Catholic Bishop says to keep weddings in church

[MADem]

17. And their priest may be surprised when the happy couple says PISS OFF, Padre!

I recently attended a wedding of two lovely kids, both raised Catholic, who were married by one of their best friends, who got one of those "license for a day" deals. It was a great ceremony, very personal, and the friend-officiant put a lot of thought into the whole thing. He did a very good job--made the day very memorable.

They apparently didn't want pay a five thousand dollar fee for "premarital counseling" and "Catholic wedding planning" and rental of the church. That didn't include the reception, FWIW, but if they wanted to have an alcohol-free shindig in the church hall (they would have to pay a hefty rental for that crappy place), the "priest wedding planner" could have put them in touch with caterers who give a kickback to the church for additional fees.

I can't say as I blamed them. The parents of both bride and groom thought the priest was attempting to commit highway robbery as well. They were ready to get married in the church, but they thought a five grand "fee" for bullshit was a stickup. Instead, they got married at the reception venue; the staff set up chairs and a little arch with flowers, and after the ceremony, everyone went and had a few pops at the bar while they reconfigured the room for a meal. It all went very smoothly--fun day.