couple are responsible for obtaining their marriage license before the marriage ceremony. The Couple must bring their valid marriage license, valid photo ID for both parties, and 2 adult witnesses to the ceremony for the service to be legally binding. 
Marrier #1 initial: _____________________
Marrier #2 initial: _____________________

THE WEDDING DETAILS

YOUR CEREMONY PACKAGE:
(See service terms below for details & requirements.) 

⬜ Marriage License Signing ($150; no ceremony, 2 required witnesses)
⬜ Elopement Ceremony ($350; 30 minute ceremony & 2 one-hour consultations)
⬜ Vow Renewal Ceremony ($300; 30 minute ceremony & 2 one-hour consultations, no license signing)

ADDITIONAL SERVICES: 
⬜ Custom Wedding Ceremony Script and/or Vows ($150; as outlined below)
⬜ Rehearsal Ceremony ($75; One hour maximum, service recommended)
⬜ Wedding Chapel Rental ($300; 1 hour rental)
⬜ Travel fee (65.5 cents/mile added for all locations outside of Kiss County)
⬜ Holiday fee ($75; for marriages performed on New Years Eve/Day, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas)

DATE, TIME, & LOCATION: 
* Wedding date: ____/____/__________
* Wedding venue (Name & Address):
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
* Venue phone number: (______)_____________________
* Your ceremony starts at: ___________________ (Circle: AM / PM)

⬜ Check this box if you’d like to marry at the Just Us Chapel
(Your wedding date cannot be reserved until chapel availability is confirmed.)

IMPORTANT: If your ceremony starts more than 15 minutes late (after the time listed above), an additional $50 will be charged for the Officiant’s time. Ceremonies that start more than 30 minutes late will only be performed if the Officiant’s schedule permits. 

SERVICE TERMS

CEREMONY PACKAGES & ADDITIONAL SERVICES:

* Marriage License Signing: Officiant will confirm the couple’s identity and intent to marry, and complete the marriage license. This service is limited to 5-10 minutes and does not include a ceremony. The Couple must provide two adult witnesses, and may invite up to four guests total (including witnesses). The Officiant will return the license to the Kiss County Auditor’s office within 30 days of the ceremony, as required by §26.04.090 of the Revised Code of Washington. 

* Elopement Ceremony: The Officiant agrees to arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the ceremony start-time. The Officiant will perform a marriage ceremony for the Couple, and complete the marriage license. This service is limited to ceremonies up to 45 minutes long, not including signing services. The Couple must provide two adult witnesses. The Officiant will return the license to the Kiss County Auditor’s office within 30 days of the ceremony, as required by § 26.04.090 of the Revised Code of Washington. In addition, the Officiant agrees to provide up to 2 hours of consultation time to plan the ceremony and review the wedding script (either over video, phone, or in-person at the Just-Us Chapel office).

*  Vow Renewal Ceremony: The Officiant agrees to arrive at the venue at least 30 minutes before the ceremony start-time. The Officiant agrees to perform a vow renewal ceremony for the Couple. This service does not include a marriage license signing service. This service is limited to ceremonies up to 45 minutes long. In addition, the Officiant agrees to provide up to 2 hours of consultation time to plan the ceremony and review the wedding script (either over video, phone, or in-person at the Just-Us Chapel office).

* Custom Wedding Ceremony Script and/or Vows: Officiant agrees to write a custom wedding ceremony script and/or wedding vows for the Couple, provided that the Couple completes and returns the Couple’s Questionnaire at least 2 weeks before the wedding date. The Couple can request up to 2 script revisions, after which time an additional fee of $100 will be charged per revision. No revision requests will be accepted within 3 days of the ceremony.  

* Rehearsal Ceremony: The Officiant agrees to attend a rehearsal ceremony for up to one hour, dressed in casual attire. This service does not include organizing or leading a rehearsal ceremony; the Officiant will attend in a limited capacity to review the wedding ceremony order and any unity ceremony components. Additional travel fees may apply (at 65.5 cents/ mile; per the IRS 2023 standard mileage rate). 

* Wedding Chapel Rental: The Officiant agrees to rent the Just-Us Wedding Chapel to the Couple for the purposes of holding a marriage service. Rental includes full use of the Just-Us changing room, restroom, and patio area. Photos and recordings are allowed during this time. The Officiant agrees to be on-site for the full rental period. Other costs may apply (for example in the event of property damages, etc., see Chapel Rental Contract for full details). 

COST OF SERVICES

DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT & PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Cost Breakdown: 
Service Package: $__________________________
Additional Services (combined): $___________________________
Estimated Travel Fee: $___________________________
Total Cost for Services: $___________________________

Deposit Requirement:
The Couple agrees to pay a deposit in the amount of 50% of total cost upon signing this agreement. This deposit will be put toward the total owed, and places a ‘hold’ on the Officiant’s services on the wedding date given herein. This deposit is non-refundable, with few exceptions (see Cancellation policies for more information).

Remaining Balance:
The Couple agrees to pay the remaining 50% balance for all services by ____/____/__________ (one week before your wedding date).

Payments must be made via PayPal to: [email protected]

IMPORTANT: The Couple is responsible for providing any special materials they wish to use in the marriage ceremony, such as unity candles, unity sand, handfasting cords, wedding rings, etc. 

CANCELLATION & CHANGE POLICY

IF THE COUPLE CANCELS OR REQUESTS A DATE/TIME/LOCATION CHANGE: 
A Couple is not required to pay the remaining balance on services if they cancel at least 1 week before the scheduled ceremony. If the balance has already been paid, it will be returned if the cancellation occurs at least 1 week before the scheduled ceremony. Changes to a Couple’s wedding date, ceremony start time, or location (outside of Kiss County) will only be accommodated as the Officiant’s availability allows. If the ceremony cannot be satisfactorily rescheduled, cancellation guidelines will apply. Deposits are non-refundable except in extreme circumstances, such as severe weather (see below) or when either party to the marriage must be hospitalized for severe illness/injury before the ceremony can occur. 

IF THE OFFICIANT CANCELS: 
If the Officiant is unable to perform a Couple’s ceremony due to illness, family emergency, or other unforeseen circumstance, an authorized Backup Officiant will be provided in their place. The Backup Officiant will be given full access to all ceremony planning materials, custom ceremony script (if applicable), etc, and will perform the Officiant’s duties as defined above in full. If the Couple chooses to hire an alternate replacement officiant on their own, the Couple will be given full access to any custom ceremony materials to use. If the Officiant delays the start of the wedding (due to late arrival, etc.) the Couple will be refunded 25% of the total ceremony cost. 

IF MOTHER NATURE CANCELS: 
Ceremonies that must be canceled due to extreme weather or unsafe conditions affecting the venue and surrounding areas, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding, fire, or severe heat/cold, are fully refundable (including the deposit) and can be rescheduled with the Officiant based on availability. 

SIGNATURES

Please sign and date below.

By signing this contract, I have read and understand the terms and conditions outlined above.

THE OFFICIANT
Printed Name: ____________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________
Date: ____/____/__________

MARRIER #1
Printed Name: ____________________________________________ 
Signature: ____________________________________________
Date: ____/____/__________

MARRIER #2
Printed Name: ____________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________
Date: ____/____/__________