We have to pay our organist regardless, as well, which is the main reason we're using him, haha. So dumb! But we had trouble finding a church that would marry us w/o being members, and we couldn't join any in Bmore while we live overseas, so we have to live by their rules :-/
Our church won't marry anyone with an engagement shorter than 12 months and at least 1 person HAS to be a "contributing" member.
We're not allowed to have photographers/videographers anywhere near the front by the altar.
We're not allowed back inside to take picutres after the ceremony.
We also have to pay a "bench fee" for the organist regardless if we want him to play or not (ours has a beautiful voice, so we're using him anyway).
Catholic churches are REALLLLLLY strict and very much stick to their old traditions and rules. FI's dad had to pay $1000 30 years ago, because he is not Catholic (I forget what denomination he is...), so that he could marry in his wife's Catholic church. Some things never change.
We are having our pastor marry us in a metropark about 30 minutes from the church. He said there is no charge but we will be donating $150-200 to the church.
In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_officiant-fees?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:af5964f8-5d08-4174-90fe-b5b8f6c04867Post:4b55cf5c-fcef-4cf5-91b4-4ae343f51b19">officiant fees</a>: [QUOTE]How much is everyone paying/donating to their officiant (or to the church if it's a donation)? I would ask on the San Diego board, but it's kind of slow, and I swear everyone uses the same 3 officiants on there. Posted by AllyG303[/QUOTE]
We paid 200 for our officiant. One of the few bills we've already paid.
Re: officiant fees
We're not allowed to have photographers/videographers anywhere near the front by the altar.
We're not allowed back inside to take picutres after the ceremony.
We also have to pay a "bench fee" for the organist regardless if we want him to play or not (ours has a beautiful voice, so we're using him anyway).
Catholic churches are REALLLLLLY strict and very much stick to their old traditions and rules. FI's dad had to pay $1000 30 years ago, because he is not Catholic (I forget what denomination he is...), so that he could marry in his wife's Catholic church. Some things never change.
[QUOTE]How much is everyone paying/donating to their officiant (or to the church if it's a donation)? I would ask on the San Diego board, but it's kind of slow, and I swear everyone uses the same 3 officiants on there.
Posted by AllyG303[/QUOTE]
We paid 200 for our officiant. One of the few bills we've already paid.