CEREMONY SITE FEE The ceremony site fee is the fee to rent a facility for your wedding. In churches, cathedrals, chapels, temples, or synagogues, this fee may include the organist, wedding coordinator, custodian, changing rooms for the bridal party, and miscellaneous items such as kneeling cushions, aisle runner, and candelabra. Be sure to ask what the site fee includes prior to booking a facility. Throughout this book, the word church will be used to refer to the site where the ceremony will take place.
Options: Churches, cathedrals, chapels, temples, synagogues, private homes, gardens, hotels, clubs, halls, parks, museums, yachts, wineries, beaches, and hot air balloons.
Things To Consider: Your selection of a ceremony site will be influenced by the formality of your wedding, the season of the year, the number of guests expected and your religious affiliation. Make sure you ask about restrictions or guidelines regarding photography, videography, music, decorations, candles, and rice or rose petal-tossing. Consider issues such as proximity of the ceremony site to the reception site, parking availability, handicapped accessibility, and time constraints.
Tips To Save Money: Have your ceremony at the same facility as your reception to save a second rental fee. Set a realistic guest list and stick to it. Hire an experienced wedding consultant. At a church or temple, ask if there is another wedding that day and share the cost of floral decorations with that bride. Membership in a church, temple or club can reduce rental fees.
OFFICIANT'S FEE The officiant's fee is the fee paid to whomever performs your wedding ceremony.
Options: Priest, Clergyman, Minister, Pastor, Chaplain, Rabbi, Judge, or Justice of the Peace. Discuss with your officiant the readings you would like incorporated into your ceremony.
Things To Consider: Some officiants may not accept a fee, depending on your relationship with him/her. If a fee is refused, send a donation to the officiant's church or synagogue.
OFFICIANT'S GRATUITYThe officiant's gratuity is a discretionary amount of money given to the officiant.
Things To Consider: This amount should depend on your relationship with the officiant and the amount of time s/he has spent with you prior to the ceremony. The groom puts this fee in a sealed envelope and gives it to his best man or wedding consultant, who gives it to the officiant either before or immediately after the ceremony.
QUESTIONS TO ASK CEREMONY SITE What is the address of the ceremony site?
What is the name & phone number of my contact person?
What dates & times are available?
Do vows need to be approved?
What is the ceremony site fee?
What is the payment policy?
What is the cancellation policy?
Does the facility have liability insurance?
What are the minimum & maximum number of guests allowed?
What is the denomination, if any, of the facility?
What restrictions are there with regards to denomination?
Is an officiant available? At what cost?
Are outside officiants allowed?
Are any musical instruments available for our use?
If so, what is the fee?
What music restrictions are there, if any?
What photography restrictions are there, if any?
What videography restrictions are there, if any?
Are there are any restrictions for rice or rose petal-tossing?
Are candlelight ceremonies allowed?
What floral decorations are available/allowed?
When is my rehearsal to be scheduled?
Is there handicap accessibility and parking?
How many parking spaces are available for my wedding party?
Where are they located?
How many parking spaces are available for my guests?
What rental items are necessary?
By Alex A. Lluch, author of over three million books sold and President of
Weddingsolutions.com,
WedReviews.com, and
UltimateGiftRegistry.com.
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