Church Fee

MarjorieFrank Posted: Apr 16, 2009 04:49 PM

Church Fee

For those of you getting married at a church... If you don't mind me asking, how much are you paying to get married there? is it a 'donation' or a 'suggested' fee? My church is SO EXPENSIVE

I am annoyed because there is no option for my fee to be a 'donation' and I am extremely turned off by the fact that a CHURCH is cashing in on this whole wedding business thing. I understand paying the musicians, etc. that the church provides but personally I feel it ridiculous to pay an excessive fee to use what is supposed to be the house of God to take part in a holy sacrament. I just think it's wrong and it rubs me the wrong way.

Jenna_and_John Posted: Apr 16, 2009 04:52 PM

Re: Church Fee

$500 for mine, I've heard a lot more at other churches. It's said to be a donation and I'm more than happy to give it, besides compared to all the other costs its one of the cheapest lol

Soon2bMrsH Posted: Apr 16, 2009 04:52 PM

Re: Church Fee

$700 bucks!!!!!!!!!!

plus my church wants to charge a $300 up front so if we are late they keep it and if we are on time they return it. my cousin got married in the same church and said not to pay the $300.

depoc1011 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 04:53 PM

Re: Church Fee

i think (ill be sure on the 26th) its around 600 and then we have to leave a 300 check just in case we run late the day of...

Jenna_and_John Posted: Apr 16, 2009 04:55 PM

Re: Church Fee

My church was really sweet about it. I even asked if I should pay it up front and my priest was like no no we're not like the rest of the wedding vendors and we just laughed it off.

Jna2010 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 04:57 PM

Re: Church Fee

not postive but i think its around 600 each

MrsBlueRibbon Posted: Apr 16, 2009 05:13 PM

Re: Church Fee

09er crashing...

My church has a straight out fee, not suggested or donation. Their fee is $700, I have friends who have paid as much as $1200!

Espo22 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 05:16 PM

Re: Church Fee

$600 for the donation. Unfortunately they have to bc otherwise there wouldn't be churches for us to get married in. They depend on donations and many churches don't get large amount of people to go to mass every week, and don't get a lot in donations. At least its going to the church.

If you get married in an RH they charge a fee like this too, nobody has ever complained about that one though

AdriandSteve Posted: Apr 16, 2009 05:17 PM

Re: Church Fee

Posted by Jenna_and_John

$500 for mine, I've heard a lot more at other churches. It's said to be a donation and I'm more than happy to give it, besides compared to all the other costs its one of the cheapest lol

same here i believe
( i haven't looked at the paper work in months lol)

soontobecruz Posted: Apr 16, 2009 05:22 PM

Re: Church Fee

$850!!!!!! But that also covers the cost of the musicians and the coordinator there. Its steep but its also not 'my church' its just one I love.

JACK808 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 05:30 PM

Re: Church Fee

Posted by Espo22

$600 for the donation. Unfortunately they have to bc otherwise there wouldn't be churches for us to get married in. They depend on donations and many churches don't get large amount of people to go to mass every week, and don't get a lot in donations. At least its going to the church.

If you get married in an RH they charge a fee like this too, nobody has ever complained about that one though

This is so true. Your donation is what helps keep churches running. It costs money to maintain any building, it's grounds, to heat it in the winter, and keep it air conditioned in the summer, etc...

RHs charge a site fee to have your ceremony held there, and then you have to hire an officiant on top of that, so really getting married in the church is no more expensive than getting married at the RH.

Our donation was $500, for the use of the church, our priest, and pre-cana. We paid $150 each to the organist and cantor. In total, that was $800 well spent, and I would bet that we would have actually wound up paying more than that had we gotten married at the RH.

Future Mrs H Posted: Apr 16, 2009 05:54 PM

Re: Church Fee

I am paying $500 which includes the organist and the singers.

alli3131 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 06:10 PM

Re: Church Fee

You think the church is expensive but if you start pricing out what it costs to get married at the RH or somewhere else you will be paying the same amount or even more.

If you get married at the RH there is usually a charge for the extra time, then you need an officiant and music etc.

LadyC23 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 06:29 PM

Re: Church Fee

Posted by Espo22

$600 for the donation. Unfortunately they have to bc otherwise there wouldn't be churches for us to get married in. They depend on donations and many churches don't get large amount of people to go to mass every week, and don't get a lot in donations. At least its going to the church.

If you get married in an RH they charge a fee like this too, nobody has ever complained about that one though

That is so true! My church is $550.00 if your a parishoner of the church. If not, its $850.00.

MrsC2010 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 06:57 PM

Re: Church Fee

Posted by alli3131

You think the church is expensive but if you start pricing out what it costs to get married at the RH or somewhere else you will be paying the same amount or even more.

If you get married at the RH there is usually a charge for the extra time, then you need an officiant and music etc.

i totally agree...we are paying a $1,000 ceremony fee...that doesn't include anything. we still need to pay almost $500 for officiant, a lot of $$$ for all of the ceremony decor from the florist, and then the ceremony music (string quartet)

so it adds up to way more than people who are getting married in the church.

Lsorrent Posted: Apr 16, 2009 07:45 PM

Re: Church Fee

My church fee is $500. This includes pre-cana, organist,altar servers,and cleanup.

I had to pay $75 when registering for pre-cana, and I pay the rest at the rehearsal.

kimmaymb20 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 07:53 PM

Re: Church Fee

$375 for the church and $250 for the music for a total of $625. Plus we have to pay for the FOCCUS and Pre Cana that comes out to $100 so $725 in total. But its worth it I think it would be the same or more to get married at the RH.

MarjorieFrank Posted: Apr 16, 2009 08:02 PM

Re: Church Fee

Thanks for all the input... Seeing all these prices, mine is not TOO MUCH more than these, but still is a lot.
I actually go to church on a weekly basis and we make donations each week, so I am aware that the church runs on donations only. However, I still think choosing to have a ceremony at a RH is different than a church. It is a RH's business to conduct ceremonies, but it is the purpose and job of a church to perform a basic sacrament for two people. I think they are taking advantage of the whole Long Island Wedding Business, IMO.

Thanks for your help!!!

FallBride2010 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 08:30 PM

Re: Church Fee

Mine is $550

asg450 Posted: Apr 16, 2009 08:35 PM

Re: Church Fee

There is no fee for ours (FH is a member so members do not have to pay to use the sanctuary) we are just asked to give a donation. No amount was given, but depending on our budget I would like to give a nice donation. No less than $500.