Do you have a soft spot for heartfelt vows? Do you feel a jolt of joy when a couple shares a first kiss? Do you love love?
A new role as a wedding officiant might be right for you!
ULC ministers use their ordinations for all types of clergy duties, but one of the many reasons that people choose to become ordained is to officiate weddings.
Sometimes these are one-off events; a sister is getting married and wants you to officiate, your best friend from college asks you to get ordained for her wedding, etc.
But it doesn’t always end there.
In fact, we’ve heard this story over and over: someone becomes ordained intending to officiate just a single wedding, but they do a tremendous job – and others take notice. Not long afterward, they’re asked to officiate another. And then another. Before they know it, “wedding officiant” is no longer a temporary label but a proud title!
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that presiding over ceremonies can provide a nice boost to your savings.
In this period of high inflation and economic uncertainty, more and more people are taking on part-time jobs, or side hustles, to add to their earnings.
How Much Can You Make Performing Weddings?
So how much can you bring in as a wedding officiant? That will depend on a number of factors, including how much experience you have, what type of services you offer, and where you’re marketing your services.
The short answer, though, is that wedding officiants generally earn enough to make the job well worth it.
Not only does performing weddings allow you the opportunity to be surrounded by love and happiness as you help couples take one of the most important steps in their lives together, but you’re also compensated for your time. Getting a front seat to true love and pad your bank account at the same time? Not a bad deal!
To learn more about how much wedding officiants should charge, check out our officiant pricing guide.
Turning Officiating into a Part-Time Job
Among the many ULC ministers who have stumbled into officiating weddings is Samantha Hernandez, a millennial who runs a financial coaching company called The Money Institute.
Like many successful savers, Samantha is always on the lookout for ways to bring in some extra cash to help stash away for the future. As a lesbian who has overcome identity struggles, she is also passionate about serving fellow members of the LGBTQ community.
We asked Samantha to share her experience as a wedding officiant, and she was kind enough to answer a few questions:
1. How did you decide to become ordained?
I decided to become ordained to legally marry couples, and I chose to get ordained through ULC because they are very accepting and believe that love is love. This is a value that I share as an out and proud lesbian.
I believe that it’s important for LGBTQ couples to feel welcomed and loved by all parties on their wedding day. This is why I love being there to show my support for their marriage.
2. What was your first wedding like? Were you scared? Excited? Both?
I was so excited and scared for my first wedding! I rehearsed my script a million times to make sure that I got all of the cues right. I was so excited because my first wedding was for a fellow lesbian couple.
3. What does performing weddings mean to you?
At first, performing weddings was just another way to make extra money, but I have fallen in love with it. It’s an incredible feeling to be instrumental in such a special day for couples. Performing a wedding means that I get to celebrate love and unite two lives as one.
4. What advice would you give to other folks considering turning wedding officiant duties into a side hustle?
I would tell others to become a wedding officiant! It is a very fun and positive job. How can you have a bad day when you are surrounded by love? I work with a local company that matches officiants with couples, but you could also start your own business. Officiating weddings is hands down the best job I have ever had.
11 comments
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Angele
Not in Canada 🇨🇦 unfortunately.
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Nicholas J Page
Alas the same here in the UK.Which is. strange as it's called The Universal Life. Church Minister Nicholas J.Page
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Catherine Ann McDonald
Not in Canada eh? I seem to have been deceived
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Robert S Heikkinen
I am the only minister in Cheboygan county (population 35000) and I would appreciate guidance from established ministers as I am brand new.
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Rodney Knight
I honor you them it's takes courage to stand up and defend someone you don't understand or like even it's even more Couragous to defend some you are opposed to so I honor thier courage and Sacrifice they gave of themselves and Sacrificed thier life's to make other free.
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Tom
What a great way to get some supplemental income while also helping loving couples unite their families in marriage!
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Stephen Mohlaloga Makgoathane
That's something wonderful,i wish in my country this becomes a known practice. Imagine joining a couple for marriage, it's exciting, bringing two people together as one. God will happily Bless that union. I LOVE IT. Thanks to have heard such in your country,I wish in future this idea to come in my S.A. for practice. I imagine myself joining a couple into one flesh,referring to the Bible where Exodus giving words such as: WHAT GOD HAS PUT TOGETHER,NO MAN CAN SEPARATE, etc " That's a good idea idea truly speaking. Reverend STEPHEN MAKGOATHANE in SOUTH AFRICA.
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Elaine A. Bentley
I officiated my 1st wedding last month for one of my best friends. It wasn't something I really thought about until she asked me. Once I thought about it I was pretty excited to do so. Thought about hanging out my shingle, but haven't done so yet.
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Jay Swafford
I've performed a couple weddings & a couple funerals in my 20 years as ULC minister. Hung out the shingle on social media sites...but, my area (TN/KY) is very consrvative & usually go for the "real" preachers...aka Southern Baptist guys.
Pastor Jay Swafford Springfield, TN 37172 ULC ordained 2002
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Deborah Duffield
The registrar general of Ontario just send letters back stating we do not recognize this group and will not give me registration for marriage
Lot of money to be made here. I've been offering the buy two, get one free MBB trifecta for over a decade now. That's Marry, Baptize and Bury. Christian, non-Christian, straight of LGBT+ the money's all green. And you can charge a bit more for Christians if you include a bible and Bible versus. Don't forget to upsell. You can sell the catering with by ordering the food with UberEats and booking a place to stay with Airbnb or VRBO. You can advertise on TaskRabbit, Thumbtack and other social media types. Nice way to earn some extra money.
And don't forget to keep in touch with the people you marry. Around 40% will get divorced and divorce lawyers will pay a referral fee. And once they are divorced get them on eHarmony, Bumble, OkCupid, Plenty of Fish, Christian Mingle ad Christian Cupid so you can sell the MBB trifecta all over again.