Weddings and all that jazz...

I propose:
1. Couples who are planning for weddings stop seeing choirs as 'charity'. If they can spend $**** amount on their gowns, rings, reception, flowers etc etc they can afford to pay for the music service.

2. Wedding ministry be a separate affair from choir music ministry.
Choir ministry is leading the congregation to worship in liturgical singing during sunday mass.

3. Professional Musicians for hire?
You really need only ONE good organist. I think there is one that advertises regularly in the catholic news. There will be a charge of course, but at least the couple is getting a professional. I attended a christian wedding at a baptist church recently, and the church organist was very professional. You get organ prelude 5 mins before service, wedding march, 3 hymn accompaniment and march out.....maybe I can go and kaypoh to find out how much the couple paid this caucasion fellow. ( I know the groom).
Then you need a good MC / Cantor to lead the singing.

Note: you REALLY do not need a choir do you?
Disclaimer: However, if you are a choir member who has been singing week after week and you are planning to get married, I think the choir will gladly offer to sing for your wedding. You reap what you sow.

4. So where do we draw the line?
Sing only for choir members....
Sing only for members of our church....
Sing only if wedding is on sunday (since we sing on sat)
Have a roster, sing only when we are rostered to sing....
Go commercial, sing only when we are PAID to sing, not to say the payment is not simply an ang pow of $6....(as in last wedding or so I have heard, well last last wedding the amount was $0)

Exploitation vs Charity
Love thy neighbor vs love yourself
Energy spent on the singing at MASS vs weddings

hmmmm.......any thoughts about this?