Tipping the priest

samanthaeisner

I have been reading on a few boards about tips and I didn't think about tippig my priest until tonight. The fee for the church, includi the organist, is 500. Should I give something extra to the priest?

professorscience

Does the priest have a fee at all that is included in what you are paying for the church?

We paid our priest $150 plus a $50 restaurant gift card.  I think standard pay is $150-$200, more if your priest has to travel (to pay for gas).

samanthaeisner

The priest just said the church fee was $500.  He didn't say if anything went to him.  He doesn't need to travel, I'm getting married at my home parish and he is the priest.  His travel is the walk from the rectory to the church, about a 500 foot walk

sunshineinne

The wedding manager at the church where I am getting married told us (when I asked) that it is customary to tip the priest.  We have a $350 church fee, and additional fees for the musicians and cantor.  It never occurred to me that we would also tip the priest before he mentioned it...but I'm now realizing that it is not all that uncommon!

agapecarrie

Just to be clear, "tip" isn't the right term for money for the priest. 

It really is his "stipend". Depending on the parish budget, this may be the only money he actually "earns" to spend for himself. It might go to the rectory fund, which buys his groceries. 

The priest should be given an offering.

itzMS

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_tipping-the-priest?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:615Discussion:1949f520-c218-4fef-b89f-ee86a79574e8Post:6ceaaf63-40ae-4fca-adf5-613e1a1b914b">Re: Tipping the priest</a>:
[QUOTE]The priest just said the church fee was $500.  He didn't say if anything went to him.  He doesn't need to travel, I'm getting married at my home parish and he is the priest.  His travel is the walk from the rectory to the church, about a 500 foot walk :)
Posted by samanthaeisner[/QUOTE]

Our priest told us upfront that his fee was included, but we called and asked the parish secretary anyways. She was more than happy to let us know that couples frequently also gift the priest around $100 in his favorite wine or giftcards.

Calypso1977

you should absolutely give your priest an extra $150 or so.

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_tipping-the-priest?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:1949f520-c218-4fef-b89f-ee86a79574e8Post:1b1f7b3a-7f70-4311-8fb6-e8eaab1b2900">Re: Tipping the priest</a>:
[QUOTE]Just to be clear, "tip" isn't the right term for money for the priest.  It really is his "stipend". <strong>Depending on the parish budget, this may be the only money he actually "earns" to spend for himself. </strong>It might go to the rectory fund, which buys his groceries.  The priest should be given an offering.
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]

<div>This.  Especially if your church fee is just $500, you should definitely give him something extra.  All combined, we paid around $1150 for the church, the music, and the priest.  I think several girls here have paid even more.</div><div>
</div><div>Look at it like this: he is presiding over the most important day of your life thus far.  He deserves a little thanks.  ;)</div>

ootmother2

The pastor who said the Mass refused a tip of any kind.

The deacon, uncle of the bride who did the wedding said he requests the same tip from all couples.  A photo of them on their wedding day.  As one of 11 siblings, all with adult children, almost all of them married, his entire den resembles a photo gallery.

sigmaurse

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_tipping-the-priest?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:1949f520-c218-4fef-b89f-ee86a79574e8Post:5050c372-c1c6-48fb-827b-c0739bb2ade1">Re: Tipping the priest</a>:
[QUOTE]The pastor who said the Mass refused a tip of any kind. The deacon, uncle of the bride who did the wedding said he requests the same tip from all couples.  A photo of them on their wedding day.  As one of 11 siblings, all with adult children, almost all of them married, his entire den resembles a photo gallery.
Posted by ootmother2[/QUOTE]

<div>That is so sweet! Requesting a picture of the coupld on their wedding day! If I were him, I would be so happy when I looked at all those photo's being a part of something so special! I'm not sure what we are doing for our Priest, it is FI uncle. I'm sure we will have something special for him, we just have to figure it out still!</div>

gmcr78

Our church fee is $200, plus an additional $200 each for an organist and cantor (the organist and cantor get that $ directly).  We will have 2 priests officiating, so we plan to tip at least $50 each on top of the church fee we already paid.

MrsMack10612

Our priest told us he is not permitted to accept anything; so we only paid the $500 to the church, $350 to the music coordinator and $60 to the wedding coordinator.

Iggy85

If your priest isn't allowed to accept anything, then just make a donation to the charity of his choosing in his name.