How much is your church charging you?

GradeSchoolSweethearts · September 2009

Only if you're comfortable with sharing, of course. My church is charging us $1,000, and for the kind of church it is, I think it's more than a little excessive...

amybs77 · September 2009

Too much, 1200 for us. Ugh, so much! We arent members.

mandybear7 · September 2009

I was just going to ask this! I went to an engaged couples meeting last night and received our information. Ours is charging $750, with $125 more for an organist and $125 more for a cantor.

GradeSchoolSweethearts · September 2009

Ours includes the pastor, facility, wedding coordinator (which I don't even want) and possibly the organist. I guess the fee structure is "under construction." It just makes me mad because my family has been members there for years, and I personally don't think a member should have to pay that much to get married in their own church!

rkargerja · September 2009

For using the church, the pastor, janitor, wedding coordinator, classes, it cost me about $1500

rkargerja · September 2009

Ooops, organist was also included in the fee.

krisdi78 · September 2009

Ours was $450 (or something really close to that, don't remember the exact amount), but we used our friend as the cantor and paid another $175 to a trumpeter - we were also in the south suburbs

GradeSchoolSweethearts · September 2009

Krisdi - I'm in the south suburbs for my church, too (btw, we booked Odyssey!)! That's why I'm so astonished. I'm going to have to add the cost of classes, flowers, programs, and any other musician I want, too. Out of control...

bdklatt · September 2009

Our church is on Irving and Naragansette (sp?) and they are charging us about $900....that's for everything though---pastor, servers, pianist, cantor, pre cana, etc.

krisdi78 · September 2009

That does seem a bit high to me for the suburbs - is it a church you belong to? Are there any other close churches that are options? And I think you'll love the Odyssey - good choice - the food was soooo good!!! (minus the family style that was tried at the tasting - I definitely recommend going the plated option route)If you need any other recs on vendors around the area, let me know and I'd be glad to help!

ladygaudet · September 2009

we had our ceremony at our venue but i have heard churches and temples charging between $600-$1800 with or without donations on top of that. sometimes you get a lower rate if you are a member.

WoodsSeltzer09 · September 2009

I’m getting married in the south suburbs and the Church is only asking for a donation, they recommend $200 and the organist is an additional $200. We are having a family friend who is performing the marriage ceremony, he’s a retired priest who also married my parents and siblings and then the cantor is also a family friend. We are giving each of them a $100 gift cards.

duckie1905 · September 2009

We paid $400 for the church, pastor, organist, 1 hour rehearsal, cleanup, and one hour after the ceremony for pictures.DH's family are very active members.

Sparkette19 · September 2009

Wow! I thought our $300 + musician fee was steep!

AlannaF · September 2009

We're paying $60. It covers the site and clean-up. I'm not using their organist or sound system, or it would cost way more. I didn't realize what a bargain I got. That being said, my home church would have been free (we're getting married in FI's church). There's not a set fee for the minister-but we'll of course compensate him. Yes I think 1000 is excessive. I can't imagine what costs the church would incur that would add up to that much.

GradeSchoolSweethearts · September 2009

Yeah, I was hoping that the fact that my family is also "very active members" would have changed that price tag a bit, but apparently not. We also don't have that in writing...it was just an estimate given to us over the phone because they don't know what their price list is at the moment. I don't think I'll change my church because of it (I grew up there), but I wonder if I can negotiate?? I feel really bad about negotiating with my church though....But they should understand that not all of their members have $1,000 to drop!

bri&mon · September 2009

$900 for St. Clement in the city. That included the pianist. I had to pay extra for the soloist.

rouhas · September 2009

Ummm.... we paid nothing. We gave "gifts" to the pastor, organist, and custodian.

cruella013 · September 2009

We paid $850 for the church, $250 for the organist, and gave a gift of $100. The price was a little steeper because we were not members yet, and it was a Sunday wedding. It was a historical church downtown though, and we didn't mind giving some cash that would support the church.

ChiBride82 · September 2009

$650 for the church $250 for the cantor $200 for the oragnist grand total = $1,100.00 it is horrible

disneyfan0511 · September 2009

$700 for the church$250 for the organist$200 for the cantorWe are not members either, so it was a little higher.

