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/

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