Post # 1

Member
988 posts
Busy bee
How much are you paying for these? Is it a set price?
So…my ceremony is costing way more than I thought! Obviously I know the ceremony is the most important part of the day but still I didn’t expect to have to pay so much lol
$350 for mass
$190 for precana classes
$200 for piano guy
plus all the decorations and flowers…
Post # 3

Member
2767 posts
Sugar bee
Ours were $150 per couple. We paid $250 for our church and $475 for music.
Post # 4

Member
315 posts
Helper bee
Our pre-cana classes were $75. The church use fee is like $200, the organist is $125, and priest will be about $150–definitely an unexpected expense!
Post # 5

Member
96 posts
Worker bee
JennyChicago, that’s comparable to what we are paying in Chicago, if that makes you feel any better.
Post # 6

Member
133 posts
Blushing bee
We paid $195 for our classes, but technically the amount for the church and organist are a ‘suggested donation’ and you don’t have to give that exact amount. We are giving that amount, but it’s just to let you know that if you give less they still should marry you.
Post # 7

Member
347 posts
Helper bee
My church fee was $200, but I think that price was with the parishioner discount. We gave the priest a $150 tip. The organist was $95. We gave a $25 tip to each altar servers. The only flowers I bought were for the wedding party. The church already had its easter lilies out, so I didn’t see a reason to add or change them out.
I did not include the pre-cana in my wedding budget as I did not consider that a part of our wedding.
Post # 8

Member
25 posts
Newbee
Our Pre-Cana was $70. Our church doesn’t require a specific fee but will take a “gift”, so we have to figure out how much we’re going to give for that. Our ceremony music is $675 We could have gotten away with $400, but we wanted a violinist and to choose the cantor (which was an extra $50).
Post # 9

Member
25 posts
Newbee
Our Pre-Cana was $70. Our church doesn’t require a specific fee but will take a “gift”, so we have to figure out how much we’re going to give for that. Our ceremony music is $675 We could have gotten away with $400, but we wanted a violinist and to choose the cantor (which was an extra $50).
Post # 10

Member
25 posts
Newbee
Our Pre-Cana was $70. Our church doesn’t require a specific fee but will take a “gift”, so we have to figure out how much we’re going to give for that. Our ceremony music is $675 We could have gotten away with $400, but we wanted a violinist and to choose the cantor (which was an extra $50).
Post # 11

Member
520 posts
Busy bee
We did the “engaged encounter” weekend, and that was $290 for both of us (it included our meals and hotel rooms).
Post # 12

Member
25 posts
Newbee
Whoa sorry about that! My computer flipped out 🙂
Post # 13

Member
3 posts
Wannabee
We opted for the multi-week sessions with a couple from the church. Cost us NOTHING but time. It was the BEST experience I’ve had with the Catholic church – ever.
So the only cost we have is a $300 fee which includes the church time, priest, musicians and wedding ceremony coordinator. The church will already be decorated with greenery & plants so we’re spendng just a few bucks on some things for the aisle decorations.
Post # 14

Member
121 posts
Blushing bee
Our pre-cana is $200 per couple. The church fee is $300 and $200 for organist and singer
Post # 15

Member
13 posts
Newbee
$350 for Chicago isn’t bad at all. St. Edmund’s in Oak Park was $600 FIVE years ago when one of my friends was trying to decide where to get married.
We paid $75 for a pre-cana day and $125 for the FOCCUS questionaire and for prep with the priest. Our church situation is a little different- I have a cousin who works at the church we are getting married at- and she waived the fee for us. I have no idea what it would have been. Fiance and I both lived in Chicago for the past 8-10 years, and we are getting married in my hometown (but not at the parish I grew up in, it’s closing!). My hometown is conveniently halfway between Fiance family and Chicago. Our musicians are family friends (well, friends of my brother) and we will give them a donation for sure. The priest who is marrying us is also a family friend, and we will give him a donation as well (not sure how much yet, but easily $1-200).
Post # 16

Member
195 posts
Blushing bee
Our PreCana was $75 – lunch included 🙂