Church Weddings: Pricing and Expenses

If you decide to enter holy matrimony within the confines of a church, you will experience a day that is both deeply personal and special to you. However, this does not necessarily imply that you must drain your coffers. Undoubtedly, the choices you make in relation to your wedding day can have a significant impact on the overall cost. A portion of this cost pertains to legal fees, which are obligatory for everyone. Additionally, there are optional extras that you can opt for or reject based on your budget.

Mandatory Expenses

Marrying in a church necessitates a legal fee, which is set according to national standards set by the Church of England. For weddings held away from your place of residence, the maximum legal fee in 2023 is £641*. Conversely, if you choose to marry in your home parish, the maximum fee is £539**. This fee encompasses various elements such as the vicar's services, the utilization of the church premises, the announcement of your intention to wed, the issuance of a banns certificate, lighting, and administrative tasks. (Following your nuptials, once it has been officially registered at the relevant registry office, you will also be required to pay for your marriage certificate. It should be noted that churches no longer issue these certificates.)

This obligatory fee, which stems from time-honored traditions, ensures that your church can continue to provide essential services such as weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other forms of ministry for you and your community.

Optional Add-Ons

The statutory wedding fee does not encompass any additional services that you may choose to include or exclude. These extras may consist of:

• The assistance of a verger, whose responsibility is to ensure that the church is warm, clean, and orderly for your ceremony. They can assist with tasks such as distributing Orders of Service and hymn books, as well as catering to the accessibility needs of your guests. In larger churches, they can prove invaluable, freeing the vicar to devote their undivided attention to you and the wedding service.
• Access to additional heating within the church, if necessary. The vicar will inform you if this applies to your wedding.
• The availability of an organist, choir, or bell-ringers. Should you require any of these additional staff members, it is essential to make advance bookings. In some cases, the church may request a deposit to secure these arrangements.
• It is worth noting that if your wedding is being filmed, musicians such as the organist may request an increase in their fee to account for professional performing rights. It is advisable to consult the church regarding the local arrangements.
• Church flowers - certain churches have resident flower arrangers who can extend their aid in creating breathtaking floral displays within the church.

While it is not compulsory to include any of these extras, many couples opt to include at least some of them. Should you choose to do so, there will be additional costs involved. The fees for each service will be determined by the local rates imposed by your specific church.

Managing the Expenses

It is advisable to speak with your vicar early on in the planning process to gain a clear understanding of the overall costs associated with your wedding. As a customary practice, the church should furnish you with an itemized quote before your big day, ensuring full transparency regarding what you will be paying for.

Even after finalizing the church bill, some couples may still feel inclined to make a donation to the church. Such contributions may assist in covering administrative expenses and the maintenance of the church building. While these gestures of generosity are greatly appreciated, it is important to note that you are under no obligation to make such donations.

If you find that affording the costs of your wedding is posing a challenge or if you are experiencing financial difficulties, it is worthwhile to communicate this to your vicar. They may be able to offer suggestions and guidance on how to navigate these circumstances. Should you require financial assistance to cover the expenses of your wedding, it may be worth considering the services of a local credit union. Credit unions provide affordable and responsible credit options, with some even offering special deals on loans tailored for weddings. You can find a credit union near you by following this link.

The breakdown of costs for getting married as of March 2023 is as follows if you choose to tie the knot in the parish where you both reside:

• The fee for the marriage service conducted in a church is £505.
• To announce the intention to marry, the publication of banns of marriage will amount to £34.

If one of you happens to reside in a different parish, the expenses increase slightly to £590. Here's the breakdown:

• The marriage service conducted in a church will still cost £505.
• The publication of banns of marriage will take place in the church where your marriage ceremony is scheduled to be held, as well as in the church where one of you resides. This will cost £34.
• Additionally, you will need a banns certificate from the other parish, which will cost £17.

Now, in a scenario where both of you live in separate parishes, different from the one where your wedding will take place, the cost rises further to £641. Here's the detailed breakdown:

• The marriage service conducted in a church remains at £505.
• The publication of banns of marriage will take place in the church where your marriage ceremony is scheduled to be held (£34).
• The publication of banns of marriage will also occur in the two different parishes where you both reside (£34 each).
• Furthermore, you will require banns certificates from these two other parishes, each costing £17.