Your search for churches that perform weddings for free, how to book a church wedding and free wedding ceremony locations near me ends here with the list below. There are growing numbers of churches right now that offer this service without cost, and without expectations.
Every year there are a good number of weddings in churches around the country. Weddings can be beautiful, filled with love and hope for the future. That’s why some churches offer that service for FREE to newlyweds that are too poor to afford a break. So, if you are interested in knowing the list of churches that do wedding for free, read on to learn more.
Congratulations on your engagement! We always want to do everything we can to help you with your wedding planning so we decided to offer a list of churches that do weddings for free.
If you’re looking for a church that does weddings for free, you need to roam around the web using your Google skills. Asking around from someone who has experience from doing weddings and such, plus asking people that you know are affiliated with churches could be the avenue for this. Ask around the houses of your friends and family too.
how to book a church wedding
Churches that do weddings for free are becoming more common, as the number of people who are having religious weddings is on the rise. This trend is driven by a variety of factors, including the fact that many couples have been married in a church before, or at least have been taught about marriage from a religious perspective. While some people may not care about this, others may be attracted to the idea of having their wedding ceremony performed in a church.
However, if you’re planning on getting married at a church and want it to be free (or at least cheap), there are some things you need to know first.
First of all, you should ask yourself why you want your wedding ceremony performed in a church. Do you want it because you were raised Catholic? Or do you genuinely believe in God’s power? If your answer is “I don’t know,” then it might be time to spend some time thinking about why this matters so much to you before making any decisions about where or how you get married.
Once you’ve made up your mind about whether or not it’s important for your wedding ceremony to be religiously-themed, then there are several things that can help ease its cost:
We’re all about finding the best deals, so we’ve compiled a list of churches that do weddings for free!
If you’re getting married, this is a great way to save money and make sure that your special day is exactly how you want it to be.
Right here on Churchgists, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on how much does it cost to rent a church for a wedding, church wedding requirements, how much does a small church wedding cost, and so much more. Take out time to visit our Website for more information on similar topics.
Churches that do weddings for free
To get married, you really only need two things: someone to marry and someone to make it legal. And while one of those people is going to be a lot harder to find than the other, the legal part can often be more expensive than your average wedding these days. In order to save some money, some couples may wonder if they can get married at a church for free. The answer is yes—if you choose wisely.
Trinity United Methodist Church – Denver, CO
Trinity United Methodist Church is located in Denver, CO and has been around since 1870. This church does weddings for free, which is great for you if you’re looking for a free wedding venue! In addition to being free, this church has a lot of history and character that makes it even more appealing as a wedding venue.
Trinity United Methodist Church was built in 1873 and opened its doors to its first congregation on Sunday May 10th that same year. Since then it has become one of the most historic churches in Denver’s city center area and continues to play an important role within the community today.
All Souls Catholic Church – San Diego, CA
All Souls Catholic Church is located in San Diego, CA. They offer both a wedding style and wedding costs. Their website includes information on how you can get married at All Souls, but it also has reviews from past couples who’ve used them. They list their package prices as starting at $600 per couple, depending on your needs.
St. Anthony’s Chapel – Pittsburgh, PA
St. Anthony’s Chapel is a Catholic church located in Pittsburgh, PA.
It is open to all couples who wish to get married and have their wedding at St. Anthony’s Chapel, regardless of religion or denomination.
All you need to do is call 412-471-5104 or email [email protected] with your name, phone number, and date of your ceremony (if available) and someone will contact you within 72 hours for further details about your wedding day at St. Anthony’s Chapel!
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale – Fort Lauderdale, FL
First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale is located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. With a capacity of 400 and a large parking lot, this church is perfect for your wedding day. They offer many other services such as baptisms, weddings, funerals and more.
The sanctuary has a balcony and pipe organ for music during your ceremony. It also has handicap accessible restrooms on both floors so everyone can enjoy their time at this beautiful church!
Broadway Baptist Church – Fort Worth, TX
Broadway Baptist Church is located at 921 W. Broadway in Fort Worth, Texas. The church has a wedding policy that states all weddings are free. You will need to contact the church prior to your ceremony date for more information about terms and conditions of their services, such as whether or not they charge a fee for travel expenses (they don’t). They can be reached by email at [email protected]
Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Portage, MI
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Address: 1151 Portage Street, Portage, MI 49002
Phone: (269) 349-9231
Hours: Thursdays 12 PM – 5 PM; Saturdays 9 AM – 3 PM; Sundays 8 AM – 1 PM.
Requirements: A valid marriage license from your county and two witnesses over 18 years old who must be present when you sign the certificate of marriage. Proof of residency is required for all parties who will be listed on the certificate of marriage. All documents must be translated into English if not originally written in English, or accompanied by an English translation certified as such by a recognized translator. The fee to get married at Bethlehem Lutheran Church is $10 per couple or $25 for each additional party (this includes children under 18 years old).
