going rate for a church???

What are churches charging for a wedding???

Mine was about that $350 for parishoners, $500 for non....

St. Andrew Avellino in Flushing

What are churches charging for a wedding???

Karen, that church is GORGEOUS!!! My fiance was baptized there, and we considered it for our wedding. (Small world, eh?) But, then we decided a church out on LI, since we moved out here. I really wish we could get married there...it's absolutely beautiful with all the marble and high ceilings...ah, you are fortunate!!!

Funny - I did the reverse. I grew up there and went to St. Andrews for grammer school. After HS, I went east and studied at SUNY Stony Brook. I took a job out here and lived in SB/Port Jeff for 8 years...only moved back about a year ago.

The church is beautiful...and Msgr Grace is witnessing our marriage. If you know him, you know he's a wonderful spiritual man with a very human approach (and a great sense of humor)!

We are blessed.

Joanna, my fiance is a really good tipper (when he deems it appropriate) and feels that the alterboys and altergirls definitely deserve a tip...in fact, he budgeted that in (I think he's reflecting back on his alterboy days). I think he said $20 or $25 directly given to them is appropriate...and I feel that is VERY generous.

Gosh - I didn't know we were supposed to tip the altar boys/girls. Thanks!

I once posted a ? re: tips for the other folks. We are also having an organist . I didn't get a very clear response.

However, that being said, I'm starting to get a little nutty with all this tipping. We always tip 20% whenever we go out - but after all this money we've already spent on the wedding, I'm now seeing a line of people with their hands out waiting to be tipped on top of our contract amounts. And, of course, like everything else - its all cash. I'm estimating over $500 in tips - in addition to the 17% gratuity we're paying the hall.

Karen, I really don't feel your pain YET, but my turn is not that far off...just another six months. I didn't mean to overwhelm you more with the alterboys, it's just that my fiance believes they should be tipped...I don't think it's necessary, just nice. I think if anything, $10 means a nice thing in their pocket. (Remember HOW MUCH $10 was when you were 12 yrs old?) Don't sweat it if you don't...it's not manditory or even expected.

Thanks - I hope so! : )

I certainly believe $10 is great for the altar boys/girls. $10 is a great deal - though I don't think it will even buy a CD! : (

I haven't even finalized the numbers yet but I'm figuring $200 for the Matre D', total of $400-450 for the photographer, asst photographer & videographer, $50? for the bridal attendant?, $60 for the limo (we only have 1 car).....

I read somewhere $150-$250 for the main photographer, about $100 for the assistant and then about $100-150 for the videographer.

If this isn't customary, then can someone tell me what is?

Thanks, Cynthia and Karen!

Gosh no - I didn't take anything personally. I didn't make up the $$$ - I read it somewhere else...

Honestly, it hurts to give more than we're already paying for...Now that I'm just over a week away, I'm starting to pay attention to those details and have no guide on who to tip and how much.

My biggest issues are getting rid of this cold (thanks Paul!) and dealing with the bouts of dizziness I get from time to time (too much stress with work & the wedding).

Our church is requesting a $200 donation. The catch is, is that you have to use their organist and vocalist which adds another $200 to the budget for ceremony music. Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks to the wonderful bride who posted the link to the MS Clip Art Gallery, I used a really cute B&G on each card and typed each persons name with "Table #"....I will handwrite in the actual table # in black ink when the seating is finalized.

I think so - I'm paying $350 and that includes the organist and the soloist.

Our church is requesting a $200 donation. The catch is, is that you have to use their organist and vocalist which adds another $200 to the budget for ceremony music. Does this sound reasonable?

Thanks to the wonderful bride who posted the link to the MS Clip Art Gallery, I used a really cute B&G on each card and typed each persons name with "Table #"....I will handwrite in the actual table # in black ink when the seating is finalized.

I thought so too, but as far as how much to tip each, I haven't got a clue. When I looked at the paperwork regarding the church and its' fees, they say several places that the altar boys/girls kindly accept gratutities. What about the priest?

Just a note, I'll be walking down a 90 foot aisle, and I thought that was long! LOL