Many people choose to seal their marriage with a church wedding after the civil ceremony, out of religious conviction or respect for tradition. For all its beauty, a church wedding requires a great deal of organisation, not only in choosing the right church or minister, but also in dealing with the administrative and practical aspects.

As mentioned in our previous article, it is a common rule among the denominations in Hungary that a church wedding is not legally valid in itself, but can only be celebrated after a civil marriage. In addition, almost all religious communities require some form of preparation, but the exact requirements vary. The cost of grooming, obtaining licences, booking a church or other venue, and any music and decoration services all affect the final cost. It is therefore worth starting planning early to ensure a smooth ceremony that meets the couple's needs.

In the Roman Catholic Church

engagement classes are a compulsory part of the wedding preparations, and this can mean several occasions when couples have to attend. The choice of church is free, but if they do not wish to have the ceremony in the church where they live, they must ask permission from the local parish. It is advisable to book your church months in advance as popular venues fill up quickly. The church does not charge a mandatory fee for the wedding, but it is customary to make a donation to the church, the amount of which varies. In addition, the cantor, decoration and other services may be extra.

At the Reformed Church wedding

one of the first steps is to choose a church and a pastor, which should also be agreed well in advance. If you wish to have the service in another church, you may need the permission of the relevant pastor. Engagement classes are not compulsory here, but the pastor will usually recommend at least one or two conversations with the candidates. There is no predetermined fee for the wedding, but the couple usually offers a church donation, the amount of which can be inquired about in advance.

In the Lutheran Church

the planning process is similar: couples should first check with the pastor what preparations are needed and how much time before the wedding to do the engagement education. Here too, it is advisable to book the church well in advance, and the amount of the church donation varies depending on local customs.

A Jewish wedding organising

can be a longer process, as it is necessary to meet certain religious requirements in addition to consulting a rabbi. Before marriage, the couple must attend a so-called mikveh (ritual bath), and if one of the partners is not of Jewish origin, the process of entering can take several months. As well as choosing the wedding venue and arranging for the rabbi to attend, organising kosher catering is also an important task. A synagogue wedding usually involves considerable costs, as the rabbi's honorarium, kosher catering and other services have to be covered.

Islamic, Baptist, Unitarian or other smaller denominations

the organisation of the wedding depends on individual agreement. In most cases, the first step is to contact a religious leader who will inform the couple of the necessary arrangements. In some cases, witnesses or community approval may be required. Again, costs vary, with some weddings being free of charge and others asking for a donation.