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Paying church or officiant?

atropos557atropos557
10 Comments
in Colorado-Denver
My FI and I found our church as we started looking for a place for the wedding. Almost a year later and we're a month away from the wedding. We are now very active members of the church and have given quite a bit over the past several months.

So, when I first spoke to our officiant (pastor of our church) he said he asks for a $700 donation to the church for the marriage prep and everything. He's now asking for the $700 payment; however he asked that it be made payable to him. This is ringing warning bells in my head. Does it do the same for anyone else? We have a VERY small church and I know the pastor does not get a full-time, consistent salary from the church budget. I'm just a little confused on how appropriate this is.

Sorry this is a little long. I would appreciate everyone's thoughts on this.
Thanks!
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Re: Paying church or officiant?

  • jj_5150jj_5150 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    we just met with a church that we are doing our ceremony with and the fee is $500.00 but i'm not sure who we are making it out to he did not say. I think that would kind of ring a warning bell for me too. I would check into it a little more and maybe some how bring up the fact that it was a donation to the church so why is the check being made out to the officiant. See where that goes.  Best of luck to you
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  • HutchHHutchH member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Does the church have an office you could call?? 
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  • atropos557atropos557
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    No office - the church isn't big enough for that. The church rents the space it meets in - a lovely historic chapel.

    I sucked it up and just e-mailed him to ask. Apparently the marriage prep is a side business for him to supplement his income. The church is so small that they can't always even afford the small stipend they pay him. Which, based on the thitheing report I see each month, is absolutely accurate.

    I'm glad I asked. The whole thing just struck me as so odd at first.
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