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?
tourist
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Ours didn't mention it yet. We aren't members, so they may charge us more. The pre-cana is free though.
It pretty much is a rental fee, b/c htey have expenses liek any other location, but have call it a donation to mantain thie non-profit status.
Unlike a museum, where you can usually get away with not paying the entire suggested donation, with the church, you have to pay the whole thing though, unless you work it out a ahead of time with them. Like someone said though, its hard to say you can't afford it, when you are spending so much on the reception.
NYCHICK
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Posted by tourist
its hard to say you can't afford it, when you are spending so much on the reception.
I think that is exactly why you can say you can't afford it
tourist
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Posted by steph4777
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
Will the Cathedaral of the Incarnation marry you if you are not Episcopalian?
Jo Ann
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Mine is $250 for the church, $175 for the organist, $100 for the singer
$150 for pre cana if you do it in the church,or $225-$325 if you go in the Diocease.
Then $50 for Foccus.
Total of $575.. Then you need to give a donation to the Priest.
PS mine is considered an OFFERING.
NYCHICK
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Posted by Jo Ann
Then $50 for Foccus.
PS mine is considered an OFFERING.
OMG you had to pay $50 for that silly multiple choice test. O lord i heard it all. That is crazy.
steph4777
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Posted by tourist
Posted by steph4777
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
Will the Cathedaral of the Incarnation marry you if you are not Episcopalian?
No, you both must be Christians and one must be Episcopalian. I am Episcopal and FH is United Methodist. And you must get a letter from your priest giving you permission to get married outside of your church and verifying that you were baptized, did your communion and was confirmed.
We ended up going to United Methodist church, less restrictions and it's only gonna cost $500 for everything (church, organist and pastor).
violet
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Pre-cana is $150 for us.
I think it's ridiculous. I'm really not very religious, but I've been raised Catholic and did all my other sacraments, so I felt like I might as well get married in the church. Also, if I didn't, they might give me a problem for if I have a kid and want to get them baptized. But for crying out loud, it's an expensive religion. What if a person can't afford it? They won't marry them then? It's horrible.
Jo Ann
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
According to the priest the Foccus fee was b/c they need to send the Scantron back to the company to get it graded.
PS. Getting married in the church is an option, you can always get married by a Judge or something. If you don't agree with the pratices of the church then don't go their to get married. Your honeslty spending $30-50 Thousand dollars on a wedding reception and you are complaining about $500 to give to the church. Don't forget without the cermony their is not to PARTY about. That is exactly what a reception is a PARTY to celebrate your wedding VOWS.
BMD'sPeanut
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
I don't understand why everyone is up in arms about the cost/donation/fee/whatever of the church... If you have a problem with it, why get married in the church? We're on LIW.com...Long Island weddings are not cheap... True, complaints have been voiced about the cost of different wedding related things...But still...How can you complain about a donation to a church when you have no qualms about laying 30, 40, even 50 thousand dollars for a reception? (Note: My FH's church suggested 550.00 for a donation. He also said if we give each week at mass we don't have to make a donation--and really that's the bottom line...I truly believe that most parishes really just want people to come to church.)
violet
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Actually, I'm planning on spending much less than $20,000 on my entire wedding. The total church fees cost more than my gown. But they really shouldn't call it a donation if that's really not what it is. They should call it their fee.
Xelindrya
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Posted by CIMINOK
I don't understand why everyone is up in arms about the cost/donation/fee/whatever of the church... If you have a problem with it, why get married in the church? We're on LIW.com...Long Island weddings are not cheap... True, complaints have been voiced about the cost of different wedding related things...But still...How can you complain about a donation to a church when you have no qualms about laying 30, 40, even 50 thousand dollars for a reception? (Note: My FH's church suggested 550.00 for a donation. He also said if we give each week at mass we don't have to make a donation--and really that's the bottom line...I truly believe that most parishes really just want people to come to church.)
I agree to a point. For me it's the principle that bothers me
House of God Truth, Faith and Belief
Why lie? Why call it a donation? I'd feel better if they came out and said, services cost $$$ I mean it's not like churchs have wedding masses every sunday like normal ones. We are taking time and effort of theirs and I'm fine paying for that service. But dont call it a donation.
Secondly, they sort of have us by the balls. If you say 'Screw that it's expensive' and you're religious, it rubs your conscience the wrong way and you KNOW you need the church to 'feel' right even though you feel wrong with the costs.
We're not adding lights and putting holes in the walls, we're just walking and talking.
Yes, I chose to stick with my belief that costs for the so-called religious rite of marriage is stupid and close to sinful. I found a reverend who will come to my wedding hall for me. I choose not to lie to myself and say 'this is my church' when I belong to none.
Why have one at all then? HELL Jim & I are already MARRIED, so who cares? My family and I wanted it as part of the 'event'.
To me: hiring the officiant cleric is like hiring a clown for a kid's birthday party. They dress up, try to make us laugh, put on a show and get paid for it.
Fine, services rendered. But some of these prices!!! WOW. Glad I'm only paying $200. To me, that's reasonable.
JMHO
janwinterbridejoy
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
marcella
i love that church my mom was baptized there
jpdagame
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Re: Church fees-Please Help!!!
Not for nothing, but our entire wedding is costing us about $17,000. And that is with everything we wanted.... So I don't think that I am really being that unreasonable about church fees. Its not like we are spending $40,000 and complaining...We have a child to support JMO