Is it normal to pay for church ceremony?

It is NEVER too early to do a guest list--you can't do much budgeting without one. Another thing to do using the WW tools is divide people up into A, B, and C lists. That way, if you end up having some people decline early, you know with whom you want to replace them. You might also find that your A list is actually fewer people than 100, and then you can price things like cake, chairs, etc. with the actual number and have a more realistic idea of how much stuff is going to cost.

No this is the PERFECT time to create a guest list. You really want to have a good handle on the number of guests you're going to have. If you're planning to do any DIY your guest count could effect some of your projects. That was one of the first things we did was create a preliminary guest list. For me it was more to get a good estimate b/c I needed to make sure whatever venues we secured would be large enough to accomodate us.

I have a budget of approx 2000 wth about 140 guests..DIY and cutting corners..it's doable.

We already have mostly everything paid for so far it has came out to 5500 for a 400 person guest list. Our church was 650 for everything music, officiant, planner and janitorial. We are having the receptoon at me moms though an everyone in my wedding party is bringing a couple dishes for the dinner.

Quote Rev. Judith: " I've had couples say "Well, we just want something short, and we feet it's ridiculous to spent $XXX for 20 minutes of work." On average I spent 20-30 hours on each wedding I do, including talking to the couple, meeting, preparing, emailing, etc. If you break that down by hour, would YOU want to work for $5-8 an hour??" Unquote.

My husband is a minister, I do the typing of the ceremonies, help the bride and groom with the wording if needed, and spend as many hours or more than he does preparing for a wedding...break down what we both make...today's wedding is $100 (he's a Marine and shipping out next week) we have about 12 hours into it, and will have another 2 - 3 before the end of the ceremony tonight....our cost breaks down to $3.34 an hour.

That is for each my hubby and I....not together. I could flip burgers and make more money, but don't relish walking in the door and being attacked by 4 dogs every night from the burger smell!!

My wedding and honeymoon both are coming to about $5000. It can definitely be done. There are many expenses that you just don't need. Cut down your costs, do some things yourself, and bargain hunt.

Wow so much answers, it meant a lot to me. Thank guys and yes jessy I realized that we will have to decorate our tables and etc on our own instead paying to get it down. I am lucky that my mom knows how to be super creative about things. well I am very lucky that my honeymoon is paid for from my mom and grandpa. I just have to pay for small things for the wedding and save money for first apartment with my FH. We are not living together yet and he lives on ship (hes in Navy). But wow you guys, so many creative ideas woot, thanks again!

@ megan b im getting married for free at my church we even said we wld pay n he told us no so if i was u id keep looking bc we arent even members at the church only been going about a year

Wow you are so lucky Tracey, you should give the pastor a thank you gift. Thanks for letting me know :-) Yea I am planning to look for few other churches before I make a decision.

Great question! I would think they would at least offer you a discount or something! I am getting married in November, I haven't even figured out where i want to get married yet. I checked one place out, but there were in serious need of janitorial services. It was too bad, the pictures made it look really nice.

Actually, in a Catholic Church it should cost nothing. Sacraments are not for sale. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#2121) makes clear that the First Commandment forbids "simony", which is the buying or selling of sacred things.

It’s appropriate, however, for the bride and groom to share their joy and, in generosity, to contribute to the support of the Church and its ministers

There are those who, through paucity, are unable to afford any payment and the Catholic church, quite rightly, does not wish to deter any couple from being married for the sake of being unable to pay for it.

Commercialism and the way people's minds work these days are to blame for the escalation of the perceived obligation to pay to be married in a church.

Parishioners pay what they can each afford for the upkeep of the church during their membership of the parish and a baptism, marriage, or funeral ceremony is all part of the service offered by their minister. There is no charge for these other than any statutory legal fees that are imposed outside of the church ministry

I must just add, that the situation is now different in Church of England parishes, whereby the central church has imposed a minimum fee of around £451 (2014) to be married in a church, and this covers all essential services but not additional optional extras.