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Prices
 
“How much?”

It’s the most common question Rev. Phil hears. Before he answers that, he has a question for you. “How important is your wedding ceremony to your wedding day?”

If your answer is:

  • “Not too much” or
  • “All weddings are the same let’s just get it over with”
  • “We’re mostly interested in the party”

then you don’t want Rev. Phil. You really do want someone who does this as a weekend hobby and charges $250 or $300 to do a cookie-cutter wedding.

If your answer is:

  • “It’s really important” or
  • “It is the point of the day” or
  • “It is what we will remember best in 10 years, in 25 years”

then Rev. Phil’s next question for you is “How much are you willing to INVEST in your wedding ceremony?” An investment is something that gives you back more than you put in.

Notice how Brittani and James note the difference between COST and INVESTMENT:

 

Yes, his prices may seem high compared to other officiants. But if you don't take anything else away from this review take this: IT IS WORTH EVERY PENNY. My husband and I were not thrilled with the idea of spending, what we thought, was such an exorbitant price just for someone to say, ‘Do you? Do you? Kiss... you’re married’ but we are so grateful we didn't change our minds. We both believe we are extremely fortunate to have had Reverend Phil officiate our wedding and would never think even one cent was not worth the beautiful and perfect ceremony we had. You will not be disappointed or regret a single cent. It truly is worth the cost — and then some.


Brittani and James, Danada House, Wheaton
from a WeddingWire review

 

Rev. Phil is one of the very few officiants to post his prices online. So, to answer your question of “How much?”, see the chart below.

 
 
  Silver
Ceremony
Gold
Ceremony
Platinum
Ceremony
All-inclusive price (except for parking) $325 to $375 * $425 to $500 * $800 to $850 *
Pay by check or credit card, pay over time
Prices may vary. Contact Rev. Phil to find out the price for your wedding. All-inclusive means no hidden fees, no travel fees, etc.
Number of guests, approximately 0 to 9 10 to 74 75 to 200+
These are general guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Rev. Phil has done platinum ceremonies for 50 guests and gold ceremonies for 125 guests.
Availability in Rev. Phil’s schedule Very limited
(off-peak times only)
Limited Unlimited
Officiate at your wedding
Mail in signed marriage license
Rev. Phil’s passion and 20 years of experience
Customize and personalize ceremony  
Get a complete 17+ page script ten days before your wedding  
3 hour meeting to plan ceremony    
1 hour rehearsal (to practice for a 30 minute ceremony)    
Sharing your story at your wedding    
 
 
Are Rev. Phil’s prices more than you budgeted for? Want to do a gold wedding on a Saturday evening? Contact Rev. Phil and see if one of the 6 ministers on his team — who do weddings in his style, for he trained them — can do it within your budget or at the time of your choosing.

Because they are not as well known and not full-time wedding ministers, they most likely can fit your budget or timing. Just tell Rev. Phil precisely what your budget or situation is.

 
 
Or call him at  
 
 
 

 Platinum Ceremony — $800 to $850

 

It is by far the most popular choice. Why spend so much on a great reception but precede it with a ho-hum, same-as-everybody-else’s ceremony? 

Three things that make a platinum ceremony so special:

  • Rev. Phil shares your story at your wedding — so it’s personalized, romantic and fun! Weddings should be fun, not boring. View videos of Rev. Phil sharing couples’ stories!
  • You get a complete script ten days before your ceremony — so you know it is just the way you want it to be. It allows the person responsible for the music to know exactly when to play.
  • Rev. Phil will spend more time with you — 3 hour meeting, e-mails and phone calls to get your script to be just right, lead a one hour rehearsal — than any other officiant in Chicagoland. Isn’t that what you want — someone who will take the time to get to know you and guide you through the whole process?
 

“WOW...truly made our wedding special. Spending the money for the platinum wedding package was well worth it. Our guest are still talking about the wedding. Even my friends husbands said it was the best wedding they have been to...they were not bored at all!!! Rev. Phil had the audience engaged and his delivery was wonderful.

— Cathy & Howard, Grotto, Oak Brook
from a WeddingWire review
read how they met and how he proposed (it’s funny) on Rev. Phil’s blog

 

“My husband and I went with the platinum package and would do it again. When you get done adding the prices for other officiants with extra traveling fees and the rehearsal, it all comes pretty close to Rev. Phil's fees! Rev. Phil includes it all in his one price! 

Our ceremony was the most favorite part of our wedding day.”

— Melissa & Donald, DiNolfo’s Banquets, Mokena
from a WeddingWire review

 

“I HIGHLY recommend Rev. Phil Landers. He was SO amazing and made our wedding so special, unique, and very personal. In my opinion, he's the best around and worth every cent!! I can't say enough about him!”

