Church fees-Please Help!!!

Original post by jpdagame

Feb 09, 2004 02:16 PM

I am a little upset about what our church expects as far as a 'donation' for our wedding ceremony. I never knew that some churches had a set donation amount. When we met with our priest he told us that the church charges a $600 'Donation' to be married there and ever since I have been thinking about it and I feel like we should make our own donation and shouldn't be told how much! I understand that you should pay a couple hundred as a donation but I am pissed that they are requiring such a ridiculous amount!! Am I freaking out or am I right?

GIGIBRIDE04 Posted: Feb 09, 2004 05:10 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

I ASKED MY PREIST IF THERE WAS A SET DONATION AND THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD ME '75.OO FOR THE SINGER, $75.00 FOR THE ORGANIST AND HE SAID IF THE COUPLES CAN AFFORD IT THEY ASK $150.00 FOR THE CHURCH' $300.00 TOTAL I THINK THATS REASONABLE

janwinterbridejoy Posted: Feb 09, 2004 07:51 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

we paid 400 dollars as a fee and we had to give them another 100 for a late fee if we were more then 5 mins late. we did receive that back though..

july16bride Posted: Feb 09, 2004 08:03 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

I am getting married at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City and it is not costing $2000! It is costing us half that with an organist, soloist, a rehersal, custodian fee, priest gratuity and flowers. It is expensive but it is an incredible church and an expensive church to maintain. I think their prices are reasonable and worth it.

MarcellaBella Posted: Feb 09, 2004 08:07 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

Our church's *donation* came out to 1,000...

samsbride Posted: Feb 09, 2004 08:26 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

I was also a bit upset. Ultimately, we decided to get married at reception site because church will only allow monring weddings and we are having an evening reception. My guests would have nowhere to go since all are out of town.
Anyway - the church 'donation' was $700!!!
I thought that was ridiculous. We also had a few forms to sign promising the money would be delivered in cash or check 10 days prior to wedding.
It was a $500 fee and $200 for music. We had to pay the music fee even if we didn't want their music (which we didn't because they are pretty bad)
I agree - it's very high but I think a lot of people don't donate at all or only $100 so they have to enforce this.
I think the church also needs money these days because of lawsuits so they are getting whatever donations they can

Finally16 Posted: Feb 09, 2004 08:47 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

Not to add fuel to the fire but $600 is out of control! My chuch requires a $200 donation and an extra $40 for the organist. Is there no negotiating as to what you can afford?

steph4777 Posted: Feb 09, 2004 09:25 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

Posted by july16bride

I am getting married at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City and it is not costing $2000! It is costing us half that with an organist, soloist, a rehersal, custodian fee, priest gratuity and flowers. It is expensive but it is an incredible church and an expensive church to maintain. I think their prices are reasonable and worth it.

I'm not a member and don't have family who are members so that's why I think I am paying more

Spitzergirl Posted: Feb 09, 2004 09:55 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

$510.00 for the church

$150.00 for the precana............

I almost fainted, when I saw they charge that much to sit down and talked to a married couple. I could sit at home and talk to my parents!!!!!!

jessicae129 Posted: Feb 09, 2004 10:08 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

OK, I am clueless, but is the 'donation' something you should get in writing, just as all of your other 'vendors'
I just think it would be weird to ask a priest for something to keep his word, but is it commonly done?
Thx

janwinterbridejoy Posted: Feb 09, 2004 10:39 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

marcellabella
was your church on mulberry street?

MrHostility Posted: Feb 09, 2004 10:42 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

I think ours is $250 for the church, $100 for the organist, $95 for the coordinator, and a gift for the pastor. So likely $550.

jpdagame Posted: Feb 09, 2004 11:09 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

Not for nothing, but after all this, I still feel like it is out of control! First of all, as far as cleanup crew that is complete and utter BS because we aren't allowed to have our FGs throw flower petals!! Well hello!!! Isn't that the point of a flower girl??? So if we can't throw petals, then there is no need for a clean up crew!! Our priest told us $150 for the singer, $150 for the organist, and $300 to the church...and pre-cana is $150-$750 total. Even without adding in pre-cana, I highly doubt that we are using $300 worth of heat and electricity for a 20 minute ceremony!!! Am I wrong??? Oh and PS... Not to mention the priest was a nasty SOB. BTW FH thinks there isn't a problem. Am I overreacting??

steph4777 Posted: Feb 09, 2004 11:23 PM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

No I think it's ridiculous the fees that churches are charging. This just reminds you that a church often runs like a business.

mattnnic327 Posted: Feb 10, 2004 12:35 AM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

Please my churches DONATION is 550.00 .. what a donation that is...
if it isn't a business I don't know what is then.

Marcela1654 Posted: Feb 10, 2004 12:41 AM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

We paid the church $500. That's not including the organist which I think is about $200 and I just got papers in the mail saying that I need to pay the chantor $50 and the sexton $30

butterfly20 Posted: Feb 10, 2004 08:53 AM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

i cant believe they charge extra for precana.. $60.... at fh's church... at my church precana is free(since theyre already getting the donation)

OctGroom Posted: Feb 10, 2004 08:56 AM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

Posted by butterfly20

i cant believe they charge extra for precana.. $60.... at fh's church... at my church precana is free(since theyre already getting the donation)

that sucks.. I'm from a really Catholic family but hearing all of this is ridiculous. I wanna get married in the eyes of the Church but as posters have heard me write before... I wanna get married outside... the Chruch frowns upon it BIG time.. i just hate when it's all about money.. that goes soooo against what I think religion as all about.

NYCHICK Posted: Feb 10, 2004 09:11 AM

Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!

the money they charge you could spend on your honeymoon, upgrade a photo package, get more flowers, get something else to beautify your hall. That is probably all your tips for the day, for a 40 minute ceremony. Just nonsense. I asked the lady at my church what they DON'T allow and she said NOTHING. If I go back and hear that my FLOWER girls can't throw FLOWERS, I am gonna blow a gasket