Wedding Forum - Church Organist- Advise Please?...

Hey,

So I have just received the paperwork from our church which will be used to apply for our marriage license.
In the paperwork it asks whether we would like the Organist.
I am very lucky to have a friend to play the classical guitar beautifully and have asked him to play a song while I walk down the aisle- this also helps us cut costs.
I have just received a return email from the church admin department stating that the £150 Organist Fee is still due.
I questioned this as I am not using the organ or the organist so why am I paying the fee?

I am waiting to hear back from her, but in the meantime, has anyone ever heard of this before?

Thanks xxxx

Our local church (CofE) has one set fee which includes everything whether or not you use it, where as others break down the cost & you only pay for the services you use. Maybe your church is like ours & you will have to pay anyway :(

Are you having the choir? Usually the organist is the choir master so they may charge for him leading the choir at your wedding

I've sung in a lot of weddings at a few churches and this has been the case :)

as u are getting married in church u will need hyms etc and that is what organist is for... they basicaly give you no choice i did question it and it was like i had spat on her shoe she looked disgusted. But in all honesty i didnt think of hyms needing organist untill she said lol.. but if thats the case they shouldnt charge for it as its a requirement.
(Im assumung this is the case anyway)

But 150 is a high charge ours is only 60 and he covers entrance signing register hyms and leaving

Princesspixie i thpught the same but its a requirement we have to have :-/ not happy im paying for something i dont want! Like a verger also unless 2 of my guests turns up 45 mins before and 30mins after ive had to pay 35 for a verger.. hidden required "extras" annoy me

Let us know what church says x

they r all different.. how did u get on?

Our letter said that the organist is still entitled to claim his/her fee if we choose not to use them. I think it's the same for most if not all churches

When we spoke to the church, the organist and getting the bells rung appeared to be extra if we wanted them. Def worth checking if you aren't going to use them. X

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for all of the responses.

I heard back from the church administrator and she stated that the he needs to be paid either way (I have a friend who plays the piano/keyboard beautifully and already asked him to play)
I told her that to cut costs, I have asked my friend to play his keyboard for the hymns and entrance music and she stated the I can still do that, but the Organist still needs to be paid... whether I use him and or his organ or not! (AND the organist, who is also the church's musical director, get Veto over my friend and my song choices!)
When I asked her why she said that the church has a contract with the organist for the rights to every wedding and funeral.
Which seems fine to me, should someone want an organ and organist, he should do it, but surely its not the same if you do not want it?
Apparently it is. I would be denying him his jobs pay.
So I have no choice but to pay it :(
So.... now to find some songs which wont sound too horrific :(

x

Yep. :(
She says he doesn't get paid for his usual playing (at mass etc) so he gets paid for the weddings and funerals. **Sigh**

Ah just emailed the vicor today about ours and she has removed the organist fee of £60

Just need to pick some good music to walk in n out to signing register and a one while guests r arriving before me.. possibly lol