Guidelines for Wedding Stipends?

[Irishgal49]

Hoping the community will be able to give advice regarding stipends for a priest to celebrate a wedding liturgy.

I was told by a friend that these are set by their diocese and all priests receive the same amount. After I read your replies, I will share what this bride’s mother was told, which does seem rather high to me.

This parish has a guideline for brides - no crash to walk down the aisle due to safety precautions. How true is this in other parishes? I understand that high heels can cause someone to trip and the parish would be liable.

Also, does anyone have a guideline for the organist’s stipend? It seems that if the parish uses an outside organist rather than the one regularly employed, there is a bench fee to compensate them for one of their choice.

Wow, we are requiring people to marry in the Church, where are people supposed to come up with all this money. I do understand people have to be compensated but what if someone can’t afford to pay the organist, priest, church, etc. I don’t have a problem with it but I’m just thinking of this tough economic times and what if someone was genuinely poor.

 

[Irishgal49]

Indeed, the owner is a parishioner in my church - a Catholic, serving other Catholics. Almost everyone who is buried from my church goes to them because of their proximity to the Church and his knowledge of our rite.

I would suggest to anyone following along to get their burial plots now before prices go up at a time when they can least afford it and are confronted with the cost of a funeral.

Lest you misunderstand, the gentleman is a very kindly person. I simply don’t understand the tremendous cost of funerals today.

Cremate me and then bury me when the prices go down. I am not having a funeral and I have no idea what to do about a wedding. I saw a couple at my former parish --snoozorama…so cut and paste and dull. I decided I’d rather have piano and scrap the organ, maybe a soft guitar. I am SO glad I got married in a hall before the Church. I paid 3200 and was full reception, all the catering set up/tear down, premium bar, DJ, tux, dress and alterations and all the accessories including hair updo, officiant, and cake. We had crystal and china, a beautiful punch fountain, and all the decor. They even served pizza at midnight. I didn’t have to go from one location to another–had the whole thing in one place. I did see a wedding at Christmas time where everyone was in burgundy velvet and a harpist played Greensleeves on the harp–so beautiful.

 

[1ke]

Wow, we are requiring people to marry in the Church, where are people supposed to come up with all this money. I do understand people have to be compensated but what if someone can’t afford to pay the organist, priest, church, etc. I don’t have a problem with it but I’m just thinking of this tough economic times and what if someone was genuinely poor.

Then they are welcome to get married at a regularly scheduled Mass, weekend or daily, with their family present.

Or they can talk to the priest about being married privately in the chapel with the priest and two witnesses or a small group of people.

No cost involved.

 

[Sarabande]

Wow, we are requiring people to marry in the Church, where are people supposed to come up with all this money. I do understand people have to be compensated but what if someone can’t afford to pay the organist, priest, church, etc. I don’t have a problem with it but I’m just thinking of this tough economic times and what if someone was genuinely poor.

I am sure that if a couple was truly having financial difficulties, the pastor would waive the fee, especially if they were parishioners. I’ve seen it happen at the parishes where I’ve worked. I have given people breaks for weddings and funerals as well, having sometimes done funerals for nothing. I know that couples are already cutting corners music-wise. Many of my colleagues (string groups, soloists and other instrumentalists) are not as busy for weddings of various denominations. With Catholic weddings, couples will usually hire only an organist or pianist and just have the parts of the mass recited rather than sung so that they didn’t have to hire a cantor. I have fortunately been busy, but it has been much more hustling and traveling than usual, and can be a little scary when it looks like there is only one booking for the next month. People seem to be waiting until the last minute to hire cantors/soloists for weddings and other events like concerts and recitals. I guess they are also trying to save up the funds to afford it.

Then, on the other end of the spectrum, one of my former music directors has told me how he had couples cry poor about having to pay musician stipends and the church fee after booking the musicians. (He has been one to give people breaks with the music fees if they really were having a difficult time.) He’d ask them where they were having the reception and then they’ll mention some of the most extravagant, expensive venues in the city. As someone who was always up front and blunt, he’d say something like, “If you can afford a $40,000 reception at x Ballroom, $200 for the organist is chump change.” They apparently always stopped complaining after that. On the day of the wedding, he’d see that they spent at least a few thousands for the flowers, the gown, photography, videographer, and all of the other accoutrements and he’d shake his head wondering how they could claim being “poor”. Well, I guess they would be “poor” after spending that much on the rest of the wedding. lol! Also, it all depends on what they would rather spend their money on. I’m laughing about it, but it is really incredible how expensive these weddings can be.

 

[yashi1]

hey i dont have much idea about the stipends my marriage was arranged by in2events.in They provide you with everything :bowdown2: So, if u need guidelines relating to the wedding u can contact them :whacky: Good Luck