Ranting!!

There's so much about this post that makes me smile.

It almost sounds like you're bitter about the church demanding that you demonstrate dedication in order to avail yourself of a marriage in said church Don't you WANT to make that effort?

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But yes, that's what we had to pay too. Some churches cost more than £500 though ?

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Our church was £850 just for the service and organist plus £34 for banns in our parish...

The cost was irrelevant really as we wouldn't have got married anywhere else.

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The going to church bit is fine, quite enjoy it. it's the fact that they seem to be coming up with new charges every time we talk to them!

Is there a standard cost for this do you know OMs?

I sent a copy of our marriage banns application to our local vicar by email, he replied saying contact me again next Dec but said nothing about any cost. Being on this site means I'm not going to be surprised if there is but it seems weird he never said anything?

That makes me feel very much better. Thats a crazy amount ?

Oh and OP I do know that you don't actually HAVE to attend your local church for the banns reading.

As for attending the church you are getting married in, we have to go once a month for 9 months before (so starting this month), it's about an hour away but we knew that when we made the commitment to get married there. Yes it will cost us in petrol but we plan to make the most of it by getting other things done whilst over there and having days out/pub lunches etc.

I did think the same!

I didn't need the churchy bit ?

The costs are no different to our registra. the banns are the same as giving noitice and cost us about the same amount which is a standard fee across the county.

This. We had to pay £37 each to give notice. I don't think you're having to pay anything that anyone getting married doesn't also have to pay.

But that money for your Banns is a LEGAL fee you have to pay to get married. They don't just make things up willy nilly. You're also paying the same fee at the church you're getting married at but its all rolled in together with the other fees you're paying. If you were getting married in a civil ceremony you would have the same legal fees there as well for giving notice of your intent to marry.

You also sound pretty annoyed that you have to *shock horror* go to church!

In that case get married in your local parish church, like you have the right to. Then you wouldnt have to pay all this money to attend another one 'just' to get married in it, and pay extra for banns to be read in your parish. It really irks me that people want to 'use' churches to get married in and moan about the logistics. Getting married in front of God is THE most important thing for me and my OH and attitudes like yours annoy me. If you dont like it go to the register office.

There, I'll get off my soap box now!

If you got married in the Parish you lived in, you wouldn't have to pay anything to get your banns read.

Besides, like someone else said, the ceremony is the important bit. I would rather spend my complete budget on a wonderful ceremony, than the p1ss up afterwards.

The church that we are getting married in is with in the grounds of where we are having the reception. This is an hour half away so getting married in our paish church is not an option. Im not "using" churches to get married in as you liked to put it, I have been brought up going to church attended COE schools and mass regulary so getting married in front of God IS the most important thing to me. I think if you read my post it says nothing about the party after as that is all it is a party.

I think there is an indication of costs on the CoE website, so I am kind of surprised this is a surprise.

I think our church is about £500 (our vicar will email us with a year to go with more definite costs), but I have always wanted to get married in that church, so I'd have saved in other areas. Apparently the difference in costs in because some things are set by the parochial council.

Whats your venue/church Rachel? Sounds like a similar setup to mine..

You do actually but its often just lumped together with the other fees you pay to the church so many people don't realise that. Your banns are the same as giving notice and there is a legal fee that goes with that.

I got married in my parents local church and had to get my bans read at our local church but disn't have to pay for that part at our local one.

I think the wording made it sound like you were bitter about the costs even though you didn't mean to come across that. In fact I was about to say something until I read your later response. The costs are pretty much standard across the courtey. We were lucky to get an organist for a lot less than the standard cost but that was because I had known he vicar since I was tiny and he wanted to help us out. The costs will add up if you want extra bits like the bells and the organist etc.

Nutty, the standard cost is £34 for each parish you have your banns read in at the moment but as it's a "standard" cost it could go up. HTH

We don't live in the parish of our church, however it still only takes 10 mins to walk there from our flat!

Thank you that helps, I'll add it to my budget tonight so that it's not a surprise!

In your case I can see far more reason to be annoyed about having to pay twice or attending beforehand given that it's so close just doesn't happen to fall within where the parish bounderies are (which are usually way outdated!)

Me & H paid the following:

Church - £500.00

Father (Catholic Church) - £50.00

His "Boy" - £30.00

Organist - £120.00 (For 4 hymns!!!!!!)

Notice of Marriage £70.00

Just out of interest, the figures people are quoting (such as £500) is that just for the ceremony? Or does it include the 'extras' like the organist/choir/bells etc. Our ceremony before extras is only £287. I'm shocked it can vary so much between parishes.

Mine was a bargain! £420 all in inc. a choir and organist. I have to pay the florist extra if we want cordinating flowers, either that or they'll just decorate for a normal weekend.

My vicar was so kind when he told me about the charge (we're also getting wed outside the parish), he even said 'I'm afraid there is a cost, I'm so sorry there is...', so I didn't feel too grudging, and it seems very normal.

HI Nutella,

We are getting married in St Mary's Island church then having the reception at Orchardleigh house in Frome. Where are you getting married?

Our church fees in 2011 were as follows:

Service £650 (includes legal fees)

Organist £200

Bells £280 for 15 minutes

Choir from £200

Flowers from £12 per pew end, £50 per pedestal

Plus £34 for banns in parish church

We paid £884 to get married, no bells, no choir, no flowers!

Wow just googled it, looks amazing!!

Ours is Wasing Park in Aldermaston, there's a church on site like yours.

Ditto on your place, look gorgeous specially that bedroom.