Churches charging for filming.

[George Kilroy]

Originally Posted by Philip Howells

George, maybe they could put on a buffet in the vestry and get the verger to play some records while the guests chug back the vino sacro and we'd all be looking for something to do on Saturdays!

I've just hear something on Radio Four. They were discussing that report of the CofE's plans to 'streamline' the charges for weddings. Someone rang in to say that after there wedding (some years ago), they went back to the vicarage where the vicar's wife had done just that, prepared some refreshment for the guests. The memento they have is their wedding photos, three Polaroids taken by the vicar's wife.

[Philip Howells]

Shallow DoF as well I expect!

[Anthony J. Howe]

Originally Posted by George Kilroy

One in particular was at an internationally know church where they were charging £250 for copyright payment to the organist. That was on top of the fee he was already charging the couple to play at the wedding anyway.

And best of all, usually the organist music is awful, sometimes I have to take it out and replace it with descent music on the DVD.

[Nigel Barker]

Here are the Church of England's own recommendations on fees for weddings including the significant paragraph:-

9. If the wedding is filmed any videography fee charged by the Church should only reflect the real expense incurred by the church by having a video camera in the building – wear and tear, etc. Given the tiny size of video equipment today it is very likely that this will be nil. In any case it can be waived at your discretion.

The reasonable and clear guide to charging for a wedding - The Weddings Project Resource Centre

[Nigel Barker]

Originally Posted by Chris Dodd

In addition - whilst browsing the websites of other videographers here in the UK a few seem to have signed up to organisations such as ' The Association of Professional Videomakers '.

Now to me these orgs seem like a massive waste of time (and money) for the use of a meaningless logo and a listing on their directory - surely they could act on behalf of their members in looking into these issues?

Especially as these issues are only ever going to increase!

The ' The Association of Professional Videomakers ' appears to have just 20 members & is closed to new members APV Find a Videomaker
The churchwedfilmsociety.co.uk has 22 members

The largest videography trade association in the UK (of which we are members & would recommend) is the IOV | Institute of Videography who offer all the sorts of services that you would expect from a professional body (training accreditation, arbitration services, lobbying government, 2 day annual trade show & seminars etc)

[Steve Bleasdale]

I have done 9 weddings so far this season and have had a nightmare with all vicars priests and church wardens who are a complete pain and think they own the church... No wonder in England civil ceremonys are on the up and cheaper....

[Nigel Barker]

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

Soon couples will be looking elsewhere for ceremonies than Churches !!

They already are. The number of weddings annually has decreased enormously over the last 30 years from about 370,000 in 1980 to 231,490 in 2009 (most recent figures available). This is the lowest number of weddings since 1895 when the population was very much less. The proportion of those weddings that are religious ceremonies has decreased even faster. In 1991 it was 50:50 civil:religious whereas now it's about 70:30. The big growth area for weddings since legislation was passed in the mid 1990s has been marriage ceremonies in 'approved premises' i.e. hotels, stately homes and historic buildings. In 2009 there were just 75,630 religious ceremonies but there were 111,240 ceremonies in 'approved premises' while the remaining 50,000 odd weddings would have been held in the official Registry Office which tend towards the dowdy & functional. Marriages in 'approved premises' accounted for 48% of all marriages & 71% of civil marriages.

National Statistics Online - Product

[Chris Harding]

As at the end of 2010 we had, just in Perth, a total of 1250 registered civil celebrants who conduct weddings at any venue (I was married at a friend's house) but most public parks now have gazebos built with the purpose of wedding ceremonies and we have tons of "reception centres" who also have purpose built ceremony spots. Since it seldom rains 9 months of the year outdoor weddings are popular!!!

I do maybe half a dozen church weddings a year now and all the rest are civil...a big advantage is also that you have freedom of movement and they are a lot shorter!!!

Chris

[Bob Hart]

One such public park gazebo.

MINAWARRA PARK By Bob Hart On ExposureRoom