Church

cherylanddan0706 · August 2009

bahahah MBC, that just made me LOL.... I must say, we are giving money to the church right now so the church we want to go through the process to have our marriage recognized knows us, after the wedding well start showing our faces.

yankees320 · August 2009

Brad, I believe I was just married in the same church- in Bloomfield, right? Anyway, I received the same booklet you described, but we worked around the "can't dos." This was my childhood church, and I was going to pay whatever they asked and do whatever they told me because the church was meaningful to us. The no aisle runner and no flower petals I understand because the floor is completely marble. They don't want to risk someone falling and getting injured. You can do flowers to the Virgin Mary, you just have to do it after the traditional mass is ended since it is not part of the actual marriage ceremony. Also, we used the prayer they provided in the booklet and did our unity candle at the beginning of our reception in conjuntion with a little grace before dinner was served. It worked perfectly. And the no decorations on the aisle is just not true. My florist decorated the aisle beautifully with tulle and bunches of flowers. If you want to see pictures, or have specific questions just email me.

JeannineG122 · August 2009

Our church was $1,200.00, The Basilica in Newark

brad1431 · August 2009

the $750 includes organ and singer. I just dont understand why it is so high, I dont think it costs them $750 for their electricity for an hour. They are supposed to be non profit and it isnt like they would be doing something else with the church during our time. And for anyone who is saying go somewhere else that is not an option, FI made every sacrament at the church and went to school there. It just seems like a lot of money, I expect vendors to be making a profit and jacking me, but the church that doesnt seem right. That seems like exactly what Jesus rebelled against when he was young. I dont mind the stuff like no isle runner, and doing the flowers to Mary after the ceremony, but I really wanted to do unity candle and memorial candle and I dont see why we cant. I will see if they will bend a little. I guess if not we will have to do it at reception, but then the priest has to show up to bless the candle and say a prayer

neilly18 · August 2009

Our fee is $350 but we are paying another $350 for vocalist and organ. So it is roughly the same. We cannot use a runner because get this--- people are sueing the churches when they trip over the runner! Can you believe that? We can throw things but then need to do a clean up fee - so I am not opting to do that. Technically the fee is a "suggested donation". I am not sure what they do if you offer to pay something else.

DMLJ · August 2009

Brad... 500 of that is most likely the organist and vocalist fee... that means the church s 250. Now the church that I work for is large.... apparently just airconditioning the place is a major deal. When they have a wedding, they have to make sure the place is totally air condiitoned as well. Along with electricity, the fee is also used for the expenses of the preists that live there and are providing you with the service (and I'm talking food and clothes here). Money is also used for the general upkeep of the building, insurance, and things that need replacing every now and then (wine, candles, hosts). There is money involved in everything... and churches are def not making a profit off of the donation fee. $750 with the organist and singer included is not a bad deal at all. You would pay alot more than 750 to have a piano player and vocalist for your cocktail hour.

brad1431 · August 2009

I was assuming the organist and singer would be parrishoners who would be doing it for free or for a small fee, not some outside hired help.If it is hired help, that makes more sense. I thought it would be someone who goes to that church and would do it for like $50 each or just do it as charity towards the church.

kathymarie · August 2009

It's not charity for the church if it is for your wedding.

cvl105 · August 2009

brad, i would assume the organist is most likely a musician (possibly piano teacher) and therefore makes their living by playing music. They don't just donate their time every saturday for random people's weddings. Everyone here seems to be telling you that $750 for all of that, but you just don't want to hear it. Not sure what else you're looking for at this point.

brad1431 · August 2009

it makes more sense now, thinking they arent just parishioners, maybe they should have broke it out better to see what we are getting for our money. I still dont like paying someone and them telling me what I cant do, but we will have to work it out. I hope they allow the candles at the church.

alliecarrie41 · August 2009

a church is not a vendor imo. it's a place to celebrate a sacrement and you should be honored to be married there. give what you can, if it's not your church, then you don't have to worry about giving enough if you really don't care.

brad1431 · August 2009

Allie, how can I give what I can? It says in the booklet, $750, it doesnt say suggested, at least I dont think. Has anyone gave less to their church?

kathymarie · August 2009

No. When you are paying thousands of dollars for video streaming, and a party afterward that also costs thousands, you should be able to swing what the church requires to feed their priests and buy toilet paper. If you have such a problem with it, dont get married there.

brad1431 · August 2009

who is paying thousands for video streaming and an after party?

kathymarie · August 2009

I didnt say after party, I said party afterwards. That would be the reception, which comes after the ceremony. You said yourself that your budget goes up if you could get what you want for video, which was video streaming to Florida.

cherylanddan0706 · August 2009

Brad from what the girls are saying yours includes all the stuff that you would have to get anyway so the price is not high from what I'm reading. I agree that this is NOT vendor. Its what you have to do and complaining about a church price is just a stupid thing considering the rest of the wedding, you're getting married in the church that your FI has been going to that should be well over the fact that you are paying "so much". Rules are rules and churches have their own just like every other place does. Your fighting it as it seems imo and you just need to get over it.

melissa82 · August 2009

Brad, if you look at my breakdown above, it doesn't seem so bad. (Plus mine is $1k!) It seems like my singer offers a discounted rate to the church (I doubt I'd find another for $100?) although the organist seems like a normal price.

brad1431 · August 2009

like I said, if they singer, organist, and one other person, I dont remember what it was, are hired, it makes sense, I thought they would be parrishiners, donating their time or only getting a small fee like $50 for it, which would mean the church alone is gettting $600 which seems like a lot compared to other churches. There is nothing I can do about the price, but the point I was making is when you pay me you can tell me what I can and cannot do, when I pay you, I tell you what to do, not the other way around, which this is. That is frustrating. I will see how flexible they are.

DMLJ · August 2009

OMG! I just saw this! Brad- I am a TRAINED vocalist.... my parents and I paid lots of MONEY for me to learn how to sing the way I do... I also take lots of TIME preparing for the wedding My Father is a TRAINED organist whos parents paid for his lessons and who graduated from Manhatten school of music. This school is not FREE. He also PLANS the wedding music for you. THESE ARE OUR JOBS! Im also a catholic school teacher.... DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO THAT FOR FREE OR A SMALL FEE ALSO!? Yes, I am a parishioner but NO I am not going to sing at anyone wedding for free unless I am close friends with them and then that would be their wedding gift. HONESTLY I am soooooo pissed right now. 500$ for two trained musicians is NOT alot of money.......

alliecarrie41 · August 2009

dmlj, brad is just a money-pinching brat. pay no attention. of course you and every vendor working for the bride and groom should be paid for their services. no one is entitled to have a wedding, it's a choice, and a choice that you PAY FOR.

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