Is $700 a lot to pay to a Parish to get married?

[Convert_in_99]

My Fiancee are paying $700 (out of our own pocket of course because the parents think everything Church related should be free because the Church just wants money) to get married in Church.

Does that seem high for a Catholic Church w/ full nuptial Mass?

-Matthew

**That’s pretty reasonable. Our parish just said 5% of the total wedding cost. We gave WAY more than that.

Just think of it like this. You’ll probably be paying several hundred dollars just on your tuxes, or the reception, or your future wife’s dress, your rings, or whatever. If you are that generous with a THING, why not be that generous with God? It’s really God and His people (those in need, the mission of the Church, and the ministries of the parish) that you are giving too.

Your parents probably just have not thought of it that way. It’s not “just another fee to pay” it’s giving thanksgiving to God with a small monetary gift, for the priceless gift He is giving you in your future spouse.

HOWEVER, if you are having a super small wedding. I mean less than a couple thousand dollars TOTAL (I know we did!) and this is really an extreme financial burden for you, then you might be able to discuss this with your priest. He won’t NOT marry you because you are truly unable to pay a stipend. Just tell him your financial problems and he will work with you. However, if its between paying a stipend and upgrading to a limo…give it to God and take the sedan instead!
**

 

[newf]

My daughter is getting married in about 3 weeks. I already paid $700 for the church. This does not include anything except using the building. I am paying $275 for the musician for the mass. My daughter paid for her premarriage classes in her diocese where she lives…which is in a different state from the wedding…and our priest isn’t charging anything, but we will obviously give him something. Flowers are also not included in the church price, but I have some ordered and will pay extra for those.

I have no problem with any of this.

 

[sacredcello]

It costs $2,000 at my parish ($3,000 for non-parishioners) for the use of the building which does not include presider’s fee or music.

 

[OSUbride0708]

Our church is free, they ask for a donation. So, yes, $700 to me is too expensive.

 

[Hope070408]

$700 does strike me as a bit high. That’s twice what my fiancee and I will pay his parish, and our fee includes not only use of the church, but the music as well.

 

[mschrank]

Wow that was an oldie.

Anyway, we paid it, happily married for almost 5 months now.

The Church we went to marries non-parishoners as a way to raise money, I don’t hold it against them. If it were my family parish from time immorial, then perhaps it’d be an issue, but their masses are sadly, sparsely attended, so they need to pay the bills somehow.