How much is a wedding officiant?

Although the market typically determines the cost of an ordained minister or wedding officiant in Denver (Colorado), you may find a range of $500-1200 for experienced professionals. As you unravel the differences among each price point, you can determine what you value the most. Most often, the lower price point for an ordained minister will steer you towards someone with less ceremony planning, public speaking, and writing experience. You may find yourself with an experienced wedding officiant who has a ceremony niche, travels as far as 20 miles out from Denver (Colorado), and offers marital counseling on the higher end of the spectrum. Extensive speaking experiences as a radio or podcast host and writing experiences as an author of a book will also increase the value of the wedding officiant packages, too.

How do I find a wedding officiant near me?

You can find a Denver ordained minister or Denver wedding officiant in Colorado through many channels, including a Google search, referrals, Weddingwire, and The Knot. No matter the search route you choose, your comfort with the ordained minister and his or her level of experience and expertise will dictate the type of wedding ceremony. Ordained minister reviews will shed light on the typical experience for engaged couples while unraveling the wedding officiant's philosophy and approach.

Who should hire an ordained minister?

The ordained minister experience is meant for anyone seeking a wedding experience outside of the traditional venues, settings, and/or rituals. The wedding ceremonies range from lush rooftop to ornate restaurant experiences that create memorable and unique celebrations. While religious ministers or pastors are often limited to their places of worship, ordained ministers may provide religious or non-religious ceremonies anywhere in Denver or the surrounding Colorado areas.

Why hire a wedding officiant?

Hiring a wedding officiant in Denver can provide your guests with a unique ceremony experience and the opportunity to curate the wedding you've always imagined. An experienced ordained minister takes the thinking out of your planning. Essentially, you’re hiring a personal ceremony planner to create a wedding script based on your needs and wants. You no longer need to research or guess what might work for your memorable day. Michael is an author, podcast host, and wedding officiant in Denver and Chicago for over 9 years who takes the guesswork out of your approach to your wedding ceremony and uses his background in public speaking, writing, and event planning to help you design the perfect celebration. For most couples, an ordained minister near them is most important. Luckily, Michael is centrally located for his wedding couples who reside in Denver (including LoHi, LoDo, River North, Highland, Capitol Hill, Washington Park and Cherry Creek) as well as the neighboring Colorado towns.

Is it worth paying for an ordained minister in Denver?

Hiring an Denver ordained minister is your opportunity to take your wedding ceremony in Colorado to another level. When you search for a wedding celebrant, you'll find that the ceremony experience can vary greatly among ordained ministers in Denver. In fact, you may find it difficult to find a professional who has the public speaking and writing abilities to adapt and align a wedding script with your personality, needs, and wants. Why is the ordained minister's experience unique with Michael? He is an author, podcast host, and wedding officiant in Denver and Chicago who has been a public speaker and writer for nearly 20 years. He prides himself on an adaptive ceremony approach that is stress-free and enjoyable. Michael has married nearly 200 couples since 2012 and prides himself on creating the perfect ceremony for his couples. So, is hiring an ordained minister worth the money? If the wedding officiant has the planning experience, public speaking and writing expertise, and passion, then yes. And, without a doubt, you’re in the right place.

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Ordained Minister in Denver Reviews

Amber W.

"THIS IS YOUR GUY!!! Michael was the wedding officiant for our ceremony - and I was blown away! Michael was spot on in making our ceremony so personal and unique. We received SO many compliments on the ceremony at our wedding. I must have been asked 50 times how we found him.

Michael took time to get to know us and built the wedding ceremony accordingly. No part of his process is cookie cutter. I highly recommend Michael - and promise you won't be disappointed. I know several friends who attended our wedding will be using him in the future as well! Thank you THANK YOU THANK YOU for making our day so special, Michael."

Kevin M.

"Mike was very spirited! He gave us a list of questions for us to answer (individually) so that he could make the wedding ceremony as personal and fun as possible. He also provided a lot of examples and descriptions to make the whole process as easy as possible for us. He was professional, courteous, and full of positive energy! He really made the day perfect, and special for us. I would recommend him to any couple! He was simply wonderful, and we are very grateful :)"

Selina K.

"I am so happy we had Michael Moody officiate our wedding! He did an amazing job! Right from the start, Michael, was very professional and helpful. He sat down with us and helped us organize our whole wedding ceremony and provided us with great advice on the order of everything. He even provided us sample readings and vows which was awesome! He was very responsive with all our emails and answered all our questions as well. And on our wedding day, Michael was phenomenal! He made sure everything was in order and everyone involved in the wedding ceremony knew what to do and when--he made the whole process stress-free. He did a wonderful job tailoring the wedding ceremony to just what we wanted and we couldn't have been any happier with the whole thing."

Wedding Ceremony at the W Hotel (City Center) in the Loop of Chicago

Michael C.

