FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
My fee includes pre-marital counseling (typically 4-6 sessions), all but one of these we normally conduct via Skype or video conference. The in-person session is mandatory so that we can walk through the service in detail. The fee also includes the rehearsal, ideally one day in advance of the service, and at the same location as the service at the same time of day or as close as possible. The rehearsal is mandatory, because everyone needs to be comfortable with the service so there are no worries about the mechanics of the day. There is no additional fee for me to attend the rehearsal dinner or wedding reception and offer a blessing at the meal, but I do ask that you let me know as early as possible if you would like me to attend.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
Pastors in most parishes and congregations work very hard--60 to 80 hour weeks are not unknown. We get surprises--funerals, for example--that toss a well planned week right out the window. Also, while there are some pastors who make a lot of money (often more from their books and speaking engagements), most of us are making a lot less than you would expect for someone doing most of the day-to-day work in a parish.