Wedding Chapel or Site Cost

• A church ceremony can cost between $100 and $400 for rental of a small chapel on a college campus or in a park that accommodates up to 100 guests. A medium-sized church or synagogue can cost $500 to $800 to accommodate 100 to 250 guests. A large church or cathedral that can hold 300 or more guests can cost $900 to $3,000 or more.
• The average total cost of a wedding ceremony location is $435, according to The Bridal Association of America[1] .

• The cost covers the rental of the location for three to five hours -- including set-up time -- and usually a rehearsal in the location. Some churches offer packages that include the services of the officiant, an organist and decorations, for $600 to $2,500 or more.

• Church decorations, such as flowers for the altar and flowers and bows for the pews, cost, on average, $391, according to The Bridal Association of America[2] .
• Some churches prohibit women from baring arms and shoulders, so brides and bridesmaids who plan to wear strapless or sleeveless dresses may need to spend $30 to $50 or more to purchase capelets, boleros or shawls to wear during the ceremony.
• Supplies for the ceremony rituals, such as the lighting of unity candles, can cost $20 to $100 or more. For Jewish weddings, renting a chuppah, or wedding canopy, can cost $100- $250 for a basic chuppah, and $500 or more for an ornate one, while a ketubah, or wedding contract, can cost from $100 for a non-personalized one up to $1,500 for a custom-designed, framed work.
• Some churches and synagogues require a refundable deposit of $200 or more.
• If you want the church to ring the steeple bells for your wedding, you might have to pay $100 or more.

• Most churches will rent at a substantially reduced rate -- often just a nominal fee to cover the cost of cleaning -- to church members. Sometimes, the bride and groom do not need to belong if a parent or other close family member does.
• Tip: Check chapels at local colleges and universities. They are often picturesque and very inexpensive to rent -- especially if you attended the school.

• Before reserving a church, be sure to ask about any restrictions or policies the church has about attire, music and ceremony wording so you can avoid last-minute surprises or changes. Many churches, for example, consider a wedding ceremony to be a worship service and do not allow "secular" music or readings.
• Getting married in a house of worship can present a challenge for interfaith couples or couples in which one member is not religious. Many churches require that both members be members of their denominationSome couples consider Unitarian Universalist[3] churches, which are open to a wide range of religious and spiritual beliefs.

1.  www.bridalassociationofamerica.com/Wedding_Statistics/
2.  www.bridalassociationofamerica.com/Wedding_Statistics/
3.  www.uua.org/

Check Out All Costs for Weddings		How Much Does a Beach Wedding Cost?		How Much Does a Boutonniere Cost?		How Much Does a Wedding Cake Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

Make sure your gutters are clean before they start to fill up again this fall. Are you planning a Labor Day picnic? Need a new charcoal grill? Pruning trees before the storm season can help ensure dead branches won't imperil your home. Looking for help to take care of your garden? How much does garden service cost. The late August sun can leave a mark. Check out sunburn treatment options.

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

UTI urgent care visit Paid: 147.00 Visit was $135. Antibiotics was $12. Waiting for four hours in the waiting room and the visit was quick... [more] -nervouschomper Urinary Tract Infection Treatment Cost Spanish Medical Interpreter Paid: 150.00 I worked with SynShyne Services out of Monroe, NC. They were so worth the price! Professional, friendly, accurate, great attitude and always on time. I recieved an itemized report after every contact and a user friendly invoice weekly... [more] -Gregory Richardson Interpreter Cost Dat Paid: 495.00 This is how much I am paying... [more] -Calista Christian Dental Admission Test Cost Shingrix Paid: 48.00 ... [more] -Not that BB Shingles Vaccine Cost Skin prick allergy test Paid: 573.00 Took my 9 yr. old in after an allergic reaction to eggs. Several panels for nuts, fish & top 8 allergens. Sure enough, egg came up. Got a script for epinephrine and left... [more] -D’s mom Allergy Testing Cost Estimate for Teeth Cleaning Cat Paid: 0.00 13 year old cat …teeth extractions, X-rays, blood work, anesthetic, cleaning estimate 2 to 3 thousand... [more] -Terrimarie Cat Teeth Cleaning Cost