"Michael Moody made our wedding ceremony better than we could of ever imagined. From the moment we contacted Michael it was clear he takes what he does seriously. He takes the extra time to get to know the couple to give them the wedding ceremony that best fits them. Afterwards our guests praised how great the service was and we totally agree. We invited Michael to stay for the reception and he was very engaging with everyone and very sincere."

Maryum L.

"My husband and I are so happy that Michael Moody officiated our wedding ceremony in Chicago on 9/19/15! He is professional, personable, and a genuine individual! Michael responds to all emails and phonecalls in a timely manner.

When we sat down with Michael to go over the wedding ceremony, he put my husband and I immediately at ease. Our ceremony was customized to our wants and needs and when our wedding day came, everything was perfect. All of our guests raved about our wedding officiant, Michael. He really did a beautiful job with his opening statement during our ceremony as well as how beautifully the rest of the ceremony went. If my husband and I renew our wedding vows in the next 10, 25, or 50 years, we hope that Michael will be around to officiate us then! We highly recommend Michael to officiate your special day!"

Tom C.

"Michael Moody performed a beautiful wedding ceremony. He did a wonderful job getting to know about us and our story. He made the ceremony very personal and we received many compliments about the wedding ceremony. I would highly recommend Michael Moody."

Wedding Ceremony at the Rookery in the Loop of Chicago

Tara M.

"I was so impressed by how amazing Michael Moody was on Sunday's wedding at ZED 451. He was the officiant for a wedding that was hosted with us. Michael was professional, enthusiastic and very well spoken. He personalized his words to fit their lives. Great job, I will be recommending him to others."

Brianne F.

I do not even know if I can put into words how wonderful Michael is. He made sure that our wedding ceremony was personal to us and the tone we wanted to set. I have to commend him as well at being so great with some unexpected interferences at an outside wedding ceremony! We received so many compliments on the wedding ceremomy which was the most important part for us. We could never thank him enough for being a huge part of our day!

Gabrielle P.

"Any bride reading this, please take my advice and just call Michael and book him before someone else does. He was absolutely incredible. His ceremony felt like he knew the both of us for years. Truly our wedding ceremony went amazing because of him. Thank you, Michael!!"

Nicole C.

"Michael was amazing. He listened to how we wanted our wedding ceremony and made it very personal. Everyone came up to us after and complimented how perfect and beautiful the wedding ceremony was."

Katy C.

"Michael was such a great wedding officiant. We got many compliments on our wedding ceremony and how it seemed to really suit the two of us. He took the time to meet with us and figure out what type of wedding ceremony we wanted and then tailored it so it felt very personal and unique. He was very professional and thoughtful."

*****Read more Denver wedding officiant reviews here!

A wonderful memory captured in 2020 at the Shakespeare Garden in Evanston by the talented Naomi Epstein. Check out https://www.naomiepsteinphotography.com/ for your wedding ceremony!

Wedding Package Prices for an Ordained Minister in Denver, Colorado

Wedding Ceremony in Denver or a Neighboring Colorado Town

Price: A wedding ceremony in Denver is $1095, and a neighboring Colorado town, including Boulder, Breckinridge, Frisco, Vail, Aspen, Golden, and Estes Park may be an additional $100-300, depending on the distance. Rehearsals are an additional $100, as well.

About the Ceremony: The ceremony will reflect the love that you and your fiance share and the journey that has shaped the two of you as a couple. The celebration's rituals, readings, and nuances are curated by your needs and wants and will take whatever non-tradition or traditional form you desire. Based on the elements you choose and your wedding party's size, a typical ceremony ranges from 15-25 minutes. Your overall timeline with the venue also affects the length of the ceremony.

Marriage License: Colorado State Law requires that both parties schedule an online or in-person marriage or civil union appointment. Both parties must also be in the state of Colorado, in the same room at the same time for their appointment. Please check with your local county for the updated marriage license requirements, though. Here is a link to the Denver County website: Apply for a Marriage or Civil Union License in Denver.

Planning Process: After you and your fiance complete the "Wedding Ceremony Questionnaire," Michael will send you an outline of the ceremony for the initial preparation call or in-person meeting (completing the questionnaire isn't a requirement, though). The outline will be adapted based on your needs and wants. The intent is to curate a memorable experience with the confidence that no planning detail is forgotten! As you approach your ceremony date (about two weeks before), I will contact you to discuss any modifications. Michael will arrive 30 minutes early on the day of the ceremony to confirm any last-minute details and meet with the wedding participants.

Moving Forward: What days and range of times are best to officially meet over the phone or Zoom (15 minutes)? Otherwise, Michael will send you a contract if you're ready to move forward. You will make the deposit (50%) through Zelle (7734848094) or Venmo (@michaelmoodyofficiant) to secure the wedding date. The remaining payment is due seven days before the ceremony. You may also use a credit card if needed (additional fees apply).

Service Areas: Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Boulder, Breckinridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more. If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!