2007-12-19 13:30:36 · 13 answers · asked by burni.romo 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
my best friend is married to a Methodist minister in North Carolina. He charges $250 for non-members. This covers about 15 hours of premarital counseling (sometimes more), about 2 hours for the rehearsal and two to three hours the day of the wedding. Also you have to remember that he is usually doing this on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon/night - time he could be spending with his family or doing something else. This works out to be approx. $12 an hour.
Members of his church get charged nothing but they usually give a gratuity of $100 - $200.
Some people think that inviting the pastor and his wife to the rehearsal dinner and the reception make up for the time and effort he puts into their wedding but it really doesn't. My friend and her husband don't go to the rehearsal dinners or the reception of people they don't know well or at all. That's a time for friends and family - they have found that people usually avoid "the preacher" like the plague so it's no fun for them. think of it this way. You pay the florist, caterer etc... but don't invite them to the party. Do you think they'd rather get invited or get paid for their 'professional' service. It works pretty much the same for pastors
If the pastor doesn't do much more that show up for the rehearsal and wedding then $50 or so is appropriate.
2007-12-19 14:58:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Must be a area thing. Around here the churches charge between $2000 and $3000 for the use of the building for the ceremony. This includes the organist's $200, the custodian, the church's wedding consultant who runs the rehearsal, and the minister's $200 - $300.
It doesn't matter what the size of the wedding. The fees are fixed.
2007-12-19 23:48:13 · answer #2 · answered by Woods 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, first, anything the pastor DOES charge is usually money that goes towards the church.
Second, many of them do not "charge," but a nice donation is still silently expected.
I hear them charging, or being given, any where from 50-150 dollars. This could depend on how much they do for you. Do they get really involved? Administer premarital counseling? Etc.
2007-12-19 21:37:13 · answer #3 · answered by Julie D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. As everyone else has said, it varies by church and location. I work at a Lutheran Church as a secretary. In our policy it states..."an honorarium will be paid to the pastor. The suggested honorarium is $100." That does not mean that you HAVE to give $100, but it is suggested.
I would figure anywhere between $50-$100 for your planning purposes.
2007-12-19 23:05:13 · answer #4 · answered by iloveweddings 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me begin by saying a "donation" means that the check is made out to the church which is a not for profit and is therefore a tax deduction. A fee is when we are being paid to perform a service and is not deductible.
Here in NY $500 is average
2007-12-19 21:46:48 · answer #5 · answered by bountifiles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
$50
2007-12-19 21:32:35 · answer #6 · answered by Stuart 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At my church our paster just asked for a donation. My groom's mom suggested $250 since he is putting aside time to get us married (getting married on a saturday) and my pastor gives us the marriage licence so we don't have to go to city hall to get it. But everyone is different.
2007-12-19 22:20:26 · answer #7 · answered by catmckay@rogers.com 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most don't charge anything. They will accept a gratuity. How much is appropriate would depend on where you live and what is the norm there.
2007-12-19 21:37:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I usually let the couple decide what they want to give -
last two it was my wedding gift to them
(zilch)
2007-12-19 21:34:04 · answer #9 · answered by tom4bucs 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here its $75
2007-12-19 21:33:05 · answer #10 · answered by gummi bear 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