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About
I will be delighted to officiate your wedding whether it be religious, non-religious, or interfaith. Although it's not required, I am willing to meet with you for for premarital consultation; I'm as interested in your marriage as I am in your wedding. I've officiated weddings for almost 60 years. I have a variety of ceremonies available, or you can structure your own so long as the dignity of the occasion is maintained. I will be available to you for any pastoral needs for as long afterwards as you want me to be.
In addition, if you require a day-of wedding director, my wife is available for a modest charge.
Please note that I am available only for weekend weddings.
Overview
Current Top Pro
Hired 632 times
Serves Raphine, VA
Background checked
1 employee
61 years in business
Business hours
Sun12:00 am - 11:59 pmMonClosed
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash and Check.
Top Pro status
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2025
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2016
Services offered
Type of ceremony
Service type (affiliation)
Christian
Catholic
Jewish
Muslim
Need help writing vows?
I can work with couples who need help writing vows
Projects and media
Projects and media
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, responsiveness, and work quality.
Exceptional 5.0
509 reviews
5
99%
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1%
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Read reviews that mention:
Garrett S.
5 days ago
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Hired on Thumbtack
We could not have asked for a better officiant for our wedding! From the very beginning, Howard was incredibly kind, thoughtful, and genuinely interested in getting to know us as a couple.
A few weeks before the wedding, he took the time to meet us for lunch and talk with us about our relationship, our story, and what we wanted the ceremony to feel like. That effort really showed on our wedding day. The ceremony felt incredibly personal and authentic to us rather than something generic or scripted.
Howard was warm, professional, and made both of us feel completely comfortable throughout the entire process. He struck the perfect balance between heartfelt and lighthearted, and made the ceremony feel intimate and meaningful.
We’re so grateful he was the person who married us and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for an officiant who genuinely cares about the couple and goes the extra mile to make their ceremony special.
Details: Wedding • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 21 - 50 guests • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Amanda B.
Jun 27, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
If you’re looking for an officiant who will make your wedding ceremony truly unforgettable, look no further than Howard Pendley!
From the very beginning, Howard was professional, kind, and incredibly easy to work with. He took the time to get to know us and created a ceremony that felt personal, meaningful, and perfectly reflected our relationship. His warmth, humor, and genuine passion for what he does immediately put us at ease.
On our wedding day, Howard delivered a beautiful ceremony that had our guests laughing, smiling, and even shedding a few happy tears. He spoke with such confidence and sincerity that everyone commented afterward on how wonderful he was. He helped make one of the most important moments of our lives feel effortless and incredibly special.
We truly couldn’t have imagined a better officiant. Howard played such an important role in making our wedding day everything we dreamed it would be, and we are so grateful. We would recommend him without hesitation to any couple looking for someone who is professional, compassionate, engaging, and genuinely invested in making your ceremony unforgettable.
Thank you, Howard, for giving us a ceremony we’ll cherish forever!
Details: Wedding • Non-denominational (mentions God) • 21 - 50 guests • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Lea H.
Jul 6, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
Howard was absolutely wonderful as our weddingofficiant! From the moment we met him, he was so kind, genuine, and easy to work with. He made us feel completely at ease throughout the entire process, and his warmth really showed during the ceremony.
He delivered a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony that felt personal and meaningful. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to marry us. If you’re looking for an officiant who is caring, professional, and truly makes your special day even more memorable, we highly recommend Howard. Thank you for helping make our elopement so perfect!
Details: Elopement • Non-denominational (mentions God) • 20 guests or fewer • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Alex E.
Jul 12, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
Howard did us the great honor of officiating our wedding on 7/11/2026. He was fantastic in every way- down to earth, punctual, kind, professional, and personable. We truly cannot recommend him highly enough- he eased any stresses we had about the big day and engaged our guests throughout the ceremony in fun, meaningful ways. In the months leading up to the wedding, Howard was always available if I had questions and even accommodated a last minute change in date/venue with tremendous grace. We feel blessed to have met him and are very thankful that he was a part of our special day!
Details: Wedding • Non-denominational (mentions God) • 51 - 100 guests • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will not be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Phoenix N.
Apr 16, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
Dr Howard Pendley is a lifesaver! We reached out to Dr Pendley two weeks before the wedding because our wedding planner dropped the ball on confirming our initial officiant. Fortunately he was available and happy to help! Dr Pendley is an incredibly compassionate man and officiant, we didn’t get a chance to tell him much about what we wanted outside of the basics, however he seemed to understand us as a couple and he hit on all of the things that are important to us. As much as he talked about the love between us, he also spoke of the importance of our own individuality, and our friendship, and the importance that all of it plays into marriage. My Wife and I were so touched and moved by his speech! Anyone who hires Dr Pendley to officiate their wedding will be extremely pleased and moved by his work! I cannot recommend him enough!
Details: Wedding • Non-religious (no mention of God) • 51 - 100 guests • Help writing vows will not be needed • English • Officiant will be needed at the rehearsal
Wedding Officiant
Credentials
Background Check
Howard Pendley
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Although I do have standard prices for my services, everything is negotiable. For local weddings, I have a very competitive flat rate. If I must travel beyond Augusta County, the fee will increase to compensate for mileage and/or travel expenses.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
After being contacted by new customers, I do my best to convert them from clients to friends, and from friends to family. Whenever possible, I want to meet in person with the couple in order for us to get to know one another. It also allows me to find out the couple's preferences regarding their wedding ceremony. As the Shenandoah Valley is a popular destination for weddings--and people come here from all over the world--it's not always possible to meet with couples in advance. In that case, we must do our work by telephone and/or online.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have been officiating weddings for almost 60 years. I am an ordained minister with college and seminary degrees including B.A., M.Div., and Ph.D., as well as three-and-a-half years of additional chaplaincy training. I was a parish pastor for 25 years. For the last 25+ years, I have worked as a chaplain in hospitals, prisons, substance abuse recovery, and, for the past 15 years, in hospice.
