Catholic Ceremony then quick vow exchange at reception

Is there a reason guests can't be invited to the Catholic ceremony at the church?

View Quoted Comment No there’s not. We are just thinking about having immediate family in the church to keep the cost down. Apparently it costs more if you have more then 10 people attend the wedding.

Someone at the church is lying to you about the fees. They don't charge per person. It's a set fee for the priest and musician's time, whether you have just one legal witness/guest or 200 guests.

View Quoted Comment Ugh, how annoying. We weren’t told it was per person but if I remember correctly, they said it would be $500 for 10 people and $1500 for more. Maybe we will try another church in the area.

View Quoted Comment The only time I have heard this, Catholic or Protestant, was when there was a choice between using the larger main sanctuary, which seats several hundred, and an attached chapel that seated 50 to 100 ( not spaced for Covid). Then the larger fee is for set up cleaning and after cleaning for the larger space. Check to see. Many busy congregations with lots of weddings, Christenings or Baptisms, and funeral, use multiple spaces. I have been guest in many churches several times before being directed to a side chapel I did not know existed, or thought was used only by Sunday school or an adjacent parochial school. I find side chapels nicer for small gatherings than a big mostly empty space. But you should not limit your wedding if you need the larger area, and cannot make the cost. ( Churches often set fees for those spending 20-60K wedding budget, that they will reduce for some one with a much smaller budget, rather than exclude people from the ceremony.

What Catholic Church is this? I'm getting married at one of the most popular churches in the country and the fee is much smaller. This is surprising to me

Yes, that’s correct. There is a fee of $500 for Weddings and Quinceañeras (Sweet 15). I’m also getting married in a Catholic Church.

I know that some catholic churches charge more for non-parish members. Our church has a donation of $800 for parishioners and like $1500 or so for non-parishioners. Maybe that is what they meant vs guest count.

View Quoted Comment Possibly but we are parishioners. I called the person who does the weddings of another local Catholic Church to find out info about that one instead but haven’t heard back yet.

View Quoted Comment $500 isn’t bad if more than 10 attendants are allowed.

View Quoted Comment It’s located in Reno, NV.

View Quoted Comment This church isn’t set up like that and our budget is definitely not that big haha. I did call the person who does the weddings of another local Catholic Church though to find out info about that one instead but haven’t heard back yet.

Hi! I’m actually going to do this. We’re having a catholic ceremony two weeks prior. Feel free to message me!

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I would love love LOVE to know more about this! How did you get this approved by the church? This would be an IDEAL situation for me. I've always wanted an outdoor ceremony at our venue. But me growing up catholic, a tradition wedding ceremony in a church is expected. My FH did not grow up catholic and also has dreams of an outdoor ceremony. I would love to do a private catholic ceremony, which just my parents and his, and then a non-traditional ceremony at our venue with all our friends. When we had our first meeting with our priest yesterday they only ever gave us the option of the big wedding mass.