Connecticut Avenue Baptist Church – Washington, DC
The church was founded in 1866, and has a long history of hosting weddings for free. It’s located in Washington, DC, with a congregation that numbers around 3,000 people. The sanctuary is large enough to accommodate over 1,000 guests seated comfortably. A large parking lot with plenty of spaces nearby provides easy access for both guests and wedding party vehicles. There’s also a large parking garage if you want to avoid the possibility of inclement weather or being boxed in by other vehicles during your ceremony. The church also has an auditorium great for hosting special events like your rehearsal dinner or post-wedding reception!
If your budget is tight, here are some churches that do weddings for free.
You don’t have to spend a ton of money on your wedding. If you’re having trouble with the costs of your big day, here are some churches that offer free ceremonies.
You’ll find these churches in different states, cities, counties and even countries!
How much does it cost to rent a church for a wedding
There is no doubt that the choices you make about your wedding day can make a huge impact on the total cost. Part of the cost will be for the legal fees, and everyone pays this. There are also optional extras which you can choose or decline, according to your budget.
Compulsory costs
There is a required legal fee for marrying in a church. In 2022* it costs £560 if you marry away from where you live and £512 if you marry in your home parish.
This is set by the Church of England nationally and is the same for every church.
This basic legal fee includes the cost of the vicar, the church, calling your banns, a banns certificate, lighting and all administration. (After your wedding, when it has been registered at the relevant register office, you will also pay the register office £11 for your marriage certificate – the certificate is no longer issued by churches).
This required fee has ancient origins and ensures your church can maintain essential services like weddings, christenings, funerals and all kinds of other ministries for you and your community.
Optional extras
The statutory wedding fee doesn’t include extras you may choose or decline, such as:-
- The support of a verger, who ensures the church is warm, clean and tidy for your wedding and can help with handing out Orders of Service and hymn books etc. They can assist with disability access if needed by your guests and guide people to find their seats, toilets or crèche if there is one. They can be indispensable in larger churches, freeing up the vicar to give their full attention to you and the wedding service.
- Additional heating in the church. The vicar will let you know if this applies to your wedding.
- Having an organist, choir or bell-ringers – these extra staff will all need to be booked in advance. Sometimes, the church may ask for a deposit to secure these bookings.
- Bear in mind that if your wedding is filmed, musicians like the organist can request an increase in their fee to take into account professional performing rights (read more). Check with the church what the local arrangements are.
- Church flowers – some churches have a local flower arranger who can help you with the flower displays in church.
- Extra copies of the marriage certificate.
You do not have to have any of these extras, but many couples are keen to have at least some. If you choose them, they will cost extra. The costs for each will be at your church’s local rate.
Affording the costs
Talk to your vicar early on about what the total cost of your wedding is likely to be. It is good practice for the church to provide you with an itemised quote before your wedding so that you can see exactly what you will be paying for.
Once the final church bill has been agreed, some couples are still keen to offer a donation to the church. Donations may help to cover things like administration and the upkeep of the building. While these gifts are very kind, you needn’t feel under any obligation.
If you’re struggling to afford your wedding costs, or finding yourself in financial difficulties, it is worth mentioning this to your vicar as they might be able to suggest ways to help. If you need to borrow to pay for your wedding, why not consider using a local credit union? Credit unions offer affordable and responsible credit, and some will even offer special deals on loans for weddings.
*The figure for marrying in 2022 breaks down as follows for couples marrying in their own parish:
- the fee set by law payable to the church: £480
- having your banns read at the home church: £32
Total for marrying in your home parish (providing you both live there) in 2022: £512
If a couple marry in 2022 away from where they live, the cost breaks down like this:-
- the fee set by law payable to the marrying church: £480
- having your banns read in the marrying church £32
- having your banns read at your home church: £32
- the banns certificate from your home church: £16
Total for marrying outside your parish in 2022: £560
free wedding ceremony locations near me
There are three basic requirements for a valid Catholic wedding:
The couple must be capable of being married—that is, they must be a woman and a man who are free of any impediment that would prevent marriage.
The couple must give their consent to be married — that is, by an act of their will they irrevocably give and accept one another in order to establish marriage (Canon 1057).
They must follow the canonical form for marriage—that is, they must be married according to the laws of the Church so that the Church and the wider community will be certain about the validity of their marriage.
Let’s break down each of these points.
Impediments to marriage
Catholic marriage preparation
First, both people must be capable of being married and free of any impediment (obstacle) that would prevent marriage. Some impediments to marriage include:
Age: Both persons need to be old enough to contract marriage according to the local civil laws. (The Church has a minimum age requirement as well; see Canon 1083.)
Previous marriage: You cannot marry someone else if you are already married. This most common impediment to marriage is discussed more below.
Relatives: You cannot marry someone who is already your relative (Canons 1091-1094).
Reason: Anyone who is incapable of understanding what marriage is and the responsibilities that come with it (because of mental impairment, for instance) cannot enter marriage (Canon 1095).
