“True love includes a sense of responsibility and accepting the other person as she is, with all her strengths and weaknesses. If you only like the best things in a person, that is not love. You have to accept her weaknesses and bring your patience, understanding, and energy to help her transform. This kind of love brings protection and safety.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
At Saint Miriam, all of our finances run via what we call a “transparent policy”; that is, every dollar given by anyone, or any expense, are open for review by our members. We also apply this concept to our standard offering/stipend structure for wedding ceremonies. Below you will find a variety of wedding package options that will help you to understand our structure and to help you decide which option is best for you. If you have a financial need that cannot be met by these options, please contact our pastor for guidance and other options. At Saint Miriam, all are welcome and no one is turned away.
Wedding Types Available (Off-Site Weddings)
Traditional Wedding ($750)
(includes a customized wedding ceremony, an initial meeting at the parish, and attendance at ceremony)
Traditional Wedding with Marriage PREP ($925)
(includes ‘Traditional’ above, plus Marriage PREP at parish, or Online Virtual Option)
Traditional Wedding with Co-Officiant ($895)
(includes a customized wedding ceremony, an initial meeting at the parish, needed consultations, and attendance at ceremony, along with coordinating and consultation with co-officiant and needed ceremony planning and rehearsal time between officiants)
Custom Wedding ($875)
(includes ‘Traditional’ above, plus rehearsal at the parish)
Custom Wedding with an off-site Rehearsal ($925)
(includes ‘Traditional’ above, plus off-site rehearsal at your wedding location)
Custom Wedding with Marriage PREP ($1,095)
(Includes ‘Custom Wedding with off-site’ above, plus Marriage PREP session at parish, or Online Virtual Option)
Custom Wedding with Marriage PREP (Private Session) ($1,250)
(Includes ‘Custom Wedding with off-site’ above, plus Marriage PREP session at parish, or a combination of meetings and online option, as a one-on-one with priest of your choosing.)
Wedding Booking Cancellation Policy
Since most of our Priests earn their living by dedicating themselves to the service of wedding couples, and the closer to the wedding date they are usually unable to replace the date that has been booked, it is incumbent that we have a basic understanding of what happens if the couple should cancel their arrangement with their chosen officiant. Our cancellation policy is as follows:
- If the wedding is canceled, or the chosen priest is no longer needed, for any reason, the following is understood by all parties:
- Prior to 90 days from wedding date: No cancellation fee applies. Deposit is forfeited.
- From 89 to 60 days from wedding date: A $100 cancellation fee applies. Deposit is forfeited.
- From 59 to 30 days from wedding date: A $200 cancellation fee applies. Deposit is forfeited.
- Less than 30 days or less from wedding date: A $300 cancelation fee applies, or the balance of the originally booked wedding package, whichever is less. Deposit is forfeited.
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Wedding Types Available (Parish Weddings)
Weddings include package for Celebrant, and as indicated below:
Nuptial (Wedding) Mass: ($2,295/$1,795*)
(Includes use of setup/cleanup/sanctuary, rehearsal time, bridal room, groomsmen suite, wedding coordinator from booking date through event day, priest, acolytes, and deacon, rehearsal time, coordination with outside vendors.)
Wedding Ceremony (Outside of a Mass at the Parish): ($1,795/$1,495*)
(Includes use of setup/cleanup/sanctuary, bridal room, groomsmen suite, wedding coordinator for day of event, priest, and a rehearsal time [day of prior to start of wedding; other day is added fee], coordination with outside vendors.)
Intimate Wedding Gathering: ($595)
(Includes a private gathering of bride and groom, and priest and/or deacon available with two witnesses and their photographer and small gathering of family (if applicable, not included) at the parish chapel for an intimate wedding ceremony of no more than 15 minutes. The ceremony logistics will be assisted by our wedding coordinator, if added (see below). However, there are no music options for this option.)
Music and Additional Fees – Wedding/Nuptial Mass/Services
- Pianist/Organist: $350
- Priest: $300-$500
- Cantor: $350
- Bridal Attendant: $150
- Candles and Ribbons at Pews: $250
- Ribbons (only) at Pews: $125
- Added Rehearsal: $200
- Professional Wedding Coordinator (Conception to Completion): $750-$2,000 (Click Here to email for Particular Needs, Budget and Information)
- Wedding Gown – Custom (Conception to Completion): $2,500-$5,000 (Click Here to email for Particular Needs, Budget and Information)
PLEASE NOTE: We, as a common practice, do NOT accommodate Friday rehearsal requests unless we have no weddings booked, and any rehearsals for a Friday will take a secondary place to wedding ceremonies. If a rehearsal is added to an existing package as an after thought, the normally requested stipend will be added to the final amount as indicated below. Please also be aware that no rehearsals will be accepted after 6:00pm and none after 3:00pm on Fridays. Additionally, there are no Center City wedding rehearsals on Friday afternoons or any wedding beyond 35 minutes in travel time. If no wedding planner will be present and the celebrant/officiant must run the entire rehearsal than an additional $50 will be added to the standard stipend.
Additional Options Available
| Private PreCana/Marriage PREP Session with Priest: | $125 |
| Rehearsal** | $200 (standard stipend) |
| ** Travel Expenses (over 25 miles) | $1 per mile (round-trip) |
| Use of Saint Miriam Fellowship Hall | Please call for details, availability, & pricing |
| Holiday Weddings (e.g. New Year’s, Memorial Day & Labor Day Weekends) | $250 |
| Sunday Wedding Stipend – Additional | $150 |
| Marriage PREP Pre-Cana Survey (optional) | $50 |
| A Note on Sunday Wedding Requests and Holy Day/Feast Days: | ++ We do not normally perform wedding ceremonies on Sunday, or and designated Feast Day or Holy Day of Obligation within our Catholic Church. As parish priests, our primary responsibility during these times is to our parishioners and the Church. Only in very rare circumstances will this policy be abrogated. Thank you for your understanding. |
| Catholic Nuptial Mass: | ++ Nuptial Masses require set up, extra staffing assistance, and advanced planning and is not conducive to all locations. There are certain restrictions on the type of facility that a Mass can take place and must be pre-approved prior to booking a date. Pre-Cana, or Marriage PREP, classes occur once each quarter (4-5 times per year) and are scheduled as a group session. Please Click Here for this year’s schedule. If you wish to have, or require, a private Marriage PREP session, please choose the “Custom, Private Session” option above. |
| Pre-Cana and Marriage PREP | +Pre-Cana, or Marriage PREP, classes occur once each quarter (4-5 times per year) and are scheduled as a group session. Please Click Here for this year’s schedule. If you wish to have, or require, a private Marriage PREP session, please choose the “Custom, Private Session” option above. |
| Church Marriage Certificate Fee | $20 |
| Livestream | $50 – covers the attendant, camera changes and processing |
Late Fees:
There will be an additional fee of $50.00 for every 30 minutes past the agreed to and booked start time. Also, if the priest is late, there will be a $50 per 30 minutes credit or reduction applied.