— Gloria & Andy, W Lakeshore Hotel, Chicago
photo is “All-Star Reverend” award aka the Hollywood Walk of Fame

 
 
 
 

 Gold Ceremony — $425 to $500

 

Typically, there are 10-75 guests — so they already know your story. Although you do not meet Rev. Phil until the day of your wedding — no planning meeting, no rehearsal — you still get to customize your ceremony in several important ways. You get to choose vows and readings, have Rev. Phil tell your guests what you two love about each other and have the option of me ask the audience for their blessing, etc. He will guide you through all of this.

You will still get a complete script ten days before which will include the line-by-line processional order so you can do your own rehearsal, if you feel it necessary.

Because it takes less of  Rev. Phil’s time, it costs less.

“I just wanted to thank you so very, very much for officiating our wedding! You really stepped in when I was ready to break down after our first officiant got very ill two weeks before our wedding! I cannot express how truly personal and interesting you made our ceremony. All of our guests remarked on how smoothly you spoke and the personal quality you gave to the ceremony. Even the little old Greek ladies commented that this was the first wedding they enjoyed attending in years! That is saying A LOT! I could not have asked for more. I was very nervous the first time I spoke with you on the phone, but you really put my mind at ease, and having the script to rehearse really made it easier to relax and let myself enjoy the moment. I will recommend you to any future brides I come across!” 

—  Kristen & Matt, Chateau Bu’sche, Alsip

 
 
 
 

 Silver Ceremony —$325 to $400

 

Typically, there are fewer than 10 guests, if any — a very intimate affair.

You do not get to customize your ceremony or get a script. However, you still get Rev. Phil’s passion and 20 years of experience at the location of your choosing.

Did you know you can do a wedding like this at Millennium Park, Navy Pier, a park, a forest preserve or any other public space for free! It is no different than a few friends gathering at a park to play a game. While you will not have exclusive use of the space, people are always respectful when they notice it’s a wedding. (If you want to have chairs, electricity for music, food or drink, then you need a permit.)

 

“I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much Jennifer and I appreciated you officiating our wedding.  You spoke with charisma and eloquence and I got a lot of compliments on your style.  Your delivery was perfect and it was exactly what we were looking for.  We would be more than happy to refer you to anyone we know that is looking for a padre.” 

— Jennifer and Christian, Katherine Legge Memorial Lodge, Hinsdale

 
 
 
Or call him at  
 
 

How to Lock Your Wedding into Rev. Phil’s Calendar

 

It takes two things to lock your wedding into Rev. Phil’s calendar:

  • Sign a contract
  • Make a payment

The next step for a platinum ceremony is for the bride, the groom and Rev. Phil to get together for a 3 hour planning meeting, typically at Panera Bread. Rev. Phil is available on evenings and weekends. At the meeting, he gets to know you two, you get to know him, he will plan out your ceremony in great detail, he will hear your story and then you will get to hear him share the first draft of your story!

At the end of the meeting, you can lock your wedding into his calendar by signing an agreement and making an initial investment. (Rev. Phil does not charge a meeting fee. If you do not book him, you pay nothing.) All he asks is that he has a clear shot at being your officiant — that if the meeting goes well, you would sign the agreement and make a payment at the end of the meeting. 99% of couples who meet with Rev. Phil have him officiate at their wedding.

The next step for a gold or silver ceremony is for Rev. Phil to e-mail you an agreement. Once you tell him that you have put the signed agreement (it only takes one signature) and the payment in the mail, he will lock your wedding into his calendar at that moment. He will not wait for the mail to arrive. Rev. Phil does everything on a first come, first served basis. It is the fairest way that he has come up with.

 
 
 
 
 

Three Levels of Service — and Price

 

Average Chicago Wedding Officiant:

 
One option, one price.
 

Rev. Phil:

 
Three different options at three different price ranges! Select the one that best fits your needs and budget.

What has been described above — sharing your story at your wedding, 3 hour meeting, 1 hour rehearsal, etc. — is for the top-of-the-line platinum ceremony.

More than your budget? No problem. Rev. Phil has two other options — the mid-level gold ceremony and the value-priced silver ceremony. Review the chart on the fees & services page to see the differences.

No matter what your budget is, Rev. Phil has a ceremony for you! You do not have to get someone with little experience or credentials to get a less expensive ceremony.
 
 
 

How Many Payments

 

Average Chicago Wedding Officiant:

 
Limited payment options.
 

Rev. Phil:

 
Rev. Phil is quite flexible. He can stretch it out to 3 or even 4 payments. Typically, the last payment is due 60 days before your wedding — that is the earliest date you can get your marriage license.
 
 
 
 
 

Method of Paying

 

Average Chicago Wedding Officiant:

 
Only takes cash or check. Check is written out to the person — for it is their side job.
 

Rev. Phil:

 
Prefers checks but takes credit cards via Google Checkout.
Google Checkout Acceptance Mark
Payment is made to “I Do” Weddings, Ltd. It is a registered business with the state of Illinois. He is the only officiant with an actual business.