[TexasFreeper2009]

Church weddings are in decline because Churches now charge astronomical sums for having the wedding there.

(I am in this business, so I know what I am talking about)

It used to be that if you were a church member, the church was free or nearly free to use for your ceremony. But those days are long gone.

[Salvation]

**Church weddings are in decline because Churches now charge astronomical sums for having the wedding there**

For sacraments there is no charge.

Reception hall, yes, gifts. yes. But no charges for the sacrament.

[redgolum]

That is a part of it. I know of one young couple who did not have a church wedding because they didn’t want to spend the money on a 30 minute ceremony. That and they preferred to be “married” outside the law, and the pastor wouldn’t do it without a valid marriage license.

Also, there is the fact that marriage doesn’t mean much to most these days. Between the rampant divorce culture, the “shacking up/Hooking up” culture, to the celebration of bastards, many are asking why spend the money and time on a church marriage when I can have all the fun and none of the cost?

Marriage in short, is becoming a luxury good in the classic sense. Many want it, all say it is nice, but it is viewed as a cost and not a benefit.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Now that one's a surprise to me. It was 25 years ago, but the Catholic pastor didn't charge us anything for the wedding. And it wasn't even my parish: it was my mother's parish. We made a small donation (which was not even hinted at) to the pastor, and didn't spend a dime on flowers, either, because it was right after Christmas and the church was glorious with poinsettias.

Same thing with my father's funeral. There was no question of money. Again, I made a token offering to the pastor and additionally gave the organist/choir director $25 and she was actually shocked that I had made an offer of money.