Fear: No one can be forced into marriage, either directly or because of some “grave fear” (Canon 1103).
This is not an exhaustive list. It is ultimately up to your pastor to determine whether there are any impediments to your marriage.
Previous marriage is probably the most common impediment to marriage. The Church follows Christ’s teaching that marriage is a covenant that cannot be dissolved, so it does not recognize divorce as “dissolving” the previous marriage. However, the Church has a legal process for determining whether the previous marriage was valid—that is, that the couple freely gave themselves to one another in a way that brought about a valid marriage between them. If the Church determines that the previous marriage was not valid, it is said to be annulled. An annulment removes the impediment to marriage.
Freely given consent
In order to enter a valid marriage, each person must freely choose to give his or her entire self to the other, and to accept the gift of the other, irrevocably (forever). Church law presumes that the words and actions of the couple during the wedding accurately reflect their intention to do this. Immediately before the couple consent to enter into marriage (by reciting the marriage vows), the assisting priest or deacon asks the couple three questions:
• N. and N., have you come here to enter into Marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?
• Are you prepared, as you follow the path of Marriage, to love and honor each other for as long as you both shall live?
• Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and the Church? (Order of Celebrating Matrimony #60)
If there are serious doubts about the ability of one or both persons to give their free consent to marriage “without reservation,” the pastor may ask the couple to spend additional time addressing the issue; the wedding may even be delayed “for a time” until the issue is resolved (Canon 1077).
For example, cohabitation (living together) is an issue that usually receives extra attention during the marriage preparation process. “If there is not sufficient awareness on the couple’s part of the essential elements of Catholic teaching on the sanctity of marriage and sexual relations and of the commitment, fidelity, and permanence needed in marriage, then the marriage should be postponed until such awareness has developed” (Preparing for Marriage, Diocese of Rapid City; quoted in Marriage Preparation and Cohabiting Couples). A mature awareness of the nature of sacramental marriage contributes to a couple’s ability to freely consent to marriage. However, the sacrament of Marriage cannot be denied solely because a couple is living together. In fact, the Church has urged that pastors approach cohabiting couples with respect, charity, and patience.
The question about accepting children (which may be omitted for couples beyond the child-bearing years) may not seem to have anything to do with freely given consent. But the Church teaches that marriage is naturally ordered not only to “the good of the spouses,” but also the “procreation and education of offspring” (Canon 1055). In other words, since having children is part of the natural purpose of marriage, it is impossible to give yourself to the other “without reservation” if children are excluded.
In order to ensure that couples fully understand what it means to give oneself in marriage, the Church requires a period of preparation before marriage. Usually, the marriage cannot take place until this happens.
The form of the marriage
Transitions in the Ritual
The Roman Catholic Church in the United States is currently transitioning to a new edition of the ritual texts used in celebrating Catholic weddings. The “Order of Celebrating Matrimony” will become mandatory across the country starting December 30, 2016. Catholic Wedding Help is in the process of reviewing the newly released edition and updating the related sections of the site to reflect the changes in the Order of Celebrating Matrimony.
Note, the new edition retains the three basics forms for the ceremony (celebrating within Mass, celebrating without Mass, and celebrating between a Catholic and an unbaptized person) with a few changes in order or options for texts or customs. Dioceses may begin using the “Order of Celebrating Matrimony” on September 8, 2016, though the “Rite of Christian Marriage” detailed in this site is still a valid option through December 30 unless a local bishop chooses otherwise. Please talk with your local pastor for guidance on this matter.
The Church has certain rules about how the marriage takes place (Code of Canon Law #1108-1123). These rules are meant to ensure with certainty that a valid marriage actually took place. Basically, a valid marriage must be witnessed by an authorized representative of the Church (usually a priest or deacon) and two other witnesses. It also must follow The Order of Celebrating Matrimony, the book containing the words and actions that make up the wedding liturgy. Under special circumstances, your pastor can ask your bishop to dispense with the requirement to celebrate the wedding according to The Order of Celebrating Matrimony. This is most commonly the case when Catholics marry someone who is not Catholic and choose a wedding ceremony from the religious practice of the person who is not Catholic.
Other Catholic wedding requirements
The requirements listed above are only a partial rundown of the laws governing marriage in the Catholic Church; additional rules deal with special circumstances and administrative details. However, each diocese (the region administered by a bishop) also has its own rules regarding marriage. Moreover, individual parishes may have policies regarding marriage preparation and the wedding ceremony. You will need to check with your pastor for details about any of these additional requirements.
Conclusion
I’ve given you a list of some churches that do weddings for free, but it’s by no means exhaustive. There are so many other options out there—maybe even in your own neighborhood! In addition to the churches I listed above, I urge you to look into local churches, mosques, or synagogues near where you live. You never know who might be willing to help with your big day. And if none of these churches do weddings for free? Well then, just remember that a wedding doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars in order to be special and meaningful.