Real Rixey · December 14, 2017 · 3 min read
Real Rixey: How Cynthia Had Her Catholic Ceremony and Her Rixey Reception
Cynthia wanted a Catholic ceremony in the church and a Rixey reception. Here is how she made it work, including the honest cost breakdown.
Editor''s note: The costs in this post reflect 2017 prices and are provided as a reference guide. Please contact vendors directly for current rates.
How and why did you decide to get married off site?
We knew we wanted to be married by a Catholic priest, but we were told that an official ceremony could only be performed in the church, not at a non-church location. We considered being married in the church on the Thursday beforehand and doing a blessing at Rixey on Saturday. In the end, we decided we did not want multiple ceremonies leading up to the wedding day. The whole planning process is already long — we did not want to be tired of wedding ceremonies by the time we got to the actual day. So we did it all in one go, in the church, the morning of the wedding.
What extra costs and decisions did you have to make?
Having the ceremony at the church added more costs than we had anticipated. We had not realized that the Culpeper hotels where guests were staying were about 40 minutes from the church. We did not want guests sitting and waiting at the church too long, so we rented two shuttles for four hours rather than having one shuttle make multiple trips. Everyone was picked up before 12:45 and at the church by 1:15 for the 2pm ceremony.
Costs for non-parishioners (2017 prices — contact vendors for current rates):
- Use of church: $1,000
- Required ceremony church coordinator: $50
- Altar flowers: $160
- Premarital course: $285
- Church organist: $435
- String trio: $490
- Ceremony programs (optional): $50
- Officiant fee/donation: $150–$200
Total estimate: approximately $2,570
What was the best thing about getting married in a church?
Getting married in the Catholic church was very meaningful to us and to our families. The best part for me was that the ceremony not only united us in marriage, but also united us with our faith, and we were able to share that sacred moment with everyone we love.
What do you think you lost by getting married off site?
We lost a certain degree of flow in the day and a very unique experience. The wedding day itself would have been easier if it had not started so early — hair and makeup began at 6:30am because of the size of the bridal party — and if there had been only one location to manage. We also did not get ceremony photos with the Rixey backdrop, though our guests enjoyed the manor during cocktail hour and the reception.
Did anything surprise you on the day?
I was surprised by how many people enjoyed the ceremony. We incorporated Latin American traditions — the lasso and the arras — which our guests had not seen before and which meant a great deal to us. The one thing I would change: I wish the church coordinator had closed the front door before I walked down the aisle.
Would you make the same decisions again?
Yes, without hesitation. It can be costly and more complicated to plan, but if a church ceremony is important to you as a couple, it is worth doing. Do not let the logistics scare you. When you look back on it, you will be glad you did it.