Ainslie325 · September 2009

I've noticed recently that there seems to be a pervasive resentment of churches and ministers charging for use of their facilities and the services they provide. I think much of this stems from the notion that houses of worship shouldn't be taking advantage of their parishioners by charging more than is absolutely necessary in order to cover the cost of your wedding day. The resentment seems to be more acute when the bride, groom, or either of their families have been members of the church for some time (the thinking being, perhaps, that longtime members would have been giving a regular tithe that would justify a reduced or waived fee for a wedding). To look at this situation from another angle, we need to consider that a church's cost of operation involves more than just paying the light and heating bill on our wedding day. It's also important to note that most denominations (saving Catholics) don't require their clergy to take a vow of poverty--they are as much performing a fee-based service for you as would your accountant (even if marriage is more romantic than taxes). Most churches run religious education programs, various public outreach programs, mission trips, and more and often maintain a staff of several people--both lay and clergy. They have bills to pay, salaries to pay, and often have facilities that cost a great deal to maintain. A church's income isn't just the parishioners' tithing (which we all know is an ever-shrinking percentage of most folks' income). A large portion of what keeps many churches afloat are the fees we pay for the services they provide-- a beautiful sanctuary, a thoughtful, personal homily-- these are important to many of us, but yet many of us balk at the cost. While member discounts do seem reasonable, consider, too, that as a member, you've hopefully gotten at least as much out of the church spiritually over the years as you've provided for it financially. Many to-be-weds equate churches with charity, and resent the fees that they charge. When we stop to ponder what it costs a church to do what it does (and not just for us on our one day), hopefully it becomes less of a burden.

GradeSchoolSweethearts · September 2009

That may be true of your church, but not mine. My church's members contributed enough money to put it through a multi-million dollar restoration and help a "sister-church" restore its sanctuary in New Orleans. My family contributes not only our money, but also our time to the success and life of the church. So when I see that the church wants to charge me an unreasonable amount to spend an hour getting married there, I think I'm entitled to my opinion. As an accountant myself, I'm fully aware that churches need to charge a certain amount to cover their various activities. Unlike you, however, I know exactly what these activities are and how well the church is able to provide for them. Next time, make a few considerations before passing judgment.

Ainslie325 · September 2009

GradeSchoolSwethearts, I honestly meant no offense, and my comment wasn't directed specifically at you. You're right, only you know what your/your church's situation is. I'm sorry that you felt singled out by my post. I was responding to the fact that I'd seen many posts along these lines-- many more than yours, and many with much smaller fees equally (and maybe less justifiably) resented. As you've pointed out, I don't know your specific situation-- but you also are unaware of what the situations of other brides (with similar complaints) might be. Yours isn't the only post I've read on this topic--clearly it's not even the only post on this thread. I didn't intend to give the impression I was solely responding to you or your situation. You're correct, though-- we only know as much about people's situations as they choose to share.

beautifulnryan · September 2009

$800 at Old St. Pat's...this does not include the priest stipend, pre cana, or musicians.

Da0419 · September 2009

We're getting married at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet. $300 for the church/priest, $200 for the organist, and $100 for the tall candle "torches" that we're renting from them.

ChiBride82 · September 2009

I personally don't care what the church fee is but I do care about the cantor/organist fee. At my parish I HAVE TO use thier own people, who are not members of the church but hired singers and players through a talent agency. In my contract I was told that becuase of the nature of these people work schedules I could not be guarenteed that A) they would be on time or

they would stay the entire time because they work all over the city. That to me was crazy. At my old parish they had an on staff organist who worked with the church choir twice a week and did all the daily masses and special events. My peeve with this is that if I have to pay for a service of hired musicians they better be there on time and stay until we are though. Can you imagine if you had no processional or recessional music becuase the person you had to hire and pay for regardless was late AND had to leave early?

Maura81 · September 2009

$600 for old st pats (I booked it a year prior to BeauitfulRyan) $150 Priest Stipend $175 for cantor $175 for Violinist $175 for Piano $150 for precana$100 for candles down the aisle (my only decoration for the church)

TheFutureMrsM-LoungingBeachside · September 2009

$1500 for the chapel, organist, cantor, cleanup, wedding oordinator and rehearsal $200 for pre-cana $25 for the FOCUS survey $500 donation to the university undetermined amount as gift to the prist I honestly don't think its outrageous. Its the most important part of the wedding day to me though.

marcikabarec · September 2009

$500 "donation" which includes the use of the facility, the wedding coordinator, and one guy who plays the piano and sings. $200 per additional cantors and instrumentalists. tip/donation to our discretion for the priest.It'll probably come out to $1100.

JulieBadulie · September 2009

Our church is charging us $350 plus $150 for the organist. Looks like that is pretty reasonable. (It is a catholic church.)

How much is your church charging you?

Re: How much is your church charging you?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards